Using a toothbrush is essential for oral hygiene. But, how do you pick the best toothbrush out of all the different kinds of toothbrushes available on the market?
Most people lean towards soft bristle toothbrushes over medium and hard ones but then why do toothbrushes with hard and medium bristles even exist? There is a reason why toothbrushes with different kinds of bristles are made and today we will go through each one of them and find out which one is best suited for whom. But, first, let’s look at various kinds of toothbrushes that are available these days.
Types of Toothbrush
Various types of toothbrushes are available in the market based on the bristles type, brush head, bristle pattern and functioning - manual or electric. Let’s look at each of these in detail-
Bristle type - there are three main kinds of bristles of toothbrushes - soft bristle toothbrush, medium and hard. Majorly either soft or medium bristles are recommended by dentists. The toothbrushes with hard bristles may erode the enamel of your teeth.
Brush head - the size of your toothbrush head is also important when choosing a toothbrush. A toothbrush with a smaller brush head is better than one with a large brush head. Small brush heads enable you to clean your mouth effectively and clean all parts of your mouth including the back.
Bristle pattern - The shape of the bristles of your toothbrush plays an important role in your oral health. Toothbrush bristles come in different shapes - round and straight. Both may seem to be doing the same job but straight bristles may cause more harm than good. Straight bristles damage your gums and increase the chances of injury, infection and damage.
Manual or electric - Both these toothbrushes do their job well. A manual brush may not be as effective as an electric one as the technique and timing are fixed in an electric v/s manual where you may not give enough time and use the wrong technique. An electric toothbrush may be costlier than a manual one but may be cheaper in the long run.
One of the most important aspects when buying a toothbrush is the bristles so let's look at the different kinds of bristles available and which one should you buy-
Soft Bristle Toothbrush
Soft bristle toothbrushes are the most popular choice for everyday brushing. A soft toothbrush does the job of brushing perfectly well. It has the right amount of stiffness to remove plaque and bacteria and is soft enough to control excessive wear or abrasion. You may cause damage to your gums and teeth if you brush too hard using a soft bristle toothbrush. However, the damage will be much less compared to a medium or hard-bristled toothbrush. A soft bristle toothbrush is a perfect buy for your teeth. Not too hard and not too soft. It can help remove germs and plaque effectively from your teeth.
Ultra-soft Bristle Toothbrush
An ultra-soft bristle toothbrush has finer bristles, and up to hundreds to thousands of bristles. These finer bristles are gentler on teeth and gums when used. Most of the toothbrush bristles are measured in fineness by millimeters and then ranked as soft, extra soft etc. Most of the brands do not list the bristle millimeters on the package but the names help.
An extra-soft toothbrush is great for those having oral sensitivities like sensitive teeth and gums where normal brushing is more painful or less effective due to sensitivity.
If a soft toothbrush is too painful to use, so much so that you are unable to do regular and effective brushing then an ultra soft bristle toothbrush can be a good choice. If you are someone using a medium or hard-bristled toothbrush and will now be moving to a soft or ultra soft one then you will feel like you are not cleaning your teeth enough. But, this is just a feeling that will pass. The truth is that a soft or ultra soft bristle toothbrush will clean your teeth just as well.
So pick a soft or extra soft-bristled toothbrush to prevent any teeth or gum injuries as these will clean your teeth well and prevent any plaque or germs.
Medium and Hard bristled Toothbrush
A medium or hard-bristled toothbrush must be avoided if you want to prevent your teeth and gums from any abrasions. A medium or hard-bristled toothbrush can be used if you have ‘fake teeth’, retainers, Invisalign trays, dentures, partials etc. other wise a soft bristle toothbrush is good enough for use.
A medium or hard-bristled toothbrush does not remove more plaque or clean better but it does cause more abrasion and wear and tear of the teeth leading to painful and sensitive teeth over time.
What should you choose?
You must choose an adult soft toothbrush as it’s the most effective vs a medium or hard-bristled toothbrush. You can also choose an extra-soft bristled toothbrush in case you have sensitive teeth or gums.
Now that you know that a soft bristle toothbrush is the one you need in your life then let's get to buying the best one!
Products
The Perfora brush heads have been designed to reach hard-to-reach areas and are designed by experts. These are made of soft charcoal bristles that deliver a super clean experience leaving your mouth fresh and clean. These brush heads fit a Perfora soft bristle electric toothbrush which can be purchased here.
The Perfora Electric Toothbrush -
The Perfora soft bristle Electric Toothbrush has a sleek design and a built-in 2-minute timer with quad-interval technology. It has super soft charcoal bristles that are manually tufted. It is ergonomically designed to give you an elevated brushing experience making it a perfect buy for your teeth. You can also personalize your toothbrush by getting your name engraved on the toothbrush. All our dental care products are vegan, cruelty-free, SLS and fluoride free.