Is there any reason to choose a hard-bristled toothbrush?

Certainly not when it comes to taking care of your teeth. Most of the people don’t realize they’re using a hard-bristled toothbrush. That is why always make it a point to read the type of toothbrush you are buying. Many of us think a harder bristled toothbrush would be cleaning our teeth more effectively. Using the wrong brushing technique along with a hard-bristled toothbrush can prove to cause damaging effects on your teeth.

Aggressive brushing with a hard-bristled toothbrush may cause abrasions (small ditches and pits on the tooth surface) and attritions (wearing off of the uppermost white enamel layer) of the teeth. The teeth may also start appearing yellow at an early age. This is called traumatic toothbrushing. Abrasions and attritions further cause tooth sensitivity to eating anything cold or sweet.

Brushing with a hard-bristled toothbrush can also harm your gums. The gums are very soft and delicate. Brushing with a hard-bristled toothbrush can cause the gums to tear and bleed. Using a hard-bristled toothbrush doesn’t do any good but rather increases your dental problems further.

Why not use a medium bristled tooth-brush instead?

You can simply pick a medium bristled toothbrush without thinking twice. Nearly two-thirds of the population uses this type of toothbrush. A medium bristled toothbrush effectively removes all the plaque, bacteria and the debris on the tooth surface without causing any harm if used the right brushing technique.

However, if you are using too much pressure while using a medium-bristled toothbrush you are still at risk of harming your teeth with attritions and abrasions. So using the right technique of brushing and using the right amount of pressure is the key to keeping your teeth and gums healthy.

Soft-bristled toothbrush type for the special

Most of the people use a soft-bristled toothbrush even if it’s not advised by the dentist. The majority of the people consider a soft-bristled toothbrush to be a safer option. In case you are suffering from bleeding gums or any gum infections then a soft-bristled toothbrush is what you should be looking for. A soft-bristled toothbrush also effectively removes plaque, bacteria, and food debris in comparison to a medium-bristled toothbrush.

A soft-bristled toothbrush is gentle and soft as the name suggests and does not damage the gum tissue or even your teeth. Chances of developing tooth abrasions are very low while using a soft toothbrush as compared to using a medium or a hard-bristled toothbrush.

When the bleeding,  gum swelling, and gum infections are under control with regular cleaning and polishing by the dentist you can switch to using a medium-bristled toothbrush.

Very Soft /Ultra soft-bristled toothbrush type

Some people are overprotective about their teeth can choose this type of toothbrush even if it is not at all necessary.

A dentist usually prescribes an ultra-soft toothbrush after any wisdom tooth surgeries, gum surgeries, cosmetic surgeries, frenectomy major orthodontic surgeries, or implant surgeries.

The ultra-soft toothbrush may not be as effective in cleaning as the soft or medium-bristled toothbrush. Hence dentists do not advise using it for a long time. Once the tissues have healed after surgeries you can switch to using a soft-bristled toothbrush for some time. If you are comfortable then switch again to a medium bristled toothbrush at your convenience.

The trend of using motorized toothbrushes

Motorized toothbrushes save the hassle of using the right brushing technique and pressure. These can be electric or battery operated depending on what you are looking for. The rapid automatic bristle motions either back and forth or rotation motions help clean the tooth surface more efficiently than the manual toothbrush.

Do electric or motor brushes strip away the enamel layer of your tooth? Certainly not if you follow the right brushing technique. Electric brushes have vibrating or oscillating motions which help reduce the plaque buildup and maintain the health of your gums.

Motorized brushes are generally used by people who are disabled who have impaired motor skills and children who cannot brush on their own.

Heard about toothbrush with an app?

The newest technology called “a toothbrush with an app” is trending. The toothbrush is connected to your mobile via Bluetooth through which you can asses your brushing. You can switch to the daily cleaning mode for everyday brushing, the deep cleaning mode to remove stains on your teeth and the third mode which is the teeth whitening mode to make your teeth shine brighter. It also comes with pressure sensor technology and warns you about the amount of pressure you are using to brush your teeth. You can also gauge the amount of time you are spending to brush your teeth.

The luxury toothbrush

Brush with BURST. The new BURST sonic toothbrush makes sure you brush your teeth in style. This luxury toothbrush gives you all that you need. Its super soft charcoal-infused nylon bristles with micro cleaning ability clean about 91% of the plaque and bacteria present on the teeth. It also has a long-lasting lithium battery so you can just charge it for 2 hours and gives you 4 hours of cleaning time. you can also charge it with a USB.

You can also choose your brushing modes whitening, sensitive and the massage modes. It also has an automatic timer and every 30 seconds you’ll feel a gentle vibration to remind you to move on to another section of your mouth. And guess what? It also has a lifetime warranty.

Tips –

Whichever toothbrush you use, make sure you are using the right amount of pressure and using the right technique.

Try using a medium or a soft bristled toothbrush. Plaque is very soft and does not take much pressure to remove hence there is no need to use a hard brush.

You can try using specialized toothbrushes which indicate the amount of pressure you are using.

The brand of the toothbrush doesn’t matter, it is the type of toothbrush that matters.

Change your toothbrush every 3-4 months and even if the bristled of your toothbrush gets frayed.

Change your toothbrush after you have recovered from cold or cough.this is because some micro-organisms still remain on your toothbrush.

Sometimes the bristles of any brush do not reach the areas between the teeth and these areas often remain uncleaned. Hence flossing should be done regularly.

Visit a dentist every 6 months for cleaning and polishing of teeth and regular checkups.

The bottom line

It is more about the technique of brushing than the actual brush. As long as you have the brush at 45 degree angle along the gum line and if you are making sure to cover all the surfaces of the teeth using a gentle pressure you will be good to go.