The Best Type of Toothbrush for Your Gums

We all try to take good care of ourselves. That means eating right, getting some exercise, and of course, getting enough sleep!

A major part of taking good care of yourself is practicing good oral hygiene. This means that you take good care of your teeth by brushing and flossing daily. By practicing good oral hygiene, you make sure that plaque doesn’t build up on your teeth. When you avoid plaque build-up, you can help prevent cavities as well as gum diseases, such as gingivitis and periodontal disease.

An important part of your oral hygiene routine is having the right toothbrush. Of course, it’s important to use that toothbrush regularly and effectively — and picking the right toothbrush for your teeth and gums can help you do that.

But how do you pick the best type of toothbrush for your teeth and gums? You should think about the following:

• Bristle type
• Toothbrush head size
• Toothbrush handle size
• Cost
• Manual vs electric

Bristle Type

The best type of bristle to use is a soft-bristled brush. Hard-bristled brushes have many drawbacks:

• They can irritate your gums and make them bleed
• They can damage your tooth enamel
• They can wear your teeth down and make them more sensitive

With a soft-bristled brush, you have none of these concerns, and they are effective at clearing plaque and debris from your teeth, which is an integral part of your oral hygiene habits.

There are other brush heads which come with rubber bristles that also help in massaging the gums while brushing. Some brushes come with crossaction bristles which help in cleaning inner sides of the tooth while brushing.

Toothbrush Head Size

It’s important to get a toothbrush with a head that will effectively clean your teeth and gums. Your toothbrush head should:

• Be able to brush at least one tooth at a time
• Fit comfortably in your mouth
• Reach all your teeth easily, including your molars

Your best bet may be a small-headed brush, as they are better at reaching all areas of your mouth, including those hard-to-reach back teeth.

Toothbrush Handle Size

Not all toothbrush handles are created equal. Here are some things to look at when picking a toothbrush in regards to the handle:

• Pick one that feels comfortable in your hand
• Make sure it’s easy to use when you’re brushing your teeth and your gums
• Take into account additional factors — do you want a non-slip grip or flexible neck?

It’s important to get a toothbrush handle that works for you – so try a few out and see what seems to work best.

Cost

It’s definitely cheaper to buy a manual brush than an electric one. But, you should never go super cheap on a toothbrush — it won’t work very well or last very long. If you prefer using a manual toothbrush and can find an effective one, you may save yourself some money. Find a good quality one, and stock up when it’s on sale.

You can find reasonably priced electric toothbrushes and save on batteries by making sure you buy a rechargeable one.

Manual vs Electric Toothbrush

An electric toothbrush is generally considered to do a better job of cleaning than a manual one. It’s particularly effective for people who have difficulty brushing or have limited dexterity — e.g. they have arthritis.

An additional benefit to electric toothbrushes is that they often come with timers to let you know when you’ve brushed your teeth long enough. We suggest having an electric toothbrush as well as a manual one for back up. And always be sure to brush your teeth and along the gum line!

How can Bristol Dental Clinic help me ensure I have good oral hygiene?

At Bristol Dental Clinic, we offer a wide variety of dental hygiene services to help ensure that you have clean and healthy teeth. We customize our services to make sure that you get the specific treatment you need.

Depending on the condition of your teeth and your gums, you may just require regular check-ups and cleanings. If you require something more, such as treatment for gum disease, we can do that too! And of course, we’re happy to guide you on how to make the most out of your daily oral hygiene routine.

Oral Hygiene is an Integral Part of a Healthy Life

Making sure you remain in good health takes an effort every day. You need to eat right, drink enough water, and ensure you’re active and getting enough sleep.

Another important part of your health is taking good care of your teeth and gums. One of the ways you can ensure that you do that is to pick the right toothbrush for you. We’ve talked about all of the factors to consider when selecting a toothbrush:

• Bristle type
• Toothbrush head size
• Toothbrush handle size
• Cost
• Manual vs electric

Taking good care of your gums is important; otherwise, you can end up with gingivitis or periodontal disease. At Bristol Dental, we know that a clean mouth is a happy and healthy mouth!

If you would like to learn more about finding the best toothbrush for your teeth and gums, call Bristol Dental at 905-712-3409 or contact us here.