A couple of toothbrushes in a glass cup

What To Look For In A Toothbrush

A toothbrush is a personal care product essential for good oral hygiene. The American Dental Association recommends brushing twice daily for two minutes each to help your dental health. Yet, while this is important, one cannot underestimate the importance of choosing the right toothbrush for dental hygiene. 

There are manual and electric toothbrushes; you can choose either because they work well when practising proper brushing techniques. While electric toothbrushes might cost more, they are more accessible for people with dexterity disabilities or dental appliances. Still, you must change your toothbrush every three months or earlier if the bristles are frayed. 

Tips For Choosing The Right Toothbrush

What do you check for in a toothbrush before purchasing one? Whether you use a manual or electric toothbrush, here are some tips for choosing the right toothbrush.

Bristle Variety

Toothbrush bristles come in soft, medium, and stiff bristles. This classification relates to the stiffness of the toothbrush. Survey has shown that most people think that the harder the nylon fibre, the better they are for brushing; this doesn’t seem right. Hard bristles can damage gums and root surfaces and increase your chances of infections and inflammation.

As such, soft bristles are the best because they won’t do any damage if you tend to brush your teeth vigorously. Typically, toothbrush tips come in rounded or straight bristles, so if you have sensitive gums or want more protection, purchase toothbrushes with round tips. 

Toothbrush Head

The right size of toothbrush head can vary depending on an individual. For example, the right size for an adult could sometimes be a child-sized toothbrush. The most important thing to consider is that the toothbrush head enables easy access to every part of your teeth. 

For instance, if you find it hard for your toothbrush to reach the nook and crannies of your mouth, such as the farthest edges of your molar, that might signal that you need to switch to a toothbrush with a smaller-sized head. So far, the shape of a toothbrush head hasn’t been found to affect your toothbrush efficiency, so you should consider choosing one that is more comfortable for your mouth.

Firm Handle Grip

There are different options for toothbrush handle shapes, and it does not affect the efficiency of the toothbrush. However, it is important to pick one with a handle that is comfortable to hold – neither too thick nor thin. Note that the comfortable handle size and shape will vary based on the individual. 

For instance, if you have smaller hands, a narrower handle might be the best fit for you compared to a thicker grip, unlike someone with wider hands. We recommend trying out the handles of different toothbrushes to figure out the most comfortable one for you before purchasing them to help you control your toothbrush better.

ADA Seal Of Approval

A product earns the accolade of wearing the American Dental Association seal of approval by providing scientific evidence that the product is safe. In addition, the association council on scientific affairs carefully assesses the evidence according to accepted guidelines for toothbrushes. Thus, never buying a toothbrush without the ADA seal is highly recommended.

Therefore, the seal demonstrates the efficacy of the toothbrush in removing plaque and reducing gum disease. The ADA seal for disposable toothbrushes also ensures that the bristles have safe tips and will not fall out of the toothbrush under normal brushing conditions. So, even though the ADA-verified product may cost a bit more than those without the seal, it is worth knowing you are not at risk of damaging your gums when you use them. 

Cost

It is especially important to note this for electric brushes, which are typically more expensive. Purchasing cheaper, no-name toothbrushes with no ADA seal might seem like a good deal due to the price, but the quality will be poor, and the toothbrush could also be made from unsafe materials. 

Fortunately, several safe and affordable electric toothbrushes are available for as low as $50. However, if this is still a lot for you, you could use a manual toothbrush until you have saved up enough to purchase a quality one.

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