You would never take a steel wool scrubber to your skin, thinking it would clean your skin better than a softer material. Yet, using a hard bristle toothbrush to brush your teeth can have a similar effect on your teeth! This month as Valentine Day treats come pouring in and you diligently clean your teeth after eating the treats, Dr. Taylor wanted to emphasize that a soft-bristled toothbrush would be much better for your teeth than a hard-bristled toothbrush.
Soft Toothbrush Bristles Do Not Hurt Your Enamel
Your enamel is your teeth’s best defense against plaque and invading bacteria as it covers your teeth’s more delicate layers in a hard white shell. Once enamel is damaged or destroyed, it will not come back. Some of the side-effects you may experience when your enamel is damaged are:
- Sensitivity – Your teeth will become more sensitive to temperatures and pressure as your enamel is worn down.
- Rough edges – Instead of having a straight, even smile, those with damaged enamel tend to have rough edges to their teeth. The inner layers of teeth are not as even as enamel, which creates the rough edges.
- Yellowing – Many people scrub hard at their teeth to prevent yellowing. However, this can cause your teeth to yellow faster as the enamel is worn away and the more yellow inner layers of your teeth are exposed.
Much of this damage can be negated by using a soft-bristled toothbrush and being gentle as you brush your teeth.
Gums Can Be Damaged By A Hard-Bristled Toothbrush
Your gums can also be damaged by using a hard-bristled toothbrush. It will start with the hard bristles of the toothbrush simply irritating your gums. This irritation can leave them vulnerable to infections. Eventually, constant exposure to a hard-bristled toothbrush will cause your gums to recede and may expose the roots of your teeth.
The roots have no enamel to protect them from bacteria, so you will become more prone to cavities. If the gum recession is allowed to progress, you could end up losing your teeth due to the damage root exposure causes.
Dr. Taylor’s Toothbrush Recommendation
Hopefully, you are ready to trade-in your hard-bristled toothbrush. A soft-bristled toothbrush will clean your teeth just as completely as a hard-bristled brush without causing damage to your teeth.
There are many soft-bristled toothbrushes out there, but there is one brand in particular which Dr. Taylor likes to recommend — Nimbus Microfine Toothbrush. These soft-bristled toothbrushes have two layers of soft bristles to help effectively clean your teeth. There are three styles available:
- Nimbus Regular – This version is a standard-sized toothbrush with the double-layered bristled with soft and rounded ends.
- Nimbus Compact – For those with smaller mouths, the brush head on the Nimbus Compact will fit more easily in their mouths to make brushing easier.
- Nimby – Nimbus developed the Nimby to take care of children’s oral hygiene. The grip is better suited to smaller hands and the brush head is sized to fit comfortably into their mouths.
Whether you need to have your bi-annual dental cleaning or want some cosmetic dentistry done, Dr. Taylor and our staff at Radiance Family & Cosmetic Dentistry are here to help you with our wide variety of dental services. Contact us today for an appointment!
