How To Choose Your Toothbrush and Toothpaste?

Choosing the Right Toothbrush and Toothpaste

How much thought do you put into buying a toothbrush and toothpaste? When you enter that long aisle full of different brushes and pastes, do you have a game plan?

When it comes to any task, you need to have the right tools for the job.

If you’re a lumberjack, you don’t just pick out an ax at random or because it’s your favorite color.

You pick your ax based on quality and which one will help you get the job done quickest, while still achieving the best results.

The same rules need to apply for your toothbrush and toothpaste.

When brushing your teeth, you have a job to do, and you need to be sure you’re using tools that are going to do a good job.

In this blog, we will talk about the things you need to consider when picking out your toothbrush and toothpaste.

Article Table of Contents:

Choosing Your Toothbrush

Choosing Your Toothpaste

Choose Your Toothbrush and Toothpaste Wisely

Choosing Your Toothbrush

Choose Soft Bristles

Most dentists will recommend using a brush with soft, round bristles.

And when you get your soft bristled brush, make sure you brush gently.

If you’ve always used a toothbrush with stiff bristles, this is probably a habit worth breaking.

A recent study found that brushing your teeth too hard with stiff bristles is a leading cause of sensitive teeth.

Give Electric Toothbrushes A Try

Maybe you’ve used manual toothbrushes since birth, and you consider yourself old school when it comes to toothbrushes.

That’s fine, as long as you’re still brushing as long and as thoroughly as you should be.

If an injury, arthritis, or just impatience is keeping you from brushing your teeth the way you should, consider switching to an electric toothbrush.

This is especially helpful if you’re trying to get a reluctant child to brush their teeth.

A fun new electric toothbrush might do the trick of convincing them to brush every day.

Find The Right Toothbrush Head

When picking out your toothbrush, don’t overlook the shape of its head.

One toothbrush shape is likely to fit your mouth better than another.

Your bristles need to be able to reach your back molars, and a head that is too large or wide may prevent that.

Floss and brush in front of a mirror to make sure you’re hitting every tooth.

If you’re unable to reach every tooth with your current toothbrush, you should go ahead and get a new one with a different head.

Don’t Go Cheap For The Sake Of Being Cheap

That ten pack of toothbrushes for $2 might seem like a steal, but you’ll likely pay for it in other ways.

There’s a good chance those toothbrushes were made by a company that didn’t have safety or efficacy in mind when designing the brushes.

They’re probably made of inferior and even unsafe materials.

Since your toothbrush is something you put in your mouth at least twice a day, it’s a good idea to go with a reputable manufacturer.

Use that ten pack of toothbrushes to clean your bathroom floors, not your teeth.

Choosing Your Toothpaste

Fluoride Is Important

Most dentists agree that fluoride is essential when it comes to cleaning our teeth.

Finding a toothpaste with fluoride isn’t an issue as most toothpaste options contain it.

Brushing your teeth twice a day using toothpaste that contains fluoride is a staple of good oral hygiene and health.

The importance of fluoride is based on proven cavity-fighting properties.

If you use a natural toothpaste, there’s a chance it doesn’t contain fluoride.

To get the most out of your toothpaste, and to keep your mouth as healthy as possible, it’s a good idea to use fluoride.

Ask Your Dentist For Recommendations

If you have any questions about toothpaste, ask for dentist recommendations.

This is especially helpful if you’re experiencing any issues with your teeth or oral hygiene as a whole.

Based on your symptoms, he could recommend a whitening toothpaste or a toothpaste for sensitive teeth.

You can then buy any toothpaste you want inside of that category, but certain toothpaste types will be better for specific dental issues.

If your dentist tells you to avoid any toothpaste, make sure you heed their advice.

Read The Toothpaste Label

Some toothpaste will be good for adults, but not children. Others will be best for whitening purposes, while others are designed for sensitive teeth.

Before your blindly buy toothpaste, make sure you read the label, including all of the fine print.

You want to follow any instructions they give, and you should also pay attention to the ingredient list.

Most toothpaste contains flavoring, sweeteners, and a variety of chemical ingredients.

The longer the list of ingredients, the better chance you have at being sensitive to something in the toothpaste.

If you struggle with tooth sensitivity, make sure you know what each ingredient is.

Look For The ADA Seal Of Approval

Most toothpaste will carry the ADA seal of approval.

That means that the toothpaste has met every requirement of the American Dental Association.

Participation in the program is voluntary, though, and not every brand chooses to participate.

There are good brands that choose not to participate, so don’t use this as your only criteria when deciding.

However, when you see the ADA seal, you can rest assured that you’re getting a quality toothpaste.

Choose Your Toothbrush and Toothpaste Wisely

Choosing the right toothbrush and toothpaste isn’t a good time to bargain shop.

Dental hygiene and health are critical, and you should be sure you have the right tools for the job.

Using the guide above, the next time you go shopping for your toothbrush and toothpaste, you will be able to make an informed decision, and get what’s best for you!

Remember that on top of proper at-home oral hygiene habits, it is essential to visit your dentist for routine teeth cleanings and check-ups.

Hylan Dental Care is here to help!