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Dr. Dave's Guide to the Growing Glut of Gum Gadgets and Gizmos
David Molina D.D.S.With 80% of the adult population experiencing some degree of periodontal (gum) problems, one would think someone somewhere would have a high tech solution. Something that hums and beeps and has digital read-outs, and perhaps even an autopilot function. Something a lot more intriguing, effective, and of course, expensive, than the old boring toothbrush and floss routine.
There are now available to consumers a number of intriguing and effective alternatives to the toothbrush and yes, they are more expensive. Are they worth it? Read on.
Electric toothbrushes have been around for decades. The basic design has been that of a standard toothbrush, with some sort of electric motor that causes the bristles to vibrate or oscillate up and down. These forerunners of today's current generation of high tech toothbrushes were about the equivalent of a standard, manual toothbrush in effectiveness. They may have even had a slight edge because of the novelty factor - since they were new and different, people tended to use them more often, at least initially. But all in all, no big deal.
Things changed with the introduction of the Interplak toothbrush. The Interplak had a unique design - the bristles had a reciprocal rotation (they rotated to and fro, rapidly), and could reach between better than the manual toothbrush or the older electric models. The average person could now do a much better job, in a shorter period of time. The main drawback of the Interplak is that, in my experience, mechanical failure are very common. The ones that I have owned died after three to six months service.
Several newer products have been introduced, each with some very positive points. I like the Rotadent - this has a fairly small soft tip-shaped brush, similar to an artists' paintbrush - which enters between the teeth (a key area to clean) very nicely and effectively. A slight disadvantage is that since it is fairly small it takes a while to get it around to all the surfaces of the teeth.
My favorite toothbrush to date is the Braun Oral B. It has a round, medium sized rotating head that is just the right size - small enough to get the hard to get areas, and large enough to clean a whole tooth at a time. It seems to be very effective and thorough, and the German engineering seems to be superior to Interplak's.
A close second is the very new Sonicare. This is a unique design, as there are no moving parts. The nylon bristles are vibrated by an ultrasonic hum (this is the one that beeps and hums). It sounds like a tuning fork. It seems to be very effective, and theoretically, since the bristles are vibrating and not rotating there should be less wear on the tooth - this could be an advantage if a person has experienced tooth erosion (notching or wearing of the root). The disadvantages are minor and subject to personal preference - some find the head to be a bit large; sometimes the gumline will be a bit ticklish to the touch; and there is a bit more splatter due to the misting effect. But these aside, it seems to be very effective, and if you are musically inclined and want to hum along with your toothbrush, this is the one to buy.
If you choose to use any of these (or other) mechanical toothbrushes, there are certain common principles to keep in mind. I believe the average person will improve their brushing effectiveness using any of these devices. Persons with limited dexterity due to arthritis, hand or wrist problems will benefit greatly. However, as good as these devices are, none can reach all the way between teeth the way floss does, so they cannot be considered a floss replacement. They must be used with floss. Sorry about that. An ultrasonic floss instrument is on the horizon but we'll have to see how the research findings pan out.
One must be careful with mechanical toothbrushes to not get carried away and exert excessive abrasive force on the teeth, which could cause wear and even sensitivity. A light touch is all that is needed. Avoid bearing down on the tooth and stalling the engine, and avoid any abrasive toothpastes such smoker's brands or using baking soda.
Remember to brush the tongue and the biting surfaces of the teeth - I use a standard toothbrush for this. This helps eliminate bacteria that can cause bad breath. Maintain the unit according to the manufacturer's instructions. Batteries need to be recharged, and can be fussy if they get wet. Remember to replace the head of the toothbrush when it gets worn - a dog-eared brush is not very effective. Rinse and store the brush head so it dries out after use. And don't forget to floss.
So what's the bottom line? Costs range between $50 to $150 for one of these units - but they come with two heads so a couple can use them. Brushing with them is more effective for the average person, the teeth feel very smooth, and used properly, mechanical toothbrushes can enhance one's homecare.
I think that is a good investment.
