Many people consider dental powders to be something old-fashioned as the effectiveness of modern toothpastes is very satisfying for proper dental care. However, sometimes tooth powders do their job better than any toothpaste. The composition of tooth powders is based on finely powdered abrasive elements (such as chalk or calcium phosphates) and a detergent or sweetening agent (essential flavored oils, sugar, menthol, etc.). Some tooth powders also contain bicarbonate which is perfect for whitening our teeth. At the same time, in contrast to so popular toothpastes, dental powder does not contain fluoride and xylitol: important chemicals that can prevent tooth decay.

The first examples of dental powder appeared in the end of the eighteenth century in the Great Britain. The powder was made of calcium carbonate (powdered chalk), sometimes mixed with magnesium carbonate, brick dust, porcelain dust and other abrasive substances. To make the taste of the powder more pleasant and soft, the pharmacists and dentists used to add menthol oil, anise oil, cinnamon oil or oil of cloves. In those times such tooth powders were quite expensive because only rich people could afford using a toothbrush for oral hygiene: poor people were still cleaning their teeth with their fingers.

Nowadays, advanced technologies of contemporary dentistry allowed receiving very powerful dental mixtures from only natural elements that are as much effective as chemicals, but do not harm our health. Modern tooth powders contain therapeutic essential oils (such as tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, peppermint, etc) that reduce bad breath, have very good antiviral and antibacterial effects, as well as different sea salts with useful microelements and micronutrients. Some dental powders are enriched with the vitamins and minerals that can rejuvenate the tissues in mouth.

Therefore, the advantages of dental powders include lower costs, greater cleansing power and the absence of dangerous chemical agents (which are sometimes carcinogen and very harmful to our organism). Many specialists underline that modern toothpastes contain a great variety of dangerous chemicals (including the soaps, mutagens, toxins, etc.) and using such pastes can bring to various allergies, problems with digestive system and other serious diseases. That is why some dentists tend to recommend children below 6 to use only tooth powders based on natural elements.

Nevertheless, toothpastes with their moderate abrasive effects, more effective chemical content and a great variety of tastes remain unbeatable competitors of dental powders. Moreover, being more popular and highly demanded, toothpastes can be considered as generally more effective against various new resistant dental bacteria. There are a number of large powerful manufacturers such as Colgate, Unilever and the others, which spent millions of dollars for medical researches and improving the quality of their products. Taking into account all the above, it is possible to come to the conclusion that the best strategy for effective oral hygiene can be keeping both modern soft toothpastes and natural powerful dental powders in your bathroom. By using a toothpaste one day and dental powder the other day you can enjoy the specific benefits of both these mixtures for effective dental care and keep you teeth clean and healthy.

Tags: dental care, dental powder, tooth brushing, toothpaste, toothpowder

Posted: August 18th, 2008 under Effective Brushing.
Comments: none

The majority of us already know what toothbrushes are better: manual or powered ones. However, not many people understand that the right answer on this question is: the one which you actually use and find the most effective. Undoubtedly, powered toothbrushes can be considered advantageous only because they are newer and more expensive than old-fashioned manual ones. That is why a great deal of us prefer using electric toothbrushes, believing that more costly option is the best and the healthiest. The novelty of such toothbrushes also motivates people for more serious approach to daily dental care procedures.

The market of powered toothbrushes has been developing very fast, and nowadays the variety of electric toothbrushes can be compared to the variety of manual ones. You can find rotating, vibrating, oscillating, pulsating, counter-rotational and other types of electric toothbrushes, available in our shops and pharmacies. When choosing between an electric and manual toothbrush, take into account professional recommendations of your dentist and learn more about the pros and cons of both types of the toothbrushes.

The advantages of electric toothbrushes (in comparison with manual):

• Electric toothbrushes last longer than manual ones.
• Brushing with powered toothbrushes require minimal efforts and less brushing force, that is why they are especially suitable for children.
• Electric toothbrushes cause less damage to your gums and tooth enamel because the majority of them have pressure sensors.
• Brushing with electric toothbrush requires minimal skills.
• Powered toothbrushes can be effective for those people who have some problems with making the movements necessary for proper brushing (for example, people with arthritis or other physical limitations).
• Buzzing effects of electric toothbrushes have a special positive influence on your teeth that can hardly be achieved using a manual toothbrush.
• The majority of powered toothbrushes have timer, therefore, your toothbrush can let you know when two minutes necessary for effective brushing are up.
• Also, the majority of electric toothbrushes come with toothpaste dispenser.
• Generally, the handles of electric toothbrushes are more ergonomic and comfortable for a firm grasp.

The disadvantages of electric toothbrushes (in comparison with manual):

• Powered toothbrushes are bulky.
• Electric toothbrushes are more expensive than manual ones. The prices for modern powered toothbrushes vary from 30 to 120 dollars.
• It is harder to maneuver electric toothbrushes as effectively as manual ones.
• Since not much of efforts are required, frequently people rely only on vibration and rotation of power toothbrush bristles and fail to clean their teeth and mouth properly.
• As all the electric toothbrushes need battery replacement or recharging, they can be less suitable for traveling.
• Electric toothbrushes can not clean your tongue as good as manual ones because electric toothbrushes do not come with a tongue scraper.
• People with problematic and very sensitive teeth have to use manual toothbrushes as it is impossible to find electric toothbrushes with soft and extra-soft bristles.

Therefore, depending on your personal preferences, you can use either manual or electric toothbrush - both of them will be effective if you like brushing your teeth and do really care about your dental situation. All you have to remember is the fact that not the type of your toothbrush, but the way you brush your teeth, as well as the frequency and duration of your brushing sessions are the most important factors for effective oral hygiene and good health of your teeth.

Tags: dental care, electric toothbrush, manual toothbrush, powered toothbrush, tooth brushing, toothbrush

Posted: July 29th, 2008 under Effective Brushing.
Comments: none

A good quality toothbrush is an essential and irreplaceable instrument for maintaining proper oral hygiene. In our times, toothbrush is a first necessity both for children and adults, but sometimes one can get confused when trying to decide what type of toothbrush could be the best. Frequently, people tend to choose the brush of the shape and color they like, the brush that is affordable, or the one of the most advertised brand. However, making a decision about the most effective toothbrush requires a very considered approach and some basic knowledge.

Every toothbrush has a handle and a working part - a head with bristles. Nowadays, an assortment of toothbrushes of different shapes and sizes of the head, hardness and length of the bristles, sizes and shapes of the handle, are offered in our market of dental care products. The head of the toothbrush can be straight or angled. For many decades, only natural material was used for the bristles, but recently it was proven that synthetic fibers (such as nylon, derlon, nerlon, polyurethane, etc.) are better for the most effective brushing as these materials are less sensitive to moisture and do not get broken easily.

It is possible to classify manual toothbrushes according to the hardness of the bristles as the following:

• Hard toothbrushes can be used only by those people whose teeth and gums are in a very good condition. These toothbrushes can do the most powerful massage of your gums.
• Medium toothbrushes can be used by the majority of people, especially by those who have never had any problem like bleeding gums.
• Soft toothbrushes can be used by children, pregnant women, as well as by the people who have periodontal disease, diabetes or other health problems.
• Extra soft toothbrushes can be used by people with serious dental problems.

Tips for choosing the best toothbrush:

• First of all, it is necessary to find a toothbrush with the head of proper size. Large toothbrushes can not access all the areas in your mouth, that is why you should prefer the brushes with smaller heads (around 1 inch in length and 1/2 inch in width).
• Another way to select the toothbrush of a good size is to be sure that its head does not cover more than three of your teeth.
• The best decision is to get a toothbrush with synthetic bristles since this material creates the least favorable environment for dangerous dental bacteria to develop.
• Choose a toothbrush with the head of rounded shape; otherwise, the brush can damage your gums.
• Hardness of the bristles must be selected taking into account the specifics of your teeth and gums.
• Choose a toothbrush with long and wide handle plated with rubber or other material for a firm and comfortable grasp.

Keep your toothbrush in an upright position in a safe and well-ventilated place. Do not put it into any case or holder, better keep it in a cup or use a special toothbrush protector. Do not forget to replace your toothbrush after two or three months of usage, when the bristles started looking worn out or when you recovered after any type of mouth infection. Also, you can sanitize your toothbrush once a week by placing it in hydrogen peroxide or in your dishwasher that runs at a temperature over 120 degrees (use dishwasher soap, not a liquid detergent).

Tags: bristles, dental care, tooth brushing, toothbrush

Posted: June 15th, 2008 under Effective Brushing.
Comments: none