A girl smiling and holding a toothbrush Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash

"Every tooth in a man's head is worth more than a diamond."

-- Miguel de Cervantes

Our teeth are our most important treasure. We use them for eating, speaking,and smiling.

That's why it's important to carefully choose the right toothbrush. Having the right toothbrush plays a big part in taking care of your teeth and having good dental care!

You'll need to know which toothbrush features are availableso you can pick the right brush to fit your dental hygiene needs.

What Size of Toothbrush Do I Need?

Flaticon Icon

When choosing a toothbrush, consider the size of the head. The width and length of the head affects your brushing.

Ideally, it should reach the top, front, and back of your teeth so you can clean them completely.

  • Small brush heads are the ideal size for reaching the back and hard-to-reach areas of your mouth.

  • Large brush heads are best for covering more surface area and for larger mouths.

What are the Bristle Types?

Flaticon Icon

The correct bristle feature is also important.

  • Firm bristles last longer than a soft brush but can hurt your teeth and gums in the long run.

  • Soft bristles are the most comfortable and best choice for regular use.

  • Extra-soft bristles are ideal for those with sensitive teeth or gums or who wear braces.

What Designs Should I Consider?

Image of different kinds of bristle types to choose from: Criss Cross, Flat, Zigzag, and Dome Shaped (Tapered).

You should also consider the bristle style when picking your toothbrush. The quality of your brushing method depends on the bristle pattern.

  • Criss-cross helps remove plaque build-up and is good for the teeth surface.

  • Wavy/Zigzag design helps reach areas that are hard to clean.

  • Block/Flat bristles have the same height. This is the generic design of toothbrushes.

  • Multi-Level/Dome-shaped/Tapered has different heights of bristles for difficult-to-brush areas and for different mouth sizes.

Manual vs. Electric

Whether you like disposable toothbrushes or the battery-powered type, both are effective in terms of cleaning.

Flaticon Icon

  • Manual types are affordable, readily available, disposable, and can be used anywhere and anytime.

Flaticon Icon

  • Electric toothbrushes are more costly but offer different types of head movement that are especiallyhelpful and easier to use for people with medical concerns and disabilities.

Cartoon cat getting its teeth brushed, then looking in a mirror and saying

What Else Should I Consider?

Flaticon Icon

Handle

An ideal handle is comfortable and won't slip from your hands! Make sure that it will help you to reach every surface of your mouth.

  • Straight handles are easy to control.

  • Contra angle (slightly bent) handles are meant for cleaning hard-to-reach areas.

  • Flexible and non-slip handles have great grip to control brushing movement.

Flaticon Icon

Eco-Friendly Toothbrushes

Since toothbrushes are made of plastics, brushes made of wood or bamboo are getting more popular now.

You might want to consider using this type of toothbrush as an alternative!

Photo of 2 bamboo toothbrushes Photo by Federica Abbinante on Unsplash

Quiz

Nala needs to buy a toothbrush. She wears braces, so she wants a brush that can reach small spaces and gentle on the gums, braces, and teeth. What kind of toothbrush does she need?

Take Action

Muppet style man brushing his teeth.

Whatever toothbrush you choose, remember to brush your teeth properly for two minutes at least twice a day.

And, don't forget to floss and use mouthwash to keep your mouth clean and healthy!

License:

Your feedback matters to us.

This Byte helped me better understand the topic.

Get support to take action on this Byte