15/04/2019
About toothbrushes :
The toothbrush is an oral hygiene instrument used to clean the teeth, gums, and tongue. It consists of a head of tightly clustered bristle, atop of which toothpaste can be applied, mounted on a handle which facilitates the cleaning of hard-to-reach areas of the mouth.
Toothbrushes are available with different bristle textures, sizes, and forms. Most dentists recommend using a soft toothbrush since hard bristled toothbrushes can damage tooth enamel and irritate the gums. Toothbrushing is the most widespread mechanical means of per‐ sonal plaque control in the world and is considered to be an im‐ portant factor in the long‐term maintenance of periodontal health. Effective periodic removal of dental plaque may not only prevent gingivitis, but also resolve it.
Whatever their specific char‐ acteristics, all toothbrushes have one thing in common: they do not last forever. As toothbrushes are over‐the‐counter products, con‐ sumers are given no special instruction when buying them. There are little scientific data to indicate when a toothbrush should be re‐ placed a wide variation in replacement intervals has been reported, averaging 2.5‐6 months .Common sense dictates that a brush loses its effectiveness when it wears; the more it is worn, the more .it loses its capacity to remove plaque effectively. This is most likely because filament tips that are bent will not adequately disrupt the plaque.
It is difficult to determine exactly when a toothbrush should be replaced. The American Dental Association recommends every 3‐4 months or sooner if the bristles become frayed.
Toothbrush packaging sometimes includes the manufacturer’s advice that the toothbrush should be discarded after 3 months. If a person brushes for 2 minutes, two times a day, 3 months may be equivalent to pa‐ proximately 500 minutes of brushing per recommended lifetime of a toothbrush.
nterdental brush

Interdental Brushes🦷
An interdental or interproximal ("proxy") brush is a small brush, typically disposable, either supplied with a reusable angled plastic handle or an integral handle, used for cleaning between teeth and between the wires of dental braces and the teeth.
The use of interdental brushes in conjunction with tooth brushing, has been shown to reduce both the amount of plaque and the incidence of gingivitis when compared to toothbrushing alone. Although there is some evidence that after tooth brushing with a conventional tooth brush, interdental brushes remove more plaque than dental floss, a systematic review reported insufficient evidence to determine such an association.
Sulcabrush
A Sulcabrush is a type of toothbrush used specifically for cleaning along the gumline adjacent to the teeth. The bristles are usually shaped in a pointed arrow pattern to allow closer adaptation to the gums. A Sulcabrush is ideal for cleaning specific difficult-to-reach areas, such as between crowns, bridgework and crowded teeth. End-tufted brushes may also be used around fixed orthodontic appliances, such as braces.
End-tuft brush
The small round brush head comprises seven tufts of tightly packed soft nylon bristles, trimmed so the bristles in the center can reach deeper into small spaces. The brush handle is ergonomically designed for a firm grip, giving the control and precision necessary to clean where most other cleaning aids cannot reach. These areas include the posterior of the wisdom teeth (third molars), orthodontic structures (braces), crowded teeth, and tooth surfaces that are next to missing teeth. It can also be used to clean areas around implants, bridges, dentures and other appliances.
Chewable toothbrushes
A chewable toothbrush is a miniature plastic moulded toothbrush which can be placed inside the mouth. While not commonly used, they are useful to travelers and are sometimes available from bathroom vending machines. They are available in different flavors such as mint or bubblegum and should be disposed of after use. Other types of disposable toothbrushes include those that contain a small breakable plastic ball of toothpaste on the bristles, which can be used without water.
Ecological toothbrushes
Commonly, toothbrushes are made of plastic. Such brushes constitute a source of pollution. In order to reduce the environmental impact, some manufacturers have switched to using biodegradable materials and/or use replaceable heads. In order to avoid plastic altogether, alternative toothbrushes on offer consist of wooden handles (often bamboo) and bristles of bamboo viscose or pig bristles.
Electric toothbrush
Various electric toothbrush heads
It has been discovered that compared to a manual brush, the multi-directional power brush might reduce the incidence of gingivitis and plaque, when compared to regular side-to-side brushing. These brushes tend to be more costly. An electric toothbrush performs rotations of its bristles and cleans hard to reach places. Most studies report performances equivalent to those of manual brushings, possibly with a decrease in plaque and gingivitis although the electric version can be more comfortable.
