Toothbrush Bristles: What Is Best for Your Teeth?

In the olden days, toothbrushes were nothing more than small twigs that were rubbed against the teeth to remove food and debris. As we progressed forwards, so did many of our practices, brushing teeth included!

The 1930’s saw the emergence of toothbrushes as we know it, and from there we developed it further to the vast range that is present in stores today. From various bristle strengths, to electric toothbrushes and even ones that sing back to us, the toothbrush has come a long way from twigs.

But, we will be taking it back to basics and evaluating what exactly is means by soft, medium and firm bristles and which is actually the best for brushing your teeth.

The Bristle Strength

With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to know what exactly is best for your oral hygiene. Of course, the bristle strength you choose usually depends on what you believe is needed for your oral hygiene care. With that in mind though, dentists tend to steer away from recommending harder bristles. This is because soft and medium brushes cause less damage to gum than harder bristles.

Why You Should Stay No to Hard Bristles

We already know that if you brush your teeth incorrectly, or fail to brush at all, it can have a negative effect on your dental health. There are various factors that make bad dental hygiene practices, such as the pressure you apply, the strength of bristles, and the quality of the toothpaste you use. If these are not working together, then you could leave behind damaging plaque and bacteria.

It goes without saying, but if you apply the same force brushing your teeth with a hard-bristled brush as you would a soft bristle brush, there would be some harsh damage. This is referred to as ‘traumatic tooth brushing’. A study in 2015 was looking as what happened to the gums when people brushed their teeth. One of the main contributing factors found to gum recession and lesions to the gum area was the bristle strength. The tougher the bristle, the more that was seen. Therefore, it may be wise to reach for the softer tooth brush options next time you’re replacing!

Your dentist will probably never suggest a hard toothbrush, even if it is your preferred choice. They are more likely to wear and tear the enamel of your teeth and gums, so with that in mind, they aren’t the best option available to you. If you need some more advice, talk to one of the dentists at Dental on Clarendon.