Picking the Best Toothbrush for Braces
If you or your child wears braces, you understand the extra effort required to keep the braces and wires clean. Part of going above and above entails selecting the best nest toothbrush for braces to make oral care simpler. We’re here to aid you as you consider brushes in your quest to locate the right one.
Toothbrushes Designed to Dislodge
Brackets and wires may readily catch food, whether metal or transparent. This can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. You don’t want cavities or gingivitis while wearing braces or after they’re gone.
Your nest toothbrush should remove braces debris. Consider these toothbrush features.
Small Brushing Head
Since your teeth aren’t flat, you’ll need a toothbrush that can reach between your brackets and wires. Those hard-to-reach places are more manageable with a narrow head toothbrush. In addition, a more precise cleaning of the hard-to-reach areas along the gumline is made possible by the trimmer head.
Soft, Rounded Bristles
Inevitably, some discomfort may be associated with wearing braces, especially in the first few days and following modifications. Choosing a toothbrush that won’t cause unnecessary pain is, therefore, as crucial as choosing the right one for your teeth. And there are several characteristics shared by the finest toothbrushes:
- Soft, Nylon Bristles: Hard-bristled brushes can damage enamel and irritate gums from orthodontics. Soft-bristled brushes clean as well without causing damage.
- Round-Ended Bristles: Rounded bristles help protect oral tissue from injury.
- Bristle Variety: Varying bristle lengths and widths (slim, etc.) help reach food and plaque-hiding places.
Easy-to-Grip Handle
Having a handle that isn’t too big or too little might make it challenging to get a firm grip on the brush. The brush handle you select for your child should be somewhat more oversized, giving them greater control over each brush stroke. For improved control, the grip of some brushes is made of silicone.
Manual vs. Powered vs. Sonic
“any of the three brushes can be suggested for orthodontic patients to maintain oral hygiene during fixed orthodontic treatment,” the authors write in the International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry (IJCPD). This is encouraging news, but it is contingent upon the appropriate usage of all three types of toothbrushes (sonic, powered, and manual).
More information about the three toothbrushes is provided below.
- Electricity is used to power both sonic and powered toothbrushes. Or they employ standard, disposable batteries.
- Sonic (and ultrasonic) brushes were superior to manual and oscillating, rotating powered brushes in the IJCPD investigation. The sonic waves produced have a high frequency, making them more effective in removing plaque and dislodging microorganisms.
- The least expensive option is a manual orthodontic toothbrush, which can be effective if you brush carefully and remove food particles stuck in your braces. Some of the most highly recommended manual toothbrushes with mounts will expressly state that they are designed for use with orthodontic appliances.
If you can afford a sonic and powered toothbrush, check for these features to monitor your brushing:
- Too-aggressive-brushing sensors.
- Every 30 seconds, you’re prompted to brush a new area.
- Two-minute stop-mode.
- Adaptive modes, such as tongue-cleaning, etc.
- A warning when the brush head needs replacing.
- A monitoring app uses Bluetooth.