Picking the right toothbrush is crucial to your oral health along with regular dental cleanings and visits to your hygienist.
Overview
Brushing your teeth regularly is very important for many reasons. Not only is it crucial for your short & long term oral health, but also helps you improve your overall health by ridding your mouth of harmful bacteria.
Cleaning your teeth daily can have many benefits including:
- Improved oral health
- Whiter teeth
- Fresher breath
- Reduced risk of gum disease and cavities
- Prevents future problems and higher dental bills
- Reduced risk of heart attack/stroke/diabetes
At Marlborough Dental Centre, our registered hygienists offer comprehensive dental cleaning services to complement your oral hygiene routine and ensure that your teeth and gums stay healthy for many years.
Picking the Right Toothbrush
While brushing daily is crucial to your oral health, it’s equally important to ensure that you have both the best technique and best brushes to begin with.
Always consider the following factors when selecting a toothbrush:
Firm or Soft
When it comes to firm or soft bristles, most professional hygienists recommend using a softer brush for cleaning your teeth.
Soft brushes:
- Won’t cause gum damage
- Will not cause bleeding
- Are best for removing plaque and debris along the gum line
Using bristles that are too hard can damage your gums and enamel and make your teeth more susceptible to damage.
Learn More: Bleeding or Irritated Gums
Shape or Size
The shape of the toothbrush makes no difference in how efficient the dental cleaning will be.
What matters is the SIZE. Small-headed brushes are preferable since they are able to reach all areas of the mouth.
For adults, a toothbrush with a half-inch wide and one-inch tall head would be the most efficient and easiest to use.
Handle
A good toothbrush should have a handle that’s long enough for you to comfortably hold in your hand.
There are different types of handles including:
- Flexible necks
- Non-slip grips
These can be selected depending on your preference. It’s important to choose carefully because a comfortable handle will make your teeth cleaning more effective.
Electric vs Manual
While electric toothbrushes are more expensive, most hygienists recommend using one over a manual toothbrush.
The motor ensures that you effectively clean your teeth many more times without placing too much pressure on the tooth.
Learn More: Manual vs Electric Toothbrush
Importance of Dental Cleanings
Even if you brush and floss daily, bacteria and plaque can build-up in those hard-to-reach areas, leaving your mouth susceptible to disease and infection.
Regular dental cleanings and checkups can drastically improve your chances of keeping your mouth healthy and disease-free.
Visiting your hygienist at least twice a year can help:
Prevent cavities
Plaque and tartar buildup is the leading cause of tooth decay and cavities. While plaque can be removed through brushing and flossing, tartar (a mineral buildup) can only be removed by a hygienist during a routine teeth cleaning.
Brighten your smile
Whiter teeth can result in a youthful, more beautiful appearance and can go a long way in making a great first impression.
If you don’t want to spend money to get them professionally whitened, having them cleaned at the dental office can get rid of any food/drink stains for a brighter, healthier smile.
Keep your breath fresh
Regular dental cleanings will keep your mouth bacteria-free and therefore, odor free! Freshen up that smile with consistent visits to your local hygienist.
Save you money
Restoration dentistry can be very expensive. Regular dental cleanings keep your mouth healthy and prevent any oral problems from getting out of hand, saving you a lot of money down the road.
Affordable Teeth Cleaning Costs in Calgary
Getting regular teeth cleanings can cost a lot but if you are one of the many Canadians avoiding the hygienist out of fear of the dental prices, you should be aware that this could lead to bigger dental bills down the road.
At Marlborough Dental Centre, our patients’ well-being is our number one priority. That is why we strive to provide quality teeth cleanings at affordable costs so you never have to compromise on your oral health.
Simple ways to manage your teeth cleaning costs:
- Ask your dentist about different payment options (including discount for paying cash and/or paying in installments)
- Check your eligibility for government dental programs such as Dental & Optical Assistance for Seniors Program
- Consider private dental insurance
Our Calgary dental team has extensive experience dental plan coverage & costs and is happy to help you assess the best type of dental insurance coverage for you.
Learn More
To learn more about the benefits & costs of our teeth cleaning services, contact our Calgary hygienists today at 403-248-2066.
