What is the softest brand of toothbrush out there?!
Question:
What is the softest brand of toothbrush out there?
I want to buy a softer tooth brush so, I can reduce the receding of my gums. Does anyone know of any good brands?
Answers:
I would recommend an electric type brush. I like the Oral B Braun. They have an extra soft head that you can use with it. Receding gums is usually not the result of using a hard brush we are discovering. It can contribute to erosion on the teeth, but the recession more than likely is a result of your clenching or grinding your teeth...at night or even during the day.
You can wear an appliance to help you keep your teeth apart at night. A good one now being used is called the NTI. It fits your teeth from an impression from your dentist.
Many patients I've seen over the years have not even been aware that they do this at night. Once I point this out to them and show them the signs of it, they come back and acknowledge they are doing it.
Using an electric, rechargeable brush will help you not use such an aggressive brushing stroke. Most will have a 2 minute timer built in. Remember using a soft brush is very important, but the softer the bristles, the longer it takes to remove the plaque. 2-3 minutes each time is very crucial for proper plaque removal. Change your brush or brush heads every 2-3 months. Sonicare is another popular electric type brush.
If you choose not to purchase an electric...they are costly, then make sure to use a compact head toothbrush. Look for extra soft. You can use a childs brush like another mentioned. Keep your strokes small and circular. Try not to brush more than 1-2 teeth at a time. Please don't avoid brushing the gumline. You are not hurting it, especially if it bleeds. After brushing at an angle to the gums you can point your bristles down or up (depending on which arch you are on) below the recession and sweep up/or down 2-3 times.Keeping the gumline clean makes it stronger and more resistant to pulling away. I compare it to muscle tone. The stronger the muscle, the less sagging it has. Flossing is important too. 5 sides of a tooth need to be cleaned around and the gum is on all 5 sides. Good luck.