Toothbrushes

[diamonddamaris]

Which toothbrush is better for a Diabetic when brushing your teeth? Manual or Electronic?

 

[ianf0ster]

My dentist says electric - but that's not specifically for diabetics, though I'm T2D in remission and have used electric toothbrush since long before I was diagnosed.

 

[Antje77]

Why would having diabetes make a difference in what toothbrush is best?

 

[ianf0ster]

@Antje77 perhaps ulcers, bleeding gums etc.

 

[Antje77]

@Antje77 perhaps ulcers, bleeding gums etc.

Non diabetics can have those too. Having diabetes doesn't mean you have those issues.
If you do have them I think it would make sense to try to find out what is best for those issues, not diabetes in general.
This would be a good reason to ask your dentist I'd think.
As fr as I know, electric is usually recommended in general, and I wouldn't expect this to be different for diabetics.

 

[jessj]

Can't say I've heard anything specific to diabetics. I like to be different, I use electric in the morning & manual at night. My dentist was happy at my last check up so I'm happy.

 

[RobynV]

My dentist advised electric is gentler but much more thorough. So I changed but I still use a regular brush at times. Manic brushing up and down tends to damage gums and reduce them, and you miss bits. Electric goes ‘round and round’ at many 100s rotations / minute. It’s a lot easier on the hands (you don’t apply pressure). Just make sure you cover all surfaces. In front, behind and on top. ie do it ‘mindfully’. You still need to floss (or water pick if you like that idea and can afford). Or use interdental brushes. Rinse well. What suits you will depend on your own teeth and their issues, gaps etc. Get in the habit of rinsing with water after any eating where you don’t brush. If you use an electric toothbrush - as for a regular one - keep it clean and change the head eg 4-6 weekly.

Diabetics may suffer more mouth/ gum problems. I have them from a much earlier condition. Meds (dry mouth) and poor brushing technique. Whatever the cause - gum disease is now associated with dementia and other poor outcomes. The reasoning goes along same lines as poor ‘gut health’ - when weak endothelial cells in your gut don’t contain all the nasties in your bowel and some leak to blood stream. This can cause inflammation of various types (among other things). Inflammation is ‘bad’. So gum inflammation is bad. There are degrees though. So don’t panic. You can have damaged gums surgically repaired. I haven’t yet - as not quite beyond help (it’s not fun). I am in Oz where dental services are more available (compared to uk). We know brushing 2x day, 2 mins is recommended. I take longer.

I imagine a Lowcarb diet helps to reduce excess plaque. (Starch digestion starts in the mouth). So that’s another win for LC. Also if you are in throes of diagnosis (eg with peeing a lot and drinking a lot), saliva production may not be optimal either. Besides brushing technique you need to consider if /why you have a dry mouth, and address that. It may be as simple as - drinking more water (and not other bad drinks); a change of meds; or a spray to help moisture stay in your mouth.

 

[MissMuffett]

I use an electrical toothbrush (it has a timer and intermittent quarterly vibration) I also use those little bristle floss thingys everyday. My dentist says electric is best and says that combination is working really well for me.
I wouldn’t have thought being diabetic matters what kind of toothbrush you use as long as it’s doing the job and you like using that type.

 

[aylalake]

I have a sonic brush after using standard electric for years. I haven’t had bleeding gums since a week or so after getting it and my dentist said at my appointment last week she hasn’t seen my mouth looking so healthy for some years.

 

[CatsFive]

<snip>
Rinse well.
<snip>

NHS advice about rinsing after brushing is:

Don't rinse with water straight after toothbrushing​

After brushing, spit out any excess toothpaste.

Don't rinse your mouth immediately after brushing, as it'll wash away the concentrated fluoride in the remaining toothpaste.

Rinsing dilutes it and reduces its preventative effects.

 

[aylalake]

There is a lot in the News recently about how flossing helps lower BG and HbA1c.
For example:

The Relationship between Oral and Dental Health Self-care and Hemoglobin A1c in Adults with Diabetes

Due to the mutual relationship between periodontal diseases and diabetes, it seems that adopting oral self-care in a way to prevent and control the progress of periodontal diseases, improves the oral health of diabetic patients as well as their general ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[Zhnyaka]

Hmm... I use a regular toothbrush of medium hardness. I don't know what kind of brush I used as a child, but since I started buying toothbrushes myself, I usually buy the same one. To be honest, I never thought that I needed some other toothbrush because of my diabetes, at least for almost 20 years of my diabetes, no one advised me to change my toothbrush, the dentist just advised brushing my teeth from the gums and not chewing caramel candies with hypoglycemia

 

[Ushthetaff]

I use a manual for my teeth after Ive left all bar 7 in a a glass of water hehehe , I think as long as your brushing correctly it doesn’t matter , and before people comment on my lack of teeth I have a “rugby players” gob lol

 

[MommaE]

My dentist advised electric is gentler but much more thorough. So I changed but I still use a regular brush at times. Manic brushing up and down tends to damage gums and reduce them, and you miss bits. Electric goes ‘round and round’ at many 100s rotations / minute. It’s a lot easier on the hands (you don’t apply pressure). Just make sure you cover all surfaces. In front, behind and on top. ie do it ‘mindfully’. You still need to floss (or water pick if you like that idea and can afford). Or use interdental brushes. Rinse well. What suits you will depend on your own teeth and their issues, gaps etc. Get in the habit of rinsing with water after any eating where you don’t brush. If you use an electric toothbrush - as for a regular one - keep it clean and change the head eg 4-6 weekly.

Diabetics may suffer more mouth/ gum problems. I have them from a much earlier condition. Meds (dry mouth) and poor brushing technique. Whatever the cause - gum disease is now associated with dementia and other poor outcomes. The reasoning goes along same lines as poor ‘gut health’ - when weak endothelial cells in your gut don’t contain all the nasties in your bowel and some leak to blood stream. This can cause inflammation of various types (among other things). Inflammation is ‘bad’. So gum inflammation is bad. There are degrees though. So don’t panic. You can have damaged gums surgically repaired. I haven’t yet - as not quite beyond help (it’s not fun). I am in Oz where dental services are more available (compared to uk). We know brushing 2x day, 2 mins is recommended. I take longer.

I imagine a Lowcarb diet helps to reduce excess plaque. (Starch digestion starts in the mouth). So that’s another win for LC. Also if you are in throes of diagnosis (eg with peeing a lot and drinking a lot), saliva production may not be optimal either. Besides brushing technique you need to consider if /why you have a dry mouth, and address that. It may be as simple as - drinking more water (and not other bad drinks); a change of meds; or a spray to help moisture stay in your mouth.

To combat the “manic brushing” the hygienists that worked with us always recommended holding the brush, preferably electric, in your non dominant hand. And not to rinse with water after brushing.

 

[CatsFive]

To combat the “manic brushing” the hygienists that worked with us always recommended holding the brush, preferably electric, in your non dominant hand. And not to rinse with water after brushing.

I had to use my non dominant hand for a while and tended to miss some places.i also realised z while back I wasn’t brushing the gum margins. Thinking about doing that has been good. I use an electric toothbrush sometimes, and my normal one are the cheapest from Tesco's. They have fine bristles which are not too stiff. I put them through the dishwasher every month or so

 

[Lainie71]

I use an electric toothbrush have for years. I have switched to soft brush heads and Periogard toothpaste in the evening as it I found I have sensitive gums and slight receding on one molar. I had many teeth pulled as a kid due to overcrowding something I don't think they do anymore, had braces top and bottom and I think as I had so many pulled, it weakened the new ones that came through, the jaw bone.

 

[OrsonKartt]

Which toothbrush is better for a Diabetic when brushing your teeth? Manual or Electronic?

Had my annual check up today. My dentist said use a soft brush. I’ve always used electric and didn’t think of what type of brush it held. Do now.

 

[georgemiller]

I haven’t asked my dentist that question yet, but I’ll have to do that on my next visit. I mostly use a manual toothbrush now, but I’ve used an electric one in the past.

 

[Outlier]

I use a soft brush, manual, and I buy children's size as I am small and adults' brushes are too big
to use dextrosely.

 

[Deleted member 527103]

I have been using an electric toothbrush since before my diabetes diagnosis and never considered there was any reason for changing.
I have all my teeth and only one filling which was due to cracking my front tooth on the side of the swimming pool after the first time I had swum a full length.
I had my annual check up last week and the dentist said I have strong teeth.

@diamonddamaris what is the reason for your question? Why do you think diabetes would affect your dental hygiene management?