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A clean, white, and healthy smile can be considered a status symbol: a sign of someone who has excellent habits, an excellent dentist, or both. But what about the tool that gets you there? Would you invest in a luxury toothbrush?
In case you’re tempted, we’ve scoured the web for the most exceptional non-electric toothbrushes that you can buy for $12 or a lot more!
If you replace your toothbrush as often as your dentist recommends, you should be going through at least four toothbrushes a year. Some people saw the environmental impact of this and decided to make a change. The Boie toothbrush uses a BPA-free reusable handle with replaceable rubber bristle heads. They claim the brush lasts twice as long as a standard toothbrush and it’s recyclable, which cuts down on waste and environmental impact.
Chrome isn’t just for your car anymore! If you’re looking for a more glamorous oral hygiene experience, the German home accessories company Decor Walther makes a chrome-plated toothbrush. This brush is actually a regular plastic brush with a metallic finish and doesn’t seem to have any health-related claims to fame. But if a blingy brush with make you brush more often, we’re all for it!
The earliest toothbrushes were made from bone and animal bristles as far back as the 1700s, and some manufacturers are trying to bring naturally-sourced materials back to dental hygiene. French company Buly makes toothbrushes with silk or badger bristles embedding in tortoiseshell-look acetate handles. Italian company Koh-i-Noor also makes badger bristle toothbrushes, but we’re not sure we can approve of their “very hard” boar bristle toothbrushes. Always opt for soft bristles to protect your enamel, whether natural or nylon!
If you’re looking to make a fashion statement while banishing tooth decay it won’t come cheap. Lifestyle designer Charles Darius offers toothbrushes in silver, black rhodium, gold plate, and 18kt solid gold. These brushes start at $390, but thankfully that’s just for the handle. To trim down waste (and cost!), the toothbrushes use disposable heads crafted from sustainable bamboo.
Note: We’re not endorsing any of the toothbrushes mentioned in this post, as not all of them have been tested by the ADA. We just wanted to share some interesting and surprising products with our patients.
No matter how much you spend on your toothbrush, the best toothbrush according to any dentist, is the one you use properly and frequently. A $4 toothbrush can be just as good as a $4,000 one, as long as you brush for a full 2 minutes twice a day. Brushing with good technique and attention to detail is the key to preventing tooth decay and gum disease and keeping your teeth white. Used correctly, any toothbrush is worth its weight in gold!
One of the challenges that we face as dentists and dental hygienists is the fact that many dental conditions are asymptomatic in the early stages. The word “asymptomatic” means that they don’t cause any symptoms that are noticeable, particularly to the patient. One of the most pernicious dental diseases that fits this description is gum disease, which can turn into periodontitis and eventually lead to crooked, loose, or failed teeth.
Dental professionals have expert training in identifying signs of trouble before something goes wrong, which is why it’s so important to see us for your regular checkups and cleanings. In the meantime, you can make a huge difference in your own dental health by being on the look-out for gum disease warning signs before they become symptoms.
A lot of people see a little blood when they floss or brush. This is very common, but that doesn’t mean it’s normal! Any blood when you brush or floss can be a sign of trouble, even if you don’t have any other symptoms such as swelling or discomfort.
If you notice that your teeth seem to look longer than they used to, you may have gum recession. Receding gums is one of the early signs of gum disease, which is caused by an infection of the tissues around your teeth, your gums and bone. As the infection progresses it forms a pocket that pulls your gums away from your teeth. Eventually the roots of your teeth, which aren’t protected by enamel, can become exposed, causing sensitivity and leaving them vulnerable further damage from cavities.
Gums can get puffy and inflamed during the early stages of gum disease without necessarily causing discomfort. The good news is this sign can appear when you still just have gingivitis that hasn’t turned into periodontitis yet.
If you notice any of these signs, please let us know as soon as possible. Gum disease is reversible in its early stages, but once it progresses into periodontitis it becomes a chronic disease that can only be managed, not cured.
It should come as no surprise that some of the worst dental situations we see are in patients who do not see the dentist regularly. And the longer someone has been away from the dentist, the harder it is to get back in the habit, whether it’s a matter of cost, time, or quite simply, guilt at not having been in a while. We always love to see patients, no matter how long it’s been, and we’re all about preventing pain and discomfort. So here are a four vital reasons that you should never miss a teeth cleaning appointment!
Preventive dental care is key to keeping you comfortable and saving you unwanted expense in the future! When you come in for a teeth cleaning we also examine your entire mouth to check for potential trouble spots before they turn into something bigger, like a cavity or a root canal. We have the expertise to identify issues that may not even be causing symptoms yet. Just like anything in life, dental health problems are more easily and affordable to fix early on when they’re small!
Despite the fact that you go to one kind of doctor for a physical and a different kind of doctor to look after your oral health, the two are deeply connected! Did you know that the plaque on your teeth is the same kind of plaque that is found in the arteries of people with heart disease? And preventable dental diseases like periodontitis (gum disease) have been linked to stroke and heart attack too. Getting a professional cleaning on a regular basis helps clear away plaque, tartar, and bacteria that you simply cannot remove with brushing and flossing alone. Taking care of your dental health is a vital part of your overall healthcare!
We know that choices about dental care often come down to cost. Most dental insurance covers preventive care, including teeth cleanings and exams, at very little cost or no out-of-pocket cost at all. Even when these services aren’t completely covered, the cost is very small compared to the cost of fixing a problem later! If you don’t have insurance, many dental practices offer discounts to help make dentistry more affordable. Ask about our current offers next time you see us or talk to us. No matter what, we have your smile covered!
The idea that dentistry only takes place during regular business hours is starting to change. We always make an effort to make sure working patients and students don’t have to take time off to see us for cleanings. But we can only accommodate your schedule if you tell us about it! Be honest with the dentist, hygienist or front desk when scheduling your next appointment about what times are most convenient for you. You may be surprised about when we can fit you in.
