History of the toothbrush.

   How do I choose the right toothbrush for me?

   I have seen toothbrushes with angled bristles; are these any better than  straight ones?

   I am interested in a power toothbrush but am confused by the different models - how do I choose?

       History of the toothbrush.  The earliest known toothbrush dates back thousands of years. Known as a "chew stick", this brush was made by chewing or mashing small twigs or tree roots until the fibers at one end became loose enough to form a rough brush. The cleaning surface had much the same effect as chewing the end of a toothpick. Some native Australian and African people living traditionally still clean their teeth with chew sticks.

Ancient Chinese, Romans, and Greeks were also avid oral hygiene enthusiasts.

Five thousand years ago, the Chinese thought dental decay was caused by white-colored dental worms with black heads that could be seen when a tooth was extracted. In those days, cures for toothache included purgatives, mouthwashes, massage, and pills. The pills, usually made of grated garlic and salt peter, were inserted into the ear opposite the side of the face affected by the dental pain.

   The early Romans also had their own dental-care preferences. Pliny the Younger of Rome (61-113 A.D.) proclaimed that using a vulture quill as a toothpick would cause halitosis, but using a porcupine quill was acceptable because it "made the teeth firm."

   The Greeks, however, were much more modern. In the third century B.C., Aristotle advised Alexander the Great to rub his teeth every morning with "a thin linen towel, which is somewhat rough." Using linen as a tooth cleaner is documented as late as 1602, when William Vaughan wrote in Fifteen Directions to Preserve Health that to keep teeth "white and uncorrupt [people should] wash the mouth after every meal, sleep with the mouth somewhat open and in the morning take a line cloth and rub the teeth well within and without."

In fifteenth-century Europe, picking the teeth was widely accepted until philosophers began to issue conduct warnings. Rhodes said: "Pick not thy teeth with thy knyfe, but take a stick, or some clean thyng, then doe you not offend."

   It was actually the English in 1780 who gave the world the first modern toothbrush. The handle was made from bone and the bristles were wired into bored holes.

   The toothbrush migrated to the United States, and in the 1880s, hand-cut and polished cattle thigh bones made excellent toothbrush handles while long-haired hog bristles were inserted by hand, one at a time into hand-drilled holes.

   In the twentieth century, the humble toothbrush soared to new heights. Dr. Robert Hutson, a periodontist from San Jose, California, invented the first toothbrush with soft end-rounded nylon bristles. He named the product "Oral-B". In 1969, the Oral-B® Classic™ toothbrush went to the moon…Neil Armstrong used one minute before his historical moon walk. In 1991, Oral-B introduced the first toothbrush, Oral-B® Indicator®, with blue Indicator bristles that fade halfway to let you know when to replace your toothbrush

• Choose a toothbrush with a small brushhead and a bristle design that helps you to get to the hard-to-reach places of your mouth
• Your toothbrush should have soft bristles that are gentle on your teeth and gums.
• Pick a toothbrush with a comfortable handle. Many have non-slip grips which make them easy to use even if wet

Remember that regular replacement of toothbrushes contributes to maintaining a consistently high level of oral hygiene because clinical research shows, a new toothbrush can remove up to 30% more plaque than one that 's three months old.²

Only Oral-B brushes feature Indicator® bristles that fade halfway with use, telling you when it's time to change your toothbrush

      I have seen toothbrushes with angled bristles; are these any better than straight ones?

Oral-B now has a number of products that feature our unique CrissCross® bristles. The bristles are designed to reach deep between teeth to lift out and sweep away plaque - even from the tough spots.

This pioneering design technology recognizes that areas between the teeth are the hardest to reach with a toothbrush. And so, the bristles are angled to increase contact with tooth surfaces between teeth. You can choose from our range of CrossAction® toothbrushes - original CrossAction and CrossAction Vitalizer™ and CrossAction® Power which have been thoroughly researched and tested to offer highly effective plaque removal and gum health benefits.

Not only that but all these products are designed to make brushing comfortable and easy. The handles on these products have been modeled from research into the five different ways that people hold their toothbrush while brushing.

     I am interested in a power toothbrush but am confused by the different models - how do I choose?
    With so many power toothbrush types available it is often difficult to select the right toothbrush. Now help is at hand. A completely independent study has reviewed all types and concluded "Brushes that worked with a rotation oscillation action removed more plaque and reduced gingivitis more effectively than manual brushes in the short and long-term....No other powered brush designs were consistently superior...

Oral-B pioneered oscillating-rotating power technology in 1991 and has incorporated it into its premium power toothbrush range.

The Oral-B 3D Excel: our flagship, rechargeable toothbrush provides the ultimate brushing experience. Its plaque removal efficacy is unsurpassed, it has state-of-the art features and provides an unbelievable feeling of clean. The unique combination of oscillations and pulsations loosens plaque from deep between the teeth and gently whisks it away.

The Oral-B Plak Control Ultra: the high performance "no-frills" rechargeable toothbrush, with ultra-speed oscillations that dislodge plaque and sweep it away and a 2-minute timer to help ensure correct brushing time.

Our power toothbrush range also includes battery-powered products:

The Oral-B Battery toothbrush: a battery toothbrush that comes with design technology and features normally associated with rechargeable toothbrishes, but at a more affordable price.And our most recent addition to the Oral-B power range, CrossAction® Power brings the best in Oral-B's manual toothbrush technology - our unique CrissCross® bristles - to power in an extremely affordable way. This product is ideal for people who are curious about giving power a first try.

          A specially designed Oral-B rechargeable brush for kids, age 3 and older, is also available.

How Often Should You Go To The Dentist?

              Fifty years ago, examinations of people entering the military showed that the average American's teeth were in pretty bad shape and few people took good care of their teeth. There were no guidelines for how often you should see a dentist, and many dental professionals focused on fixing problems rather than preventing them. Dental and health organizations trying to set standards for preventive dentistry settled on a "best guess" recommendation of twice-yearly visits to the dentist for check-ups and cleaning.

           The recommendation proved to be a useful rule of thumb and has remained common. Even if you take excellent care of your teeth and gums at home, you need to see your dentist regularly so he or she can check for problems that you may not see or feel. Tooth decay generally doesn't become visible or cause pain until it is in more advanced stages.Regular visits allow your dentist to find early signs of decay and disease and treat problems at a manageable stage. Ask your dentist the best schedule for your routine dental visits.

          On average, seeing a dentist twice a year works well for most people. A few people can get away with fewer visits; others may need more frequent visits. People with very little risk of cavities or gum disease can do fine seeing their dentist just once a year. People with high risk of periodontal disease(because of current gum disease, a weak immune response to bacterial infection or a predisposition to plaque build-up or cavities) might need to see the dentist every three or four months, or even more frequently, for the best care.

         The schedule for any given individual may change over the course of a lifetime. In times of stress or illness, it may be necessary to see the dentist more frequently than usual to help fight off a temporary infection or treat changes in your mouth. If you take good care of your teeth and gums at home and your dentist doesn't find any cavities or gum disease for a few years, he or she may choose to lengthen the time between visits..