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Wondering how to choose the right toothbrush? Not only do healthy teeth and gums prevent oral problems arising, they’re also crucial for our well-being, since gum disease can lead to all kinds of issues such as diabetes and heart disease. Many of our patients ask ‘What electric toothbrush is best?’ or ‘How do I know which toothbrush to choose?’.
Choosing the right toothbrush plays a vital role in keeping your teeth and gums in top condition – but with so many types on the market these days, many people who come to us complain that it can be tricky to decide which one is the most suitable. So, if you’re wondering how to choose the right toothbrush, you’ve come to the right place.
Here are some top tips on how to choose the right toothbrush:
Toothbrushes, whether manual or electric, are made of nylon bristles than come in a range of soft, medium and hard. You might think that opting for hard bristles will give your teeth the cleanest scouring possible, however we actually recommend soft to medium strength bristles as the hard variety can tend to cause your gums to shrink if too much pressure is applied. There’s also the risk if you brush over-enthusiastically that you could damage your teeth enamel. On the other hand, very soft bristles might not tackle plaque effectively, so unless you have gum problems it’s best to go for medium.
Another tip worth mentioning is the subject of ‘Natural Toothbrushes’. These have been increasingly making an appearance in certain health stores – instead of having nylon bristles, they are made from such materials as the root of an Arak tree. We don’t advocate these for the best oral hygiene, and they tend to get smelly after a few days use. The best sustainable manual toothbrush we have found is the Tepe Good range. Part of a sustainability initiative to make a difference for the good of the planet and for your good. Made from renewable raw materials, sugar cane and castor oil, so they can recirculate up to 95% of the carbon dioxide emissions during its life cycle.
When you’re wondering what toothbrush to choose, we generally recommend a smaller head for your toothbrush, since it will be able to get at hard to reach places in your mouth more easily. That being said, it also depends on the actual size of your mouth.
When it comes to the handle, don’t base your choice on appearance factors such as colour – you want to make sure the handle fits comfortably in your hand so you can get a good grip to brush your teeth effectively. It should be easy to manoeuvre and preferably have a non-slip surface.
Both types of toothbrush have their pros and cons – some people don’t like the vibration of an electric model or are put off by their price, while others swear their teeth feel much cleaner than when they used a manual toothbrush.
While some research has suggested that there is little difference in effectiveness between the two types as long as people take the time to brush thoroughly, further evidence has shown that rotation oscillation toothbrushes (which have bristles that go round as well as back and forth) are better than manual toothbrushes at getting rid of plaque.
Also, one of the best features of an electric toothbrush is the timer. Most people don’t brush for the recommended two minutes. An electric brush helps you get the optimum brushing time. Ultimately though, the right choice between the two will come down to what you feel most comfortable with, providing you’re thorough about your dental hygiene.
One final point to know when your wondering how to choose the right toothbrush is how to replace them, (in the case of the electric you can buy new heads to fit onto the handle) as soon as the bristles begin to show wear, or at least every three months. This is important not only to ensure the toothbrush remains effective at cleaning your teeth, but also because the bristles can collect germs over a prolonged period of time.
There are many benefits of using either a manual or electric toothbrush. We’ve listed a few benefits of both brushes below:
Research shows that electric toothbrushes are more efficient for removing plaque from your teeth. Electric toothbrushes provide better protection against oral plaque and gingivitis compared to the manual toothbrush. As well as this, it is able to cover more surface area with a fraction of the effort.
Sometimes people with limited mobility face more trouble in their daily lives. One of which is to use a manual toothbrush and they are more comfortable using electric toothbrush. Electric toothbrush requires little to no effort and much less movement compared to the standard manual toothbrush.
Nowadays, most electric toothbrushes come with a built-in timer. This helps you to ensure that you are brushing for the predetermined and recommended brushing time for proper cleaning. It’s also a fun and engaging way to encourage children to brush for the correct amount of time, twice a day.
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