Bottle Brushes

Interdental bottle brushes have small bristled heads specially designed to clean between your teeth. They are available from pharmacies and come in different widths to suit the sizes of the gaps between your teeth. You may need to use more than one size of brush.
How to use interdental brushes
•      use a brush appropriate for the size of the space between your teeth at least once daily
•      insert the brush gently between your teeth – don't try to force the brush into the space
•      if you work to a pattern round the whole of your mouth, it will help you not to miss out any of the spaces
What if my gums bleed?
When you first start using interdental brushes, your gums may be tender and bleed a little as you start to get rid of any plaque build-up. Carry on using the brushes and the bleeding should reduce as your gums become healthier.
If the bleeding doesn't stop after a few days, get advice from your dentist. They can check if you're using the interdental brushes correctly or if you need more help.
     
     
A single-tuft toothbrush is a toothbrush with a very small head which can be used to clean wisdom teeth and crooked teeth effectively. There are various shapes of brush head. The effectiveness of cleaning by different shapes of the brush head is similar.

It is used to clean the areas that is difficult to be reached by conventional toothbrush, such as:
     •      Wisdom teeth
Method of use:
Place the bristles at the gum margin of the wisdom tooth and brush gently to clean every tooth surface.      
     •      Crooked teeth
Method of use:
Place the bristles over the tooth area where conventional toothbrush cannot reach and brush gently.      

Dental Water Jets
An oral irrigator (also called a dental water jet) is a home care device that uses a stream of pulsating water to remove plaque and food debris between teeth and below the gum line and improve gum health. This should be used at the end to clear anything that cannot be removed by other methods.




SENSITIVITY
Sensitive teeth on brushing or to cold is mainly self-inflicted as we can brush too hard for many years damaging the neck of the teeth where the enamel meets the root. This exposes the softer underneath substance that can allow pain stimulus to reach the tooth nerve through microscopic tubules when it feels cold, heat or touch. Sometimes sensitivity pain can be due to trauma, tooth fracture or decay. Sensitivity can be severe and be extremely painful but it can be cured or better still prevented. Sensitive toothpaste blocks the microscopic tubules and helps prevent sensitivity, if you continue with a traumatic brushing technique it will keep wearing away the tooth and opening the minute dental tubes that transmit stimulus to the nerve and give sensitivity. So you have a vicious circle.

Diet – vitamins, minerals for dental health

Nutrient      What you need it for
Protein      Tooth structure, mucosal/connective tissue development, and immune function.
Calcium      Tooth structure; may enhance enamel remineralization.
Phosphorus      Tooth structure.
Zinc      Mucosal/connective tissues and immune function.
Antioxidants      Mucosal/connective tissues and immune function.
Folate      Mucosal/connective tissues and immune function; low levels are associated with periodontal disease.
Iron      Mucosal/connective tissues and immune function.
Vitamin A      Mucosal/connective tissues and immune function. But be aware that getting too much from supplements may result in gum problems.
Vitamin C      Collagen maturation and to maintain the integrity of the periodontal ligament; mucosal/connective tissues and immune function.
Omega-3 fats      Mucosal/connective tissues and immune function; helps control the inflammatory response.
Vitamin D      Mucosal (mouth covering inside)/connective tissues, immune system; may enhance enamel remineralization. (Hardening of enamel).
B vitamins      Epithelial (outer skin) cell turnover.