This Is The Way We Brush Our Teeth Mp3 Download EXCLUSIVE
Penny Dale
As soon as primary teeth start to erupt, which may be as early as 6 months of age, they are at risk of tooth decay. Therefore, the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry agree that brushing should begin as soon as the first tooth erupts.1, 2
Children younger than 3 years should use a smear of fluoridated toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice. Once children are 3 years or older, they can use a pea-sized drop of fluoridated toothpaste. Children should be assisted by or supervised by an adult and should be instructed to spit the excess toothpaste out after brushing.1
The American Dental Association recommends brushing teeth twice a day for two minutes using a fluoride toothpaste. Brushing for two minutes has been shown to achieve clinically significant plaque removal3 and use of a toothpaste containing fluoride enhances fluoride concentration levels in biofilm fluid and saliva, and is associated with decreased risk of caries and remineralization of teeth.4
Toothbrushes have been shown to harbor bacteria (including fecal coliform bacteria that can be released into the air when the toilet is flushed or can be spread to the toothbrush when the owner touches a contaminated surface before handling his or her brush).12 While toothbrushes have been shown to harbor bacteria, there is no evidence that these bacteria cause adverse health effects. Nonetheless, some patients may be interested in sanitizing their toothbrushes. While there is little data in the literature regarding toothbrush sanitizing, one study indicates that soaking a toothbrush in 3 percent hydrogen peroxide or Listerine mouthwash greatly reduces (i.e., 85 percent) bacterial load.13 Microwaving or putting toothbrushes in the dishwasher is not recommended as such high heat may damage the brush. Toothbrush sanitizer devices are available. Patients should look for a device that has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
A myriad of toothbrush head design options are available.14 One systematic review found that toothbrushes with either multi-level bristles or angled bristles perform better than the conventional flat-trimmed bristles in removing plaque.15 Although toothbrushes with medium bristles have been shown to be effective at biofilm removal, the ADA recommends use of a toothbrush with soft bristles because they minimize the risk of gingival abrasion.8
The ADA Seal Category section on ADA.org provides a list of manual toothbrushes that currently have the ADA Seal of Acceptance. The Seal of Acceptance indicates that the toothbrush is both safe and efficacious for the removal of plaque and reduction of gingivitis. In addition, ANSI/ADA standards are used for testing the safety of manual toothbrushes.16
If a toothbrush differs significantly from previously accepted toothbrushes, the Council may request clinical studies to demonstrate that the toothbrush could be used without supervision by an average adult to achieve a significant decrease in mild gum disease and plaque over a 30-day period.16
The ADA Seal Category section on ADA.org provides a list of powered toothbrushes that currently have the ADA Seal of Acceptance. The Seal of Acceptance indicates that the toothbrush is both safe and efficacious for the removal of plaque and reduction of gingivitis. In addition, ANSI/ADA standards are used for testing the safety of powered toothbrushes.18
If a toothbrush differs significantly from previously accepted toothbrushes, the Council may request clinical studies to demonstrate that the toothbrush could be used without supervision by an average adult to achieve a significant decrease in mild gum disease and plaque over a 30-day period.
To earn the Seal, a powered toothbrush goes through tests based on the ANSI/ADA standards for testing powered toothbrushes.18 These tests evaluate qualities like electrical safety, tuft retention, mechanical strength and chemical resistance. The Seal program also requires powered toothbrushes to complete a clinical study demonstrating that they are safe for use on oral hard and soft tissues as well as restorations and that they meet the requirements of a safety laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
Content on this Oral Health Topic page is for informational purposes only. Content is neither intended to nor does it establish a standard of care or the official policy or position of the ADA; and is not a substitute for professional judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ADA is not responsible for information on external websites linked to this resource.
A toothbrush is an oral hygiene tool used to clean the teeth, gums, and tongue. It consists of a head of tightly clustered bristles, atop of which toothpaste can be applied, mounted on a handle which facilitates the cleaning of hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. They should be used in conjunction with something to clean between the teeth where the bristles of the toothbrush cannot reach - for example floss, tape or interdental brushes.
They are available with different bristle textures, sizes, and forms. Most dentists recommend using a soft toothbrush since hard-bristled toothbrushes can damage tooth enamel and irritate the gums.[1]
Because many common and effective ingredients in toothpaste are harmful if swallowed in large doses and instead should be spat out, the act of brushing teeth is most often done at a sink within the kitchen or bathroom, where the brush may be rinsed off afterwards to remove any debris remaining and then dried to reduce conditions ideal for germ growth (and, if it is a wooden toothbrush, mold as well).
Some toothbrushes have plant-based handles, often bamboo. However, numerous others are made of cheap plastic; such brushes constitute a significant source of pollution.[2][3] Over 1 billion toothbrushes are disposed of into landfills annually in the United States alone.[4] Bristles are commonly made of nylon (which, while not biodegradable, as plastic is, may still be recycled) or bamboo viscose.
Before the invention of the toothbrush, a variety of oral hygiene measures had been used.[6] This has been verified by excavations during which tree twigs, bird feathers, animal bones and porcupine quills were recovered.
The predecessor of the toothbrush is the chew stick. Chew sticks were twigs with frayed ends used to brush the teeth[7] while the other end was used as a toothpick.[8] The earliest chew sticks were discovered in Sumer in southern Mesopotamia in 3500 BC,[8] an Egyptian tomb dating from 3000 BC,[7] and mentioned in Chinese records dating from 1600 BC.
The Greeks and Romans used toothpicks to clean their teeth, and toothpick-like twigs have been excavated in Qin dynasty tombs.[8] Chew sticks remain common in Africa,[10] the rural Southern United States,[7] and in the Islamic world the use of chewing stick miswak is considered a pious action and has been prescribed to be used before every prayer five times a day.[11] Miswaks have been used by Muslims since the 7th century.[citation needed] Twigs of Neem Tree have been used by ancient Indians.[12][13] Neem, in its full bloom, can aid in healing by keeping the area clean and disinfected. In fact, even today, Neem twigs called datun are used for brushing teeth in India, although not hugely common.[14]
In the UK, William Addis is believed to have produced the first mass-produced toothbrush in 1780.[17][20] In 1770, he had been jailed for causing a riot. While in prison he decided that using a rag with soot and salt on the teeth was ineffective and could be improved. After saving a small bone from a meal, he drilled small holes into the bone and tied into the bone tufts of bristles that he had obtained from one of the guards, passed the tufts of bristle through the holes in the bone and sealed the holes with glue. After his release, he became wealthy after starting a business manufacturing toothbrushes. He died in 1808, bequeathing the business to his eldest son. It remained within family ownership until 1996.[21] Under the name Wisdom Toothbrushes, the company now manufactures 70 million toothbrushes per year in the UK.[22] By 1840 toothbrushes were being mass-produced in Britain, France, Germany, and Japan.[23] Pig bristles were used for cheaper toothbrushes and badger hair for the more expensive ones.[23]
Hertford Museum in Hertford, UK, holds approximately 5000 brushes that make up part of the Addis Collection. The Addis factory on Ware Road was a major employer in the town until 1996. Since the closure of the factory, Hertford Museum has received photographs and documents relating to the archive, and collected oral histories from former employees.[24]
The first patent for a toothbrush was granted to H.N. Wadsworth in 1857 (U.S.A. Patent No. 18,653) in the United States, but mass production in the United States did not start until 1885. The improved design had a bone handle with holes bored into it for the Siberian boar hair bristles. Unfortunately, animal bristle was not an ideal material as it retained bacteria, did not dry efficiently and the bristles often fell out. In addition to bone, handles were made of wood or ivory.[25] In the United States, brushing teeth did not become routine until after World War II, when American soldiers had to clean their teeth daily.[20]
During the 1900s, celluloid gradually replaced bone handles.[15] Natural animal bristles were also replaced by synthetic fibers, usually nylon, by DuPont in 1938. The first nylon bristle toothbrush made with nylon yarn went on sale on February 24, 1938. The first electric toothbrush, the Broxodent, was invented in Switzerland in 1954.[26] By the turn of the 21st century nylon had come to be widely used for the bristles and the handles were usually molded from thermoplastic materials.[6]
Johnson & Johnson, a leading medical supplies firm, introduced the "Reach" toothbrush in 1977.[27] It differed from previous toothbrushes in three ways: it had an angled head, similar to dental instruments, to reach back teeth; the bristles were concentrated more closely than usual to clean each tooth of potentially cariogenic (cavity-causing) materials; and the outer bristles were longer and softer than the inner bristles. Other manufacturers soon followed with other designs aimed at improving effectiveness.[28]In spite of the changes with the number of tufts and the spacing, the handle form and design, the bristles were still straight and difficult to maneuver. In 1978 Dr. George C. Collis developed the Collis Curve toothbrush which was the first toothbrush to have curved bristles. The curved bristles follow the curvature of the teeth and safely reach in between the teeth and into the sulcular areas.[29]
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