Why use a Soft Toothbrush?

I have been asked recently why I always recommend soft-bristled toothbrushes to my patients. This is actually very important. Many people brush their teeth incorrectly. Yes there really is a right way, or at least a better way to keep those pearly whites sparkling clean. You can view a good tutorial on the proper way to brush here. Many people scrub their teeth in a horizontal motion which allows them to put too much pressure on the toothbrush and scrubs away their gums. When the gums are brushed too vigorously they will recede leaving part of the tooth's root exposed. Exposed roots are often sensitive to cold food and drinks, and are also unprotected from cavity causing acids.

So, what is the best way to brush your teeth?

Gentle but thorough.

The soft bristles are gentle and you want to use a soft touch while brushing. You don't want to press the toothbrush so hard against the teeth that the bristles splay open. But, you need to make sure that you are not missing any areas, so definitely brush for the entire 2 minutes recommended and be sure to brush the fronts, backs, and chewing surfaces of the teeth completely. You should also brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth (at least twice a day), to keep it free of bacteria and stain.

If you are switching from using a harder toothbrush, such as medium or hard,you will most likely feel that you are not getting your teeth clean enough. The soft bristles will feel too soft to you at first. I have come up with a good solution to this - I recommend that you brush without toothpaste for the first 2 minutes, then go back and put a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on your brush and brush around the mouth and tongue to get that fresh, minty feeling you crave. The fact is that you don't need toothpaste at all to get your teeth clean. The toothbrush bristles are what are truly cleaning your teeth, and the paste can actually cause a false sense of freshness where your teeth are not truly clean but because your mouth taste minty you think they are!

So now you know why everyone should be using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Now why does it seem that the stores only stock medium?! I suppose that is a question for another day.