The easy answer is electric. Can’t be that simple, can it? Of course not! So let’s take a look at closer look at the different types of toothbrushes.
Manual Toothbrushes
Not quite the ‘original’ toothbrush (have a google of ‘chewing sticks’ for that) but definitely the modern classic nowadays. Manual toothbrushes come in a variety of different bristle types, firmness, and handle designs. Mostly these come down to personal preference, but there we generally have one golden rule: Soft bristles, always. Teeth are incredibly strong but, like rocks under a waterfall, are prone to wearing away with constant force. Medium and firm bristles risk wearing away the tooth.
You can do an excellent job of keeping your teeth clean with a manual toothbrush if you use it correctly. Your toothbrush is not a hacksaw; no need to use it like one. Instead, small circular motions around each tooth (lip side, chewing surface and tongue-side) with the bristles angled a little bit towards the gum is tooth brushing perfection.
Electric Toothbrushes
Dentists generally love them because, compared to a manual toothbrush, they do a lot of the detailed work for us. Once you get the toothbrush head in the right place, all that ‘small circular motions’ business is taken care of by the brush. Couple that with an inbuilt 2-minute timer and you’re a lot more likely to get a thorough clean. All electric toothbrush heads are soft by default, but like manual brushes the shapes and textures vary wildly. Personal preference, and whatever helps you feel like you’re getting a thorough clean, is best. If you want even more options, good news! Between different brands and their various ranges of brushes, you have no shortage of choice. Luckily as dentists and hygienists, we’ve all seen and tried our fair share of brushes. If you’re feeling lost about what to invest in, we’re always happy to chat about what we’ve found works to help your decision.
