The toothbrush is an invention that has come a long way. From the earliest days where it was just small twigs made of special trees to get rid of the bits of food that were stuck in between teeth. Over time, the concept of bristles came alive. People could use boar’s hair to make their bristles because they were much softer and produced better results.
In the 1930’s, however, one DuPont de Nemours came up with the concept of the toothbrush and it was made with nylon bristles which are available till now. Today, the conversation has evolved into which type of bristle is better; the hard or soft one.
Hard Vs. Soft Brushes
Dentists will often recommend the type of bristle to use depending on the needs you have for your mouth. However, it’s very rare that you find a dentist recommending to a patient a toothbrush with hard bristles. This is because using a toothbrush with the wrong type of bristles can bring about a negative impact to your teeth and gums in general. While some people claim that they prefer the firm bristles over the softer ones because of plaque removal, it’s not worth it.
Plaque holds on to the tooth at its base. Often where the tooth comes into contact with the gums. Even if you use a toothbrush with hard bristles, it’s highly unlikely that it will remove a lot of the substance.
Soft bristles are recommended because they don’t place a lot of pressure on the teeth and gums, and they are able to get into the small spaces between the teeth to remove any leftover foods. Additionally, they do not erode the enamel of the tooth and as such you won’t be likely to suffer from conditions such as tooth sensitivity and the like. However, if you feel that you might need a toothbrush with harder bristles, it’s important that you come in and have a chat with us. We will provide you with the insight you need to know which one suit you best.