Caring for an Elderly Parent With Special Dental Needs

Caring for an Elderly Parent With Special Dental Needs

What Toothbrush Really Is Best?

Joe Lawrence

Every year, the number of choices for toothbrushes gets larger and larger. You can go with soft, medium, or firm. Battery powered, fully electric, and sonic models are all lined up in the drug store, screaming out their virtues. "Fights Plaque!" "Whitens Teeth!" "Prevents Cavities!" Between your children begging for the brushes that look like cartoon figures and your desire to promote dental health, you may feel the need to pull out your hair in the oral care aisle. Take a breath and calm down. Choosing the right brush for you and your family doesn't have to be that difficult.

ADA

With so many choices coming from so many manufacturers, you can easily get lost trying to decide which brushes are the most effective and of the best quality. You can feel pretty safe if you choose a model with the American Dental Association seal. The ADA is an independent organization dedicated to promoting dental health and has no investment in individual brands. Finding a brush with an ADA endorsement is a good place to start.

Children

You may believe that manual toothbrushes are best for kids, but an automatic model can actually be better. A young child has difficulty getting to all the places in their mouth. An automatic model helps them brush in these awkward spots. Experts recommend that the head of the brush be only slightly wider than the top section of your child's thumb so that it will fit everywhere that it needs to go.

Adults

Most dentists still recommend using toothbrushes with soft bristles, because they are better at removing plaque than harder bristles. When you choose a toothbrush, you should look for one with a smaller head. These models can easily get to your back teeth and hard-to-reach areas. The other features of the brush, such as handle type, are purely a matter of personal preference.Consider using an automatic model, simply because you may not have the power or flexibility to brush as well as it can. However, if you have veneers, you should avoid a sonic model because it can loosen your expensive dental work. Veneers can be more delicate than your natural teeth.

With so many bright and inviting choices out there, choosing a toothbrush can be frustrating. Remember, you do not need all the bells and whistles to have a clean and well-cared for mouth. A plain, soft-bristled toothbrush that fits your mouth works perfectly well, although automatic brushes do have some advantages over the manual type. Take your time and buy the models that suit you and your family.


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Caring for an Elderly Parent With Special Dental Needs

Caring for an elderly parent tends to be tough enough without the added stress of dealing with dental implants or dentures. But, the prospect is not the end of the world—there are many things you can do to ensure that your parent's dental health is not compromised without having to spend a lot of personal time doing the care yourself. Between working with the right dentist, hiring a service provider for part time work, and giving your parent the tools he or she needs to care for his or her own dental health at home, you'll find that dental health for your loved one isn't so tough or time consuming after all. Hopefully you are able to get the support and information you need right here.

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