• Toothbrush •
Toothbrush technology has come a long way from the days of brushing ones teeth with twigs or with hog’s hairs attached to a bone handle. Even though home dental equipment has never been more advanced, our pearly whites are in greater peril than ever before. We can give thanks to high-sugar diets that “feed” the bugs that promote tooth decay and gum disease. With the stakes being higher than ever before: Gum disease has been linked to heart disease and stroke.
Question 1: Do electric toothbrushes clean better than manual toothbrushes?
Answer 1: YES. Unless you’re deeply devoted to proper brushing techniques, do yourself and your teeth a favor and upgrade to a power toothbrush. Powering up means better cleaning from the front, back, and side to side.
Every now and then, there is that rare person who faithfully brushes their pearly whites for the full 2 minutes at least twice a day, paying equal attention to the fronts, backs, and chewing surfaces of all those choppers. If you happen to be that person, a standard toothbrush is more than likely all you’ll need to keep your teeth sparkling and plaque-free.
Surveys show that half of us brush just once a day, and most only devote 46 seconds to the task. Electric toothbrushes help by removing more plaque. A definitive review of 42 well designed studies involving nearly 4,000 women and men have found that an electric toothbrush with bristles that rotate in alternating directions removed 11% more plaque and reduced gum disease 6% more than manual brushes after 1 to 3 months of use. After 3 months, electic toothbrush users had 17% less gum disease. And don’t worry about the electric toothbrush irritating your gums. Researchers found that manual and electric types didn’t harm gums.
There’s only one catch. Only the brushes with bristles that spun in one direction and then the other (known as “rotation oscillation”) were this effective and most of the time these were the most expensive. Ultrasonic brushes and those with brush heads that moved side to side or rotated in only one direction worked no better than a manual toothbrush. Brushes that work by “counter oscillation,” tufts circles in one direction, while others circled the other way—were just a little more effective than a standard brush.
Question 2: Can I skip flossing if I use mouthwash?
Answer 2: NO. Mouthwash helps but only floss can remove hard-to-reach debris that threatens your teeth and gums.
A study found that a dental care routine featuring brushing, flossing and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash cut plaque by 50% – better than flossing or mouthwash alone. Another reason to keep on flossing at least once a day: It’s the only way to dislodge that strand of spinach that got lodged behind your right bicuspid at lunch.
Emerging evidence suggests that flossing everyday can cut your risk for some surprising and life threatening diseases elsewhere in the body. Researchers are discovering that unchecked gum disease raises levels of bacteria in the bloodstream, setting off a chemical reaction that increases chronic inflammation. The result is a higher risk of developing the following conditions.
→ Atherosclerosis ←
When scientists at Columbia University Medical Center measured the bacteria levels in the mouths of 657 people, they found that high bacterial counts were directly related to the thickness of the carotids, the major arteries in the neck. Thickened carotids raise the risk of heart attack and stroke.
→ Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) ←
When researchers checked dental records and respiratory health of 13,792 women and men, they found out that, those with more signs of gum disease were 1 1/2 times more likely to develop COPD—and a set of lung problems including bronchitis and emphysema which in turn would make it more likely they would have breathing problems.
→ Stroke ←
In a study of 771 people, researchers found that severe gum disease quadrupled the risk of having a stroke.
** Fun Facts **
→ Clean — or Toss — A Dirty Brush ←
A toothbrush’s wet bristles can be a breeding ground for bacteria. These next 5 steps will keep those dirty brush “bugs” in check
- Rinse in cool water, then store your brush in an upright position after each use so the water drains away from the bristles. Don’t store a wet toothbrush in a closed case.
- Don’t let the bristles of family members’ brushes touch.
- After a cold, the flu, sore throat or mouth sores, it’s always better to replace the “contaminated” toothbrush or brush head of the electric toothbrush.
- Still worried about toothbrush germs? You could wash your brush in antimicrobial mouthwash. Studies have shown a 20-minute soak can eliminate all germs. Don’t reuse the disinfection liquid or soak more than one brush in the same liquid.
- Try to replace all toothbrushes every 3 to 4 months.
* Side Note *
A suggested way of disinfecting your toothbrush is to put it in the microwave or dishwasher. But this is not a confirmed way to disinfect your toothebrushs and may damage the bristles.
GymWarrior 