Over the span of your life, you’re likely to spend countless hours brushing your teeth. With so much time dedicated to oral health, it makes sense to select a toothbrush that is effective and comfortable. With so many options available in our pharmacy dental aisle, it can be difficult to know how to select the best brush for you. Should you get the one with raised bristles? Soft bristles? Angled heads? What about those that have oscillating tufts? We’re going to explore your options and help you decide which one is right for your oral health.
The average person devotes 1000 hours over their life to brushing their teeth
Common Features Of Toothbrushes, And What They Do
We’ve already mentioned a few of the features you can find in toothbrushes in your dental aisle, and you’re likely wondering whether they make any real difference at all. Prior to getting into the different features, let’s touch on the basics. The first thing to know is that your toothbrush should have soft bristles to avoid damaging your gums and exposing the root. You should also be sure that your toothbrush can easily fit into your mouth and brush one or two teeth at a time.
- Raised Bristles – These make no meaningful difference in the effectiveness of your toothbrush
- Oscillating-Rotating Bristles – These rotating bristles on powered toothbrushes regularly produce superior results to regular bristles on manual toothbrushes.
- Powered Toothbrushes – With the exception of those with OR bristles, no significant benefit can be found with powered toothbrushes.
- Rounded Bristles – These are recommended by many Dental Associations
The takeaway from this is that the best brush is one that fits comfortably in your hand, your mouth, and has soft rounded bristles that won’t hurt your gums or teeth. All other features are matters of advertising or personal preference and have little effect on the actual functionality of the toothbrush.
Powered toothbrushes are a good choice for those for whom brushing is difficult
Now That You’ve Got The Right Toothbrush, Use It Properly
Almost more important than getting the right toothbrush is making sure you’re brushing properly. Without using proper brushing techniques, you’re not going to get the full benefit of the time spent doing dental hygiene. Thankfully the process is straight-forward and simple. Ensure that you hold your toothbrush so the bristles are at a 45-degree angle to your teeth and gums, and brush in small, fast circles. You should attempt to brush each tooth individually rather than making big brush strokes. This tooth by tooth approach ensures that you get each tooth evenly and nothing gets missed in the process. Start with the outside of your teeth, then do the chewing surface, and then the inside of your teeth. Finish up by brushing your tongue and the roof of your mouth for maximum efficacy.
