Brushes for cleaning teeth: description, types, how to use

The beauty of our smile and the condition of our teeth are a litmus indicator of the health of the whole organism. Therefore, the choice of oral hygiene products must be approached very responsibly.

But the trouble is that most of us use only toothpaste and a brush, ignoring other hygiene products. As a result, teeth are not cleaned well enough and deteriorate over time.

Interdental brushes will help to avoid this outcome, allowing you to better perform your daily hygiene procedure.

Choosing the right hygiene products: review of brush models and rules for their use

Most people associate daily dental hygiene with a tube of toothpaste and a toothbrush. If the brush is chosen correctly and the teeth are straight, these items are usually enough. However, such cases are actually rare; uneven interdental spaces, dentures or braces and other deviations from the standard require more careful oral hygiene. One of the devices that provide such care are brushes for cleaning teeth. As experts note, this is truly one of the most important devices.

Reviews

Below are some customer reviews. If you have something to say, leave your feedback in the comments below the article, it will be useful to our readers.

Oksana, 32 years old.

I used to always use only a brush, but bad breath began to appear.

I thought there was something wrong with my stomach, but it turned out that I was just not brushing my teeth well)), or rather, in the wrong way.

After I started using the brush, the smell disappeared.

Denis, 36 years old.

I have braces and what a hassle it is to clean them every time after eating, especially with a brush.

Long, ineffective, inconvenient. The brush solved my problems in one go.

Although my wife doesn’t have braces, she also uses this device. Teeth look perfect.

Dental brush - what kind of device is it?

A dental hygienic brush for teeth is a thin rod-shaped base along which nylon bristles, or villi, are located. The bristles can be densely or sparsely spaced, have different lengths and thicknesses, and be hard or soft.

The brush nozzle itself is equipped with a handle holder, which can also have different sizes. Manufacturers make handles from different materials, but they are all easy to use, non-slip, and hypoallergenic. Look at the photo below - you will immediately understand what product we are talking about.

Orthodontic wax. Why is it necessary?

If the braces still continue to rub in some place, the doctor will apply special food-grade wax. What it is? Orthodontic wax for braces is a successful development of Swedish specialists. It is a hygienic means for smoothing out unpleasant sensations in the initial period after installation of the structure. If the sharp edges of braces irritate or injure the skin in the oral cavity, then wax strips glued to problem areas will prevent the formation of wounds. It is used very simply - roll a little wax into a small ball and stick it in a problem area on the brace system. Damage that has already occurred can be eliminated with the help of medications recommended by your doctor.

In what cases should this product be used?

It is recommended to use a dental brush in the following situations:

• requires more thorough oral hygiene than a toothbrush and even dental floss can provide,
• under normal conditions, the back surface of the dentition is poorly cleaned,
• pieces of food get stuck between the teeth, which cannot be removed using conventional methods (rinsing or brushing),
• a bracket system is installed on the dentition, the elements of which require better care,
• Plaque often accumulates on the enamel, and ordinary cleaning cannot cope with it.

If you find yourself with such problems, anyone can buy a brush for brushing their teeth and improve the quality of their oral hygiene.

“In addition to preventive and general recommendations for use, the products also have medical indications. For example, they must be used if braces are installed, if there are pathological changes in periodontal tissues. They are also indicated in the presence of crowding of dentition units or, on the contrary, in case of significant interdental spaces. In addition, the dentist may advise you to use a brush if you smoke, drink a lot of coffee or black tea, or often consume products with dyes - the device helps not only remove plaque from the enamel, but also prevent its staining,” says the expert, dental therapist Uspangalieva Nina Borisovna.

How is a brush better than an irrigator?

You can monitor the cleanliness of the oral cavity using a device such as an irrigator. It gently acts on teeth and gums, carefully removing food debris and pathogenic microorganisms. But irrigators have one significant disadvantage - high cost. Not all patients can afford such a device. But dental brushes are cheap and available to everyone. Moreover, they clean teeth and gums no worse than expensive irrigators.

To clean the spaces between teeth from food debris, many use dental floss or toothpicks, but they can damage the enamel or not completely remove plaque. Such devices are absolutely not suitable for those who have braces, implants or metal-ceramic crowns. If you have the listed structures in your mouth, it is better to use dental brushes.

How does the device work?

The principle of operation is based on the ability of the villi to penetrate into the most inaccessible places in the dentition, ensuring the cleaning of each individual tooth from all sides. Thin, but hard and dense bristles can remove even pigmented plaque (but not stone, of course).

The wire on which the villi are located is highly flexible, which makes it possible to clean remote areas of the oral cavity. A mild mechanical effect on the enamel acts as an abrasive (especially when smoking or drinking coffee), creating a whitening effect.

Lifetime

Answering the question about the duration of wearing the structure is not as simple as it might seem. This aspect is influenced by the following factors:

• the age of the patient - the younger he is, the less time is needed;
• degree of complexity of the problem - the simplest situations will require wearing the system for no more than a year, the most complex ones will require much more time;
• the health status of the patient's teeth - if there has been no prosthetics or depulpation before, then the wearing time will be shorter.

Three years, if we talk about the most problematic cases, of course, is a considerable period of time; to many, even one year seems an unreasonably long time, but it is still not worth using devices for acceleration. They are very expensive, but are not able to change human bone tissue, so their purchase is not justified. You also need to remember that ignoring proper and high-quality oral hygiene will lead to a delay in treatment and a decrease in its effectiveness.

What types are there

There are three types of hygienic devices:

• cylindrical: have the same length of bristles throughout the base; They cope well with food stuck between teeth and help prevent periodontitis due to the high-quality removal of plaque from narrow spaces. Quite inexpensive and ubiquitous
• in the form of a cone: as you move towards the tip of the brush, the bristles become shorter, which makes it possible to penetrate deeper into interdental crevices of different sizes. They cost more than the previous option,
• curved: great for people who have braces installed, as they allow you to clean areas that are inaccessible to a regular brush (for example, under the clasps of braces, in the spaces between crowns, and so on). The cost is higher than other models.

Rules for installing bracket systems

If you decide to correct nature’s mistake and acquire beautiful, straight teeth, be patient and ask in advance how long it will take and what will need to be done to achieve the desired result. First of all, even before installing braces, you need to carry out professional ultrasonic cleaning of the teeth preparing for straightening, and then cover them with a special protective varnish containing fluoride. Now the process of installing the bracket system begins; it consists of several stages, which are the same for all patients:

• visit an orthodontist and get a diagnosis - at this stage you need to take a panoramic x-ray of the upper and lower jaws, as well as a lateral photograph of the skull, casts of the teeth and photos of them in various projections are possible;
• discuss the treatment plan with a specialist, determine a suitable brace system and discuss the time and conditions for wearing it;
• You will need to carry out a complete sanitation of the oral cavity - treatment of caries, periodontitis and other dental diseases, as well as the removal of tartar and plaque; if the dental rad is too dense or excessively deformed, then it is possible to remove excess fangs or quadruples;
• The procedure for installing braces takes place in one visit and lasts about an hour and a half;
• wearing braces for a period determined by an orthodontist, during which it will be necessary to make regular corrections. If you use a classic system - a ligature one, you will have to visit a doctor once a month, but if a self-ligating system is used - then once every month and a half;
• mandatory consolidation of the achieved results - installation of retainers on the teeth after removal of braces, so that they are strengthened in the new position obtained as a result of treatment.

What to look for when choosing

Manufacturers produce brushes for brushing teeth in different versions, so the question arises - how to choose the right one and what to pay attention to. When purchasing, it is extremely important to consider the following product characteristics:

• length of the device: a shorter one, marked S, is suitable for children, and a brush marked XL is preferable for adults; In addition, there are intermediate options,
• lint length: this parameter determines how good the cleaning will be; if there are large gaps between the teeth, you should choose a product with long bristles (at least three millimeters), with densely spaced units of the dentition you need bristles about 1-3 mm long,
• stiffness of the bristles: selected depending on the sensitivity of the gums and enamel layer - if it is high, bleeding gums are observed, the choice should be made in favor of soft bristles; in other cases, it is enough to purchase a product with medium-hard bristles,
• material: the main rod to which the bristles are attached can be metal or plastic; If the dentition is in perfect order, dentists recommend purchasing products with a metal rod; if you have high sensitivity of the enamel layer and dental problems, it is better to opt for plastic models.

It is important to know! In general, when choosing a product, you should focus on the individual characteristics of the anatomy of the jaws, the presence or absence of bridges, implants, braces and other nuances. Before purchasing, it is advisable to talk to your dentist to get professional recommendations. Remember that brushes are strictly prohibited when any prosthetic structures (crowns, bridges, etc.) and dental implants are installed in the mouth!

Choosing the right brush

The choice of options in stores is very large; you can find various sets that differ in the length and stiffness of the bristles. The choice of a specific option depends on the doctor’s recommendations and your own preferences. There are these types of toothbrushes for braces:

• orthodontic, having a small head and forked bristles;
• electrical, characterized by excellent functionality and quality of work;
• Mono-beam, capable of reaching, due to its length, the most remote and hard-to-reach areas in the mouth.

What exactly to choose is not so important; the main thing is to know how to use the brush and get used to it.

How to use the product – with and without braces

How to use a dental brush correctly? The algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. select and install the desired attachment on the holder,
2. place the brush near the dentition at an angle of 90˚ relative to the front surface of the teeth,
3. carefully insert the product into the space between the teeth so that its tip appears on the opposite surface,
4. clean the interdental space by rotating the brush or moving it back and forth,
5. do the same with the next gap,
6. After cleaning, rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash.

You should brush your teeth with braces according to the same procedure, only you first need to clean the parts of the braces system, and then proceed to hygiene of the interdental space.

Write a comment

• Alexander Senchenko

  December 27, 2014 at 1:00 p.m.

  To be honest, I’ve never heard of brushes for teeth, I really haven’t heard of them at all, because I associate brushes with something completely different) But after reading more about them here, I learned a lot of new and interesting things for myself and I’m even thinking of buying one for myself when I Put on braces, in this case these brushes will be a real lifesaver for me)

• JULIA

  January 11, 2015 at 6:46 pm

  Very often I go to the dentist and have the feeling that I’ve already seen brushes like this in someone’s office. I would like to buy these for myself, but I haven’t seen them on sale anywhere, although I don’t wear braces, there are enough hard-to-reach places in my teeth that even floss can’t clean. I’ll try to look in an online store, especially since I understand that there are a lot of manufacturers.

• Olga

  January 13, 2015 at 5:55 am

  Wow! For me, this was a discovery that, in addition to toothbrushes, dental floss and toothpicks, there are also dental brushes)) To be honest, I didn’t pay attention to whether they were on sale, otherwise I would definitely buy it for myself and my son. Our teeth are not very straight, so brushes cannot completely clean the space between the teeth, because of this, tartar quickly forms. And with such a thing, it would probably be possible to clean everything!

• Anatoly

  December 26, 2015 at 08:15 pm

  I’ve been using them recently and I’m very pleased, they clean everything. It’s a good alternative to an irrigator.

• Basil

  November 24, 2021 at 01:13 pm

  The entire time I had braces, I used Oral-B conical brushes, I was very pleased, but then the Oral B replacement brush heads disappeared from our pharmacies =( On Avito I found packs of 12 pieces of replaceable cylindrical brushes, it’s good that they still sell them there.

• Inga

  November 4, 2021 at 12:21 pm

  After reading the article, I understand that I was in vain using only a brush and mouthwash; I always thought that this was enough for proper dental care. I used similar brushes when I had braces. The teeth are straight, but the other day the dentist said that there is a wedge-shaped defect. Now I will look for similar brushes for cleaning the interdental space.

Rules for using the product

How to properly brush your teeth with brushes to get the desired effect, but at the same time, not harm your gums and enamel? During the hygiene process, you need to pay attention to the following points:

• before using a new brush, you need to treat it with an antiseptic solution: you can also boil it for 2-3 minutes if it is made of hard plastic, or treat it with a UV lamp,
• the nozzle should be changed at least once every 7-10 days,
• you need to brush your teeth with a brush without paste or powder,
• bleeding gums in the first 1-3 days after starting to use the product is a normal phenomenon that goes away on its own,
• Do not move up and down when cleaning,
• the device is not used to clean the incisors of both jaws,
• if the product does not fit well into the space between the teeth, you need to change the nozzle: choose a shorter bristles size,

• procedure duration 2 minutes,
• when inserting the rod between the teeth and during the cleaning process, you should not put additional pressure on the brush for a “better” effect: this risks damaging the enamel layer,
• You need to use the device twice a day,
• After the procedure is completed, the product is washed with water, treated with an antiseptic, and dried.

In addition, the quality of hygiene is also affected by the cost of the device - cheap models, as a rule, are made of low-grade materials that quickly become deformed and become unusable.

What not to do

There are restrictions when using brushes. During use it is prohibited:

• Use one product for more than a month. Ideally, the brush should be replaced once a week. The maximum time that the product can be used is 14 days. Even if upon inspection it is clean and suitable for use, it needs to be replaced.
• Apply toothpaste or tooth powder. A brush is used to clean teeth without using any products.
• Treat the incisors (4 upper teeth) and the spaces between the lower incisors.

It is not recommended to buy cheap products. If the price is too low, the product will wear out quickly.

Where can I purchase the product and what is its cost?

Devices for cleaning teeth are sold in pharmacy chains, online stores, dental clinics, and relevant departments of supermarkets. Usually these are sets that can contain both models with non-removable holders, as well as removable and several attachments. The set may also contain brushes of different sizes and shapes, and the price of the set depends both on the characteristics of the products included in it and on the manufacturer’s brand. The cost of a set of brushes can range from 200 to 1,500 rubles and more.

“I buy Lakalut in our hypermarket; five pieces in a package cost only 300 rubles. Enough for more than a month. Cleans great..."

Angela L. (from a message from the stomatologclub.ru forum)

Advantages compared to other devices

The product has a number of advantages compared to floss, toothpicks and other oral hygiene items. Most often, users point to the following positive aspects:

• cheaper than an irrigator, with almost the same effect,
• Great for cleaning teeth with braces,
• if there are interdental spaces of different sizes, you can use different attachments of the product,
• They clean the bases of teeth well, especially the chewing group: these areas cannot be cleaned efficiently with conventional devices,
• promote visual whitening of enamel, preventing the accumulation of pigment in it,
• suitable for children.

In addition, brushes massage the gums, improving blood flow in them, thus preventing the development of many dental diseases.

Review of the most popular products

Which brushes are best for teeth? Below is a brief overview of the most popular brands, created based on reviews from online users.

LACALUT

LACALUT products are distinguished by the material they are made of - this is a special mass used for the production of surgical instruments. Great for cleaning teeth with braces. The protective cap can be used to extend the holder. Cost – 230-420 rubles.

CURAPROX

The manufacturer has tried to produce models for any purpose: simple teeth cleaning, with braces. The line includes products of different configurations and sizes. Can be used both for self-care of the oral cavity and for professional hygiene. Cost – 800-2000 rubles.

Plackers Interdental Mix

This set is perfect for a beginner – it contains products with different sized attachments. The rod is flexible and the holder is quite long. The kit includes a protective cap. Cost – 240-300 rubles.

PresiDENT

PresiDENT models are distinguished by their curved shape, comfortable holder, and compact size. They are mainly intended for people whose dentition is very dense and the spaces between the teeth are narrow. Cost – 240-480 rubles.

Oral-B

Products of this brand are also presented in a wide variety - brushes in the form of cones, cylindrical shapes, equipped with durable and convenient removable holders are available for sale. A plus is the presence of a hygienic storage container. Cost – 320-550 rubles.

Colgate

The company produces products for all occasions, having a variety of shapes and sizes of bristles and holder. High hygiene efficiency with Colgate brushes is achieved thanks to the triangular cross-section of the bristles. Cost – 350-650 rubles.

Purchasing and using a dental brush will significantly improve the quality of hygiene and improve the condition of the oral cavity. However, it is worth remembering that this product does not replace a regular toothbrush and toothpaste. Moreover, only comprehensive use of dental hygiene products will help maintain their health for many years.

Manufacturers

There are many companies producing brushes. Such as LACALUT, CURAPROX, Colgate Total, PRESIDENT, ROCS, Dentaid have taken leading positions in the global and Russian markets. Their products are of high quality and are made only from material that is safe and non-toxic to humans.

Products from

She has developed a wide range of products for cleaning the gum line, implants and orthodontic structures. Each person, taking into account the characteristics and condition of the oral cavity, can easily choose the appropriate option. Let's look at some of them.

CPS “Prime” is a universal model, suitable for both daily hygiene procedures and cleaning of orthodontic structures. In the brushes included in this series, the bristles are soft and arranged in a spiral; the rods are additionally coated with silicone, which increases their flexibility and reduces the likelihood of injury to the gums. There are 5 models in this version:

1. CPS 06 is the model with the thinnest brush, has a blue handle marking, with a core diameter of 0.6 mm and bristles of 2.2 mm. The average cost is about 800 rubles.
2. CPS 07 – has a slightly larger size, the handle marking is red, the shaft diameter is 0.7 mm, the bristles are 2.5 mm. Approximate price – 860 rubles.
3. CPS 08 – pink handle, 3.2 mm bristles, 0.8 mm diameter core. The price is within 820 rubles.
4. CPS 09 is a product with a yellow handle, bristles with a diameter of 4 mm and a shaft diameter of 0.9 mm. Costs on average 850 rubles.
5. CPS 011 is the largest product with light green markings, a 1.1 mm shaft, and 5 mm fibers. Cost – from 700 rub.

CPS “Soft Implant” - designed for the care of orthodontic and orthopedic structures. The peculiarity of the model is that it can be used immediately after installation of an implant, bridge or any other surgical intervention. This is possible thanks to the presence of soft bristles made of monofilament.

Available in 5 variants:

1. CPS 505 – blue product, with 5.5 mm bristles, shaft diameter – 2 mm. Cost of a set of 5 pcs. about 900 rub.
2. CPS 507 – orange marking, product parameters: 2 mm rod, 7.5 mm fibers. Approximate cost – 910 rubles.
3. CPS 508 is a black pen with 8.8 mm bristles and a 2 mm shaft. Average price for a set of 5 pieces. – 920 rub.
4. CPS 512 – blue device with 12 mm bristles, 2 mm shaft. Cost about 940 rubles. per set.
5. CPS 516 is a purple pen with a bristles diameter of 16 mm. The price ranges from 860 to 930 rubles.

Products

The German company produces sets of brushes in 4 sizes: S, M, L, XS (according to the international classification). Each size has its own color marking. So, S is red, M is blue, L is yellow and XS is orange.

All products are made from non-toxic high quality materials.

Lakalut brushes are suitable for use by people who have amalgam fillings and metal crowns.

Interdental brush No. 5, XS “ LACALUT” – designed for patients whose teeth are positioned differently and require special care during treatment (orthopedic or orthodontic). It is recommended for use with large interdental spaces; it cleans the gums well under an installed crown, implant, or prosthesis.

It comes with a cap that can extend the handle if necessary. The diameter of the villi is 2 mm. The average cost of a set is about 270 rubles.

You can find out the price of a mono-beam dental brush in our next article. In this review: https://dentist-pro.ru/krasota-i-uxod/sredstva/irrigatory/panasonic-ew-1211.html - you will find a description of the Panasonic DentaCare Handy EW 1211 oral irrigator.

And here you can read reviews about Mexidol Dent toothpaste.

Products

Swiss Colgate products are of high quality and combine all the latest technologies. Designed for people with interdental spaces of varying widths, to prevent the appearance of bedsores in soft tissues under crowns, implants, and dentures.

The products are packaged in sets of 3 pieces, and this set contains brushes of 3 sizes: 2 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm. They differ in markings: green, blue and red.

Colgate Total brushes 2 mm – green case handle, made of plastic and polyester, assembled length – 8 cm, diameter of bristles – 2 mm (located at an angle of 120°).

It has a high cleaning ability due to the triangular cross-section of the shape. Removes dirt from interdental crevices in hard-to-reach areas. Recommended for daily oral hygiene. Approximate price – 240 rubles.

Products

The products of this company from Italy occupy a leading position in sales. High global quality and a responsible approach to the development of brush models do not leave any buyer indifferent. Their wide range allows you to choose the right option for everyone. The ergonomics of the product ensures convenience and comfort of use.

Interdental brushes “ PresiDENT Classic XS ”, 0.28 mm. Designed for cleaning braces and dentures, ideal for people with tightly spaced teeth.

Its special feature is its wave-like shape, which allows the bristles to penetrate into hard-to-reach and narrow areas, removing accumulated plaque from them. The polypropylene handle does not slip when water gets on it during the procedure, and its geometric shape, repeating the anatomical structure of the palm, makes cleaning as convenient as possible.

The fiber material is Tynex nylon. All other parts are coated with safe polyurethane. The brushes are equipped with protective caps, which can be attached to the handle during use, thereby extending it. Cost about 270 rubles.

Products

Russian offers consumers a wide range of dental brushes of various shapes. All of them are made from materials that are safe for health and are easy to use.

Interdental brushes “ROCS minis” - set of 10 pieces, designed for cleaning braces, brackets and dentures, for daily use with narrow interdental spaces (with high crowding of units).

The bristles (diameter 2 mm) are made of nylon with the addition of microcrystals, which provide better cleaning. They do not scratch the enamel and do not injure the mucous membrane.

With daily use, it is possible to remove stains from tea, tobacco, coffee and pigmentation in the interdental areas within a few days.
The handle is made of polypropylene; if necessary, it can be extended with a cap. Price range – from 210 to 260 rubles.

Products

The Spanish manufacturer has developed several models of interdental brushes to suit the needs of each individual consumer.

Mini (1.1 mm) – recommended for normal arrangement of units in the dentition, conical (1.3 mm) – for patients with orthodontic products, diastemas and dentures, micro (0.9 mm) – suggested for use in case of crowded teeth, mix (1.0 mm) – for cleaning the space under removable dentures, implants and braces, nano (0.6 mm).

Interdental brush Interprox Plus Nano 0.6 mm - used for increased sensitivity of teeth and gums, wide interdental spaces, effectively cleans areas under fixed orthodontic products, implants, dentures. Model features:

• the head of the model is located at an angle, which ensures better penetration of the bristles into the tooth crevices;
• can bend in all planes due to the presence of 2 bending points of the rod;
• the bristles are made of Tynex fiber;
• the base of the product (rod) is made of steel and coated with polyurethane;
• Sold in sets of 6 pieces.

The average cost is about 260 rubles.

Why brushes cannot be used with implants and dentures

Some, even well-known manufacturers of dental brushes, indicate in the instructions that their products can be used with dentures, crowns, and implants. But this is just an advertising ploy to expand the customer base. In fact, implantologists are categorically against it, because Gums after prosthetics partially lose sensitivity. Therefore, it is enough to simply damage them with villi (even seemingly soft ones) and cause an infection - and then treat complications. Therefore, it is also prohibited to use toothpicks. And for patients with dentures and implants, it is better to give preference to an irrigator for washing the interdental spaces and subprosthetic space, or choose dental floss labeled “super floss” - the rest will not be suitable, since they are quite hard.

Recommendations

The effectiveness of cleansing will largely depend on the correct implementation of the following recommendations:

• It is better to give preference to synthetic bristles rather than natural ones, since the latter has many pores where harmful bacteria accumulate, causing inflammation;
• the diameter of the brush head should not exceed 250 millimeters for adults and 200 for children;
• soft bristles are better than hard bristles in terms of penetration;
• It’s good to also use an irrigator after cleaning, which can wash away food debris from those places where the brush could not fully reach.