Does The Right Toothbrush Really Matter?

The toothbrush is one of the most important tools in anyone’s dental care arsenal. Thanks to it, people can effectively keep their teeth clean daily, and build on their routine with additional steps like flossing or using gentle mouthwash.

But if you’ve recently been at the store to pick up a new toothbrush, you’ve likely seen all the different choices available. So the question begs: does the right toothbrush matter for your oral health, or is it all a gimmick?

Well, the type of toothbrush chosen can matter quite a lot, both in terms of your oral health and addressing some personal preferences! Here are 3 major factors to consider when choosing a new toothbrush and how they may affect your long-term oral health:‍

1. Size And Shape

As a general rule, dentists will often recommend using a diamond-shaped toothbrush because this offers patients the best chances of properly reaching the back of their teeth while brushing.

When the toothbrush is too big, it might not be able to get back to the wisdom teeth physically. The same goes for rectangle-shaped brushes with a flat head that prevents you from reaching these areas easily.‍

2. The Material

The material of the bristles isn’t necessarily important as long as you choose one that’s softer. Hard bristles can be too rough on your teeth, and if you also tend to apply additional pressure while brushing your teeth, this combination can lead to issues such as gum bleeding.

The handle’s material will not influence your oral health, though wooden toothbrushes have been increasing in popularity due to their environmentally friendly qualities compared to plastic ones.

3. Electric Or Manual

You might have heard that the technique matters when brushing your teeth, which is very much true. Electric toothbrushes have been rising in popularity because they offer a much simpler way for thoroughly cleaning your teeth, thanks to the circular motions of the head, which is able to remove food particles from the teeth better.

This choice can come down to personal preference. While you don’t need to upgrade to an electric toothbrush, you should be more mindful with your manual brushing technique and use circular motions to pull out food particles.

BOOK A PROFESSIONAL TOOTH CLEANING AT DAWSON MODERN DENTISTRY

Apart from your at-home cleaning routine, seeing the dentist from time to time is another great way to ensure long-term dental health. Dawson Modern Dentistry – Matthews is here to provide professional teeth cleaning that can remove all unwanted food particles from your teeth, even those places impossible to reach with a toothbrush!

Book an appointment with Dr. Ashley Dawson-Sutton today or call us at (704) 565-9512 for more information about our services.