Reshaped toothbrushes for better care of your teeth.

Note: Before using either of these modified brushes check with your dentist.

Several years or so ago I started going to a different dentist for my dental hygienic care on a periodic basis and in my case, every quarter. My first trip there was a revelation.

My hygienist, Karin, has given me more information about the best ways to take care of my teeth, which incidentally are in excellent condition, than any other hygienist in my life. Not only does she give me helpful tips but provides the reasons behind doing them. In fact, every single time I go there I learn more about taking better care of my teeth. She is the best dental hygienist I have ever had!

One area in my mouth that gave me problems was the lower inside of my mouth. It seemed as though I couldn’t give it the proper attention since I couldn’t get the brush to clean it the way I felt it needed to be brushed, at the critical gum line.

After giving it a bit of thought I decided to reshape two of my brushes so they would clean better, thereby improving my ability to be more thorough.

I used my wife’s hair blower to bend both brushes.

This one has a simple bend in the handle, so it cleans the entire portion of my inner and lower teeth.

The second one, shown above, has a similar bend to it but also has about a 45° tilt to the brush head so it cleans more effeciently around the gum line.

These were easy to make with the hair dryer and 2, 6 in. Lineman’s Pliers Side Cutter Dikes.

Here are the steps I used to make them.

1. Set the hair dryer to high.
2. Hold the brush handle with one of the side cutter dikes.
3. Heat the brush handle up until it bends with the second pair of dikes.
4. Bend only the handle of the first one!
5. On the second one bend the brush end at an angle, about 45° to the longitudinal line of the toothbrush.
6. Now, holding the brush with the dike, reheat the handle up until it has a similar bend as the first one with the second pair of dikes.
7. Obviously, let these brushes cool off before using either of them.

Use a pea sized dab of toothpaste and try the brushes out. Use the second one to gently brush the lower teeth gum line. The bend you put into the brush end of the second should be at the recommended 45° for proper gum care if you got it right.

---