What type of toothbrush should you be using

You may be using the toothbrush you got from our office at your last recare appointment and that's great if you are.  It's a very good, soft manual brush.  But people often ask us if it's better to use an electric toothbrush.  The truth is, you can do a great job with a manual toothbrush if you know how to use it properly and take the time to brush with it the way you should.  That means brushing for 2 minutes each time you brush.  For many people this is where they fall short and get less than the best results.  With a power toothbrush the technique is simpler and the time is automatically measured for you.  The brushes we recommend and have available for purchase in our office have built-in timers that alert you every 30 seconds to change to another quadrant of your mouth.  In between the beeps all you need to do is hold the brush against your teeth and slowly move it across each surface pausing for a few seconds in each area.  No vigorous movement is needed, the brush does the work.  The top-of-the-line Oral-B that we sell even tells you when you are putting too much pressure on the brush.  This is a great feature, especially if you have problems with gum recession.

Research has shown a decrease in bleeding after 6 weeks of brushing with a power toothbrush compared to manual brushing.  So there is an advantange in health of tissues with the use of a powered brush.

The brushes we have available at our office are the top-of-the-line models from Oral-B and Sonicare.  Both have automatic timers, replaceable heads, rechargeable batteries with a recharging stand.  The Sonicare has a UV holder that helps to keep the brush heads disinfected in-between uses and sells for $100 (about $30 under retail).  The Oral-B brush comes in a kit with 4 brush heads, Pro-Health Mouthrinse, a tube of Pro-Health Toothpaste and a package of floss for $89 ($71 under retail).

These models are not available at the Iowa Falls Walmart, they only carry the lesser models from these brands.  If you're interested in purchasing a brush for yourself or as a gift for someone you know could use it, let us know at your next visit or stop in anytime.  There is no tax added to the purchase price.