Soft, Medium, or Buzz Lightyear?

Categories: Dental Health

Affordable Dentistry in Murray At Salt Lake Dental Care, Dr. Clint Blackwood is often asked how to choose the most basic tool of oral hygiene, the toothbrush. Picking a toothbrush in Murray can be as difficult as choosing a paint color, and there seem to be just as many choices.

If you have visited the dental section of your local Sandy grocery store lately, you know what I am talking about. There are brushes with bristles of varying lengths, brushes that massage your gums, and brushes that change color when they are used up. (If I had to rate them purely on their fun factor, I would choose the Spiderman brush.)

Some toothbrush manufacturers claim their brushes freshen your breath or remove stains from your teeth. How do you choose?

One key factor is the firmness of the bristles. Hard bristles may be more effective for cleaning burnt steak off a grill or hard water deposits off a shower floor. However, this does not hold true for your teeth. Medium and firm brushes can damage your gums. Soft and extra-soft bristles are plenty stiff enough to clean plaque, food particles, and surface stains from your teeth. Soft bristles also offer more flexibility for hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.

After having dental work or oral surgery in Salt Lake City, especially anything involving soft tissue grafts, make sure you use an extra-soft brush and be careful!

When buying a toothbrush for a child in Taylorsville, make sure the brush feels comfortable in his or her hand. If the size and angle feels awkward, the child will be less likely to use it long enough to clean all areas of the mouth. Children do not necessarily need a child-sized tooth brush. Some Salt Lake City kids can manage an adult size brush better than a short, narrow child size brush. If you are unsure, ask your Murray dentist at Salt Lake Dental Care.

What about the electric types and water-shooters? Some Murray residents like the feeling of vibrating bristles or a mini-squirt gun blasting away at the plaque. Salt Lake City people with arthritis or other movement-inhibiting conditions can benefit from powered brushes which take some strain off hands and arm muscles.

Is your toothbrush doing the job? Schedule an exam with your Murray dentist at Salt Lake Dental Care and find out.

At Salt Lake Dental Care, our high-quality dental hygienists instruct our Murray pediatric patients and Salt Lake City adult patients on proper brushing and flossing. If you haven’t experienced a dental deep cleaning at Salt Lake Dental Care, you don’t know how clean your teeth and gums can feel.

Schedule a thorough dental cleaning today by calling Salt Lake Dental Care at 801-938-8855. An outstanding feature of Salt Lake Dental Care is our commitment to excellence. We offer cosmetic dentistry and a full spectrum of restorative dental procedures.