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Wednesday, June 22, 2005 | ||
Give your teeth the 2-minute drillBy JULIE DEARDORFF Most dentists say the important issue is not whether you use a cheap manual toothbrush or an expensive one that rotates, oscillates and vibrates. Its how long and how thoroughly you massage your pearly whites. Parents spend about 14 frustrating seconds trying to force their squirming children to brush, said Dr. Cindy Flanagan, a spokeswoman for the Academy of General Dentistry. But the rule of thumb these days, according to the academy, is that its best to brush for two minutes. Oral hygiene companies, which love statistics like two minutes, have rushed to the rescue. Both electric and manual toothbrushes now come equipped with two-minute timers that can challenge the most competitive brusher and lay a guilt trip on the cheaters. Some, like the OraWave Musical 2-Minute Twinspin toothbrush ($6.99), rewards brushers by playing a song after two minutes. The Panasonic Techno Toothbrush ($99.99), which uses sonic vibrations to clean teeth, stops briefly after two minutes of use, whether youre done or not. The company Inventive Parent has created a tooth-shaped Twooth Timer ($9.95) that rings after two minutes. And this fall, the toy company Hasbro plans to unveil Tooth Tunes (under $10), a high-tech brush that can transmit a two-minute rendition of Do You Believe in Magic through the front teeth to the jawbone and directly to the inner ear. I decided to try the Intelligent Toothbrush by Radius, a $5.95 manual brush that obediently beeps every 30 seconds to remind you to move to a different part of the mouth. The sound is so soft that if the water is running, you cant hear it, but thats intentional, said designer Kevin Foley, president of Radius. Leaving the water on makes you rush. After two minutes, the Intelligent Toothbrush beeps and flashes twice in approval. Its designed for 180 uses, or 90 days, which is when dentists recommend changing the bristles, another often-overlooked aspect of oral hygiene. The first time I used it, I couldnt believe how long 30 seconds really was. After a minute, I was done. But I didnt want to quit before the brush gave me permission, so I rebrushed everything, including my tongue. And then I rebrushed everything a third time. Finally, after what felt like 10 minutes, I heard the double beep. Hurrah! A tiny feeling of accomplishment washed over me. Perhaps Im a bit too goal-oriented, but I was instantly hooked on the challenge. Now, thanks to the timer, Ive doubled the time I spend brushing my teeth, one of the simplest ways to preserve your health in general. Most people know regular brushing and flossing help prevent cavities, gum disease and bad breath. But there is a growing awareness of the connection between the health of your mouth and the health of your body. Studies have linked gum disease with heart disease. Oral bacteria also has been associated with stroke, diabetes and the birth of pre-term, low-birth-weight babies, according to the American Dental Association. Timers, of course, arent necessary, especially when theyre attached to $160 battery-operated toothbrushes. Take a regular $2.50 manual toothbrush and brush for the duration of a song on the radio. Brush for the length of several television commercials.
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