Frequently Asked Questions

No! The brush head is round, with 360 degrees of bristles to reach multiple surfaces at once, but the head does not spin or rotate. The sonic motor creates vibrations in the bristles, stimulating the teeth and gums with gentle sonic waves and sonic micro bubbles.

• Wet the brush head with warm water to soften the bristles.
• Place a pea sized amount of paste or gel to any side of the brush.
• Place the brush in the mouth, and use small back and forth strokes to begin brushing.
• Start in the back of the mouth, and work towards the front.
• Brush 1 to 2 teeth at a time, in short strokes, reaching every surface.
• When brushing the back side of the front teeth, invert the brush head vertically for better reach.
• Don't forget the chewing tops of the back teeth.
• Finish by brushing the tongue, then rinse, and floss at least once a day.

At Brilliant, we think the best shape for a toothbrush head is a round one. A round brush head reaches multiple areas in the mouth at one time, including the teeth, the gums, the cheeks, and even the tongue. When choosing a toothbrush of any kind, choose one that fits your mouth size.

We sure think so! A round toothbrush head reaches multiple areas at once while brushing, the teeth, gums, cheek, and tongue. When you reach more surfaces at once, you remove more plaque and bacteria in the mouth.

A soft toothbrush is recommended over a medium toothbrush. The harder the bristles are on the toothbrush the easier it is to cause abrasion and recession. Studies show there is no difference in plaque removal rates between using a medium toothbrush over a soft toothbrush.

Not at all! Everyone builds biofilms and plaque on a daily basis, but they don't build them up at the same rate. Brushing twice a day is a minimum, brushing a third time, typically after lunch, is something recommended often by dental professionals when needed

That depends on what the patients' needs are. There is no set brand or design for toothbrush recommendations by professionals. Dental professionals appreciate all tooth brush designs and types, and realize no one type fits everyone. Different situations in oral health and homecare compliance vary by patient.

Children should have their first bristle toothbrush used as soon as the first tooth erupts into their mouth. However, the adult will be doing all of the oral care and toothbrushing for their child, typically until the age of 4 yrs to 5 yrs. It's at this age when children can be allowed to brush more independently while brush training them, still being directly supervised.

The recommended age date for a silicone finger toothbrush is around 3 months of age. The brush is placed on an adult's finger and used to gently rub the gums and tongue to remove the oral biofilms.

No, not by themselves! The adult uses the toothbrush on the 1-year-old. A 1-year-old does not have the grip strength and dexterity needed to effectively brush their own teeth. This is the adults responsibility. Oral care should be performed by the adult typically until the age of 4 yrs to 5 yrs. It's at this age when children can be allowed to brush more independently while actively brush training them, still being directly supervised.

Not brushing a baby's teeth sets them up for having more difficulties with their oral care, their oral health, and their overall health as they grow. Eventually they will be at risk of having cavities, oral infections, and possibly losing teeth before they should.

Anyone who has teeth needs to brush them if they want to keep them. That includes babies, toddlers, children, adults, and older adults, even our pets need their teeth brushed. What you don't want is a toddler to brush their own teeth. The adult is the one responsible for brushing their toddler's teeth.

Children do not gain the grip strength and dexterity to brush their own teeth effectively until sometime between the ages of 4 yrs to 5yrs and even then they need direct supervision and brush training to ensure they do a good job

Electric toothbrushes with sonic technology motors are some of the best brushes on the market. Sonic motors produce sonic waves and sonic bubbles in the mouth when the bristles of the toothbrush come in contact with the fluids in the mouth. This is beneficial because it allows for two methods of cleaning. The first method is contact cleaning, where the bristles are moving across the teeth, physically contacting, removing plaque. The second method is non-contact cleaning, this is where the sonic waves and sonic bubbles reach beyond the bristles to help remove plaque and bacteria.

The best electric toothbrush for whiter teeth is one that has at least 18,000 brush strokes per minute for a sonic model and at least 8,000 brush strokes for oscillating toothbrushes. These types of brushes remove more of the stained areas in the mouth.

Absolutely! An electric toothbrush can do a lot of damage if it is used incorrectly. You do not want to use “extra” force when using an electric toothbrush. Be sure to follow the specific instructions included with each type, different designs require different techniques to work effectively.

Absolutely! If used incorrectly. A sonic toothbrush is just an electric toothbrush with a sonic motor. If too much pressure is used when brushing the teeth, the pressure can damage the teeth and gum tissues, causing recession and/or abrasion.

Neither! It is completely dependent on the user. Oscillating toothbrushes move back and forth, like a windshield wiper, cupping each tooth individually to remove plaque. Sonic toothbrushes produce sonic waves and sonic bubbles when the bristles stimulate oral fluids. Both brushes work exceptionally well, however, both require specific brush techniques to be effective.

Yes, considering a child has been shown how to properly use one, an electric toothbrush will remove more plaque, generally, than a manual toothbrush.

The same amount of times you would use a manual toothbrush. No matter what kind of brush you choose to use, you should be brushing a minimum of twice a day, more if needed for oral health.

Pregnancy hormones can trigger or exacerbate a woman's immune response to oral bacteria and plaque. Pregnancy gingivitis is common and completely reversible with increased oral hygiene efforts. Pregnancy Periodontitis, however, is an active infection that has invaded the supporting structures of teeth and needs to be diagnosed and addressed by a dental professional.

Anytime an oral hygiene routine is absent, you are at an increased risk for oral diseases that have systemic effects. Pregnancy hormones increase the risk of oral disease diagnosis when oral hygiene is deficient or absent all together. This can also affect the baby, leading to negative pregnancy outcomes, like preterm low birth weight babies.

Regularly! Brush twice a day minimum, more if needed. Use a soft or sensitive bristled toothbrush. Floss everyday and brush the tongue. While brushing, be sure to reach every tooth, and every tooth surface.

Pregnancy hormones can make the teeth and tissues in the mouth more sensitive. Try using a sensitive bristled toothbrush, a xylitol based tooth gel, and be sure to floss regularly. This helps to keep teeth and gums clean and the xylitol helps protect the teeth and provides some relief for sensitive teeth. However, tooth pain and sensitivity can also indicate decay or infection, so be sure to schedule an appointment with your dental professional for an evaluation.

Absolutely! It is recommended quite often. As long as the mother can tolerate the vibrations and stimulation, an electric toothbrush is a great tool for oral hygiene.