How to choose a toothbrush

How to choose a toothbrush

Brushing your teeth is an essential part of maintaining proper oral health and hygiene.

We all know how important it is to brush our teeth at least twice a day. The habit, along with flossing, helps to get rid of food particles and plaque and keeps oral health issues like bad breath, gum disease and tooth decay at bay. In fact, there really is no substitute for regular brushing when it comes to maintaining a healthy and beautiful smile. So, how do you go about choosing a toothbrush that really works well to clean your teeth? Ultimately, you need to feel comfortable with your toothbrush of choice, but these are our tips for choosing one that will reach all surfaces without damaging your teeth…

1. Choose soft bristles

While browsing the dental aisle, you may have noticed that toothbrushes come with a choice of bristles, ranging from soft to medium and hard. Generally, the safest option is to choose a toothbrush with soft bristles as they won’t damage the enamel of your teeth or the soft tissues in your mouth. If you tend to brush your teeth quite vigorously, a hard-bristled brush can actually cause some serious damage to the teeth and gums.

2. Find a size that’s comfortable

When it comes to your toothbrush head, the ideal size will depend on your particular preferences but it is best to choose one that can easily access all the surfaces of your teeth, including hard-to-reach areas at the backs and sides of the mouth. For most adults, a fairly small head is best because they are easy to use and work well to clean the teeth effectively. You should also make sure that the handle of your toothbrush is long enough for you to hold comfortably while reaching all parts of your mouth.

3. Consider your children

If you are choosing a toothbrush for your child, there are a few things worth considering. First, make sure that you choose a toothbrush that is appropriately sized for your child, and that it has soft bristles. Toothbrushes that are especially designed for kids are available in a wide range of colours and themes, so choose one that you know your child will like — this should help to make them more excited about brushing their teeth. If your child is old enough, you might let them choose their own toothbrush. By getting them involved in the process, they are more likely to show an interest in establishing a good oral hygiene routine at a young age.

How can we help?

At Murwillumbah Dental, we love seeing our patients’ beautiful smiles and we encourage you to practice proper oral hygiene every day. This means brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing daily. If you need some advice regarding the oral hygiene products that you use, or would like to improve your brushing and flossing techniques, please don’t hesitate to ask for help. Our team is happy to address any questions that you have and to provide you with all the information you need to enjoy optimal oral health.

We also encourage you to come in and see us every six months for a check-up and clean. This will allow us to detect any potential problems at an early stage and treat them before they become worse. We also urge all parents to bring their children in regularly from an early age — establishing healthy habits from a young age really goes a long way in maintaining strong teeth and gums in the long-term.

If you would like to find out more about what to expect at a dental check-up and clean at Murwillumbah, please have a look here.

To find out more about the range of dentistry services that we offer, please have a look here.

To arrange an appointment to see us, please get in touch with us here or give us a call on (02) 6672 1068.