When you go down the oral health aisle at any store, you'll find boxes and boxes of different toothpaste brands and dozens of packages of different toothbrushes. While toothpaste ingredients do differ, you may wonder if there's really any difference in the type of toothbrush you use. Don't they all do the same basic thing? While you do use them all the same way, there is one major difference in toothbrushes that you do need to understand, and it has to do with the bristles.
Soft, Medium, and Hard Bristles
Toothbrush bristles can be either soft, hard, or a medium stiffness. We recommend only using soft-bristled toothbrushes. These brushes are just as good at removing bacteria, plaque, and food debris from your teeth and gums and the medium and hard-bristled brushes are. However, they're not hard enough to damage your gums or teeth. If you use a hard-bristled brush, it's very likely that you will make your gums bleed. You could even scrape some of the enamel off the surfaces of your teeth, leaving them weaker and more open to damage. Even medium bristles can be too hard for most people. If you're using a medium or a hard-bristle toothbrush and notice that your gums often bleed when brushing, try switching to a soft-bristle brush.
Other Differences
While the stiffness of the bristles is the main factor to consider when choosing a toothbrush, there are a few other options to look at. Some toothbrushes have angled bristles, while others are flat. Some have various lengths of bristles mixed together. Overall, these different bristles don't really make a toothbrush more or less effective. Pick the one that feels right to you. The same is true with both the shape of the brush's head and the length of the handle. Pick whatever feels comfortable and is easy for you to use. If you have any questions about the toothbrush you're using, come in and talk to us. We will help you find the perfect toothbrush.
Our Dental Blog | Smiles of Tulsa - Dentist in Tulsa, OK Corbyn VanBrunt, DDS has created this informative blog to help educate the community. Click here to learn more about home care, procedures and more! Smiles of Tulsa, 6565 S. Yale Ave., Ste. 1103, Tulsa, OK 74136 ~ (918) 891-3059 ~ smilesoftulsa.com ~ 9/5/2024 ~ Tags: Preventive Dentistry Tulsa OK ~
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When you go down the oral health aisle at any store, you'll find boxes and boxes of different toothpaste brands and dozens of packages of different toothbrushes. While toothpaste ingredients do differ, you may wonder if there's really any difference in the type of toothbrush you use. Don't they all do the same basic thing? While you do use them all the same way, there is one major difference in toothbrushes that you do need to understand, and it has to do with the bristles.