How to choose the best toothbrush? Ionic toothbrush: how effective is the new technology? The best ultrasonic electric toothbrushes

Most of us use regular manual or, as they are also called, manual toothbrushes. But manufacturers of oral care products offer several alternatives, including ionic Toothbrush. And while many people have already heard about electric and even ultrasonic devices, the ionic brush is not so popular yet. What is it, what is the principle of its operation and is it really effective? new technology, you will learn from the article.

Ionic brush: working principle

Externally, the ionic brush resembles a traditional manual brush with some design differences:

• inside the brush head, near the bristles, there is a titanium rod, which, in the presence of a power source (battery or solar battery) produces ions with a negative charge;
• on the brush handle in the area where your brush is usually located during the brushing process. thumb, a metal plate is located, the release of ions will occur if it is moistened;
• At the end of the handle there is a light bulb - this is an indicator of the battery charge; if it lights up, it means that ions are being released.

The principle of operation of the hygienic device is as follows: negatively charged ions enter saliva during brushing and promote better effective removal dental plaque.

Ionic brush handle.

According to the manufacturers of ionic brushes, this effect is achieved due to the fact that the ionic brush changes the charge of the enamel. Human tooth enamel has negative charge, and the bacterial plaque formed on it is positive. Since opposite charges tend to attract each other, plaque adheres to the surface of the enamel and is firmly held on it. When brushing your teeth with an ionic brush, the charge of the enamel becomes positive, and plaque plaques are repelled from it, as their charge becomes the same. The negatively charged bristles of a toothbrush attract positively charged plaque. This ensures better cleaning of teeth and removal of bacterial deposits even from hard-to-reach places - dental spaces, surfaces of distant molars.

We owe the appearance of ionic toothbrushes on the market to Japanese specialists; it was in Japan that this technology was invented.

Is ion technology effective?

The principle of operation of the brush has been criticized by dentists.

Both consumers and dentists were skeptical about ionic technology. The principle of operation based on changing the polarity of teeth was perceived by many with irony. There is no reliable evidence that plaque is attracted to the enamel by creating an electrostatic or electromagnetic connection between them. It is known that the attachment of dental plaque to the enamel occurs thanks to enzymes that are produced by soft plaque bacteria. Simply by bringing the bristles, which release ions, to the enamel, plaque will not begin to come off and be attracted to the brush. Its removal is possible only through mechanical action - cleaning.

Reviews from dentists regarding the ionic toothbrush have different character. But the main message is this: it’s not how fancy your brush is, but how you use it. In order for all bacterial plaque to be removed during brushing, the bristles must make the correct “sweeping” motion from the gum line to the cutting edge of the tooth. Even negative ions really come from the bristles, they can only make the process of removing plaque easier, but the quality of cleaning depends on your efforts.

Manufacturers of ionic brushes claim that the process of brushing teeth normalizes acid balance occurs faster in the oral cavity. In addition, the ions released from the bristles contribute to faster penetration active ingredients toothpaste in tooth tissue. That is, the positive effect of brushing will be achieved faster than when using a regular brush, which is especially important for people who devote less than 3 minutes to the hygiene procedure, recommended by dentists.

Descriptions of ionic brushes compiled by product manufacturers indicate that brushing teeth produces the following effect:

• removes bacterial plaque;
• improves gum health;
• eliminates ;
• reduces enamel sensitivity;
• leads to normalization of the pH of the oral cavity.

However, to be fair, it should be said that all these effects can also be achieved by a regular brush if you use it in combination with a good toothpaste and clean using the correct technology.

The nozzle needs to be replaced with a new one every 3 months.

Features of using ionic brushes

You need to brush your teeth with an ionic brush in the same way as with a regular manual brush, with the exception of some points:

• before starting the procedure, the metal plate on the brush handle must be moistened with water, this will activate the process of ion production;
• during the hygiene procedure it is recommended to hold a wet finger on the metal panel so that the process of ion production does not stop;
• moisten the bristles, squeeze a pea of ​​paste onto it;
• brush your teeth for about 3 minutes, moving the brush from the gum to the edge of the tooth;
• then proceed to cleaning the chewing surface;
• rinse your mouth with water, rinse the bristles from any remaining toothpaste;
• Store the brush in a vertical position with the head up.

Important: according to manufacturers, “dry” cleaning without paste will also be effective. In principle, you can remove plaque with the dry bristles of a regular brush, without ionic technology. But the paste helps to mineralize the enamel, strengthen it and protect teeth from. In addition, after wetting the bristles and applying paste to it, cleaning occurs more softly, without damaging the enamel.

Similar to a manual brush, the bristles of an ionic brush wear out and become colonized with bacteria. To ensure effective and safe brushing, brush heads should be changed every 3 months.

The familiar toothbrush is a completely new invention; it appeared only 65 years ago. And in general, the use of brushes as such began not so long ago, in the 16th century. More precisely, in China in 1498, people first tried to attach pig bristles to a bamboo stick. The invention became a success and spread first throughout the country, and then migrated to Europe. Before the advent of such a brush, everything was used for dental hygiene. At first, the prototype of the brush was a bunch of grass, then Ancient Greece and Egypt appeared special sticks, pointed at one end, like toothpicks, and at the other, on the contrary, soaked. In Russia, chopsticks were practically not used; ordinary people rubbed their teeth with birch charcoal, and in the bar they used crushed chalk.

In 1950, dentist Robert Hudson from California filed a patent for an invention that changed the history of dental hygiene: he proposed the world's first toothbrush with soft nylon bristles that were not traumatic to enamel and gums.

How to choose a toothbrush

Over the past 65 years, little has fundamentally changed in the history of the toothbrush. The “bicycle” has already been invented. But manufacturers do not give up hope of surprising us: with design, size, shape and even the materials from which the brushes are made. Advertising constantly screams at us about new products, new super-effective bristles, handles that bend in all directions, vibrating heads, and so on and so forth. How, in this stream of information, mostly of an advertising nature, can you identify the truth that will help you choose a toothbrush that will be truly effective for its intended purpose, and not just look beautiful in a glass on the dressing table.

“A larger toothbrush cleans better.”

No. The bulky head of the toothbrush is not able to cope with hard-to-reach surfaces of the teeth. It is much easier to manipulate a brush with a small head, the length of which does not exceed 1.5-2 teeth. It’s also good if the head of the brush tapers slightly towards the top, this allows you to reach the farthest “wisdom” teeth. There are also special mono-beam brushes that allow you to reach the most hidden places. Therefore, do not go for long and bulky brushes and leave the motto “the more the better” for the density of the bristles. Where did brushes with large heads come from then? They appeared thanks to... marketers. The fact is that most toothbrush manufacturers also produce toothpaste. So, it turned out that the larger the head of the toothbrush, the more toothpaste a person squeezes onto it in one teeth-brushing session. The result: the paste is consumed faster, which means its consumption is growing. Tricky? Undoubtedly.

“A flexible handle in a toothbrush is more comfortable”

The flexible handle may be more convenient than a regular one, but it only gets in the way of brushing your teeth. In advertising they may tell you that it absorbs and distributes pressure. In fact, it simply limits it. Because of this, some areas, especially along the gum line, simply remain uncleaned. The handle of the toothbrush should be simple and non-slip.

“Rubber tooth bristles do a better job of cleaning.”

No, rubber bristles are useless. They are thick and take up a lot of space. As a result, the brush head either becomes too bulky or there is little room on it for the regular nylon bristles that do the actual cleaning. Typically, manufacturers claim that thick rubber bristles polish enamel well. But, as practice shows, they cope poorly with this too. If you want to polish your enamel, go to the dentist for the appropriate procedure or buy yourself a special brush with polyester bristles.

“A special pad will cleanse your cheeks and tongue of plaque”

Yes, but don't flatter yourself. This pad on the back of the brush head is a really useful thing, but for lazy people. Language is a real incubator for harmful bacteria and microorganisms. There are much more of them accumulated there than on the teeth. For this reason, it is language that sometimes becomes the source unpleasant odor from mouth. Therefore, it is imperative to clean it. This can be done with the brush itself or with a pad. But for thorough, high-quality cleaning, you can’t do without a separate scraper. And by the way, remember: you need to brush your tongue before, not after, your teeth.

“A toothbrush with natural bristles promotes the growth of bacteria”

Yes it is. Due to the natural porous structure of natural hairs, it penetrates a large number of microorganisms, the removal of which is not an easy task. Due to the same structure of the bristles, a natural brush absorbs moisture and dries many times longer than an artificial one. This means that bacteria have more time to reproduce. In addition, natural bristles are more difficult to disinfect: disinfectants penetrate deeply into the structure of the bristles and are then very difficult to wash out.

“A medium-hard brush is the best option”

This is not an advertisement, this option simply turned out to be convenient for both manufacturers and consumers. If you come to the store and look at the stand with toothbrushes, you will see that more than 2/3 there are medium-hard toothbrushes. But a convenient choice does not mean the right one. Remember, everything is individual. For some, a brush of medium hardness will be ineffective, but for others, on the contrary, it can injure both gums and tooth enamel. If you are unsure what level of firmness is right for you, consult a professional. The criterion “if the gums don’t bleed, then everything is fine” is not suitable, because the hardness of the brush affects not only the gums, but also the enamel of the teeth. Only a dentist can tell how strong your enamel is. Therefore, if you don’t want to go to the doctor after brushing your teeth with a medium-hard brush for several years and find out about cracks in the enamel, don’t be lazy and make an appointment now.

“An electric toothbrush suits everyone”

No. You need to choose an electric brush based on what kind of enamel you have. If you don't know this, don't buy an electric toothbrush. Many models are not designed for soft or damaged enamel; they rub teeth very hard and often and can seriously injure it. Dentists generally do not recommend buying an electric toothbrush for children under 8-12 years of age, who primarily have teeth.

How to use a toothbrush correctly

“Everything is poison, everything is medicine,” said one wise man. To prevent your toothbrush from literally making your life miserable, keep in mind that:

Boiling water is a terrible enemy of the toothbrush

Under no circumstances douse the brush with boiling water! This is a relic of our Soviet past that is terrible for modern brushes. In the USSR, the brush market left much to be desired, and people predominantly used hard brushes made of natural bristles or hard nylon. The procedure of immersion in boiling water before the first use made the fibers softer.

But it's the 21st century, and the rules have changed. The bristles are made from soft synthetic materials, even if the brush says it is as hard as possible. These materials are not intended for experimentation with high temperature. Therefore, after testing with boiling water, a modern brush can simply be thrown away. If you want to disinfect your new toothbrush, use special disinfectants and warm water.

Proper storage is the key to dental health

10 million bacteria live on a toothbrush! Brushing your teeth, splashes from washing, washing, and even residue from an air freshener (if you have a shared bathroom) - all this leads to the fact that a toothbrush very quickly becomes a real breeding ground for germs. In a recent study, English scientists from the University of Manchester discovered that in addition to completely harmless microbes, toothbrushes also contain E. coli and staphylococcus bacteria. They outlined several possible sources of contamination: the toothbrush bristles themselves, which are contaminated with oral bacteria, splashes of water in the sink/tub when you wash your hands or do laundry, and splashes of water when the toilet is flushed. How to protect your toothbrush?

First, stop using the plastic case. If you think that it will protect the brush from germs, then you are mistaken. The case prevents the bristles from drying out quickly, and warm air in the bathroom and humidity are known to promote the rapid proliferation of pathogens.

Secondly, periodically (but not constantly) use toothpastes with triclosan, an antibacterial component. wide range actions. Do not rinse, but rinse the brush thoroughly after each use and, if possible, store household toothbrushes in different cups at some distance from each other.

And lastly, if you have a shared bathroom, be sure to close the toilet lid before flushing (and in general, keep it closed if possible) to avoid the spread of bacteria and viruses in the air.

Do you feel tired and completely exhausted in the morning? Do you have no energy for anything and want to sleep all day? You're trying to lead healthy image life, you even went on a diet and went to a fitness club, but this does not help you feel more cheerful, quite the contrary? Perhaps the reason is the typical mistakes that most of us make in our Everyday life. These hidden mistakes are especially typical for those who decide to “take care of themselves.” It is not at all necessary to do them all. Two or three are enough to fall out of normal life.

Researchers from England and the USA have confirmed that the toothbrush is home to a number of microbes. The latter include not the most pleasant individuals, such as E. coli and staphylococcus. But there is one important nuance: Most of these bacteria transfer to the toothbrush directly from us during its use.

How does pollution happen?

• oral cavity;
• Toothbrush storage places.

The oral cavity is home to thousands of bacteria and microorganisms. Natural germs and bacteria in the mouth are one of the main reasons why everyone needs to brush their teeth. Some of them cause dental caries unless they are removed during brushing. The second place where a toothbrush gets dirty is where it is stored. Most people leave their toothbrushes in the bathroom. It is there that microorganisms simply teem. Flushing the toilet pushes bacteria into the air, and bathing also contributes to its spread. Eventually, germs will end up on your toothbrush.

On a note! Hundreds of millions of microorganisms can become trapped on brush bristles, including those that cause colds, viruses and infections.

Table. List of bacteria that can be found on a toothbrush.

Name, photo	Short description
	Bacteria that causes erosion of tooth enamel, tooth decay and caries
	Causes diarrhea
	Calls acute pharyngitis
	Bacteria that are contained in aquatic environment, soil, vegetation and feces
	Causes skin infections
	Bacteria that causes gum disease
	Fungus that causes thrush in babies
	Herpes virus
	The viruses of these diseases are found on toothbrushes, and the causative agent of hepatitis B can survive for several months

Can a toothbrush cause illness?

Everyone knows that germs live on your toothbrush. Some of them can harm us. True, no one has yet proven that a toothbrush full of bacilli will make someone sick. When the immune system the person is fine, she fights off the usual microbes that, as a rule, live in the mouth. The body's defenses are activated and stop germs before they lead to illness. More often they get onto the toothbrush from the oral cavity, which means they are the same microbes that the body fights every day.

For certain diseases, there is a risk of re-infection from a toothbrush. For example, if you are diagnosed with strep throat, your doctor will advise you to throw away your old toothbrush after the antibiotics begin to work. If your immune system is not functioning properly due to any disease/disorder, it increases the chances of getting an infection or re-infection after using a toothbrush.

Important! For most people, hygiene and storage conditions are all that is needed to ensure that the brush is in good condition and safe process its use.

Ways to Keep Your Toothbrush Clean

The methods are quite simple and many of us are probably already doing most all of the following daily. Here are care guidelines from the Dental Association.

1. Never share your toothbrush with anyone else. The microbes that another person’s body is used to fighting probably won’t be able to overcome yours.
2. Rinse your toothbrush with water after brushing your mouth, then let it air dry. Most people use a vertical holder for this purpose (be sure to clean it regularly).
3. Do not store the brush in an airtight container where it cannot dry out, as this allows microorganisms to grow more quickly.
4. Change the brush at least 3-4 times a year. This recommendation is more about the effectiveness of the brush in terms of cleaning your teeth, but it will also help reduce the number of germs living on it.

Professional dentists will probably advise you to follow a few additional recommendations.

1. Wash your hands before and after brushing your teeth to prevent the spread of germs.
2. Buy a new toothbrush after a cold or other illness.
3. Use two toothbrushes alternately. This should be done to ensure that each bristle has a chance to dry completely before being used again.
4. Do not share toothpaste with a sick person.

Also, under no circumstances should you put a toothbrush in a microwave oven or put it in boiling water for disinfection. Using these methods, most bacteria can be destroyed, but the toothbrush will suffer.

Disinfecting a toothbrush

Some additional measures will help reduce the number of microorganisms living on your toothbrush.

1. Change your toothbrush more often.
2. Rinse it with an antibacterial mouthwash before and/or after brushing your teeth. However, experts warn that the same product used by multiple people can actually lead to cross-contamination and cause more harm to health than good.
3. Use toothbrush sanitizer. It can kill a large number of microorganisms, but it is not a fact that it completely destroys them.

Important! Ultraviolet (UV) light is one of the most common ways to disinfect a toothbrush. Typically, the bristles are stored in a small plastic container where they are targeted with UV light for 6-8 minutes before and after brushing.

Effervescent disinfectant tablets can also be used to disinfect toothbrushes. Water interacts with the tablet. Bubbles soon appear, disinfecting the toothbrush as it absorbs the solution (about 10 minutes).

There is no strong evidence to support the fact that bacteria in the mouth have any adverse effects on human health, but it is best to clean your toothbrush to prevent their proliferation.

Step 1: Rinse the bristles in hot water after use to remove any toothpaste, food, or anything else left on them.

Step 2: Fill a clean glass with undiluted white vinegar. Place the toothbrush there, head down.

Glass filled with white vinegar

Step 3. Let it soak for a couple of hours. Vinegar kills most bacteria and germs.

Step 4: Remove the toothbrush from the vinegar, rinse it under running water and hang it upright to dry.

There are many various methods toothbrush disinfection, ranging from special ultraviolet lamps to the use of bleach, dishwashing detergent and dishwasher. Fortunately, cleaning your mouth with a toothbrush and avoiding infection is quite achievable. In fact, you most likely have all the ingredients you need in your refrigerator.

Place your toothbrush in the dishwasher. You wash dishes in it, so the device will not be damaged. However, if you are concerned about the bristles softening, be sure to wash them at a lower temperature. This is enough unusual way and it may seem strange to many, but the bacteria actually become much smaller.

A dishwasher is another possible option.

Soak the head of your toothbrush in rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol kills all germs. If you let the bristles air dry or rinse them with water, you can immediately begin brushing your teeth. Alcohol does the job pretty quickly, but for good disinfection, you need to leave the toothbrush in a glass or bowl for at least a minute.

You can also prepare a special antimicrobial agent. Here are the three ingredients you will need:

• water;
• vinegar.
• baking soda.

Pour 1/2 cup or 120 ml of water into a container. Then add 2 tbsp. l. or 30 ml white vinegar and 2 tsp. or 10 mg baking soda. Mix well. Place the toothbrush in the glass and leave for 30 minutes. Then rinse.

On a note! Vinegar and baking soda are effective antimicrobial ingredients and, in addition to disinfecting toothbrushes, can be used anywhere as an alternative to toxic cleaners.

You should also stop using your toothbrush every few months or when you notice wear and tear. It becomes less effective at cleaning teeth and should be thrown away.

Storage

Proper storage of your toothbrush is an important part of disinfecting it. Here are some guidelines to follow.

1. Install a flush guard: You may have heard that flushing a toilet releases particles into the air. They settle on all surfaces in the bathroom, including your toothbrush. Keeping the latter out of reach or in a special container will prevent potential penetration harmful microorganisms from the toilet.
2. Don't forget about ventilation. Store your toothbrush in a ventilated area to allow it to dry completely between brushings.
3. Place vertically: Keep your toothbrush upright to avoid cross-contamination from other surfaces.
4. Take care of proper lighting, low humidity, and a comfortable temperature - microorganisms prefer dark, damp and cool places.

Where should you not store your toothbrush?

Never store toothbrushes near the toilet. Remember the vintage ceramic mounts that were popular in homes built in the 1950s and 1960s? They matched the appearance of the tiles and were almost always placed on the wall to the left or right of the toilet. It doesn't look terrible so much as it is unhygienic. After some time, people realized that all germs from the toilet move into oral cavity at least twice a day.

Also, don't put your toothbrush in your medicine cabinet. If you're so used to keeping it there that you can't wean yourself off, place a toothbrush holder inside. This is the safest way to block the path of germs from the toilet.

How often to disinfect

Do you need to clean your toothbrushes often? No. If you wash them in hot water after each use and store them properly (away from the toilet), you can clean them about once every month or so. Hot water really helps remove potentially dangerous germs from the sink.

Sanitation vs. Sterilization

When shopping for toothbrush sanitizing products, it is important to understand the current lingo. The concept of “disinfect” means to remove a disease or infection, but the indicator of this process in each special case can vary greatly. “Sanitation” means reducing bacteria by 99.9 percent. “Sterilization” is the process of destroying all living organisms. It is important to know that there are currently no commercially available toothbrush cleaners that can sterilize or sanitize them. Don't believe promises of complete destruction of all bacteria, because this is just a marketing ploy.

You can buy toothbrush cleaner, but no evidence suggests that these products clean them any better than plain water and drying. If you decide to purchase a disinfectant, look for a product that has been approved by the FDA food products and medicines.

The bad news is that germs are everywhere and there is no escape from them. The good news is that most of them are actually incapable of harming us. So, don't try too hard to change your toothbrush routine, if at all. Most people have very little chance of ever getting sick from their own toothbrush.

Video - How to care for a toothbrush

Disinfecting your toothbrush will provide an additional level of protection against oral infection and the spread of infectious diseases. Keeping your toothbrush clean is also a good idea in case other people might use it, although this should be avoided.

Steps

Disinfecting a toothbrush

Rinse your toothbrush in hot running water before and after brushing your teeth. Hold the brush by the handle thumb. Run the bristles under hot water. Do this before and after every brushing of your teeth.

Dry your toothbrush thoroughly. When you're done cleaning, wipe off any remaining moisture from the bristles. Tap the brush handle on a hard surface, such as a sink, to release water from the bristles. To dislodge more moisture, lower the brush with the bristles down. Let the brush dry completely, without letting the bristles come into contact with anything.

• If the bristles touch another surface, you may want to rinse them again under hot water and dry them again.

1. Rinse the brush in an antibacterial solution. Use an alcohol-based solution. Pour in enough solution to completely cover the toothbrush head and bristles. Take a brush and dip the bristles into the solution. Rinse the brush in the solution for 30 seconds. Pull the brush out, tap it on a hard surface (a sink, for example) to shake out any moisture, and then leave it to dry upright without letting the bristles touch anything. Throw away the cup.

   • Never dip the brush into a bottle of solution, otherwise you risk not only contaminating the entire bottle, but also the brush itself.
   • If you are sick, increase the soaking period to 10 minutes.

2. Hold the brush under ultraviolet light. Many disinfecting machines use ultraviolet (UV) light to kill bacteria on the bristles of your toothbrush. Most of these devices work on a similar principle. Open the cover on the device body. Insert a toothbrush or toothbrush head (for electric brushes) into the inner compartment. Close the lid. Turn on the device and allow the UV light to clean the bristles for the prescribed amount of time, which is usually no more than a couple of minutes. Pull out the brush when the device tells you it's finished.

   • Some disinfectants use steam or steam instead of UV light. sound waves. The method of using them is basically the same, but the duration of cleaning may be different.

3. Change the brush every 3-4 months or as needed. Sometimes it's best to get a new toothbrush. The Russian Dental Association recommends changing your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Regardless, a careful inspection of the bristles will tell you whether you should replace your brush early. The individual bristles should not be very worn (split ends). In addition, if many of the bristles are bent in one direction and even drying does not help return them to an upright position, it means it is time to buy a new brush.

   Store the brush in an upright position. This way you will kill two birds with one stone. First, water and any other liquids will flow out of the bristles due to gravity. And secondly, the bristles will not be located at the bottom of the container, where bacteria collect. The container should be short enough so that the head of the toothbrush is significantly higher than the rim, and the brush itself does not tip over.

   • Whatever you use - a cup or a special stand to absorb possible drips - you should place paper towels under the place where you store your toothbrush. This way, you can get rid of infected fluids without letting them come into contact with other surfaces.

4. Move the container away from other surfaces. The bristles on your toothbrush should not come into contact with sources of dirt such as the toilet, wall or cabinet. Keep containers 1-2 meters from the toilet so that water particles do not fall on them during flushing.

   Install a wall-mounted toothbrush holder. Place the brush in a holder that can be attached to the wall. Buy a mounting stand and holder from a hardware store. Using a screwdriver, secure the stand to the wall above the sink, and at least 1-2 meters from the toilet, shower and/or bathtub. Place the toothbrush holder on the stand, inserting it vertically.

   • The holder usually has enough space for several brushes. Make sure that the brushes do not touch each other. In addition, there is usually a holder in the center for storing accessories such as toothpaste. The bristles of the toothbrush should not touch these objects either.

5. When traveling, keep your toothbrush in its case. If you're going on a trip, don't forget to put your toothbrush in its case. The choice of toothbrush cases is quite extensive, some of them even have antimicrobial properties. If possible, choose them. Whatever you choose, know that the principle of operation of the covers is almost the same - they hide the brush head in a special pocket, and then close or snap into place at the top (not the part where the handle is located). Take the brush out immediately after you get to your destination to clean it and let it dry before using it.

• Change your toothbrush about once every 3-4 months.
• Do not store your toothbrush in a closed container for long periods of time.
• Store your toothbrush upright.
• Deep disinfection of a toothbrush, as a rule, should not be carried out more than once a week.
• A few drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution on the bristles will clean them effectively and safely. Hydrogen peroxide is found in both toothpaste and mouthwash. It's quite short and cheap way which can be done after every brushing of your teeth. H 2 O 2 is available in most pharmacies.