When you walk into the dental care aisle at your local drug store, you will be inundated with row after row of toothbrush options. You probably know well enough that choosing between the Batman or Spiderman design won’t affect the quality of brushing, but what about all the other aspects? Here’s a guide on how to choose the right toothbrush:
Small Head
Ottawa dentists recommend smaller rather than larger toothbrush heads for most patients. This is because the smaller head makes it easy to access all areas of the mouth, including those tricky back molars. If the toothbrush head is too large, you might not clean every surface properly. By the same token, children should use much smaller brushes with heads that are sized for their smaller mouths and handles that are more suitable to little hands.
Soft Bristles
Ottawa dentists recommend using a soft-bristled tooth brush, as soft bristles are most effective at removing plaque and bacteria. Hard or even medium bristles may be too aggressive and cause damage to your delicate gums and enamel. Additionally, hard bristles don’t conform to the tooth surface in quite the same way as soft bristles. Damaging bacteria which leads to conditions like gingivitis may not be cleaned away by hard bristles.
Recognized by Canadian Dental Association
If you’re in doubt about the quality of a toothbrush, check to see if it has the seal of approval from the Canadian Dental Association. Toothbrushes are recognized by the CDA as safe for your mouth for regular use. Some are also endorsed by the CDA for their ability to prevent cavities and fight gingivitis, but any good toothbrush will do this.
Handle
Toothbrushes try to come up with all kinds of ergonomic handles that look impressive. If a special handle shape makes a difference to your comfort and motivates you to brush, than by all means purchase it. However the only thing that matters is how well the bristles clean your teeth, not how intricate the handle is.
Manual or Electric
As long as you practice thorough dental hygiene, it does not matter whether you use a manual or electric toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes are more expensive, but they can be helpful for people with conditions that make it difficult to grip and maneuver a manual toothbrush even for a few minutes. Numerous studies fail to show any significant difference in plaque removal or prevention of gum disease between the two types, so the choice is yours.
Ottawa dentists will often provide you with a recommended toothbrush following a dental appointment. Regular brushing is tremendously important to your dental health, and it all starts with choosing the right toothbrush
