You’re standing in the toothbrush aisle at the store, and it seems like you have 1,000 options to pick from. How do you wade through all your options and land on a toothbrush that works for you? One of the best places to start is by sticking to the advice your dental hygienist will give you:
- Regardless of which colour or size you go with, any dental hygienist will tell you that your toothbrush should have soft bristles. If you use one with hard bristles, it will pull at your gums and cause them to separate from your teeth. This can expose your roots and make your teeth more sensitive to hot and cold.
- In terms of size, make sure the head of your toothbrush will easily fit into your mouth and be small enough to reach hard-to-reach areas.
- Your dental hygienist may recommend an electric toothbrush, especially if you have a hard time brushing your teeth due to arthritis or another condition. A good electric toothbrush will brush five times better than a manual brush.
- As soon as the bristles of your toothbrush start to look worn and frayed, get a replacement. For most people, a new toothbrush is needed about every three months. If you have an electric toothbrush, change the head about every six months.
- When picking a toothbrush for a child, select one with a large handle, small head, and soft bristles for gentle cleaning.