Toothbrushes

Alongside toothbrushes, toothpastes are the most common and best-known aids of daily oral hygiene. Toothpastes contain a combination of many different ingredients, such as surfactants, fluorides, abrasives, plant extracts, antibacterial additives and much more

Special toothpastes for children, with a lower fluoride content, or for patients whose flow of saliva is reduced because of medication, or who suffer from sensitive tooth necks, round off the very wide range

The abrasives in toothpastes clean and polish the teeth. Discoloration, deposits from smoking and soft coatings are removed by these abrasive particles. Depending on their size (grain, RDA value), combined with a wrong brushing technique (scrubbing), the hard tooth substance can be damaged. Surfactants create foam and support the cleaning effect. Fluorides promote the remineralisation of the teeth; plant extracts have an anti-inflammatory effect

The prevention staff at dental practices give individual recommendations for suitable toothpastes

Fluoride gels

More effective than rinses are fluoride gels, used once a week in addition to brushing

With such a wide range on offer, choosing the right toothbrush is not easy. As a rule a soft to medium brush is preferable. Plastic bristles can be rounded off during manufacture. The advantages are a lower risk of injury and quick drying of the brush, which reduces the risk of bacteria settling on the bristles. A small head makes it easier to reach every area of the mouth. The toothbrush should be replaced every six to eight weeks

In terms of cleaning effect, the electric toothbrush is clearly superior to the manual one. It makes effective, thorough dental care possible even for older patients whose manual dexterity is already limited. For the moderately practised user in a hurry, a so-called sonic toothbrush is worth recommending. The time spent brushing with an electric brush should, however, be just as long as with a manual one