Good oral hygiene habits allow you to keep your smile pearly white, fresh, and healthy. But proper oral hygiene protects your gums from infections as well. Lingering plaque from poor oral hygiene will allow oral bacteria to travel with greater ease to infect your gum tissue.
Gum disease will require periodontal therapy to get rid of since it will not go away on its own. So ideally, you should prevent contracting this infection in the first place.
This means prioritizing preventive periodontal care, which will entail good oral hygiene practices. In order to practice proper oral hygiene, you will need the right tools.
The type of toothbrush you use in this regimen can impact your oral health. Exercise caution when selecting a toothbrush so that you can see optimal preventive care for your smile. Find advice from your periodontist for choosing a toothbrush that promotes good gum health when you read on.
Look for a Soft-Bristled Toothbrush to Prevent Gum Irritation
You might think that hard toothbrush bristles can more thoroughly scrub your teeth clean compared to soft bristles. But this is not true. You should look for a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid irritating your gums or your tooth enamel.
Hard bristles can aggravate the gum tissue and cause uncomfortable bleeding. But cuts on the gums can create easy access for bacteria to infect the tissue as well. Prevent oral discomfort as well as gum disease by choosing a toothbrush with soft bristles.
Electric Toothbrushes Preserve Gum Health
An electric toothbrush proves more effective at removing harmful plaque and other residues from your teeth than a traditional manual one. The device relies on an automatic rotating brush head rather than a user scrubbing at their teeth themselves.
An electric toothbrush is designed to reach difficult spots on your smile’s surface rather than trusting you to clean your entire smile on your own. If plaque remains on your smile, bacteria can infect your gums with greater ease. Switching to an electric toothbrush can fight gum disease.
Plus, the gentle motion of the electric toothbrush will help you avoid your own potential for harsh brushing techniques. Then you can see a lower chance of gum recession, further protecting your gum health.
Keep Your Toothbrush in Good Shape
Your toothbrush will not last forever. Eventually, the bristles of your toothbrush will wear down. Then you will need to get rid of your toothbrush and replace it with one with fresh, strong bristles.
Using an old toothbrush risks a decrease in the ability to remove plaque from the teeth, which can prove disastrous for your oral health. You should replace a manual toothbrush every three or four months and an electric one every twelve weeks.
If the bristles of your toothbrush seem frayed, you will need to buy a new toothbrush sooner. Keep your toothbrush in good shape by using proper brushing and rinsing techniques and storing your toothbrush safely. Learn more about oral hygiene and gum health by calling your periodontist today.