Sound Bite

ANGLED heads, raised bristles, rounded ends, oscillating tufts, changing colours... whew! Brushing teeth was never as bewildering as it is n...

ANGLED heads, raised bristles, rounded ends, oscillating tufts, changing colours8230; whew! Brushing teeth was never as bewildering as it is now, going by the array of oral hygiene products in the market. For all that though, experts still put more faith in the hand behind the toothbrush. The bottomline: Scrubbing off the bacteria that cause cavities.

Why is teeth-brushing essential?
Basically to avoid build-up of plaque, the sticky germs responsible for cavities, gum disease and, ugh! bad breath. Plaque makes acids from carbohydrates within 20 minutes of the food passing through your mouth. These acids attack the calcium in the tooth enamel, causing cavities.8217;

Does the toothbrush really make a difference?
Technique is far more important than tool in this case. The ideal toothbrush should have a small head 18217;8217;x1/28217;8217; to access all areas, a long, wide handle for a firm grasp and soft nylon bristles with rounded edges. Place the toothbrush beside your teeth at a 45 degree angle, and gently brush back and forth. Brush both sides of the teeth, the tongue and be especially thorough with chewing surfaces and between teeth.

How long should I brush my teeth and when?
Here8217;s a shocker: It isn8217;t essential to brush your teeth as soon as you wake up. According to Dr M Diwan, chairman of the Dental Department at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, brushing is essential after meals. Since it may not be possible to brush after lunch, 8216;8216;one needs to brush his/her teeth after breakfast and before going to bed,8217;8217; he says. And if you can8217;t brush after a meal say, at work, make sure you rinse your mouth out.

And as for the duration of brushing your teeth, go by the time of a song on the radio. Just don8217;t choose an eight-minute whopper like Kabhi To Nazar Milao!

Are electronic toothbrushes recommended?
Electronic toothbrushes are in no way better than manual toothbrushes. But they do motivate some reluctant brushers to clean their teeth as often as they should, say doctors. They are recommended for people with limited manual dexterity, such as disabled or elderly people, and those who wear braces. They are advantageous because they cover more area faster.

What about those swivel-heads, changing-colour, all-angle-accessible brushes?
Doctors say these 8216;improvements8217; are largely cosmetic, useful only in so far as they put some pizzazz into this must-do step. Whatever kind of toothbrush you use, be sure to change it at the first sign of the bristles splaying or fraying. Not only are such toothbrushes ineffective, they may harbour harmful bacteria. And if you8217;ve been ill, throw away your toothbrush as soon as you recover.