When shopping for a new toothbrush, have you noticed that you can choose from soft, medium, and hard? This is actually just showing the level of firmness of the bristles on the toothbrush. Does it really make a difference which kind you use though, and if so, which really is the best? The answer may surprise you. Many of us pick the harder brushes, thinking the firmer bristles will clean our teeth better. That firmer bristles will surely scrub away more plaque and leave a cleaner mouth, right?
In reality though, the “soft” bristles are actually the best way to go. Think about it. The softer bristles are able to flex easier, allowing them to get into all those hard-to-reach places. Not only that, but toothbrushes with harder bristles may actually do more damage than good. The Journal of Periodontology recently did a study which showed participants that used hard bristled toothbrushes in their study had more gum recession. As for tooth enamel, the debate is still out on whether firmer brushes actually do more damage. While firmer bristles may slightly accelerate erosion, it does nowhere near the damage as fruit juices and sodas. (On that note, it can’t hurt to keep an eye out for drinking too much acidic drinks either.)
So the next time you are at the store to pick out your new toothbrush, keep this in mind. Stronger might be better in most cases, but not when it comes to your bristles.