How a Full-Mouth Toothbrush Can Benefit Oral Hygiene

A full-mouth toothbrush is a specially designed toothbrush which uses one long, double-sided brush to cover all the teeth at the same time. It is designed similar to a protective mouthguard used in sports. It is ‘U’ shaped to reflect the natural shape of our dentition, but the inner surfaces are covered in bristles. It also has a handle to manipulate while cleaning and for extraction when finished.

Normal toothbrushes are basically a long handle with a bristled head that is used to scrub the teeth. It is difficult to make the head bigger and remain practical. A full-mouth toothbrush gets around this problem my changing the shape of the toothbrush. Its ‘U’ shape means it can fit snugly over all of a person's dentition at the same time. While they are sold in different sizes, they are made from silicone so they can better mold to each mouth.

Electronic toothbrushes use batteries to create vibrations that help to break down buildup on teeth. A full-mouth toothbrush also uses electronic technology to help with oral hygiene. Many are able to vibrate to help remove buildup on the teeth. Others use ultrasonic technology to do the same, vibrating at such a resonance as to remove buildup without harming the teeth.

With all of this in mind, full-mouth toothbrushes are a new design concept for oral hygiene. Their purpose is to clean the entire mouth quickly and effectively using innovative technologies to help with traditional methods of brushing. We look at some of the proposed benefits of these products in our next section.

Traditional toothbrushes are still the industry standard, but this does not mean they are the best way to clean your teeth. Technological innovations have found ways to help maintain oral hygiene more effectively. They can also help with efficiency, improving convenience when it comes to the chore of teeth brushing. A full-mouth toothbrush may provide the following benefits to your oral hygiene routine:

• Comprehensive clean: the ‘U’ shape and double-sided bristles of the full-mouth toothbrush allows it to cover all of the teeth at the same time. These bristles are also sufficiently high to clean the gums. This provides a comprehensive clean which helps to avoid missing any parts of the mouth.
• Efficiency: by brushing all of a person's dentition at the same time, it helps to make teeth cleaning much more efficient. Brushing your teeth is an essential part of our hygiene routine, but the minutes can add up. Making it more efficient will save a lot of time in the long term.
• Comfort: the nylon and silicone bristles of a full-mouth toothbrush can be very gentle on teeth. They exert less pressure on the gums, something which can be very beneficial for those of us with sensitive gums and teeth. The vibratory effects of the ultrasonic signals may also help to massage the gums for a more gentle clean.
• Accessibility: the simplicity of use can help those of us who have mobility issues. Whether due to age, disability or general health issues, the full-mouth toothbrush can help clean with minimal effort. For example, it may be very useful to caregivers of people with special needs who may be resistant to traditional methods of teeth cleaning.
• Durability: since a full-mouth toothbrush has more bristles which work simultaneously to clean the whole mouth, these bristles will last for a long time. You also do not need to scrub as hard as you may with traditional brushes, resulting in a more durable product.
• Technique: if you are someone who struggles to clean their teeth effectively, full-mouth toothbrushes may be able to help by doing the work for you. They require minimal movement to provide a comprehensive clean.
• Encouraging for children: the use of the full-mouth toothbrush is novel for adults and children alike. Encouraging proper oral hygiene in kids can be difficult, but the novelty of a full-mouth toothbrush combined with its ease of use and pleasurable operational methods mean it can help reluctant kids to clean their teeth.

While the full-mouth toothbrush is a relatively new innovation in oral hygiene, it is becoming more affordable. As with other electronic toothbrushes, the initial investment costs a little more, but replacement brushes are reasonably priced.

When deciding what is best for your own oral hygiene, the first thing you should do is consult your dentist. They will help assess your individual needs and provide practical advice on what is best for you. It is at this point you can discuss the possibility of moving to a full-mouth toothbrush.

There are full-mouth toothbrushes which have already received the distinction of being an American Dental Association's ‘accepted product’, meaning that it meets the criteria for safety and effectiveness. Specifically, it means that a full-mouth toothbrush may:

• Effectively remove plaque
• Reduce the risk of gingivitis
• Be manufactured to a high standard
• Be safe for gums and teeth

As with all oral hygiene products, the use of a full-mouth toothbrush requires the user to understand how it works. This will require reading the instruction manual carefully and ensuring you strictly follow its guidelines.

After using the full-mouth toothbrush for some time, you may see for yourself its benefits and advantages over more traditional brushing. As with all brushes, you should ensure you replace the bristles whenever they become worn. Not doing so will reduce the effectiveness of the product and may negatively affect your oral hygiene.

If you want to read similar articles to How a Full-Mouth Toothbrush Can Benefit Oral Hygiene, we recommend you visit our Beauty & Personal Care category.