before going to bed? Yes. If you have to miss a brushing, the bedtime one is probably the worst one to miss. If you don’t get rid of the bacteria and sugar that cause cavities, they have all night to do harm. While you are awake, saliva helps keep the mouth clean. When you are asleep, there is less saliva produced to clean the mouth. For this reason it is important to brush before bedtime. How do I brush my child’s teeth? Every day plaque forms on the inner, outer, and chewing surface of teeth and the gums. Tooth brushing is one of the most effective waysto remove the plaque.The best kind of toothbrush to use is one with soft, round-tipped bristles.A child will need a smaller brush than an adult. Young children do not have the manual dexterity to brush properly. Your child will need your supervision and help brushing until he or she is 8-10 years old to ensure a thorough brushing has been done.When the bristles become bent or frayed, a new brush is needed. Tooth brushing will remove dental plaque and other debris from your teeth.Plaque plays a primary role in oral disease such as tooth decay and gum disease. The best way to remove plaque from the tooth surface on a daily home care basis is through toothbrushing and some form of “between the teeth” cleaning. Is your toothbrush making you sick? Next time you load up on cough medicine and sinus pills, preparing for the onslaught of another cold, add a new toothbrush to your shopping list.Germs left on your toothbrush can cause recurring colds and sore throats. To avoid catching the same cold over and over again,change toothbrushes at the first sign of a cold and change again when you regain your health. Germs thrive in dense toothbrushes,especially those with soft bristles, and not surprisingly, they also linger on toothbrush handles.Viruses can survive for several days on a handle that’s opaque or tinted, whereas a clear handle kills them faster with its ability to let light pass through. ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSHES Electric toothbrushes generally work by using tufts of nylon bristles to stimulate gums and clean teeth in an oscillating or rotary motion. Some tufts are arranged in a circular pattern, while others have the traditional shape of several bristles lined up on a row. When first using an electric toothbrush, expect some bleeding from your gums. The bleeding will stop when you learn to control the brush and your gums become healthier. Children under 10 should be supervised when using an electric toothbrush. Avoid mashing the tufts against your teeth in an effort to clean them. Use light force and slow movements, and allow the electric bristle action to do its job. Power vs Manual Toothbrushes It is important to remember to brush for a full two minutes twice a day whether it is with and power or manual toothbrush, and don’t forget to floss. Manual toothbrushes remove an average of only 50% of plaque from smooth tooth surfaces and even less from between teeth. Studies have proved that using a power toothbrush will: **Cause a significant reduction in plaque of adults and children **Reduce brushing force you need to apply during brushing to reduce gum recession. **Reduce gingival bleeding. **People tend to brush longer with a power toothbrush. **Two thirds of children studied preferred a power toothbrush due to the smaller brush head, easier to reach all areas of their mouth and the repetitive movement of the brush. **They automatically confer good brushing technique. **Decreased gingivitis **Improve compliance. |