Your toothbrush is one of the most essential things in your home. It keeps your teeth and gums healthy. But do you know the type of toothbrush your teeth need? Here are the different types of toothbrushes that will help you decide.
Manual Toothbrush
A manual toothbrush is the most typical type of toothbrush. It is cheaper and more accessible as well. There are four things you need to consider when choosing this toothbrush.
- Bristle hardness – The bristles of a manual toothbrush have three types. These are soft, medium, and hard bristles. Soft bristles are most recommended by dentists. On the other side, hard-bristled toothbrushes are known to cause teeth and gum abrasion.
- Head Shape – Most head shapes are rounded or squared. But there are also diamond-shaped that can reach the back of your molars better.
- Bristle Pattern – Patterned bristles are more effective at cleaning teeth. Common varieties include tapered, scissors, and wavy patterns. Choosing the right bristle should depend on your dental need as well.
- Handle Design – Common handle designs include straight, non-slip, contra-angle, and flexible. The handle you choose should be comfortable so you can reach every tooth surface, including very back molars.
An electric toothbrush is operated using rechargeable batteries. Its bristles rotate and vibrate. This helps in cleaning hard-to-reach areas of the teeth.
It is also more pricey compared to a manual toothbrush. But it makes brushing an effortless task. You only need to push a button and let the toothbrush do its job.
Most of the electric toothbrush has 2-minute timers as well. This will help you brush more effectively. Using a multi-directional electric toothbrush can also reduce the risk of gum and teeth abrasion.
Electric toothbrushes are divided into three types based on their movement speed.
- Standard power toothbrushes are any powered toothbrush.
- A sonic toothbrush is a kind of powered toothbrush that is fast enough to produce a sound that can be heard.
- An ultrasonic toothbrush is a powered toothbrush that moves faster than a sonic toothbrush.
Ionic Toothbrush
This type of toothbrush removes plaque differently. Ionic toothbrush removes plaque by changing the polarity of a tooth from negative to positive. When this happens, the teeth will excrete the plaques. The negatively charged bristles will then pick these plaques.
An Ionic toothbrush has a titanium battery built into its handle. The battery connects to a titanium rod that runs around the toothbrush. Then a thin metal plate surrounds its handle.
Before brushing, you need to moisten your hands with water. When your fingers come in contact with the metal plate, the wetness creates a closed circuit. The charge transfers to your teeth when you brush.
Smart Toothbrush
A smart toothbrush has sensors in its head. These sensors will record information about your teeth and your brushing. These records include your brushing time, the pressure you applied, what angle you hold the brush, and more. Then the smart toothbrush will send the information to an app on your smartphone.
The app on your phone will analyze the records and inform you about the results. Aside from this, the app has other useful features as well. Some of these are games, timers, historical facts, and many more.
Inter-dental Brush
The interdental brush is also called an interproximal brush. It is a tiny, usually disposable, brush used for cleaning between teeth. It is also used for cleaning the part between a brace’s wire and the teeth. It is used to brush the parts that a normal toothbrush can’t reach.
Using interdental brushes along with tooth brushing reduced both the amount of plaque and cases of gingivitis compared to tooth brushing alone.
Orthodontic Toothbrush
An orthodontic toothbrush also looks like a manual toothbrush. The difference is the middle of the orthodontic toothbrush is hollow. Its V-shaped bristles clean the teeth and braces better. This toothbrush is also used to clean wires of retainer, headgear, and other orthodontic works.
Sulcabrush
A sulcabrush is used to clean the gum line adjacent to the teeth. Its bristles are shaped in a pointed arrow. This allows the brush to clean hard-to-reach areas like crowned teeth or bridgework. It is also designed for people with difficulty flossing and to stop bleeding gums as well.
End-tuft Brush
The end-tuft brush is specially designed for special maintenance. It is for people with orthodontics, implants, and other hard-to-reach areas.
This type of brush has a small round head. Its head has seven tufts of tightly packed soft bristles. The bristle’s end is trimmed so the center can reach deeper into spaces. Its handle is also designed for a firm grip. This gives the control and precision needed to clean the deep areas.
Chewable Toothbrush
The chewable toothbrush is a mini molded brush that can be chewed like chewing gum. These are often used by travelers. You can also find this mini toothbrush in some bathroom vending machines.
This chewable toothbrush also comes in different flavors like mint or bubble gum. This freshens the breath as well. Like bubble gums, you should dispose of used chewable toothbrushes.
Ecological Toothbrushes
Ecological toothbrushes are made with biodegradable materials. Examples are bamboo toothbrushes. These have a bamboo handles and BPA-free bristles. These often come in biodegradable packaging as well. The manufacturers of these toothbrushes avoid plastic that causes pollution.
Most toothbrushes today are made of plastic materials. This means every time you replace a toothbrush, pollution increases. This is why ecological toothbrushes are being pushed to conserve nature.
Takeaway
There are many types of toothbrushes. Each of these types serves a different purpose. When choosing the right toothbrush, you must consider the needs of your teeth. Choosing a toothbrush that fits your need will go a long way.
The right toothbrush can clean better and will reduce the risk of teeth and gum diseases. You can take care of your oral health with the right toothbrush, right toothpaste, and brushing twice a day. Remember, your oral health has a great impact on your wellbeing.