In order to maintain optimal oral healthy, brushing your teeth twice a day is a must! But many people don’t realize exactly how many different types of toothbrushes are out there. Each and every person has a unique smile, so a brush that works great for someone else may not necessarily be the best choice for you. Your dentist in Medford explains they types of toothbrushes that are out there so you can decide which one would be the best fit to keep your teeth clean.
Manual Toothbrushes
This type of toothbrush is perfectly sufficient for keeping your teeth clean if you are using proper brushing technique. However, there are a variety of bristle hardnesses, head shapes, and bristle designs that can make a difference when you’re cleaning your teeth. Here are some things that you should know about manual toothbrushes:
Bristle Hardness
In general, there are three different levels of stiffness for toothbrush bristles. Here are the options that you can choose from:
- Soft: Your dentist is most likely to recommend a soft-bristled toothbrush. This is especially the case if you have periodontal disease because it is much easier on the gums and teeth but still highly effective at cleaning away plaque. With this option, you are much less likely to cause damage to your enamel or the soft tissues in your mouth.
- Medium: If you have an overall healthy smile and average dental conditions, medium bristled toothbrushes are also a good option. It can clean your teeth just as well as a soft-bristled toothbrush, but it is more likely to cause damage if improper technique is used.
- Hard: These aren’t very common anymore and can be difficult to come by. They are excellent at removing plaque from the teeth, but they can easily damage the soft tissues in your mouth and your tooth enamel. For most patients, this type of toothbrush should be avoided.
Head Shape
There are two main head shapes for manual toothbrushes:
- Diamond: These narrow tips are narrow and make it easier to clean away plaque and food debris at the back of the mouth.
- Conventional: This is a larger head than the typical diamond shaped one. However, they make it more difficult to clean hard-to-reach places in the back of the mouth.
Bristle Design
Bristles are found in a variety of configurations and each of them have their own advantages. Here are some of the most common:
- Wavy: Wavy bristles are best for reaching adjacent tooth surfaces.
- Criss-Cross: This is the most effective at removing plaque.
- Polishing Cup: For removing stains, this is usually the best option.
- Tapered: These are best at reaching hidden sections of the teeth.
Electric Toothbrushes
This type of toothbrush can offer a greater level of convenience because they do a lot of the work for you. Here are the main types of electric toothbrushes:
- Duel Head: This brush includes two heads. One of them rotates to remove plaque and the other cleans away dirt.
- Sonic: Sonic toothbrushes vibrate at high speeds in order to dislodge plaque and tartar.
- Counter-Oscillating: The bristles rotate in different directions in order to dislodge food and plaque.
- Side to Side: As the name suggests, these bristles move side to side instead of rotating.
What Else Is Out There?
- Interdental Brushes: These complement your regular toothbrush by reaching places that aren’t normally accessible. They are especially helpful for those with braces.
- Sulcabrush: A Sulcabrush is made with a single tuft that is used vertically to slow gum disease and reduce bleeding.
Next time it’s time to replace your toothbrush, thing about all of your different options before settling for one. Having the right dental tools is necessary for good oral hygiene.
About the Author
After graduating with his Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Harvard College, Dr. Anthony Giamberardino earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and has been working in the field for over three decades. He is a member of numerous organizations including the American Dental Association and the Massachusetts Dental Society. For more information on proper oral hygiene or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Giamberardino, visit his website or call (781) 396-3800.