Deciding on the best toothbrush for your teeth can be a bit overwhelming because there are TONS! So how do you know which one is the best for you? A manual? An electric? Soft bristles or hard? What about the tongue brush on the back?
Let’s go through your options by category!
Brush head size: So let’s start off with the brush head. There are slight variations, regular size and compact. The regular brush head is most popular as it covers a good amount of surface area while you brush. However, if you have a smaller mouth or a sensitive gag reflex it might be beneficial for you to check out a compact sized brush head. The compact head is smaller than the regular and makes maneuvering around teeth easier for those with a smaller mouth. As it is smaller, it is not as triggering to those who have a sensitive gag reflex either. When it comes to the brush head, it’s about what best fits your mouth.
Handle shape: There are many different toothbrush handle designs but the two most popular handles are straight and angled. The most basic brushes have a straight handle design and it is just that, basic! The angled handle was designed to make reaching more difficult areas of your mouth easier. This is all based on preference. No one handle is better than the other.
Bristles: Now this is where it can get overwhelming. Bristles come in different strengths and shapes. There are soft, medium, and hard bristles. More often than not, you’re going to be referred to the soft or medium bristles, especially if you are an aggressive brusher. Soft and medium bristles allow for a deep and thorough clean without damaging the surface of your teeth and gums. Some people prefer hard bristles because they believe it helps remove stains and better removes plaque. However, that’s not true and actually hard bristles can possibly cause damage! Using a hard bristled brush could possibly damage sensitive areas of your gums! Moral of the story, stick with a soft or medium toothbrush!
Next up is the pattern of the bristles, now this category is going to be based on preference. Depending on what area you’d like your toothbrush to focus on, there’s likely a bristle pattern for that! First, there is the basic block shape. That’s when all the bristles are the same shape and height. This is standard and provides a basic clean. Next, we have a wavy bristle pattern. This pattern resembles waves and is aimed to allow the most bristle to teeth contact. This is slightly more intricate pattern than the block. The last pattern to look at are the bristle cups. The purpose of the cups is to polish the entire tooth. The shape is designed to wrap around the tooth and not only clean but polish as well!
Finally, let’s go through the pros and cons of electric vs manual toothbrushes.
Manual: The great part about manual toothbrushes is that it is easily accessible. You can find them at a variety of stores. They’re also very affordable for the most part. The different shapes and brands will play a factor into the price but that offers a large range for you to choose from. Manual toothbrushes are easier to travel with as well. With that being said, to get a good clean with a manual toothbrush, you have to have good mobility in your hands and wrists to maneuver the toothbrush. On the plus side, your dentist might have a complimentary toothbrush waiting for you at your next cleaning as well!
Electric: What draws people in to the electric toothbrush is that it’s the closest to a professional cleaning you are going to get at home! Similar to the manual brush there are different bells and whistles when it comes to different models and brands, too many to even count. The popularity with the electric toothbrush is that it takes a lot of the guessing game out of the equation for you. Timers, pressure sensors, even lets you know when it’s time to replace the head. Though minor, these little things added up to users.
Ultimately, the choice is yours but we hope this guide can help you narrow down the choices!!