ORAL HYGIENE
Healthy gums and bright teeth are the key ingredients to a great smile. Here are some products and features that will keep your mouth sparkling.
ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSHES: Get ready to transform your smile! Plaque (which is the main cause of gum disease and cavities) can be removed easier, faster and more efficiently with an electric toothbrush, than with a regular toothbrush. If you have these problems, this item is a necessity, and if you don’t want to have dental problems it can be a very effective prevention tool. Look for these commonly found features.
SONIC: “Sonic” action is a high speed bristle motion that creates a vigorous cleaning action to clean the surface of the teeth. This motion allows the fluids created to be directed between the teeth and below the gum line. The Sonic movement is up to 100 times faster than manual brushing.
OSCILLATION: This refers to the rate at which the brush head moves back and forth or spins. The higher the speed, the more advanced the cleaning capability and stain removal. Some models have an easy start feature that gently increases the brushing power over time for those concerned that the high speeds may be too much for their sensitive gums.
PULSATION: Pulsation, which is an “in and out” motion of the brush, is usually combined with oscillating toothbrushes. Pulsation allows the toothbrush to reach deep between the teeth to remove more plaque than just the rotating alone. It is about 30 times faster than manual brushing.
TIMER: Since the brush should be used for a minimum of two minutes to achieve maximum results, a timer lets you know how long to brush. Some models will beep or pause every thirty seconds to indicate that it is time to move to the next quadrant in your mouth; others will automatically turn off after two minutes of use. Programmable interval timers allow you to increase the brushing cycle in 30 second increments in order to focus on cleaning specific areas.
BRUSH HEAD: Brush heads vary in size and shape, and it is important to consider what style would work best for you and your family’s needs. Smaller heads will be easier to maneuver to reach difficult spots. Family models may include colored rings or color coded brush heads to identify each individual brush. Brushes are replaceable and can be purchased separately as needed. Many brushes have color indicator bristles that fade over time, letting you know it is time to change the brush head.
Keep in mind that if you are not accustomed to using an Electric Toothbrush, you should consider a model with an “easy start” feature. This feature gradually increases the speed with the initial 12 uses to allow you to acclimate to the cleaning motion.
FLOSSERS: Proven to be as effective as manual flossing, an automatic flosser uses thousands of “strokes” per minute with a single nylon filament to make flossing fast, easy and convenient. Found in both rechargeable and battery operated models, flossers are ideal for crowns, braces and bridgework.
ORAL IRRIGATORS: Also known as a Water Pik, an Oral Irrigator helps wash away plaque by-products that brushing and flossing can miss. Using water, mouthwash or antibacterial rinses, it delivers thousands of pulses per minute to flush food debris from those hard to reach areas, such as below the gum line and between teeth.
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