The Wrong Toothbrush Can Decrease Your Gum Health

Your overall oral health is greatly dependent on the health of your gums, or gingiva. It’s just as vital, if not more, to scrub gently along your gumline when you brush as it is to thoroughly clean your teeth.

Because your gums are less visible than your teeth, it’s easy to neglect caring for them. However, doing so can not only lead to periodontal disease that requires treatment, but also to other health conditions and infections.

Considerations When Choosing A Toothbrush


When it comes to flavor, form, and dispensing method, personal preference can determine your decision. Other factors, however, need to match your needs specifically to be effective.

Bristles
In the vast majority of cases, a toothbrush with soft bristles is more effective at cleaning your teeth and gums than a hard-bristled one. Soft bristles are more flexible and get into difficult places to reach, such as between your teeth and around your rear molars. In addition, soft toothbrushes are much less likely to cause trauma to your gums that can lead to infection.

Handle
In general, toothbrush handles can be straight or angled, flexible, and may come with a non-slip grip. Depending on how, and how well you brush, certain handle features will better fit your needs than others. If you have problems with your grip that affect how you hold your toothbrush and how well you can reach all areas of your mouth, for instance, a non-slip, flexible handle would probably be the most effective.

Manual Vs Powered
Let’s face it. Some people clean their mouth better than others. For those who can’t maintain a consistent and thorough oral care routine, an electric or battery-powered toothbrush is often the most effective option. Additionally, powered toothbrushes are a good choice for those with health conditions that make gripping and maneuvering a toothbrush more difficult, such as arthritis.

Are you wondering if your toothbrush is doing its job? Maybe it’s time to consider a little experimentation with different types of toothbrushes with varying features to determine the best one for your periodontal needs. Please contact our office with questions or concerns about your oral care routine and how to make it more effective.