So many patients ask – should I use a soft toothbrush? Or a hard toothbrush?
Well, the answer is pretty simple. Hard and medium toothbrushes might give you a really nice “clean” feeling but they can cause damage to your teeth and gums!
Really? Damaged teeth and gums?
Your gums may begin to shrink (called gum recession), and you can actually brush away your tooth enamel over time!
The damage to your gums is irreversible – gums don’t grow back! So you’d better try to protect them.
You might also notice “notches” around your gumline where the enamel and root surface of your tooth has worn away. This type of over brushing tooth wear is a common cause of sensitive teeth, especially to cold or sweet things. Sometimes you need fillings or even “gum grafting” procedures to fix these types of problems. And, with the roots of your teeth exposed, you’ll have a higher risk of developing tooth decay because there’s no strong enamel to protect them.
Choose soft toothbrushes (or electric ones)
When you use a thorough brushing technique, soft toothbrushes are just as effective at removing food and plaque AND they’ll be gentler on your teeth and gums.
So, choose a soft toothbrush. (You can learn more about the most effective brushing technique here)
But if you absolutely can’t live without that really “clean” feeling that you get with a hard brush, I recommend you try an Oral-B electric toothbrush with a pressure sensor. This way, you can get the ultra-clean feeling that you love, but without damaging your gums or your teeth!
You can see my review of the latest Oral-B electric toothbrush here. This electric toothbrush gives you a really thorough clean, while being gentle on your gums. There’s even a “sensitive” setting in case your teeth and gums are extra sensitive to pressure. You can also read about whether manual or electric toothbrushes are right for you over here.
Dr. Grant McGrath BDSc
Co-founder, Principal Dentist
Method Dental in Grange, Brisbane