Which toothbrush should I choose? This is one of the most frequent questions we are asked. There are so many choices of toothbrushes out on the market. So, how do you know which one to pick? Brands such as Crest, Colgate, Aim, Arm & Hammer, are just to name a few. There are three types of brushes to choose from. The options are hard, medium, or soft. Hard bristles are made for large teeth and sturdy gums. People who seem to accumulates plaque and tarter faster than other people, tend to use the hard bristled brushes. The firmness works good cleaning the area a little more aggressively than medium or soft bristles. But watch out! Do not brush too hard and end up causing enamel wear or gum recession. A medium bristled brush works good for all ages as long as the teeth are in good condition. The bristles are flexible but still do a thorough job of removing plaque. A soft bristled brush is good for people with sensitivity, children, and people with braces or other dental appliances.
There are many choices for the type of toothbrush you choose to use. Will it be manual or powered? Some studies say that powered toothbrushes reduce the percentage of plaque vs. the manual toothbrushes. Although, both work great! The biggest factor is how the person is operating it. The person’s brushing habits and how well they do it is the main key to plaque removal. Age and dexterity are two reasons that powered toothbrushes can be better for some people. For example, people who have arthritis will find it easier to use a powered brush. Teenagers are usually not great when it comes to oral hygiene. Having a toothbrush that does all the work for them is a good idea. Someone who has Parkinson’s disease can have a hard time brushing. This would be another type of person to recommend a powered brush too.
It does not matter what time you brush, just so you do it two to three times daily. If you are not sure if you are removing all the plaque, try a disclosing solution. There are rinses and chewable tablets that have colored dye in them. Once the dye is released and mixed with saliva, the dye will show the areas where plaque is still present. Whether you buy a manual or powered brush, make sure it has the ADA seal of approval. Brush for a total of 2 minutes each time and you will be good to go!