Toothbrush and Toothpaste:

Toothbrush and Toothpaste:

 How to choose a best toothbrush for you:

Head size : Small.

Anatomic  grips : To help you make the correct tooth brushing mooves.

Bristles: Nylon.

The shape of Bristles: Rounded; to avoid damaging the gums.

Hardness of Bristles: Soft.

When to change your toothbrush?

1.  Every 3 to 4 months.
2.  Immediately after the bristles start to lose their natural position on the head of the toothbrush.
3.  After a cold or flue.

Toothbrush is a strictly personal item, do not share it with anyone else. That would increase the risk of infection transmission, due to exchange of body fluids and microbes between the users.

How to store your toothbrush?

Wash & rinse well the toothbrush to remove any remaining toothpaste,food debris & bacteria.

Store it in an upright position in a ventilated area to help drying.

 Do not cover the toothbrush head or put it in a closet, at least not before it dries compleatly,. The moisture that remains on the toothbrush may help the growth of bacteria.

 If your toothbrush is stored in the same holder with another person’s tooth brush,keep them separated to avoid cross contamination.

Toothpaste:- (Composition/Ingredients)

Sodium fluoride (NaF) / Sodium monofluorophosphate- SMFP(Na2PO3F)

The concentration of fluoride In a toothpaste for adults is 1000 to 1450 ppm maximum.

For children- 500 to 1000 ppm (to prevent cases of fluorosis)

a. Bactericidal agents: Triclosan (to kill bacteria)

b.  Bacteriostatic agents:  Zinc (Zinc chloride or Zinc citrate) ~ { to stop the growth of dental plaque bacteria by inhibiting their metabolism}

c. Surfactants (Detergents) & foaming agents à  Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) & Amoniun Lauryl Sulfate.

d. Anti-tartar agents as Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate.

e. De-sensitising agents (to relieve tooth sensitivity) à Strontium chloride, potassium citrate and potassium nitrate.

f. Abrasives: calcium phosphate (Chalk) & Alumina, Silicon dioxide (Silica), Titanium dioxide.

Baking soda (Sodium bicarbonate)

g. Teeth whitening agents: Hydrogen peroxide or Sodium carbonate.

Additional ingredients such as enzymes , Vitamins , herbs ,calcium , mouthwash etc.

Some tips on how to choose a toothpaste:

~  Choose a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride toothpastes are proven to prevent caries.

~ If you have a tooth sensitivity problem avoid the use of whitening toothpastes.

Choose the toothpaste that tastes and feels best for you.

If you find that certain ingredients in toothpaste are irritating to your teeth or gums, try changing toothpastes. If the problem continues, see your dentist.

Your children’s toothpaste:

   The fluoride concentration must not exceed 1000 ppm.

    Have a pleasant taste.

    Not to contain sugar.

    Have a pleasant & amusing appearance. 

Thank you for your patience.

Oral Hygiene and some tips:--

Oral hygiene includes all the processes for keeping the mouth clean and healthy. Good oral hygiene is necessary for the prevention of dental caries,periodontal diseases,bad breath and other dental problems.

The 3 main steps in maintaining good dental hygiene are:

 Brushing tooth
Flossing tooth
Visit your Dentist for regular check-up.

Effects of poor oral  hygiene :
The main purpose of dental hygiene is to prevent the build-up of plaque , the sticky film of bacteria that forms on the teeth. Bacterial plaque accumulated on teeth because of poor oral hygiene is the causative factor of the major dental problems.
Poor oral hygiene allows the accumulation of acid producing bacteria on the surface of the teeth. The acid demineralizes the tooth enamel causing tooth decay (cavities). Dental plaque can also invade & infect the gums causing gum disease & periodontitis.
hygiene both conditions, the final effect of poor oral hygiene is the loss of one or more teeth. You should not wait until a tooth is lost, just then to understand the importance of oral hygiene & preventive care.

Many health problems of the mouth, such as oral thrush, trench mouth, bad breath & others are considered as effect of poor dental hygiene. Most of these dental & mouth problems may be avoided just by maintaining good oral hygiene.

Importance of good oral hygiene:
Prevention is always better than treatment. The interesting part is that it can be achieved by dedicating only some minutes every day to dental hygiene care.
Unfortunately, most of us remember the importance of oral hygiene instructions only when a problem occurs. Research has shown that while patient activation can show an immediate improvement in oral hygiene habits , only a small percentage keeps the same standards six month later. Maintaining good dental hygiene should be a lifelong everyday habit.

Good oral hygiene is important to your overall well-being. Daily preventive oral care,with proper brushing and flossing,will help stop dental problems before they develop & are much less painful,expensive and worrisome than treating conditions that have been allowed to progress.It’s important to learn how to maintain good dental hygiene from early childhood.Parents should teach their children the proper use of oral hygiene products. Good oral hygiene should be a joined effort involving you and your dentist.

Ask your dentist how to maintain good oral hygiene. Your dentist and dental hygienist will give you the proper dental hygiene instructions and teach you the correct way of brussing and flossing.The dentist will identify your individual needs and help you biuld your own oral care plan.

Signs of good oral hygiene:
Good oral hygiene results in a mouth that looks and smells healthy.This means:

        Your teeth are clean and free of debris.
        Gums are pink and don’t hurt or bleed when you brush or floss.
        Bad breath is not a constant problem.

The most important oral hygiene instructions:
-->Brush your teeth at least twice a day or after every meal, with a fluoride toothpaste.
-->Floss your teeth at least once a day.
-->Watch your diet. Avoid sugar and limit snacks between meals.

Thank  you

                      Dr.Tuhin Sharma
                      B.D.S(DU)