Choosing The Right Toothbrush For You

Soft, Medium, Or Hard? Which Toothbrush Will Your Austin Dentist Recommend?

It’s very likely that you’ve noticed the different bristle ratings when buying toothbrushes. Ranging from soft, medium, and hard, the rating tells you how firm the toothbrush bristles are and how much pressure they apply to your teeth and gums when you’re brushing. Your Austin dentist understands that this can be very confusing. Which is better? Soft? Hard?

A Soft Toothbrush Is Ideal For Most People.

While a lot of well-meaning people reach for the harder-bristled toothbrushes as they believe they’ll do a better job of cleaning their teeth, they’re actually hurting their teeth more than helping them.

When you brush with the enthusiasm of a person who’s trying to remove every last stain from a grimy floor, you’re causing gum irritation and aggravating sensitive teeth. In fact, not only does brushing with a hard-bristled toothbrush irritate your gums, but it can actually cause gum recession over time.

Does Using A Hard Toothbrush Destroy Tooth Enamel?

Most studies show that the firmness of the bristle doesn’t have a major impact on the health of your tooth enamel. Believe it or not, using a hard-bristled toothbrush only accelerates tooth enamel erosion slightly compared to a soft-bristled toothbrush.

The Bottom Line: Which One Is Better?

We recommend choosing a soft toothbrush and saving those hard-bristled toothbrushes for cleaning dirty, hard-to-reach surfaces in your home. A soft toothbrush will clean your teeth just as well as a hard toothbrush without causing gum irritation or recession.

Is it time for your dental checkup? Call your trusted dentist in Austin at Lifetime Smiles today to schedule an appointment!