Walking down the aisle of available toothbrush options at the local drug store or retail chain can be a little overwhelming. With all of the different styles, sizes, and textures, one is left to essentially guess at the right one. But, it doesn’t really matter, does it? Any toothbrush will do, right? Though all can provide a level of clean in the mouth, not all toothbrushes are created equally. There are some things to consider when shopping for your next replacement.
The first thing to look for is the small designation regarding bristle texture. Many people falsely assume that medium or hard bristles would provide the superior clean because of their ability to stand up to rough and rugged brushing, but that is not the case at all. In fact, the person that pushes too hard when cleaning his or her teeth can actually do more damage than good, by irritating the gums and scratching the enamel coating. Soft bristles are the way to go because they can still wipe away plaque and bacteria, but without harming the teeth and soft tissue.
The second thing to look for is size. Your mouth is only so big and you can only open it so far, so while it might seem to make sense that a large brush would cover more area and therefore provide a more thorough cleaning, it is actually the smaller brushes that typically reign supreme. That doesn’t mean that you should hit the kiddy section in search of your next brush, but it does mean that you should choose the brush that seems most likely to fit into the deep, dark crevices of your mouth, so all teeth can be addressed properly.
One final thing to consider; though electric toothbrushes are marketed as the champion product, there has been no conclusive evidence that points to them providing a better result. They are effective at cleaning teeth, but if you are more comfortable with a manual brush, you shouldn’t feel ashamed in making that choice.
