Ever stand in the pharmacy staring at the overwhelming selection of toothbrushes wondering how you’re going to pick one? Eventually, you simply pick the cheapest or the one that will match your bathroom or gives you a giggle! As much as we’ll support anything that helps you enjoy brushing your teeth, here are a few tips to help you choose which brush is right for you.
Heidi, our sparkling hygienist at Willow Dental Care Vancouver has offered these insights:
You’ll notice that all toothbrushes are noted as soft, medium or hard. This refers to the bristles. You might think that the tougher the brush the better job it will do but that isn’t the case. Medium and hard toothbrushes are not recommended. They can cause damage to the soft tissues and to the enamel and/or dentin which can lead to recession and/or cervical abrasion. Always select a toothbrush rated soft, but then make certain you brush for the full 2 minutes.
If you have gum recession, cervical abrasion or you like to scrub your teeth hard, look for an extra soft toothbrush to clean but also preserve your teeth.
Are electric toothbrushes just for the lazy?
Although manual toothbrushes do a fine job, studies show that electric toothbrushes are a more effective means for plaque removal. The recommended brushing time is two minutes. An electric toothbrush makes it easier to brush for at least one minute Often you forget that you have brushed two minutes because it just feels so good. They also do a better job for the back hard to reach molars.
The choices are those which swipes back and forth against the teeth much like your manual toothbrush, such as the Sonicare. Oral B provides a rotary motion and is just as effective. In fact, the model 450 comes with a 2-minute timer so you can be very accurate. However, this model works off batteries.
We strongly suggest an electric toothbrush for children from two years and up. They love the tickling on their teeth and gums and they do not mind if you use it to check the upper teeth and the back teeth. For children, you can buy an electric toothbrush with a favorite character. ($7.99 and up)
A good electric toothbrush can be purchased for $30 – $250. and up. Willow Dental Care likes Sonicare’s rechargeable toothbrushes. The bigger the price the longer the life of the rechargeable batteries. You will only need to recharge your Sonicare toothbrush once every two months and have been known to work for over 5 years.
Hope this post helps you choose your next toothbrush. Let us know in the comments below any questions or thoughts on this post. And please share it with your friends!
