45 Degree Brushing – It’s Critical To Your Health
Having been a Dental Hygienist for 22 years, I can honestly say I spend most of my time teaching patients to brush properly and identify the signs and symptoms of gum disease. This usually involves the patient holding a mirror while I brush their teeth. I’ll then follow-up with a short explanation on how to brush and floss. I’m not teaching anything new or revolutionary, just 45 degree brushing and flossing below the gum line in the sulcus. This pocket, once inflamed, will allow bacteria to directly enter the bloodstream which is why gum disease is now linked to so many diseases of the body. What I’m really after is changing the way they think about brushing and flossing.
Learning the 45 degree method
Some people step easily into the challenge, while others struggle. What I’ve learned over the years, is patients typically do well in the short term but cycle back into their old habits after a few months, which is why 75% of the population has some form of the disease. They’re not looking down someone’s gullet for 8 hours every day like me. Up / Down and Circle Brushing clean the surfaces of the teeth but neglect the pockets below the gum line which is where disease starts. Cleaning out this pocket is the true objective of toothbrushing.
A Toothbrush That Reinforces the 45 degree method
The MD Brush reinforces everything I teach about brushing and ensures that when my patient’s pick it up, they will be reminded of the correct way to Think about brushing. Remember, I want them to think like a dentist when they brush. I want them to see the teeth with the mind’s eye. Now, I could go into the process of what it takes to make a toothbrush like this, but it would be a long boring read. So, for our purposes, just know that it’s very difficult, very slow, very expensive, and frowned upon by the competition. However, if you’re interested you can listen to the NPR story
The MD Brush
The first toothbrush designed to improve the psychology of brushing as it relates to the 45 degree Method. The brush has three features that are designed to help people Think and Brush like a dental professional.
The Grip
The grip is over-sized compared to a standard manual toothbrush but is designed to fit the average size human hand. I would argue that other brushes are too small and designed more for ease of manufacturing than functional ergonomics. Knowing what I now know about toothbrush manufacturing I can say this with some certainty. The MD Brush grip provides 4 flats for the thumb. The brush head will be angled at 45 degrees when the thumb is placed on one of these flats.
The Bristles
The Indicators
On the bottom of the brush are 4 lines. These lines are offset from the brush head by 45 degrees, therefore when viewed in the mirror these lines allow the patient to visually determine if they are brushing at 45 degrees. The lines should be arranged vertical and horizontal like looking through a rifle scope.
Results
In a small study performed at the University of Texas School of Dentistry, the MD Brush showed significant advantages when compared to a standard manual brush and was preferred by 80% of the hygienists who took part in the study. Additionally, the MD Brush holds a 5-star rating on Amazon, has been featured on NPR three times, and several dental publications. Amazon buyers state that although it took about two days to get used to the brush they will never go back to their old-style brush again. Some of these buyers have even replaced their sonic brushes in favor of the MD Brush.
Is the MD Brush a good fit for you? Only you will know for sure. But If you’re like me and you value understanding as well as health, then I think the MD Brush would be a good place to start. After all, once you understand what good brushing is, and what it feels like, it won’t matter what toothbrush you use, because you’ll be THINKING like a dental professional.
Watch this video to see how it works.
