Electrical Toothbrush or Manual. Which One Should You Choose?

The best brush is the one you will use, is certainly true, but there may be other reasons to consider the use of either a manual or electric toothbrush.

Brushing is a well-known part of keeping teeth healthy, along with flossing, but the brush you use can make a difference in your ability to remove the plaque that forms into tartar and calculus and then harbors the bacteria that infects and causes periodontal disease. “The best brush is the one that is comfortable to use, allows you to get into every corner of your mouth and removes the plaque without removing enamel,” says Dr. Judith Ko, one of your Inland Empire Top Dentists and a cosmetic dentist in Hemet, California.

“An electric toothbrush tends to be better for those patients who have dexterity challenges, which means they have difficulty accessing parts of the mouth and using motor skills to gently move the brush in circles,” adds Dr. Ko.

When choosing either type of brush look for the following:

1. A brush head that tapers at the end to make accessing those hard to reach back areas of the mouth easier.
2. Soft bristles that will allow for the removal of plaque, but will not damage gum tissue or remove tooth enamel.
3. A handle that feels comfortable in the hand – not too big or bulky or heavy if electric and not shaped strangely if a manual toothbrush.

Remember when choosing a toothbrush comfort means that you’ll probably use it regularly – a benefit for keeping your teeth healthy long term.

Establishing Trust With Your Dentist

For most patients, a visit to the dentist is a bit unsettling. “That can change dramatically if you can establish a relationship of trust with your caregiver,” says Dr. Judith Ko from her Hemet Valley Dental Practice. Voted one of the Inland Empire’s Top Dentists, Dr. Ko works hard to establish trust with each of her patients.

“I stand behind the work that I provide,” adds Dr. Ko. “I believe that it is important to the development of a long-term relationship, which is what we strive to create.” Providing reliability is only one-way Dr. Ko and her team work to increase trust.

“We make sure that if we’ve said we are going to do something for our patients, that we follow through,” says Natalie, the scheduling coordinator for Dr. Ko.

Being honest is also important. Each dental practitioner will see a patient’s mouth a certain way. This doesn’t mean they are wrong, just different in their approaches. “My standard is that of what I would do for my family if they presented in my office with the same situation.”

Another way in which Hemet Valley Dental Care works to increase trust is by taking the time to answer each patient’s questions. “I believe that no question is silly. Instead, I work to make sure I think of all the possible questions a patient might have and address them first. We know that dentistry can sometimes be confusing and we want to remove any anxiety,” adds Dr. Ko.

To understand first hand why patients voted her one of the Top Dentists, call today and schedule your new patient appointment.

A Visit to Your Dentist is More Than Just A Cleaning

A routine visit to your dentist should never be for “just a cleaning.”

“When a patient is seen in our office for a routine visit we are checking for a wide variety of things,” says Dr. Judith Ko. Voted one of the Inland Empire’s and Hemet’s Top Dentists by her patients and peers, Dr. Ko wants to make sure each patient is healthy. “The mouth is the window to the body’s condition. So not only are we checking for periodontal disease, oral cancer, bite issues, mandibular joint problems and decaying teeth, we are also looking at a patient’s blood pressure, checking their medications to see if they may be contributing to dry mouth or xerostomia, and also looking for other conditions that may present first in the mouth.”

That’s why a visit to your dentist is so important to not just your oral health but to your body health.

“And yes, the visit may include a cleaning, but that is also not just a polish,” adds Dr. Ko. “During your hygiene procedure the hygienist is working to disturb bacteria that can cause periodontal disease.”

So in other words, your routine visit to the dentist is one of the most important appointments you can make. To schedule yours, call us today.