At Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry, Dr. Gordon West is often asked how to choose the most basic tool of oral hygiene, the toothbrush. Picking a toothbrush in Lafayette can be as difficult as choosing a paint color, and there seems to be just as many choices.
If you have visited the dental section of your local Lafayette grocery store or Boulder Walmart lately, you know what I am talking about. There are brushes with bristles of varying lengths, brushes that massage your gums, and brushes that change color when they are used up. (If I had to rate them purely on their fun factor, I would choose the Spiderman brush.)
Some toothbrush manufacturers claim their brushes freshen your breath or remove stains from your teeth. How do you choose?
One key factor is the firmness of the bristles. Hard bristles may be more effective for cleaning burnt steak off a grill or hard water deposits off a shower floor. However, this does not hold true for your teeth. Medium and firm brushes can damage your gums. Soft and extra-soft bristles are plenty stiff enough to clean plague, food particles, and surface stains from your teeth. Soft bristles also offer more flexibility for hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.
After having cosmetic dentistry work or oral surgery in Lafayette, especially anything involving soft tissue grafts, make sure you use an extra-soft brush and be careful!
When buying a toothbrush for a child in Lafayette, make sure the brush feels comfortable in their hand. If the size and angle feels awkward, the child will be less likely to use it long enough to clean all areas of the mouth. Children do not necessarily need a child-sized tooth brush. Some Lafayette kids can manage an adult size brush better than a short, narrow child size brush. If you are unsure, ask your Lafayette, CO dentist at Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry.
What about the electric types and water-shooters? Some Lafayette folks like the feeling of vibrating bristles or a mini-squirt gun blasting away at the plaque. Lafayette people with arthritis or other movement-inhibiting conditions can benefit from powered brushes which take some strain off hands and arm muscles.
Is your toothbrush doing the job? Schedule an exam with your Lafayette dentist at Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry.
At Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry, our dental hygienists instruct our Lafayette patients on proper brushing and flossing. If you haven’t experienced a dental deep cleaning at Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry, you don’t know how clean your teeth and gums can feel.
Schedule a thorough dental cleaning today by calling Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry at 303-665-5335. An outstanding feature of Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry is excellent patient care. We offer porcelain veneers and a full spectrum of restorative dental procedures.
