5 keys to choosing the best toothbrush

Almost fifteen years ago, the Ministry of Health declared that only half of Chileans brush their teeth properly. In this same report , it has been mentioned that 90% of the population suffers from periodontal disease, which affects the gums and can lead to tooth loss if not treated in time. Why is this problem so common in the country? Due to a poor diet —a lot of sugars and processed foods that damage our mouth, in addition to some nutrients that protect it—, smoking, diabetes, stress, certain medications and, of course, poor oral hygiene. But if you take action now, like washing yourself properly and a few times a day, your future self will surely thank you.

“The most common oral diseases – such as cavities and periodontal disease – are considered chronic, because once we have cavities, we suffer from this disease for the rest of our lives,” says Paula van Treek Pérez, dental surgeon and academic of the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Chile. Although many believe, “a filling or restoration does not cure disease.”

“The objective is therefore to be able to control the disease”, adds his colleague Rafael Contador Cotroneo, who, with van Treek, is a member of the department of restorative dentistry at this university. Keeping it under control, they say, is achieved primarily with “adequate hygiene, preventive measures such as the use of fluoridated toothpaste and regular attendance at dental check-ups,” they say.

For the first point, the main thing is two things: a hygienic discipline to wash our mouths well and daily, and a good brush that cleans us and does not hurt us. Regarding discipline, we can only give you encouragement and moral support; About the brush, we have many expert tips for you to choose the best one for you.

In stores and pharmacies, we see that toothbrushes, among other things, are differentiated by their bristles: some say they are hard, others “medium” and others soft. How does each affect my cleaning? Is it a matter of taste or effectiveness?

“In general, for a correct elimination of the biofilm – this is what bacterial dental plaque is called – and also to avoid damage to the oral tissues, such as the gums or the mucous membranes, it is recommended to use soft filament brushes,” he says. Iván Pinilla, dental surgeon, oral re-educator and head of specialties at RedSalud.

That the bristles are soft means that they are less rigid and more flexible, “therefore able to clean much better than the hard ones, because they adapt to all surfaces and irregularities”, adds Contador. “It’s as if you wanted to dust a piece of furniture and you had the choice between a feather duster or a rake. It’s the difference between a soft brush and a hard brush.”

The inside of the mouth is a fragile and sensitive area that requires constant but also delicate cleaning. It’s unclear why they exist, but hard-bristled brushes are less effective at removing dental biofilm — they don’t reach every corner — and they can also damage the gums.

Contador and Van Treek were adamant about this, and their call is to avoid this type of brush, which is even capable of “wearing down the teeth themselves”.

The three dental surgeons suggested to prefer medium or small heads and to try to avoid large heads. Because? “A shorter head allows us to better clean every corner of our mouth and teeth, reaching areas we otherwise couldn’t reach,” says Pinilla. For people with motor difficulties, it is better to opt – if possible – for electric toothbrushes.

“The size of the brush head must be adapted to the patient’s mouth”, adds Van Treek. “The important thing is that it reaches all areas, even the hardest to reach, and that it has smooth, rounded bristles.”

“Price and brand don’t always indicate which brush is better,” adds Van Treek. “There are inexpensive brushes that meet all the requirements we mentioned: soft bristles and a medium to small head size.” Similarly, there are more expensive and sophisticated models that will not necessarily make a difference in our hygiene.

More important than brand or value is how and how often we brush: if we follow good cleaning instructions – like the ones we give here – and do it after every big meal of the day, the cost of brushing will pass into the background.

The general advice is to replace the brush every 3 or 4 months of use, “since the bristles bend and become messy, losing their effectiveness,” says Contreras. “It is this damage and wear of the filaments that limits the effectiveness of brushing.”

But this time is an estimate: if you brush your teeth very often, you may need to change it to a new one first. How to know? If you see the outer bristles sticking out of the brush head – basically it clicks like it just woke up from a night out – then it’s time.

“The rate at which the brush deteriorates or wears out will vary depending on the hardness, quality and distribution of its filaments, the type of paste used and also the technique and the force that the person applies when brushing,” he adds.

Although you are doing it correctly, brushing your teeth is not the only oral hygiene process. “This must always be accompanied by the use of dental floss or other interproximal hygiene elements, at least once a day”, recommend the specialists.

“The brush is a place where bacteria can easily accumulate, so we always have to clean it after use, removing the remains of food and pasta,” explains Contador. For this too, it must be “kept upright in a ventilated and dry place”.

Are the caps that often come with these brushes convenient to use every time? “They’re just meant to protect it in case we need to transport it,” adds Van Treek. So, while you’re in your bathroom, it won’t be necessary.

Although we have already talked about it in other previous articles, it is important to repeat it. Pinilla describes that it is necessary “to brush both the internal and external face of the teeth, taking care to ‘sweep’ all the surfaces and areas in an orderly manner, without forgetting any area and always ending with a brushing of the tongue”.

If you don’t comply, “food debris will accumulate that will feed bacteria in the mouth and stimulate the formation of cavities.”

When you eat ceviche, drink lemonade or a salad with lots of lemon and immediately brush your teeth, chances are you will experience one of the most horrible tastes in your mouth. What type of chemical error is it?

What happens is that when you eat acidic foods “the pH of the oral cavity drops,” Pinilla explains, and when the toothpaste gets in, that shock happens. What he suggests doing is “rinse with water, to neutralize the pH, and maybe put off brushing for about 30 minutes, but never stop brushing.”

It’s a custom that many have ingrained, that some justify by certain advantages — “more foam comes out”, they say, or “it cleans me better” —, but these are just unfounded urban myths: getting wet brushing it with the paste before washing is useless.

“It is not indicated to rub the brush before brushing”, explains Iván Pinilla. “This should only be done after washing is finished and before rinsing,” explains the Red Salud specialist.

“Toothpastes and mouthwashes, better known as mouthwashes, are complementary and have a specific action, such as preventing carious lesions, reducing inflammation of the gums or treating hypersensitivity” , mentions van Treek. But in no case do they replace brushing, which can even be done without toothpaste and still be useful.

Right now, the state of your oral health depends on how thorough you are. Perhaps in the future, as announced recently, a swarm of microrobots or iron oxide nanoparticles could replace brushes to clean bacterial plaque. In the meantime, all that remains is disciplined brushing. And with a good soft brush.

*Prices for products in this item are current as of August 5, 2022. Values ​​and availability may change.