Types of toothbrushes: Choose the ideal for you

by Wildsmile

Toothbrushes are an essential tool for maintaining proper hygiene of your teeth and gums, so it is very important to know which toothbrush suits you best according to your needs. In this article we will talk about the different types of toothbrushes, their main characteristics and we will give you some tips to decide which one is the most suitable for you.

Types of toothbrushes and their characteristics

There is currently a wide variety of different types of toothbrushes, in terms of shape, size, operation, whether manual or electric, number of bristles and hardness. We can group them into 3 groups according to their function, hardness and purpose. Below, we will detail each one of them:

1. Functioning

We can divide them into manual and electric. The electric ones have the versatility in the movement of the brush head, as it can move horizontally, rotating or by means of vibrations (called sonic).

2. Hardness

Whether your brush is manual or electric, the hardness of its bristles or filaments varies according to its uses.

- There are some with hard bristles, which are recommended for healthy teeth and gums. Their disadvantage is that if you don't have a good brushing technique you can damage the enamel of your teeth and hurt your gums, causing gingival recession.

- Medium bristles are made for patients with good oral health and low tooth sensitivity. Their disadvantage is that their bristles are still considered rigid for patients with gum problems.

- Soft bristles are the most commonly used and recommended by dentists, as they are very gentle on patients with damaged oral health as well as on patients with healthy teeth and gums

- Extra soft bristles are designed for patients who have very high sensitivity and receding gums.

If you want to read more about gingival recession CLICK HERE.

3. Purpose

In this group there are different types of toothbrushes, many of them are nothing like what we know as a "toothbrush", as they are made for a specific function:

- Toothbrush for children. They come in colourful presentations, often with movie characters, to make brushing fun and attractive. Their bristles are soft and small.

- Orthodontic toothbrushes. They are specially made for people who are undergoing orthodontic treatment. They have a shorter central line of bristles to improve the cleaning of the brackets.

- Interproximal or interdental. This type of toothbrush is designed to clean the proximal surfaces between two teeth, areas that a conventional toothbrush cannot access. Know about INTERPROXIMAL CARIES

- Periodontal toothbrushes. They are designed for patients with periodontal diseases, such as gingival inflammation or gingival recession. This type of brush comes with 2 or 3 lines of soft bristles only.

- Post-surgical. These brushes are made for patients who have just undergone oral surgery and need to have a correct hygiene, but with an extra softness.

Now you know how many types of toothbrushes there are today, as well as their main characteristics. It is very important that you choose the one that best suits your needs and oral health.

You may be interested in read: TYPES OF TOOTHPASTE, THERE'S ONE PERFECT FOR YOUR TEETH