A good toothbrush helps keep your mouth clean and healthy, which may be more important than you know. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, people with periodontal disease have greater risks of heart disease and stroke than people with healthy mouths. Oral-B produces many types of toothbrush to aid in maintaining healthy mouths for people of all ages.
Manual Toothbrushes
The bristle toothbrush, invented in 1498 in China, has come a long way. Oral-B offers a line of manual toothbrushes, such as the orthodontic toothbrush, on which the bristles are V-shaped to curve around braces and other dental work. Other varieties include the 3-D Advantage White toothbrush, which has silicone polishing cups on the outside to whiten teeth, and the Indicator, whose color-fading bristles let you know when it's time to get a new brush.
Battery Powered Toothbrush
Battery-powered toothbrushes are similar to electric toothbrushes. They both have a replaceable head that moves, spins or pulsates to clean teeth and gums. Oral-B offers several types of battery-powered toothbrush, including the Pro-Health Dual Clean, which has two moving bristles and runs on two AA batteries. With all battery-powered toothbrushes, the batteries will have to be replaced or recharged.
Electric Toothbrush
Electric toothbrushes sit on a charger, so you don't have to worry about constantly replacing the batteries. Oral-B offers nine types of electric toothbrush, from the Pulsonic Sonic Toothbrush, which brushes for two minutes automatically, to the Smart series 5000, which comes with a "smart guide" that tells you how long you've brushed. It also has an automatic sensor that stops the pulsating if you're brushing too hard and five brushing modes, including sensitive, deep clean and whitening.
Toothbrushes for Little Ones
Oral-B offers toothbrushes for infants and toddlers 4 to 24 months. They have easy-to-hold handles with soft bristles for sensitive gums and new teeth. Two- to 4-year-olds have two options -- battery-powered and manual -- both of which are smaller, to fit into a smaller mouth. Children 5 to 7 have similar options, but the bristles are firmer and the handles are bigger. All baby and child toothbrushes are decorated with child-friendly designs, such as Cinderella or Pooh.
When to Change Your Brush
Oral-B recommends that you change your toothbrush or install a replacement head every three months. By that time, the worn bristles have become less effective. If you're concerned about germs, the CrossAction Vitalizer PLUS has bristles that kill germs on the brush, but Oral-B still says you should change the brush after an illness.
