How to Choose a Toothbrush

Choosing something as fundamental as a toothbrush should be easy. Go to a drug store, find a color you like and buy it. Right? Wrong unfortunately. Not all toothbrushes are created equal and some are more suitable for one type of mouth than others.If you’re in the market for a new toothbrush, this is the post for you!

The right toothbrush can completely revolutionize your oral health. It can reach those parts that are difficult to reach, clean your gums, remove more food particles and look after your entire mouth. That’s how important the right toothbrush is.

What to look for in a toothbrush

The first rule of buying a toothbrush is, the softer the bristles the better. However, you have to buy a bristle strength suitable for your mouth. While it may seem logical that harder bristles will clean better, they can also damage gums, making matters worse.

The softer the bristles the better. Speaking of bristles, while there are a number of natural toothbrushes, it pays to be careful with these. It is important to note that not all toothbrushes are approved by the American Dental Association so shop carefully.

As holistic dentists, we are in favor of natural toothbrushes in principle but there isn’t enough data to form strong enough opinions of their advantages over standard nylon toothbrushes yet.

Let’s talk heads. In toothbrushes, bigger is not better. A large headed toothbrush may look more effective, but may have trouble reaching parts of your mouth and between teeth. In the nicest possible way, you have to go for a toothbrush that is as big as your mouth.

Get a grip. The handle of your toothbrush should have a non-slip surface, be slightly flexible but not overly so and be comfortable to hold. You’re going to be using it at least twice a day every day, so you need to be comfortable with it.

A note on electric toothbrushes

Electric toothbrushes are far more effective than manual ones at keeping your mouth clean if used properly. If you’re shopping for an electric toothbrush, the same rules above can apply to it. The advantage you have is that the heads are interchangeable so you can try different bristle strengths and head sizes until you find the right one for you.

Whether you use a manual or electric toothbrush, the brush needs to be replaced regularly. Not only do the bristles lose their strength with use, toothbrushes are also havens for bacteria. So keep it clean and change regularly for best effect.