Brushing your enamel with an excessive amount of power may cause everlasting injury to the important tooth construction. However how a lot power is an excessive amount of? The Zent flex toothbrush presents an elegantly easy answer that ensures you at all times brush with precisely the precise stress.

My preliminary impression of the thought behind the Zent Flex toothbrush was, “That’s sensible!”  There are comparable ideas in electrical toothbrushes that beep at you or flash a pink mild when the consumer makes use of an excessive amount of stress, however they don’t really cease the power.  We at all times advise sufferers to brush gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush.  In spite of everything, it takes little or no stress to take away dental plaque from the enamel.  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 more durable than bones.  It’s attainable, albeit tough, to mechanically abrade (steadily put on away) enamel.  Enamel abrasion is just not our largest concern with poor brushing method, although.  

There are two critical penalties of an aggressive toothbrushing method: 1) gum recession, and a couple of) root abrasion.

Though poor brushing method is just not the first reason behind gum recession, it’s actually a contributing consider many circumstances.  The gum tissues surrounding the enamel are comparatively delicate, so any inappropriate power 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 enamel 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 method, a recession is exceptionally dangerous as a result of it exposes the roots of the enamel, rising the danger for the second consequence of exhausting brushing: root abrasion.  Root abrasion is more likely than enamel abrasion as a result of the roots of enamel shouldn’t have a protecting enamel coating.  As an alternative, the roots are lined in a skinny layer of cementum, which could be very inclined to abrasion.  As soon as the cementum is gone, the underlying dentin (the most important element of enamel) 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 power is acceptable primarily based on scientific analysis concerning the power required to take away dental plaque versus the power that damages dentin.  Analysis helps (and it simply is smart) that rising power will enhance plaque removing.  That’s the entire level of brushing: to take away the sticky movie of plaque that comprises disease-causing micro organism.  In some unspecified time in the future, although, that rising power will take away not solely the plaque but in addition the dentin to which it’s caught!

The brink of 150 grams of power 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 power when testing the abrasion potential of assorted sorts of toothpaste.

The rationale dentin is so important to this dialog is that it comprises 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’ll be extra prone to really feel scorching, chilly, and candy sensations within the nerve.  This research exhibits that utilizing a decrease power when brushing really helps to shrink these tiny pores, decreasing 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 stunned to study that I brush too exhausting!  I’m a dentist!  In fact, I contemplate myself to be somebody with an ideal brushing method.  Throughout my first use of the Zentflex, it was exhausting to cease laughing at myself as a result of the press joint broke again and again.  I did really feel, as I brushed, that I may need been lacking areas, which prompted me to pay shut consideration to how completely I used to be protecting the enamel.

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 power.)  As I continued brushing, I seen that I used to be steadily altering my method to maintain the joint from breaking, so I believe this brush carries nice potential for coaching folks within the acceptable quantity of toothbrushing power.  If that is the one toothbrush you employ, I consider that over time you’ll develop a brushing method that might not trigger the joint to interrupt.

Conclusion

This toothbrush can be a beautiful software for anybody with delicate enamel, gum recession, root publicity, or just a naturally heavy brushing method.  I like to recommend it for these specific folks attributable to its protecting skills and its coaching potential.  It additionally has the benefit of being a lot inexpensive than the typical electrical toothbrushes that promote the identical protecting capabilities.

Dr. Lara Coseo

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