Part of the bigger picture
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 17th April 2022
Most of your patients will understand the basic fundamentals of good oral hygiene – keep the teeth clean, attend regular dental appointments and avoid sugary and acidic foods where possible. However, are patients aware that other areas of the oral cavity – such as the gingiva and other soft tissues – are susceptible to infection and injury and therefore must be afforded the same care and consideration as the teeth?
Soft tissue injuries can be easily sustained, are highly uncomfortable for patients and can disturb their everyday life. Not only can pain be an issue, but patients may unknowingly consume foods or continue habits that could cause irritation and potentially exacerbate the issue. Maintaining an adequate oral health routine may also be a challenge if the patient is experiencing discomfort in the gingival area.
Because good oral health involves all the areas in and around the mouth, it is crucial that patients know how to keep all aspects healthy, especially the gingiva.
Protecting soft tissues
There are many ways that patients can obtain soft tissue injuries, whether the cause be physical, chemical or thermal in nature. Sharp edges on food or dental prostheses can cause lesions or ulcers, or hot foods and drinks can burn various areas within the mouth. If a patient plays sports, they may be at a higher risk of receiving oral injuries such as lacerations.[i] Certain habits, like cheek sucking and/or biting, can also cause lesions on the soft tissues.[ii] Patients who are excessively exposed to sunlight may develop acinic cheilitis, which manifests as a lesion on the lower lip.i Patients can avoid many of these soft tissue injuries; they can protect themselves when appropriate, such as wearing mouthguards during sports, or simply being mindful when consuming certain foods and drinks. If they do develop soft tissue defects due to a prosthesis, they should visit their dentist for guidance. Many of these issues do clear up quickly with proper maintenance and care.
Excessive and/or rough brushing can also cause soft tissue defects, particularly on the gingiva. An inadequate toothbrushing technique could put your patients at risk of developing issues such as gingival recession and/or dentine wear,[iii] increasing the likelihood of caries and hypersensitivity.v Additionally, the type of toothbrush that your patients use can also affect the delicate gingival area.
Go hard or go home?
Manual and electric toothbrushes both have their advantages and disadvantages. Manual toothbrushes are often more financially accessible to patients and can be easily and cost-effectively replaced. One study[iv] showed that both a conventional toothbrush and an orthodontic toothbrush were equally effective in the removal of plaque in patients with fixed appliances. In another study,[v] gingival recession was reduced over a period of three years with regular, daily brushing with both manual and electric toothbrushes. Therefore, manual toothbrushes have proven their effectiveness in maintaining good oral health. However, there is much research on the efficacy of electric toothbrushes – they have been shown to be more efficient in removing plaque in the premolar and molar areas and in reducing gingival inflammation, compared with a manual counterpart.[vi] [vii]Many electric toothbrushes are also designed with user comfort in mind, which may be beneficial to those with limited dexterity.
The brushing technique and the strength of the bristles are important factors when using both manual and electric toothbrushes, as improper use and hard bristles have been shown to cause abrasion.[viii] Patients may not even be aware that there is a certain way to brush teeth, or that their toothbrush bristles are actually causing them more harm. It is generally accepted that soft-bristled toothbrushes are a more suitable option than ones with harder bristles,[ix] with one study[x] demonstrating less abrasive dentine wear with softer bristles than with medium ones. Investing in a soft-bristled toothbrush is a simple first step to ensuring that the gingiva is protected against abrasion and injury, which further enhances the patient’s overall oral health. Therefore, it is crucial that you continue to educate your patients on the most suitable products and habits to keep their mouths, teeth and gingivae healthy.
Put the power in the patient’s hands
Caring for the other areas of the oral cavity, such as the gingiva, is just as important as caring for the teeth, but many patients may not realise this. The gingiva’s maintenance and care, however, can be made simple with the Hydrosonic Pro toothbrush from Curaprox. With an impressive 84,000 movements per minute, the Hydrosonic Pro helps patients achieve a deep, comprehensive clean – even those with sensitive gums! With the innovative CURACURVE® bend and the gentle CUREN® bristles, the Hydrosonic Pro facilitates exceptional cleaning of the mouth, teeth and gingivae.
From the toothbrush to the toothbrushing technique, educating your patients on how they can best care for all areas of their mouth is paramount for excellent, long-lasting oral health.
For more information, please call 01480 862084, email info@curaprox.co.uk or visit www.curaprox.co.uk
[i] Young, E.J., Macias, C.R. and Stephens, L. (2013). Common Dental Injury Management in Athletes. Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4482297/. Accessed 4 Jan. 2022.
[ii] Koray, M. and Tosun, T. (2019). Oral Mucosal Trauma and Injuries. [online] www.intechopen.com. IntechOpen. Available at: https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/65714. Accessed 4 Jan. 2022.
[iii] Jati, A.S., Furquim, L.Z. and Consolaro, A. (2016). Gingival recession: its causes and types, and the importance of orthodontic treatment. Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics. at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4944726/. Accessed 4 Jan. 2022.
[iv] Ibrahim, Z., Abdullah, S.M., Hafiz Abdul Aziz, A., Yushar Yusof, A., Md Zahid, D. and Megat Abdul Wahab, R. (2019). .: JIDMR:.Journal of International Dental and Medical Research. Available at: http://www.jidmr.com/. Accessed 4 Jan. 2022.
[v] Dörfer, C.E., Staehle, H.J. and Wolff, D. (2016). Three-year randomized study of manual and power toothbrush effects on pre-existing gingival recession. Journal of Clinical Periodontology. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5084749/. Accessed 5 Jan. 2022.
[vi] Ikawa, T., Mizutani, K., Sudo, T., Kano, C., Ikeda, Y., Akizuki, T., Kobayashi, H., Izumi, Y. and Iwata, T. (2020). Clinical comparison of an electric‐powered ionic toothbrush to a manual toothbrush in plaque reduction: randomized clinical trial. International Journal of Dental Hygiene. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/idh.12475. Accessed 4 Jan. 2022.
[vii] Cahuana‐Vasquez, R.A., Adam, R., Conde, E., Grender, J.M., Cunningham, P., Goyal, C.R. and Qaqish, J. (2018). A 5‐week randomized clinical evaluation of a novel electric toothbrush head with regular and tapered bristles versus a manual toothbrush for reduction of gingivitis and plaque. International Journal of Dental Hygiene. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/idh.12372. Accessed 4 Jan. 2022.
[viii] Bizhang, M., Schmidt, I., Chun, Y.-H.P., Arnold, W.H. and Zimmer, S. (2017b). Toothbrush abrasivity in a long-term simulation on human dentin depends on brushing mode and bristle arrangement. PLOS ONE. Available at: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0172060. Accessed 5 Jan. 2022.
[ix] Ranzan, N., Muniz, F.W.M.G. and Rösing, C.K. (2019). Are bristle stiffness and bristle end-shape related to adverse effects on soft tissues during toothbrushing? A systematic review. International Dental Journal. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30152076/. Accessed 4 Jan. 2022.
[x] Hamza, B., Tanner, M., Körner, P., Attin, T. and Wegehaupt, F.J. (2021). Effect of toothbrush bristle stiffness and toothbrushing force on the abrasive dentine wear. International Journal of Dental Hygiene. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/idh.12536. Accessed 4 Jan. 2022.
