What to Look for When Buying a New Toothbrush

You know how important it is to brush your teeth twice a day – you’ve probably heard it from your dentist since you were a young child! But choosing which toothbrush is best is another matter, and the endless number of options on the supermarket shelves can be overwhelming. The team at Tauranga clinic Duncan Dental wanted to simplify things, so we’ve created this guide to buying a new toothbrush.

Toothbrush head size

While toothbrush heads come in a variety of sizes, most adult mouths work best with one that is 2.5 cm tall by 1.3 wide. These toothbrushes can reach all the teeth in an average adult mouth with ease. Our Tauranga dentists stress that getting the sizing right is more important than any fancy features like tongue brushers or curved, multi-coloured brush heads.

Comfortable grip

Just like a tennis racket, you’ll perform your best if your toothbrush offers a comfy grip. While most adults require the same size brush head, our hands have far more variability. Finding a toothbrush that suits the size of your hand will make it far easier to brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day.

Bristles

It’s frustrating for dentists to see how many medium and hard bristle options there are on the shelves when the reality is, most people benefit from soft bristles. With a soft bristle toothbrush, you’re less likely to damage your gums, roots or enamel, even if you tend to overbrush. Only choose harder bristles if it’s recommended by your dentist.

Children’s toothbrushes

Children’s toothbrushes should have extra soft bristles and smaller heads to suit youngsters’ smaller size. While there’s no benefit to a fancy children’s toothbrush from a technical level, if a Paw Patrol or Minion graphic will help get your kids more willing to brush their teeth, then we’re all for it!

Manual or electric

As long as they have soft bristles, choosing between manual and electric toothbrushes really comes down to personal preference. A manual toothbrush is absolutely fine, so only spend the extra cash on an electric toothbrush if it makes brushing your teeth less of a chore.

Replacing your toothbrush

You should replace your toothbrush every few months or when the bristles get ragged – whichever comes first.

To follow up your healthy dental habits with a regular check-up, book an appointment with Tauranga’s leading dentists at Duncan Dental.

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