What type of Toothbrush Should I be Using?

The easiest way to ensure good, healthy teeth and strong gums is regular brushing. There is an array of toothbrushes available in the market today that can baffle the savviest of buyers. Usually it makes no difference what toothbrush you use. It’s how you use that matters. However, for the more finicky people, some consideration may be given to the type of toothbrush depending on type of teeth and gums, age and dental condition.

The first thing to consider is; what types of bristles are most favorable for your teeth and gums. There is a choice available between hard, medium and soft. Hard bristles are useful for strong, large teeth and gums. Be careful not to overdo the brushing as it is easy to harm the enamel on your teeth and cause gum irritation. Medium bristles are suitable for people with good oral health. The bristles possess certain amount of flexibility. Remember to clean the whole mouth including the gums and tongue when using it. People with sensitive teeth and sores in their mouth, or other dental disorders, must use toothbrushes with soft bristles as they act gently. These are also the most suitable choice for children and for elderly people.

Looking after your toothbrush is extremely important. It must be cleaned properly after you have used it. But in case you are unsure of doing that adequately, you should consider buying inexpensive disposable toothbrushes. This will reduce, if not totally eliminate, chances of bacterial build up causing more harm than good.

Go for the small, attractive, colorful toothbrushes for children, even ones with their favorite cartoon characters on them. This will lead children to believe they are using a toy and encourage them to use it regularly without any fuss and for longer period of time.

There is a corporate war going on between manual and electric toothbrushes. A manual toothbrush is made from plastic and the bristles are made from soft nylon and other synthetic material. Some believed that it wasn’t effective against plaque build up and bacteria and this gave rise to the electric toothbrush.
Electric toothbrushes are available that are distinct from each other by the variety of motion the brush head offers. The rotation techniques include going side-to-side, circular, rotation-oscillation, counter-oscillation etc. The only one that was actually found somewhat more effective than manual toothbrush was the rotation-oscillation electric brush.

Then there are the sonic care toothbrushes. These are based on the idea that saliva is chiefly responsible for keeping teeth clean. These use sonic waves to make the saliva in the mouth active for use in tooth brushing.

The latest toothbrush to hit the market is the chewable toothbrush. It contains artificial flavoring, aqua and gelatin. No water or toothpaste is needed for brushing with this type of toothbrush. One of the elements used in it, xylitol, is mostly used in chewing gums hence making the brush easy to chew. One disadvantage: vegetarians can not use it as it contains gelatin.

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