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Best Type of Tooth Brush

Best Type of Tooth Brush

INTRO

You would not think that there is a science to the best type of tooth brush but there is. Using a badly designed brush can actually do damage to your teeth and gums. So, what makes up a good tooth brush?

Which to use a Hard or Soft Brush?

The diameter of each tooth brush bristle determines whether the brush is Hard, Medium, Soft or Extra Soft. For many years in the past hard bristles were what was recommended. That is no longer the case. Here is why.

Hard Bristles-Like using a Wire Bristle Brush

Using a hard or medium brush is like using a wire bristle brush on your teeth and gums. The hard brush does damage. They ware away tooth structure and gum tissue.

Soft Bristle Brush

A soft brush is what is recommended because the bristles are flexible enough to not do damage to the teeth and gums. But one other thing is important. That is the shape of the tip of each bristle.

Rounded Bristle Tips

You might wondered what the difference is between a $1.69 brush and a $3.69 brush. Well on an inexpensive brush the end of each of the bristles is cut and you have a sharp ragged nylon fibers. Hundreds of these on the brush are cutting into the teeth and gums, waring away the tooth structure and raking off gum tissue cells as you brush.

High Quality Brush

The end on every nylon bristle on a high quality brush is treated to make it round and smooth like the end of your fingers. These round bristles then do no damage to the teeth and gums. They just break up the food and plaque bacteria, cleaning the teeth.

Wiggle, Don't Scrub

Another very important factor is how you brush. For details on this see my blog on “Wiggle, Don't Scrub” for the proper brushing technique.

Summary

A high quality tooth brush has soft bristles that are rounded on the ends and because of this are usually more expensive. Any brush that we give you in our office will be this type of high quality brush and most high quality name brand brushes will also be good.

Dr. John Wayand

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