The ultimate guide to whether you should use soft, medium or hard toothbrush

Last Updated on 2016-05-19 , 1:53 pm

Using the right toothbrush can be extremely tricky, especially when you are presented with so many choices when you visit a departmental store.

Using the right toothbrush can also determine the health of your teeth as choosing brushes that are too soft can defeat any purpose of keeping them clean, and brushes that are too hard may cause  your gums to bleed.

The firmness of the bristles tells how much pressure they put on your teeth and gums when you brush – so which one should you choose?

Soft bristles
Choosing a toothbrush with soft bristles allow you to get the job done without doing much damage to your gums, nor will it contribute to the problem of receding gums.

However, it is also important to choose brushes without jagged edges so as to not irritate your delicate gums. If you’re worried you won’t get your teeth as clean with a soft toothbrush, it may be time to focus on your brushing technique.

Medium bristles
Choosing medium bristles are probably the best, though it might be a little difficult to determine its firmness as we can hardly ever tell from its packaging.

Most dentists recommend medium or soft-bristled toothbrushes for anyone who has sensitive teeth or gums, or is recovering from a dental procedure.

Hard bristles
Many people have this misconception that using hard bristles is the only way to clean off any plagues or bacteria on your teeth and gums. However, not only can a hard toothbrush cause gum irritation, it can cause gums to recede over time. Therefore, it’ll be best if you can choose a soft toothbrush and leave the harder ones to clean the tough areas of your homes instead!

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