CHOOSING A TOOTH-BRUSH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23108, 6 February 1937, Page 22

CHOOSING A TOOTH-BRUSH

There was a time, before the influx of the low-grade bristle brush, when nearly everybody went to the chemist to buy their toothbrush. And many people are going back to their chemist once again, for the reason that they are buying real toothbrush—value for the money expended—and now know that a cheap toothbrush does not clean teeth effectively. It is an acknowledged fact among the dental profession to-day that the origin and progress of dental decay can be greatly minimised by the regular use of a suitable toothbrush. While dentists' opinions may vary a little as to the best type of <brush for use and the method of using it to best advantage, there is complete unanimity regarding the four main faults found in the average toothbrush and in its use. The four main points which need watching when you buy and use vour toothbrush are: 1. Many types of toothbrushes are too large. 2. Some brushes are too soft to b? of service. ' 3. The same brush is put into use night and morning. 4. The bristles are usually pushed through the interproximal spaces between the teeth, as they should be for thorough cleansing of the teeth. Just recall the various kinds of toothbrushes you have had anil you will find that nine out of ten of them have been too large—with too much bristle to enable them to be inserted between the teeth. It is the proper cleansing of these surfaces which is so necessary in order to keep your teeth in a perfect condition, because this removes the accumulations of food debris which form there, and at the same time massages the gums, thereby increasing the flow of blood to these tissues. It is this lack of gum-stimulation which often makes the wav easv for the onset of pyorrhoea. This way of cleansing between the teeth is best carried out when the toothbrush is dry and hard, otherwise it is difficult to insert the bristles between the teeth. Also this should be done in both directions, from the inside surface outwards as well as from the lip surface inwards. Suitable brushes of this tyoe for the effective cleansing of the teeth, can be obtained from vour chemist for 18d to 2s apiece. Dentists strongly advocate keeping two brushes for alternate use. The constant use of one toothbrush results in the bristles being always semi-moist, soft and too flexible. When two brushes are used alternately, each brush has a chance to become dry and hard. —An exchange.