The key to a beautiful, healthy smile is proper oral hygiene - everyone knows this. However, not everyone is aware of the importance of proper selection of a toothbrush, which is after all an essential tool in everyday dental care. The right choice has a direct impact on the health of our teeth. We may not be aware of how many types of toothbrushes are currently available on the market and how important it is to make the purchase a well-considered decision. It is worth finding out the pros and cons of specific toothbrushes in order to best match a toothbrush to our needs.

We have already written about how to brush your teeth properly and the consequences of incorrect brushing in one of our articles. If you haven't read it yet, be sure to take a look here: How do I brush my teeth properly?. If you already know how it should be done correctly, let's focus on the right tool so that your daily tooth brushing actually had the desired effect.

Why is this so important?

You may now be wondering why it is so important to get the right toothbrush and how we can harm ourselves with the wrong choice.

The basic issue is the hardness of the bristles of the toothbrush. It is adjusted to the sensitivity of the teeth and gums. Bristles that are too hard can irritate or even damage the gums and tooth enamel. Too soft, on the other hand, can result in tooth regurgitation and tartar build-up. 

Manual toothbrushes

We can find several degrees of bristle hardness on the market. A toothbrush with soft bristles will be ideal for children and those with hypersensitive teeth. It will also work well for patients after oral surgery.

The brush with medium-hard bristles is quite versatile and as long as you do not have any dental or gum complaints, it will prove to be the best choice. The ones with hard bristles are primarily designed for people struggling with plaque build-up and deposits. These are problematic issues that mainly affect smokers and people who consume large amounts of coffee or tea.

What else is important?

When buying a traditional toothbrush, it is also worth paying attention to additional attributes that improve the quality of brushing, such as tongue cleaner attachments or the flexibility of the head. Check whether the brush head bends. This will prevent possible gum injuries caused by too much pressure. 

Also remember to check that your toothbrush is well shaped. This is important, as it will allow it to reach your molars with ease. In addition, when choosing one, simply bear in mind that the brush should fit well in your hand. This will make brushing your teeth more comfortable. 

Toothbrushes for special tasks

Among manual toothbrushes, we may additionally find toothbrushes with a special purpose. These include, for example, single-strap brushes: intended for those wearing braces or splints. They are also indispensable for cleaning around crowns or dental implants. Read much more on this subject in our article: How to care for teeth with braces.

Electric toothbrushes 

Electric toothbrushes are an increasingly popular alternative to traditional toothbrushes. The basis of their operation is a built-in motor responsible for setting the brush head in motion. The toothbrush tip works in pulsating and rotating motions. Electric toothbrushes can clean teeth up to twice as well as manual toothbrushes, but they also have their disadvantages: high price and the need to recharge. In addition, too much pressure during use can lead to exposure of the tooth necks, irritation of the gums and even damage to the teeth.

Sonic toothbrushes

Particularly noteworthy are sonic toothbrushes, whose technology refers to the sound waves emitted during the device's operation and which perform sweeping and pulsating movements. We have written extensively about them here: How do I choose the best sonic toothbrush?.

What else to choose from?

There are also ultrasonic toothbrushes on the market that use a high frequency of vibration called ultrasound. The sound waves are emitted at a very high frequency, up to 1,000 times higher than sonic toothbrushes, and are inaudible to humans. They are suitable for people with tooth and gum sensitivity.

You will now be able to take care of your teeth more consciously.

Brushing is not enough

In addition to brushing, it is also worthwhile to floss. It serves the purpose of getting rid of food residues in the interdental spaces. We have already written about this in our article: How do you floss your teeth and why is it so important? - You will learn everything important in this regard. You should also pay attention to choosing the right toothpaste and mouthwash, and remember to hygienize. You can find out more about it here: Dental hygiene in the UK.