Dental News - Industry opinion: Changing my power brush preference

Liz Nies, USA

Tue. 11 June 2013

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When I introduce new products and technologies to my patients, I often use analogies to help them understand how they work. For example, I compare a manual to a power toothbrush as a hand saw versus a chain saw. I start off by explaining that toothbrushes have been around for more than 5,000 years in much of the same design.

You could never move your brush fast enough to break through the cell walls of oral bacteria as you can with a power brush. Just like if you were going to cut down a tree, which tool would you use to do it: a hand saw or a chain saw?

Recently I noticed that many of my patients who use Oral-B power brushes had improved oral health. I was quite surprised because that has not always been the case. This piqued my interest, so while attending a continuing education retreat, CAREERfusion, I obtained two new Oral-B Deep Sweep Triaction 5000 power brushes — one for me and one for my husband. I was skeptical at first to try it out, but have been impressed with the results.

Like many of my patients, my husband has always preferred a manual toothbrush. I have made him switch because I know the benefits of using a power brush. However, even with a power brush, he still brushes in a back-and-forth movement. What I like about the new Deep Sweep brush head is that it combines pulsations and sweeps so it feels like a more traditional manual brushing motion. Now, I don’t have to correct him when he brushes as if he was using his old manual toothbrush.

While I have always liked using power brushes, the new Oral-B Deep Sweep Triaction 5000 has shown me that I haven’t been brushing as properly as I thought. This brush comes with a separate piece, the wireless Smart Guide, to place onto the sink to guide brushing and warn the user if they’re brushing too hard or not long enough. The Deep Sweep Triaction 5000 also has a red light built into the handle that indicates when you are using too much pressure. I had never realized before that I brush too hard until my handle started lighting up like a disco ball! Having the wireless Smart Guide feature feels like you have your own personal dental hygienist observing you while you’re brushing.

I now feel compelled to share my new preference of the Oral-B Deep Sweep with my patients, especially since studies show the effectiveness of plaque removal. Like with my saw analogy, I must now come up with a metaphor for the Oral-B Deep Sweep, demonstrating how the power brush has advanced even further.

Note: This article was published in Hygiene Tribune U.S. Edition, Vol. 6 No. 3, April 2013 issue.

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