Brushing your tooth with an excessive amount of pressure may cause everlasting harm to the important tooth construction. However how a lot pressure is an excessive amount of? The Zent flex toothbrush gives an elegantly easy resolution that ensures you all the time brush with precisely the appropriate stress.

My preliminary impression of the thought behind the Zent Flex toothbrush was, “That’s sensible!”  There are related ideas in electrical toothbrushes that beep at you or flash a purple mild when the consumer makes use of an excessive amount of stress, however they don’t really cease the pressure.  We all the time advise sufferers to brush gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush.  In any case, it takes little or no stress to take away dental plaque from the tooth.  However in my expertise, there are some individuals who simply can’t appear to reduce the stress they use.  The distinctive design of the press joint within the Zent Flex toothbrush could also be precisely what they want.

Tooth enamel is the toughest construction within the human physique, a lot tougher than bones.  It’s attainable, albeit tough, to mechanically abrade (steadily put on away) enamel.  Enamel abrasion just isn’t our greatest concern with poor brushing approach, although.  

There are two severe penalties of an aggressive toothbrushing approach: 1) gum recession, and a pair of) root abrasion.

Though poor brushing approach just isn’t the first reason for gum recession, it’s definitely a contributing consider many circumstances.  The gum tissues surrounding the tooth are comparatively delicate, so any inappropriate pressure may cause them to again away from that perceived damage.  Gum recession in itself is dangerous as a result of it’s a lack of attachment between the tooth and the underlying jawbone.  Gums which have receded don’t develop again.  Extreme gum recession can require gum grafting surgical procedure to restore the defects.

Within the consideration of poor brushing approach, a recession is exceptionally dangerous as a result of it exposes the roots of the tooth, growing the danger for the second consequence of arduous brushing: root abrasion.  Root abrasion is more likely than enamel abrasion as a result of the roots of tooth wouldn’t have a protecting enamel coating.  As a substitute, the roots are lined in a skinny layer of cementum, which may be very vulnerable to abrasion.  As soon as the cementum is gone, the underlying dentin (the main part of tooth) is uncovered, resulting in a excessive threat for cavities and tooth sensitivity.  Like gums, cementum and dentin don’t regenerate on their very own.  If extreme abrasion happens, dental restorations could be essential to restore the defects.

The Zent Flex mechanism of “breaking” the joint at 150g of pressure is acceptable based mostly on scientific analysis in regards to the pressure required to take away dental plaque versus the pressure that damages dentin.  Analysis helps (and it simply is sensible) that growing pressure will enhance plaque removing.  That’s the entire level of brushing: to take away the sticky movie of plaque that incorporates disease-causing micro organism.  Sooner or later, although, that growing pressure will take away not solely the plaque but additionally the dentin to which it’s caught!

The brink of 150 grams of pressure can also be an accepted standardized quantity for Toothbrushing as the suitable quantity of stress.  We see this within the testing protocols that the American Dental Affiliation makes use of in its Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) index.  They use 150g of pressure when testing the abrasion potential of assorted sorts of toothpaste.

The explanation dentin is so important to this dialog is that it incorporates tiny pores, known as tubules, which create a communication between the oral surroundings and the nerve inside every tooth.  Chemical or mechanical processes that open or widen these tubules will open that communication, that means you can be extra more likely to really feel scorching, chilly, and candy sensations within the nerve.  This research reveals that utilizing a decrease pressure when brushing really helps to shrink these tiny pores, lowering sensitivity considerably.

[Side note: While sensitivity is a more common consequence of open dentinal tubules, we also need to worry about cavities.  The open pores in dentin increase the risk for bacterial contamination, and therefore increase the risk for cavities on these exposed root surfaces.]

After utilizing the comb myself, I used to be shocked to be taught that I brush too arduous!  I’m a dentist!  After all, I take into account myself to be somebody with an awesome brushing approach.  Throughout my first use of the Zentflex, it was arduous to cease laughing at myself as a result of the press joint broke time and again.  I did really feel, as I brushed, that I may need been lacking areas, which induced me to pay shut consideration to how totally I used to be overlaying the tooth.

The comb itself is comfy and well-constructed.  The bristles really feel soft-to-medium-soft.  (Extra importantly, they felt a lot softer after the press joint broke at 150g of pressure.)  As I continued brushing, I seen that I used to be steadily altering my approach to maintain the joint from breaking, so I feel this brush carries nice potential for coaching folks within the acceptable quantity of toothbrushing pressure.  If that is the one toothbrush you utilize, I imagine that over time you’ll develop a brushing approach that might not trigger the joint to interrupt.

Conclusion

This toothbrush could be an exquisite instrument for anybody with delicate tooth, gum recession, root publicity, or just a naturally heavy brushing approach.  I like to recommend it for these specific folks attributable to its protecting talents and its coaching potential.  It additionally has the benefit of being a lot cheaper than the typical electrical toothbrushes that promote the identical protecting features.

Dr. Lara Coseo

Dr. Lara Coseo, (DDS, FAGD) is a 2004 graduate of Baylor School of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas. Having practiced common dentistry for 13 years, Dr. Lara presently serves as an Affiliate Professor at Texas A&M School of Dentistry.