By Olatunde Asagba • August 8, 2017 • 3 Comments
Warning: you may burn your hard toothbrush after reading this! Can you imagine using a pot scouring sponge as a washcloth for your face. Yep! That’s basically what using a hard toothbrush for brushing your teeth is.
Hard brushes do not adapt to the contour of the teeth and cannot clean efficiently. They are also too abrasive for the tissues of your teeth and gum. They basically take away much more than those stains that many use it to remove. This is why hard-brushes are rarely ever recommended by dentists for long term use.
There basically three basic ways that hard toothbrushes damage your gums:
One of the myths that people believe about dental care is that the harder you brush, the cleaner your tooth would be. It is therefore not so easy convincing yourself otherwise. So first of all, reassure yourself that a medium or soft toothbrush cleans just as well.
Armed with this information, kindly toss away all the hard toothbrushes that you have. Next, ensure you take your eyes off the massive display of hard toothbrushes that have flooded our markets.
Also, always make sure that you only buy recognised brands that actually give you the texture that they promise on the label. It is puzzling why some companies deceptively label their products soft or medium when they are actually hard! Apart from the textrue, there are other points you should note when getting your next toothbrush.
Are you bothered by sensitive teeth, receding gums, bad breath or any other dental issue? Just visit our dental centre at 26, Allen, Ikeja for a check and lasting treatment.
Dr. Olatunde Asagba is an alumna of the dental school at the prestigious University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She is passionate about public health issues and is actively involved in expanding healthcare access through telemedicine.
Comments