Imagine this: you’re doing your grocery shopping, and one of the last items on your list is a new toothbrush, so you head on over to the pharmacy aisle. When you get there you’re shocked at just how many different types of toothbrushes there are to choose from, and you find yourself standing there unable to decide which toothbrush to buy. Does this seem familiar? Don’t worry, you’re not alone!
Here are some helpful tips for choosing a new toothbrush
Choosing a new Toothbrush for YOUR Mouth
The important thing to consider is that people’s mouths are different – they’re different sizes, different shapes, and have different levels of sensitivity. Naturally, this means that different people will like different toothbrushes – there’s no “one size fits all” option when choosing a new toothbrush.
Also, consider that your mouth might change over time. So if you’re finding that the toothbrush brand and type you’ve always used doesn’t feel quite right anymore, it doesn’t mean that the manufacturer has changed the design of the toothbrush (although this is certainly possible), it could mean that your mouth has changed.
Things to Consider When Choosing a New Toothbrush
Here are a few main points to consider when choosing a new toothbrush:
- Bristle hardness – Different toothbrushes have a different stiffness of bristles: hard, medium and soft. Most dentists agree that soft bristles are best: they effectively remove food particles from the teeth and gums but aren’t stiff enough to do any damage.
- Head size – You should buy a toothbrush that can get to the very back of your mouth and get those hard-to-reach spots behind your back teeth. If the head of your toothbrush is too big you might not be able to get all the way back there, which might lead to plaque buildup and inflamed, tender and bleeding gums.
- Reach and feel – Since you’re going to be brushing your teeth at least twice a day, make sure you get one that has a comfortable grip. When you’re brushing your teeth you have to bend and twist your wrist and hand to get all the nooks and crannies of your mouth, behind and between your teeth, so make sure your toothbrush has a comfortable grip.
Replacing your Toothbrush
On average, we recommend replacing your toothbrush every three months, but this does depend on how often and how hard you brush your teeth.
Replacing your toothbrush regularly is important for good oral health because a good toothbrush needs to effectively remove particles of food from around, behind and between your teeth and from the rest of your mouth. A toothbrush with bristles that are bent, broken and worn won’t do this quite as well, which can lead to plaque buildup and swollen gums.
Replacing your toothbrush more frequently than once every three months might be a sign of improper brushing. If you brush your teeth too hard or too vigorously then you might wear through toothbrushes faster than once every three months, you might also be damaging your gums, root surface and your tooth enamel.
Orion Dental provides a wide array of dental services for the whole family including regular checkups, cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening and dental implants. If you’re looking for a dentist you can trust, call us at our Milton dentist office at (905) 636 – 9770 or our Scarborough dentist office at (416) 291 – 0306 and let’s book an appointment for you and your family!
