There are some questions that don’t have an answer:
- What comes first: chicken or egg?
- How big is the universe?
- When is XiaoBeach73 getting attached?
And then, there are some questions that have an answer, but we’re just too lazy to find: Should you buy a soft, medium or hard toothbrush?
Well, if you’ve been buying medium or hard toothbrushes, simply because “they’re harder so they work harder”, you’re going to realise that your life has been a lie so far.
The Difference Between Soft, Medium or Hard Toothbrushes
In its simplest form, these refer to the bristles on your toothbrushes, and here’s a shocker: the “hard” toothbrush is actually pretty hard to find.
Just go to any of your favourite supermarket and you’d realise the options are apparently Extra Soft, Soft and Medium.
Bet you didn’t know that, eh?
But hey, there are still three choices. Which one should you go for?
For a start, it’s safe to say that the extra soft and soft version are the best bet, because the harder versions would apparently damage the gums, root surface, and protective tooth enamel if your teeth aren’t strong enough, or if you brush your teeth vigorously like you’re lifting weights.
However, the extra soft ones are used primarily for people with weak teeth or gums, which means it’s perfect if you’ve gingivitis, gum disease, receding gums, bleeding gums, and periodontitis. The drawback is that since it’s softer, it’s weaker, so you might not clean your teeth to its fullest potential.
The solution? Just brush more.
Soft version is, as mentioned, the best-est bet. You can’t go wrong with it, and it’s also the “default” toothbrush everyone should use. So if there’s just one takeaway from this article, remember this: get the soft version and ignore other versions.
If so, why are medium and hard toothbrushes being sold? Are they meant for your dogs or are they used to clean the toilet?
Medium & Hard Toothbrush Uses
Like the name suggests, hard toothbrushes have harder and firmer bristles, and they’ve only one benefit: they remove slightly more plaque than the soft versions.
You see, the only reason why we brush our teeth is to remove plaque from our teeth—if they’re not removed within 24 hours, they’ll form hardened tartar, also known as hardened dental plaque. When you’ve that in your teeth, you’d have bad breath, receding gums and chronically inflamed gingiva. By then, brushing itself won’t remove the plaque; only a dentist can clear them.
That explains why you need to visit the dentist twice a year—to remove those hardened plaque. Not to see the pretty nurse.
So, that would mean hard toothbrushes are goody, right?
No.
While it’s certainly more effective, it’s so strong that it can wear away the surface of your teeth. The sole benefit certainly doesn’t justify the benefits, since a soft toothbrush can do the job well, too.
So why are they still being sold in shops?
Simple: if you’ve got strong teeth, you can still use them without issue. That also mean you can visit the dentist less often.
But most of us don’t even know how strong our teeth are; unless your dentist specifically suggests hard toothbrush, or you know you’ve strong teeth because you once move a truck a bite, then just opt for the soft versions.
You won’t want to brush away your teeth just because it works harder.