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Knowing how to choose a good toothbrush is key to having good oral hygiene. You already know that you should brush your teeth after every meal. Doing this is not enough. It must be done with a good brush.
Introduction
Brushing your teeth every day is essential, and finding the right toothbrush to meet your needs will make your daily brushing more enjoyable and effective.
Homes, stores, and dental shelves are full of endless varieties of toothbrushes. You may have wondered if you are using or buying the right toothbrush or just choosing out of habit. Here are a series of tips on what to look out for in a toothbrush to get the ideal one for you.
The toothbrush bristles
The first thing to look out for in a toothbrush is the bristles. A toothbrush should have soft to medium hardness bristles. It is always advisable that they be soft to avoid aggressive brushing. But if after brushing your teeth you feel that the cleaning has not been effective, you suffer from tartar, or you are worried about your bacterial plaque, you can try a medium hardness brush. Children should always use a soft-bristle toothbrush not to damage their tender gums.
Most specialists suggest that choosing a toothbrush with a medium texture is best. That is a brush whose bristles are neither hard nor very soft.
Choosing a toothbrush with medium bristles will protect your teeth, especially the enamel. Hard bristles tend to damage the enamel, leading to sensitivity problems. Also, you can damage your gums and other soft parts of your mouth. However, if you like hard or soft ones more, there is no problem choosing them. It is more of a matter of taste.
Some people still prefer hard toothbrushes with strong and stiff bristles. This toothbrush can be used for healthy and well-cared mouths as they are not as sensitive. If you must use it, you must not exert too much pressure when brushing. This is to prevent you from damaging the soft parts of the mouth, such as the gums and the enamel.
Toothbrushes whose central line of bristles is shorter than the others are recommended for orthodontics. This is because this type of brush can brush the brackets more easily.
You must change or replace your toothbrush when the bristles are worn or in poor condition. If they are well, it would be best to change it every three months. Doing this will help you avoid the accumulation of germs.
The toothbrush head size
When analyzing and comparing toothbrushes, you must not only consider their bristles, which is what is usually done. The toothbrush head and the handle’s shape are also important, and there are different types and varieties. The brush head is the upper part where the bristles are attached to be able to brush well.
Toothbrush head flexibility is also a factor you should take into account. The ease of movement and comfort will allow us to reach practically inaccessible areas of the mouth. Remember that you can use dental floss as a complement to your toothbrush. With a flexible toothbrush, you can thoroughly clean the interdental spaces.
Toothbrushes with a small or medium head are usually the best; avoid the big ones. The reason is that, obviously, with a brush with a small head, you will be able to better clean every corner of your mouth and teeth. It can also reach areas of the mouth that we would not otherwise be able to when using a big head toothbrush.
Although adult toothbrushes have heads of similar sizes at first glance, it is advisable to look for those between small and medium. In this way, it will be easier for you to reach all areas of your mouth and the faces of all your teeth.
Bristles and head materials
Over the years, experts have taken it upon themselves to innovate and add other materials to the toothbrush head. Before, it was normal to see a toothbrush exclusively with straight nylon filaments and nothing else. Nowadays, we have more of those with wavy, curved filaments and other materials besides the traditional nylon.
You should look out for toothbrush materials along with the bristles. This is because good materials such as silicone or some other non-slip or textured material are helpful when massaging the gums and brushing the tongue. This will help you take your oral hygiene to another level.
The toothbrush handle
The handle of your toothbrush is not related directly to oral cleaning since it does not come into contact with your teeth. But you must also take into consideration its materials and design. If you choose a toothbrush with a suitable handle, it will be more comfortable to brush your teeth. Look out for a thick handle for the little ones because it makes it easier to hold.
The thickness and length of your toothbrush are up to you. The recommendation regarding toothbrush handle size is that it allows you a comfortable grip. Kids will go with those with shorter handles. The appropriate length also depends on the age of the user.
Now, the most suitable material for a toothbrush handle is one that is anti-slip or textured. With these, you can avoid slipping while you brush. Also, it is easier to handle even if your hands are wet or a little toothpaste gets on them. Non-slip textured handles make it easy to use even with wet hands.
The useful life span of a toothbrush is three months. After this time of use, it is recommended for you to discard it and acquire a new one. This is to avoid the proliferation and accumulation of germs and bacteria.
You must know that if your toothbrush looks worn and deteriorated or the bristles are in poor condition before three months of use, you should change it. This may be because you are not using the correct brushing technique, or perhaps the toothbrush is not the right one indicated for you.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the most important thing is to choose a toothbrush that fits the size of our mouth. Likewise, it is important to know if you have any ailments. If so, you will have to be more specific.
There are currently a lot of options on the market. When you want to get a new brush, you need to consider one or more of these factors and choose the perfect toothbrush for you.