Some elderly people like to use hard-bristled toothbrushes, and think that brushing their teeth in this way will clean them, but in fact it will cause bleeding gums. ◆The bristles are too hard and too soft. There are 3 types of toothbrush bristles: soft, medium and hard. Press the bristles directly on the back of the hand. If there is a tingling sensation when gently pressed, the bristles are hard. Excessively hard bristles can easily lead to receding gums and wedge-shaped defects in the tooth neck; too soft bristles cannot play a role in cleaning the tooth surface. Generally speaking, the elderly have different degrees of gum atrophy. At this time, if you use harder bristles, the gums will be damaged. Therefore, it is more appropriate to choose a soft toothbrush with medium hardness. ◆Small brush head is the most suitable For the elderly, the small brush head is more flexible in the oral cavity, not only is not easy to damage the inner wall of the oral cavity, but also is very helpful for cleaning the inside of the teeth and chewing behind the teeth. Elderly friends can also use children’s toothbrushes. The bristles are rounded, so they are soft and do not irritate the gums. The fine bristles can enter and exit the tooth gap freely, which has a better cleaning effect. In addition, the bristles should be sparse. This is because food residues and invisible bacteria are often left in the bristles. If it is too dense, it will be difficult to clean. ◆Electric toothbrush is more controllable If your teeth are maintained well or you are using full dentures, you can use an electric toothbrush with confidence. If the teeth are aging or the gums are sensitive, it is best to choose an electric toothbrush with soft bristles and a variety of modes. Compared with ordinary manual toothbrushes, the mechanical wear of the teeth is less and the control is more scientific. If there are more porcelain teeth and implants in the oral cavity, the elderly should be careful when using electric toothbrushes to avoid damage to dentures due to unskilled operation. ◆Adopt correct brushing posture Many middle-aged and elderly people are used to brushing their teeth horizontally. In fact, this is an unscientific method, which can easily damage the tooth surface and gums and cause gum atrophy. The correct way is to brush the upper teeth from top to bottom, and the lower teeth from bottom to top, brushing both inside and outside, and brush the chewing surface back and forth. This will not only clean the gap between the teeth, but also massage the gums. Toothpaste is best to choose fluoride, which not only prevents dental caries and periodontal disease, but also promotes gum health. (Life Times) This article comes from Bi Liangjia, Member of the Standing Committee of Periodontology Group, Chinese Association of Stomatology
