Good dental care includes brushing and flossing of your teeth and gums. However, there are hundreds of different types of toothbrushes on the market, and the average consumer can be overwhelmed when it comes to choosing the toothbrush that is right for their dental hygiene.
Manual
The oldest of the bunch, manual toothbrushes feature a hard handle with bristles on one end. Certain manual models may contain a tongue scraper. These kinds of toothbrushes often are cheap and come in many different colors and designs. When traveling, they are easy to throw into a suitcase or bag. A manual toothbrush can be difficult or painful to hold when someone has a problem with dexterity or arthritis.
Battery-Powered
This type of toothbrush often will contain a large-handled base that can hold two AA batteries. The bristles will vary and some will spin, while others simply move back and forth in a gentle pattern. Another type of battery-powered toothbrush features bottom bristles that are stationary like a manual toothbrush, while the upper bristles will spin in a circular fashion. The battery-powered brush can clean more effectively, but the bulky base may not be comfortable to hold for some users.
Sonic
Newer model toothbrushes use sonic power to clean teeth. Instead of spinning or moving in a predetermined pattern, the bristles will vibrate intensely to shake loose any hidden plaque and debris that are hiding between teeth. While other kinds of toothbrushes only will clean where the bristles can touch, sonic power will clean crevices that bristles can find. A sonic toothbrush is more powerful than battery-powered types because it is plugged into a household outlet.
Chewable
A chewable toothbrush is a small piece of plastic that has bristles on one end. They are used at times when water, toothbrush and toothpaste are not easily accessible. After a meal or simply to freshen your breath, pop in a chewable toothbrush, chew it for a few minutes, spit it out and you should have clean teeth and fresh breath. Chewable brushes should not be swallowed, and they are not meant to replace regular brushing and flossing.
Children's Toothbrush
Parents can buy a regular toothbrush for their children, but new brands of brushes are being made specifically to target kids. These toothbrushes can be battery powered, electric or manual, but the difference is the bright colors, shapes and designs of cartoon characters and special features that aid in brushing. Some of these features include music that plays as the kids brush and timers that tell your kids how long to keep brushing.
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