With so many different designs of toothbrushes flooding the supermarket shelves, people often wonder if a specific kind of toothbrush is better than the rest. The truth is, there is no “ideal” toothbrush and what best works for you may not be the best for someone else!

Toothbrushes can be manual or powered/electric. The best toothbrush for you is the one you can use most effectively for removal of dental plaque from most areas of the mouth.

Manual toothbrushes are the most popular, and can be classified based on their bristle size as hard, medium, soft and ultra-soft. Generally, soft bristles are recommended for most people, as they are gentle on the enamel and gum tissue, and result in less wear or gum recession. When the bristles start showing signs of wear, it is time to change the brush. People who brush over-vigorously and have sensitive teeth as a result, or have had gum surgery recently, would benefit from using an ultra-soft toothbrush.

Handle designs and brush head sizes also vary considerably. While ‘regular’ straight handle toothbrushes are acceptable, many people can reach far back in the mouth to areas such as lower molars’ inner surfaces when they use toothbrushes with angled handles. A thick “ergonomic” handle design helps improve the grip and maneuverability; helpful for young children. The size of the brush head should generally be selected according to the jaw size; children’s brushes have smaller heads. A tapered brush head design is often useful in reaching hard to reach areas, such as around the wisdom teeth. Overall, a toothbrush brand with a seal of approval from the American Dental Association would make a good choice.

Electric toothbrushes have electrically operated rotating or oscillating heads. While the ADA considers both manual and powered toothbrushes to be equally effective in plaque removal, many people do prefer electric toothbrushes. The gentle massage produced from the vibrations has a soothing effect, and many have a timer attached, which helps users keep track of brushing time. As your local dentist will tell you,” the ‘right way’ is more important than the ‘right brush’!”

• Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums.

• Move the brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes.

• Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.

• Use the “toe” of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke.

• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.

• Reprinted in part from the American Dental Association “Caring For Your Teeth and Gums” guide.

Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.

Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.

When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.

Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up and down motions.

Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth. Don’t forget the backside of your last tooth.

When flossing, establish a regular pattern. Do the top half on one side, then the other. Move to the bottom half on one side, then the other. This way you’re less likely to miss any teeth.

You may experience sore or bleeding gums for the first five or six days that you floss. This should stop once the plaque is broken up and the bacteria removed. If bleeding does not stop, call your dentist. Improper flossing may be banning your gums.

Persons who have trouble handling floss may wish to try a commercial floss holder or an interdental cleaning aid. Interdental cleaning aids include picks, sticks or brushes used to remove plaque from between teeth. Your dentist can explain the proper use of these implements.

• Reprinted in part from the American Dental Association “Caring For Your Teeth and Gums” guide.

Daily brushing and cleaning between teeth are important to your dental health because they remove plaque. Plaque is a thin, colorless, sticky film that constantly forms on your teeth.

When you eat foods containing sugars and starches, the bacteria in plaque produce acids, which attack tooth enamel. The stickiness of the plaque keeps these acids in contact with teeth. After many such attacks, the enamel breaks down and a cavity forms.

If plaque is not removed with daily brushing, it eventually hardens into calculus (tartar). As calculus forms near the gum line, gums can become irritated and inflamed. They become swollen and may bleed. The gums begin to pull away from the teeth and form pockets that usually become infected. If gum disease is not treated promptly, the bone supporting the teeth is destroyed and healthy teeth may be lost.

It may surprise you to know 50% of adults over age 18 and 75% of adults over age 35 have some degree of gum disease. It’s never too early to start fighting back. Your dental team can remove calculus from your teeth and treat gum disease that has already appeared. But daily dental care is in your hands.

• Reprinted in part from the American Dental Association “Caring For Your Teeth and Gums” guide.