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

On this complete assessment, I dive deep into the Zentflex toothbrush, exploring its options, effectiveness, and the way it stacks up towards different fashionable choices in the marketplace. Prepare to find if this game-changing toothbrush is value including to your lavatory counter.

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 purple mild when the consumer makes use of an excessive amount of stress, however they don’t truly cease the power.  We at all times advise sufferers to brush gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush.  In any case, it takes little or no stress to take away dental plaque from the tooth.  However in my expertise, there are some individuals who simply can’t appear to reduce the stress they use.  The distinctive design of the click 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 doable, albeit tough, to mechanically abrade (steadily put on away) enamel.  Enamel abrasion isn’t our greatest concern with poor brushing approach, although.  

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

Though poor brushing approach isn’t the first reason for gum recession, it’s actually a contributing think about many instances.  The gum tissues surrounding the tooth are comparatively delicate, so any inappropriate power could cause them to again away from that perceived harm.  Gum recession in itself is dangerous as a result of it’s a lack of attachment between the tooth 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 approach, a recession is exceptionally dangerous as a result of it exposes the roots of the tooth, growing the danger for the second consequence of onerous brushing: root abrasion.  Root abrasion is more likely than enamel abrasion as a result of the roots of tooth do not need a protecting enamel coating.  As a substitute, the roots are lined in a skinny layer of cementum, which may be very prone to abrasion.  As soon as the cementum is gone, the underlying dentin (the foremost element of tooth) 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 is perhaps essential to restore the defects.

The Zent Flex mechanism of “breaking” the joint at 150g of power is suitable 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 growing power will improve plaque elimination.  That’s the entire level of brushing: to take away the sticky movie of plaque that incorporates disease-causing micro organism.  In some unspecified time in the future, although, that growing power will take away not solely the plaque but additionally the dentin to which it’s caught!

The edge of 150 grams of power can 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 explanation dentin is so important to this dialog is that it incorporates 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’ll be extra more likely to really feel sizzling, chilly, and candy sensations within the nerve.  This examine reveals that utilizing a decrease power when brushing truly 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 shocked to be taught that I brush too onerous!  I’m a dentist!  After all, I take into account myself to be somebody with an important brushing approach.  Throughout my first use of the Zentflex, it was onerous to cease laughing at myself as a result of the click joint broke time and again.  I did really feel, as I brushed, that I might need been lacking areas, which prompted me to pay shut consideration to how completely I used to be masking the tooth.

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 click joint broke at 150g of power.)  As I continued brushing, I observed that I used to be steadily altering my approach to maintain the joint from breaking, so I believe this brush carries nice potential for coaching individuals within the acceptable quantity of toothbrushing power.  If that is the one toothbrush you utilize, I imagine that over time you’ll develop a brushing approach that will not trigger the joint to interrupt.

Conclusion

This toothbrush can be an exquisite software for anybody with delicate tooth, gum recession, root publicity, or just a naturally heavy brushing approach.  I like to recommend it for these explicit individuals as a result of its protecting skills and its coaching potential.  It additionally has the benefit of being a lot inexpensive than the common 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 common dentistry for 13 years, Dr. Lara presently serves as an Affiliate Professor at Texas A&M Faculty of Dentistry.