Are you in the market for a new toothbrush? Even if you’re not, you may want to consider replacing or upgrading your current brush. Most dentists recommend replacing your brush head at least once every three months.

If you have started browsing, you may be overwhelmed by the variety of choices out there. Should you buy soft, medium, or hard bristles? A small or large brush head? What about electric versus manual?

Choosing the right toothbrush is an important decision. Let’s take a look at your options to find what type of toothbrush will work best for you.

Choosing the Right Bristles

Soft bristles will serve most people better than medium or hard bristles. That’s because brushing your teeth should be a gentle process. You may have learned to brush your teeth with lots of energy as a child, maybe to the beat of a simple song or for a certain number of seconds. However, brushing your teeth too hard can undo all of the good work you’re trying to accomplish by brushing in the first place.

If you brush your teeth too hard, you can damage your gums and enamel. That’s why softer bristles are the way to go — if you get a little overenthusiastic, at least your bristles aren’t so hard that they’re contributing to the problem. 

The softness of your bristles isn’t the only thing you can choose when picking out a new toothbrush. Try to find a brush that has either multi-level or angled bristles — these have been shown to remove plaque better than your typical flat bristles.

Selecting a Size

In general, a standard adult-size toothbrush should work well when brushing your teeth. However, if you have a smaller mouth, a compact toothbrush may be more comfortable to use. The key is to choose a size that allows you to brush each tooth thoroughly without irritating your gums. That may mean a smaller size for a more complete clean.

Electric vs. Manual Toothbrushes

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. But when is the last time you timed your brushing routine? According to a 2009 study, most Americans only brush their teeth for around 45 seconds.

One of the benefits of using an electric toothbrush instead of a manual one is that there are often built-in timers to make sure you’re getting a full two minutes of brushing. The same study mentioned above also showed that brushing for a full two minutes removed 26% more plaque than brushing for the average 45 seconds.

Another benefit of switching to an electric toothbrush is that you’ll generally get a more thorough clean than if you used a manual one. At GR Family Dental, we recommend Oral-B and Sonicare electric toothbrushes to our patients. Oral-B’s smaller brush heads can reach more areas of your teeth for a deeper clean, and Sonicare’s 31,000 brush strokes per minute can remove plaque without irritating your gums. 

Schedule Your Next Teeth Cleaning Today

Ultimately, what matters most is that you commit to using whatever toothbrush you’ve chosen for at least two minutes twice a day. Regular brushing will go a long way in protecting your oral health, especially when combined with daily flossing and teeth cleanings every six months.

If you’re due for a teeth cleaning, our Grand Rapids, MI, dentists are here to help. Call GR Family Dental today at (616) 455-3020, or contact us online to schedule an appointment.