Going to buy a toothbrush is not an easy task. We find ourselves before a very complete offer of soft, hard, straight, flexible, curved brushes... In the end, sometimes the temptation even arises to choose the brush by color, so as not to complicate our lives.
However the brush is a key element in our Oral hygiene, so we should choose it carefully. The first thing we recommend is that you ask your trusted dentist and let him advise you. Each mouth requires specific care, due to its size, tooth arrangement and oral health status, among other factors.
If in any case you are curious to know more, we will explain how to choose the most suitable toothbrush, how to keep it in optimal conditions and some curiosities.
How to choose the toothbrush
The toothbrush we choose will depend, as we have mentioned, on the size of our mouth, the position of our teeth, oral health conditions and other specific factors, such as whether we have recently undergone an implant.
- brush hardness. The general recommendation is to choose a medium-hard toothbrush, since they remove plaque and food debris without damaging the enamel, and especially the gums. But if, for example, you suffer from gingivitis, periodontitis or dental sensitivity, a soft brush may be more advisable in the most delicate areas. After an oral intervention (extraction of wisdom teeth or gum surgery), it may even be convenient for you to use an extra-soft or post-surgical one.
- brush size. Choose one that adapts to the size of your mouth, that is, that can reach all corners well. The most common is that it is a brush with a small head, which allows better cleaning in the posterior and difficult to access areas.
- Handle Features. The non-slip handles allow us to have greater control of brushing movements, and also do not slip when wet. On the other hand, flexible handles are more comfortable to handle and reach any part of the mouth more easily.
- brush filaments. The most frequent and advisable are the nylon ones. The tips should be round so as not to damage tooth enamel and gums, and soft bristles, as they are more respectful of teeth and gums. Brushes with inclined bristles better reach the different concavities of the mouth and teeth.
- manual or electric? Electric brushes are recommended when the person has some limitation to perform manual cleaning. If not, we can perfectly opt for a manual one. Remember that the estimated time needed for proper brushing is 3 minutes. The average amount of time that most people spend is less than half. This means that an electric toothbrush can be more efficient than a manual toothbrush under equal conditions.
- What if my gums bleed? On many occasions we associate bleeding gums with damage that brushing is causing them. Under this approach, it would make sense to replace the brush with a softer one, something that we frequently find with our patients. Nothing could be further from the truth. If our gums bleed during brushing, in a general and frequent way, it means that there is an inflammation of them. It is usually due to a buildup of plaque, tartar, or both. The way to treat it is to improve hygiene with a brush of medium hardness and apply a mouthwash with chlorhexidine. But the most important thing is to go to our dentist, because if we have tartar (something highly probable) we will not be able to remove it with a conventional brush, and the gum disease will continue to progress.
Care and conservation of the toothbrush
It is very important change the brush when the bristles are worn or twisted, or every three months, whatever happens before. According to some studies, new brushes remove up to 30% more plaque than three-month-old brushes.
- Clean the brush well after each use, and let it dry in the open air and in an upright position (in a glass or toothbrush holder).
- Do not keep the brush in a cover, humidity favors the appearance of microorganisms and bacteria.
- Don't share your toothbrush, even sporadically. Also do not keep it in contact with other brushes.
Curiosities about toothbrushes
- The most popular color for the brush is blue. This is probably because the color blue is associated with hygiene and health.
- In 2003, Americans voted the toothbrush the number one invention they couldn't live without, ahead of the car and the computer.
- The first "toothbrushes" were already used by Egyptians and Babylonians in 3500 BC, and consisted of chewing the ends of small branches until the tip became soft.
- The Chinese were the first to make toothbrushes more similar to today's, with pig bristles embedded in ivory, bone or bamboo handles.