Have you truly taken a long, hard look at the toothbrush aisle of your local pharmacy or department store lately? Not very long ago, there were only a few options to choose from. Today, there are dozens. Some are so obtrusive they immediately trigger your gag reflex. Others are too small to really cover any ground. Some toothbrushes have bristles that are so stiff they feel like they’re tearing your gums to shreds. Others seem so flimsy they can’t possibly remove debris and buildup from your teeth. So with this in mind, we’re here to help you find the perfect toothbrush

Finding the Perfect Toothbrush

With so many models on the market, finding the right toothbrush may seem like an impossible feat. Chances are you’ve simply settled for one that’s acceptable. Rest assured, though, there’s a perfect option out there for you. Your local Dental Services provider can help with the selection process. For now, though, we’ll take a look at some of the common types of toothbrushes and what makes them special.

1) Standard Manual Toothbrushes

Manual toothbrushes are the traditional models most people use. They’re among the first toothbrushes to have been invented, and they tend to have the fewest features. Still, this category alone holds countless options to choose from. You have soft, medium, and hard bristles; different bristle setups; differently shaped heads and handles; and several other features to consider. Soft bristles are generally recommended, especially for particularly vigorous brushers. If you’re a light brusher, though, medium may work best.

2) Eco-Friendly Toothbrushes

Most often designed like manual toothbrushes, these are made with eco-friendly materials as opposed to plastics that don’t easily break down. They may be made of bamboo, boar’s hair, and other natural components rather than synthetics. 

3) Electric Toothbrushes

These toothbrushes rank in second place in the popularity polls. They basically do all the work for you. All you have to do is move them around to cover all the surfaces of your teeth. Again, though, they come in numerous varieties, including multi-directional, sonic, and ultrasonic. Sonic and ultrasonic toothbrushes brush or vibrate more quickly than standard electric toothbrushes. As such, some studies show that they may clean the teeth better than some of their counterparts. Still, virtually all power toothbrushes are considered effective.

4) End-Tuft Toothbrushes

End-tuft toothbrushes are made of ergonomic handles and heads with several tufts of bristles. These are typically recommended for people with braces, dental implants, bridges, and other types of dental devices and prosthetics. They tend to clean within the crevices of those devices more effectively than other types of toothbrushes.  

5) Interproximal Brushes

Interproximal, or inter-dental, brushes are used to help clean gaps between teeth and spaces around braces. They’re most often used in addition to other types of perfect toothbrush as a supplemental means of removing buildup and bacteria. 

6) Sulcabrushes

Sulcabrushes were initially designed to help minimize bleeding gums for patients with periodontitis and certain other dental conditions. They’re gentle but effective at cleaning along the gum lines. They’re also great for hard-to-reach areas, like around dental crowns and crowded teeth. 

7) Single-Use Toothbrushes

Single-use toothbrushes are also available. They’re designed for only one use, and some are flavored. Once you use them, simply throw them away. They’re nice for traveling rather than taking your normal toothbrush and risking exposing it to germs and other hazards. 

Which Toothbrush Is Right for You?

In many cases, experts say the best toothbrush for each person varies, and it’s largely a matter of preference. Still, if your teeth are extremely close together or you have dental work, braces, bridges, and other types of devices or prosthetics in place, some of the more specialized varieties can be useful substitutes or supplements. Take a look at all the options and think about which one best meets your needs to find the right one for you.

If you’re still unsure which one is best for you, you can visit a dentist so they can provide their professional insight. If you don’t have one yet, you can search for a term like dentist near me lexington and it should give you some options that you can reach out to.