Oral Hygien

Manual Toothbrush

Instrument used for removal of soft microbial dental plaque that forms on tooth surfaces after professional cleaning and personal.

OBJECTIVES
1. Remove the plate and stop the formation of this
2. Clean teeth of food, debris and stains
3. Stimulate the gingival tissues
4. Apply toothpaste ingredient designed to fight cavities, periodontal disease or sensitivity

PARTS
It consists of two parts:

1) HEAD

• The head is formed by a set of bristles grouped into tufts.
• Must be small to access any part of the mouth.
• By looking sideways toothbrush are four basic profiles:
  1. Concave: Useful to improve the cleanliness of the buccal surfaces.
  2. Convex: Useful to improve the hygiene of the lingual surfaces.
  3. Flat.
  4. Multilevel (wavy and denticulate) showed greater efficacy than other brushes.

Looking at a cross-section profile and the number of heads we have:

2) BRISTLES. We can classify it according to:

• Form: Preferably free ends rounded to avoid injury to soft tissues.
• Quantity: Distributed between 2 and 3 rows of tufts. Each row contains 10 or 12 tufts are spaced from each other, to enable them to bow and access to all areas of the mouth.
• Firmness, texture or hardness: Media not to damage the gums.
• Material: Recommended artificial bristles of nylon, in order to standardize the elasticity and diameter.

3) NECK
You can have different angles:

 
4) HANDLE:
The handle design has been modified in order to provide comfort and compliance during brushing, improving it. There are various designs depending on the handle. It should be as light as possible for easier handling.

10 Oral Hygiene Techniques

1) BRUSH WITH HORIZONTAL MOVEMENTS: SCRUB

• It is the most widespread technique for its simplicity.
• The bristles are placed at an angle of 90 ° to the tooth surface, and are made on the handle repeated small movements back and forth horizontally over the entire arch. Occlusal surfaces, lingual and palatal brush with open mouth and the buccal surfaces, with the mouth closed.
• Indications: Children, marked by the dental anatomy.
• Adverse effects: Recessions and alterations of the CEJ.

2) BASS (sulcus technical)

• Objectives: This is the most effective in cleaning the gingival sulcus (reaching a depth of 0.5 mm subgingival). For removal of adjacent plaque and subgingival margins, and periodontal maintenance and prevention of caries.
• It was the first to focus on removing plaque and debris in the gingival sulcus using a combination of toothbrush and dental floss unwaxed.
• Original technique: We introduce the bristles at the gingival margin at an angle of 45° toward the apex to the longitudinal axis of the tooth, and without their move, it makes a move short (about 2mm) reciprocating anteroposterior (horizontal).
• Modified technique: Same as the original, but after making the anteroposterior vibration, rotating the brush head moving occlusal applying unn. Movements must be very short so that the bristles to flex about its own axis but that the ends are not moved from the support points. It should go in pairs brushing piece, following a sequence. In the face of the teeth make chewing movements quick scrubbing to remove all traces of food.
• Indications: periodontal patients and adults.
• Adverse effects: gingival retraction.
• Contraindicated: In patients with sudden brushing habits and thin gingival biotype.

3) OF STILLMAN or VIBRATORY

• Objective: Technical vibrational initially developed to stimulate and massage on the gums.
• It positions the brush head apically obliquely, with the bristles located at the gingival margin and part of the tooth surface. A small pressure is performed with a vibratory motion without moving the brush to its original position.

4) OF PROPERTY OR ROTATION STILLMAN

The brush is placed with the bristles directed distally at an angle of 45° to the longitudinal axis of the tooth, partially covering it, making a little pressure vibrating brush head rotates progressively towards occlusion.

5) OF CHARTERS

• Objective: Technical vibrational pressure to clean interproximal areas.
• The brush bristles are placed at an angle of 45° (diagonal) to the occlusal surface to the longitudinal axis of the tooth, locating the bristles between the teeth, without resting on the gums. Both jaws are in occlusion. It takes a vibratory movement of gentle pressure and small circular movements (from back to front), trying to make the terminal part of the bristles contact the gingival margin, move the brush from the buccal aspect, keeping the pressure and making rotating movements small reciprocating.
• Note: Sick patients with periodontal and interdental papillae retracted for ease of interproximal penetration.

6) OF HIRSCHFELD

• Objective: Technical vibration to stimulate and massage on the gums and thorough cleaning of the tooth.
• It is the same technique as the Charters but not both jaws are in occlusion, facilitating the movement and increasing control and stability. The brush bristles are placed in a 45° angle to the occlusal surface to the longitudinal axis of the tooth, locating the bristles between the teeth, without resting on the gums, and perform vibratory movements with gentle pressure, and rotational movements to and fro small.

7) HIT BACK WITH OR MONEY OR ROLLER (or money back pressure)

• Objective: Removal of plaque from the gum and tooth, with special emphasis on the gingival sulcus.
• The bristles are placed parallel to the attached gingiva, head of the toothbrush to level the occlusal plane. Then, turn the wrist to bend the bristles against the gum first and then against the labial surface, making a rotation to the incisal edge or occlusal surfaces, making cleaning the gingival tooth surfaces. The back pressure is repeated at least 5 times before proceeding to the next site.
• Adverse effects: Possible trauma to the mucogingival junction and alveolar mucosa.

8) LEONARDO

• Objectives: To stimulate the gums and clean the buccal surfaces of posterior teeth.
• Simple Vertical brushing movements (up-down).

9) SMITH-BELL (Physiological technique)

• Objectives: physiological autoclisis to remove plaque.
• The bristles are placed at the height of the incisal edge or occlusal surfaces at an angle of 90 degrees, and moving in its action sweeping or cleaning of the gum.

10) FONES or CIRCULAR METHOD

• Objectives: it is achieved plaque removal and at the same time, massage the gums and tongue brushing.
• Large circular motions with your mouth closed, ranging from the gumline of the tooth top to bottom, the handle remains parallel to the line of occlusion and the bristles are located perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tooth.
• Directions: The recommended technique in younger children, given the lower skill at making tooth brushing.

The importance of caring for your gums:

Electric Toothbrush vs. Manual Brush

ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH
Instrument used for removal of soft microbial plaque deposits.
Most electric toothbrushes are no more effective than manual toothbrushes. The exception are the models with rotation and oscillation, including several electric toothbrushes from Braun Oral B series, but still these brushes are performing slightly better than a regular manual brush. Research indicates that the manner in which to perform brushing is more important than the brush selected. For patients with limited dexterity, dentists believe that an electric toothbrush can be particularly beneficial.

How to brush your teeth with an electric toothbrush:

Our recommendation: