It is said that the head does not hurt since the sanctuary. And yet you can get nystagmus from the number of brushes and toothpastes found on drugstore shelves.
Manufacturers promise us incredible things, and we try to find out how miraculously all brushes are “the best”, and each toothpaste “lasts the longest”. How to find yourself in it?
Brush dilemmas
Buying a toothbrush is a real challenge these days. Customers can choose models with various types of fibers: from soft, through intermediate, to hard. Which are right, which are the best? – Hard brushes should be avoided – according to Dr. Marzena Jadczak-Padamczyk and Dr. Małgorzata Żak from the Estedent office in Raszyn. – In the case of periodontitis, we only use the soft ones, if everything is fine, they can also be medium – they add.
Another problem is the differences in the size and shape of brush heads and handles. Some are bouncy or stiff, others curved in a mysterious way. Everything – according to what we hear in the commercials – has a colossal meaning. Is it true? – The most important thing is sufficiently long and thorough washing. Additional features of the brush structure are of secondary importance and are not able to replace thorough washing – experts say.
The same is true of the dilemma: should you buy an ordinary or an electric toothbrush? Personal care cannot be replaced by a technician in hygiene. However, it is important to replace the brushes. Worn and matted fibers can do more harm than good, so we have to buy a new one on average every three months.
The paste is uneven
There is even greater variety among pastes. We are bombarded with data on innovative formulas. The names appear: fluorine, pyrophosphates, hydroxyapatite. The information that the paste “works” in the mouth for 12 hours is very impressive. – It has always been recommended that you brush your teeth at least twice a day. Fluoride, which is the most important, lies on the tooth surface for half a day, so it protects it and “works” during this time, but this applies to all toothpastes with this ingredient, not specially selected by TV commercials – specialists say.
However, proper diagnosis whether the agent has medicinal or cosmetic properties is rather impossible for a layman and each decision about choosing a new toothpaste should be consulted with the dentist. The composition of the pastes is usually similar: the tube is dominated by water, abrasives, foaming ingredients and flavors. Biological substances that actively protect the teeth are a small percentage of the content, but the most important thing. They are the ones that decide whether the paste is good or not.
White as snow
The necessity to whiten teeth is becoming a novelty, which is slowly becoming standard. The choice is seemingly wide, but Dr. Jadczak-Padamczyk warns: – If the toothpaste contains an appropriate bleaching compound, we can use it without fear. However, most toothpastes achieve the whitening effect by increasing the amount of abrasives. As stated, too high their intensity is dangerous as it can even scratch the enamel. And on rough enamel, plaque forms even faster, so the effect is exactly the opposite – he adds. Real and safe whitening is done by smoothing the surface of the tooth. In this case, pastes help, but they must have the right composition.
In addition to toothpastes, we have a wide selection of other whitening agents: special strips that should be applied periodically to the teeth. Their effectiveness is satisfactory, but only the front teeth are affected, while the molars remain intact. Recently, whitening gels, lotions and chewing gums have appeared. The changes that occur after their use are moderate, and frequent chewing gum, according to specialists, has a bad effect on the condition of the jaw. The above methods allow you to whiten your teeth by 2-3 tones, professional treatment in a dentist’s office – even by 10 tones.
Jarosław Wypych
Source: Domowe Kuracje, Let’s live longer,