Brush Strokes -- Two New Machines For The Mouth

I ONCE WORKED FOR A MAN WHO always wore clean socks. Not because he washed his regularly, but because whenever it was time for a change, he simply threw out the old ones and bought a new pair. We employees could tell when he hadn't had time to stop at the store: He'd be wearing slacks, loafers - and no socks.

This guy came to mind recently with all the talk about how often we should change our toothbrushes.

Until fairly recently, every six months seemed to be often enough. I'd get my teeth cleaned and emerge with that polished feeling in the mouth and a new toothbrush in hand. Then I heard that bristles wear down in about three months, so the brush should be replaced then.

Then came the news that toothbrushes were hotbeds for bacteria, and might be giving our colds (or flu, pneumonia or even herpes) back to us. At the first sign of such illness, the advice went, toss out your toothbrush and get a new one. When you're over the bug, do it again.

Then one researcher said whether we're sick or not, we should replace our toothbrushes EVERY TWO WEEKS. I thought about landfills. And considered buying stock in toothbrush companies.

Since the industry had my attention, I thought I'd try a couple of new products.

The first was the Dentec 4000 toothbrush sanitizer ($39.95). I spotted it between a foot bath/massager and an infrared body-fat analyzer in a NordicTrack catalog (1-800-892-2174). The top half of the 8-inch-high canister comes off, revealing four slots for toothbrushes and, in the middle, a clear bulb. When the top is on, the bulb emits a germicidal ultraviolet light (for about three minutes every half-hour) that dries the toothbrush, supposedly kills germs, and emits a cool blue glow in a dark bathroom.

I couldn't tell if the germs were gone and haven't used the device long enough to know if it'll cut down on my colds, but my toothbrush definitely was dry each morning and night. And nicely warm to boot.

"Using something to sterilize your toothbrush certainly seems like it has some value," said Dr. Victor Barry, a First Hill dentist and president of the Washington State Dental Association. He hadn't seen the Dentec 4000 but said, "The fewer bacteria you're putting back into your mouth, the better." Barry recommends replacing toothbrushes once a month "or as much as you can afford."

The other new machine I tried was an electric toothbrush called the Oralgiene ($79.95; 1-800-933-6725). It's supposed to do the job even if we don't brush like we're supposed to. What makes it stand out are four angled brushes that surround the teeth, simultaneously brushing top and bottom teeth on all three sides. It's a little like a car wash when all the brushes work at once.

The first time I used the Oralgiene, my gums bled a little. I took that as a sign that my regular brushing and flossing was missing some spot. Later brushings went fine and my gums were refreshed, though my teeth didn't feel as clean as after a normal flossing and brushing.

Barry said electric brushes aren't necessary, except for people who are disabled or otherwise find brushing difficult. They do brush faster, however, which helps when we don't spend the recommended three to five minutes.

The plaque that can cause cavities and gum disease is removed from the outer curved parts of the teeth by eating, Barry said. The trick is getting between the teeth. "If someone were to ask if they could do just one, brush or floss, I'd say floss."

Both is better, of course. A good brush should have soft bristles. For removing plaque, water works fine, Barry said; the mild abrasives in toothpaste are for removing stains and bathing the tooth in fluoride. The fluoride in drinking water helps only growing teeth, he said, in children up to age 12.

(Which prompted this warning from Barry: Too much fluoride can cause brown spots in youngsters' teeth. They should use only a pea-size amount of toothpaste, not the zucchini-like blob in commercials.)

Looking for the best of both high-tech worlds, I tried to get the Oralgiene brush into the Dentec holder. Wouldn't fit.

I wonder if the sanitizer works on socks.

Molly Martin is assistant editor of Pacific.