Is Your Hard Bristle Brush Setting You Up for an Emergency Visit?

Today’s toothbrush choices are overwhelming. Should you choose a round or elongated bristle head? What about brushes with varying sized bristles? How about a straight handle or an ergonomic one? Most toothbrush choices come down to preference. The brush that will encourage you to clean your teeth properly is the right brush for you. There is one exception to this rule. You should avoid hard bristle toothbrushes in favor of soft bristles. Hard bristles could lay the groundwork for an emergency dental visit.

Why You Should Avoid Hard Bristles

Hard bristles will not get your teeth any cleaner, but they will cause significant damage over time. They won’t usually harm the tooth enamel unless something has already compromised it. Sugary foods and beverages are a bigger risk to your enamel than your toothbrush.

The damage from hard bristles affects your gums. The hard bristles are too aggressive for your gumline, and gum tissue, unlike other body tissues, doesn’t grow back.

Think of it this way: you can clean your ceramic tile floors and your couch with a soft cloth and neither sustains any damage. You can also clean your ceramic tile with steel wool. If you take that steel wool and scrub your couch, you’re going to damage the fibers, and you cannot fix them. Your tooth is the tile. Your gums are the couch.

Once your gums are damaged, you expose the sensitive tooth roots. The hard bristle brush can damage this area, and it will also further erode the gums. This can lead to sensitivity, toothache, infections, cracks, tooth loss and root canals.

Use Soft Bristles and Use Them Gently

There is no reason to use a hard toothbrush. While medium-hard may seem like a suitable compromise, they are still too rough for your gums. Using a soft-bristled brush will protect your gums and still remove food and plaque from your teeth. Brush gently and use a light touch to protect your gumline.

Infections, tooth cracking and tooth loss are all dental emergencies. To avoid further complications, contact our Sacramento Emergency Dentist right away.