Brushing your enamel with an excessive amount of pressure could cause everlasting injury 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 strain.

My preliminary impression of the concept behind the Zent Flex toothbrush was, “That’s good!”  There are comparable ideas in electrical toothbrushes that beep at you or flash a crimson gentle when the person makes use of an excessive amount of strain, 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 strain to take away dental plaque from the enamel.  However in my expertise, there are some individuals who simply can’t appear to reduce the strain they use.  The distinctive design of the press joint within the Zent Flex toothbrush could also be precisely what they want.

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

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

Though poor brushing method just isn’t the first reason behind , it’s actually a contributing think about many instances.  The gum tissues surrounding the enamel are comparatively delicate, so any inappropriate pressure could cause them to again away from that perceived harm.  Gum recession in itself is unhealthy 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 unhealthy as a result of it exposes the roots of the enamel, rising the danger for the second consequence of laborious brushing: root abrasion.  Root abrasion is more likely than enamel abrasion as a result of the roots of enamel do not need a protecting enamel coating.  As an alternative, the roots are coated in a skinny layer of cementum, which could be very prone to abrasion.  As soon as the cementum is gone, the underlying dentin (the foremost 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 may be essential to restore the defects.

The Zent Flex mechanism of “breaking” the joint at 150g of pressure is suitable primarily based 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 smart) that rising pressure will enhance plaque elimination.  That’s the entire level of brushing: to take away the sticky movie of plaque that accommodates disease-causing micro organism.  Sooner or later, although, that rising pressure will take away not solely the plaque but additionally the dentin to which it’s caught!

The edge of 150 grams of pressure can be an accepted standardized quantity for Toothbrushing as the suitable quantity of strain.  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 accommodates 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, which means you can be extra prone to really feel sizzling, chilly, and candy sensations within the nerve.  This exhibits 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 study that I brush too laborious!  I’m a dentist!  After all, I take into account myself to be somebody with a terrific brushing method.  Throughout my first use of the Zentflex, it was laborious 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 might need been lacking areas, which brought about me to pay shut consideration to how completely I used to be overlaying the enamel.

The comb itself is snug 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 regularly altering my method to maintain the joint from breaking, so I believe this brush carries nice potential for coaching folks within the applicable quantity of toothbrushing pressure.  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 instrument 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 as a result of its protecting skills and its coaching potential.  It additionally has the benefit of being a lot cheaper than the typical electrical toothbrushes that promote the identical protecting capabilities.