Importance of Tooth Brushing

Brushing teeth; It is the most common mechanical means of personal plaque control in the world and is considered an important factor in the long-term maintenance of periodontal health. Effective periodic removal of dental plaque can not only prevent gingivitis, but also dissolve it. There is no doubt that using a toothbrush is essential for effective daily plaque removal. However, in order to effectively remove deposits from the teeth, the toothbrush-tooth cleaning composition must have some abrasiveness. Regardless of their specific characteristics, all toothbrushes have one thing in common, they don't last forever. Since toothbrushes are over-the-counter products, consumers are not given any specific instructions when purchasing them. There is little scientific data to indicate when a toothbrush should be replaced. A wide variation in replacement intervals has been reported, with an average of 2.5-6 months. Common sense dictates that a brush loses its effectiveness while brushing; the more brushing, the more it loses its capacity to remove plaque effectively. This is probably because the bent filament ends do not sufficiently disrupt the plate. It is difficult to determine exactly when a toothbrush should be replaced. The American Dental Association recommends doing it every 3-4 months or less if the bristles are frayed. Toothbrush packaging sometimes includes the manufacturer's recommendation that the toothbrush should be discarded after 3 months. If a person brushes for 2 minutes twice a day, 3 months could be equivalent to about 500 minutes of brushing per recommended lifetime of a toothbrush. Although research among dentists shows that 2-3 month replacement intervals are recommended, these recommendations do not seem to be based on solid scientific evidence. Interestingly, the recommended lifespan for a toothbrush seems to vary depending on the person or organization recommending it.