Brushing our teeth with a toothbrush is an essential ritual without which it’s impossible to begin a day! But, if you thought that a toothbrush is a modern-day invention, you are so wrong! This humble brush has a rich history dating back to 5000 years. With changing times, different types of toothbrushes came into existence to meet the growing demands of customers.
From a simple chewing stick and a hog bristle brush to modern-day electric brushes, the journey of a toothbrush is quite incredible!
In this article, we have put together some interesting information about 10 Different types of toothbrushes and their benefits:
7 Best Types of Toothbrush Bristles and Heads:
Let us now check out the benefits of each of the different variety of toothbrushes available in the Indian market:
1. Manual Toothbrush:
Manual toothbrushes are one of the most popular and common types of toothbrushes. They have a head of tightly packed bristles on a handle. These disposable brushes come in a variety of models based on bristle hardness, head shape, texture, pattern and handle design. You have an option to choose from hard, medium and soft bristles, of which hard may end up damaging your gums. Depending on the dental needs, you can go for a suitable brush design that comfortably reaches all the areas of your mouth and cleans well.
2. Electric Toothbrush:
With a small head and automatic rotation, Electric toothbrushes perform way better than manual ones. The brush comprises of two parts – a detachable head and a motor. Pressing the power button makes the bristles move rapidly in clockwise and anti-clockwise directions. Due to these automatic movements, the brush can effectively remove plaque from all parts of the mouth, including the hard-to-reach places. These rechargeable or battery brushes come in 3 types regular, sonic and ultrasonic toothbrushes, which operate in varied speeds.
3. Inter-Dental Toothbrush:
Interdental brushes clean in between your teeth, where most regular and even electric brushes fail to reach. These brushes are less aggressive than oral floss and gently clean the interdental spaces with their round-shaped heads. Experts suggest using inter-dental brushes in conjunction to regular brushes and a mouthwash to reduce oral problems. These brushes have a disposable or reusable head with a plastic handle. They are also ideal for removing the biofilm accumulation in wires of braces to prevent cavities, bad breath etc.
4. Sulca Brush:
A Sulca brush is a uni-tuft toothbrush that can remove plaque from the gingival margin without damaging the gums. People who find it hard to use a floss can benefits with a Sulca brush. To use it, you must place the tip of the brush along the edge of the gum line and use a wave motion to buff away the plaque. If you use it correctly, Sulca brushes can massage the gums and strengthen them in the long-run. These brushes are also beneficial in cleaning dental implants, crowns, bridges and orthodontic bands.
5. End-Tuft Toothbrush:
The end-tuft toothbrush is a unique brush that is designed to clean the posterior side of your mouth. The brush comprises of a small round head with seven tufts of nylon bristles, which are tightly packed. The bristles are trimmed short in the center to reach narrow areas of your mouth. With an ergonomical, flexible handle, end-tuft brushes are ideal for cleaning the difficult-to-reach areas such as wisdom teeth, which regular brushes cannot access. They are also ideal for cleaning gum surfaces with missing tooth, crowded teeth on the back of mouth and even dental appliances like crowns.
[See More: Best Bamboo Toothbrushes]
6. Chewable Toothbrush:
A chewable toothbrush is a type of disposable brush that offers the convenience of hands-free cleaning. Unlike normal brushes which have a head and a handle, a chewable brush comprises of soft bristles enclosed in a shell. They are ideal for travellers or employees who wish to freshen up their mouth without having to go through the process of conventional brushing. You can just place the brush inside the mouth and chew it properly to let the bristles clean up all the areas. Chewable brushes come in different flavours like peppermint, bubble gum etc.
7. Eco-Friendly Toothbrush:
Eco-friendly or Zero-wastage toothbrushes are a sustainable, earth-friendly alternatives to plastic brushes. Although they are disposable, ecological brushes do not harm or pollute the environment like the normal brushes. They are made with decomposable materials like bamboo or neem wood with bristles of bamboo strands or pig hair. These brushes offer the same benefits as your regular toothbrush interms of cleaning efficiency. However, the brushes are susceptible to mold and hence must be dried well after every use.
How Do I Choose The Right Type of Toothbrush?
With so many kinds of toothbrushes available in the market, you would be naturally confused as to which one is ideal for you. Fret not! Just follow these tips which will help you select the right toothbrush for your requirements:
- Firstly, understand which bristle hardness is ideal for your teeth. Soft bristles may be gentle on your gums but are ineffective in removing deep-rooted plaque. On the other hand, medium or hard bristles can remove plaque build-up but may damage enamel and gums. So, see which one works well for you by trying them out once!
- Next, decide whether you want to go for a manual or an electric toothbrush. Manual ones are inexpensive and easily available. However, they require good brushing techniques to clean up well. Electric toothbrushes are expensive, but can efficiently remove plaque from most of the areas of your mouth. As they require no manual efforts, electric brushes are ideal for children, aged people or those with disabilities.
- If you chose manual brushes, then you must also pay attention to the shape of the bristles and the handle. Different bristle patterns like wavy, criss-cross, tapered etc. offer a variety of benefits for your teeth. You also have an option to choose from a variety of angles like straight, non-slip grip, flexible, angular etc. Go for a brush that you are most comfortable with!
- Don’t ignore the material! Cheap plastic toothbrushes are not only harmful to the environment, also your body. Nanoparticles of plastic can end up in your system and damage it in the longer run. Wood or other eco-friendly toothbrushes are safe and gentle on the planet, as well as us!
- Lastly, the brand is very important too! Experts recommend buying a trusted brand like Oral-B, Colgate etc. which promise quality with functionality.
Those are some of the different types of toothbrushes and their benefits. We hope this article helped you understand the basic differences between these toothbrush varieties. If you still have more questions regarding the selection, we recommend you to speak to a dentist, who may suggest a combination of one or more of these oral brush types.
