1. Opt for a toothbrush with soft bristles
The bristles of a toothbrush are a crucial factor when choosing one. Brushing your teeth is about removing soft plaque, so all you need is a toothbrush with soft bristles. Sometimes, hard bristles might not effectively remove all the plaque, and instead, they can cause damage, wearing down tooth enamel, making your teeth sensitive, and potentially causing gum recession.
Most experts recommend choosing a toothbrush with fine bristles because they help effectively remove plaque and food particles from your teeth. Particularly, for children aged 1-3, a toothbrush with soft bristles is essential. Since their gums are still developing, hard bristles can easily harm their gums and teeth. The best way to choose a toothbrush is to feel the bristles with your hand to check their softness and fineness.


2. Size Matters: Choosing the Right Toothbrush Size
Contrary to popular belief, bigger isn't always better when it comes to toothbrushes. Besides opting for a toothbrush with a small head, it's advisable to use one with a moderate size, making it easier to maneuver and clean your teeth effectively. A comfortable and flexible grip is key.
When purchasing a toothbrush, consider the following specifications: the head of the toothbrush should not exceed 2cm in length. For children's toothbrushes, choose ones that are 12-13cm long, with a head length ranging from 1.6-1.8cm, a width not exceeding 0.8cm, and a height no more than 0.9cm. Ideally, select a toothbrush length equal to the width of two front teeth for easier maneuverability.
The size of the toothbrush is crucial, and choosing the right one is essential. If you have young children who are just learning to brush their teeth, let them choose a small, cute toothbrush that fits their mouth perfectly!


3. Opt for a Toothbrush with a Sleek, Compact Head
The head of a toothbrush is a crucial factor when selecting the right one. Choose your toothbrush head carefully based on mouth size to ensure it can move comfortably and access every nook and cranny in the mouth for thorough cleaning.
If you opt for a toothbrush with a large head, you should have a relatively large mouth. This type of toothbrush helps clean every corner of the mouth and reaches deep inside the teeth to maintain oral health. However, there are also toothbrushes with small heads available in the market. The smaller size is suitable for those with smaller mouths, providing more flexibility during brushing, especially for the molars.
Toothbrushes with small heads make it easier to reach between teeth effectively. Additionally, for children, toothbrush heads should always be small enough to fit comfortably in their mouths. Using a toothbrush with an oversized head that doesn't fit the mouth can potentially harm both the gums and teeth of children.
Furthermore, to achieve the best results in daily oral hygiene, it's advisable to choose a toothbrush with a slim, round head instead of other shapes. This type is widely available on the market and has the advantage of not causing damage to children's oral health. In summary, opt for a toothbrush with a small, sleek head to make brushing all teeth as easy as possible. The toothbrush head should be round, slim, without sharp edges, and the corners should be rounded to avoid causing damage to the gums, teeth, and other parts of the mouth during brushing.


4. Toothbrush Shape
The shape of toothbrush bristles commonly comes in two types: convex-concave and flat. The flat type is suitable for those with evenly spaced teeth because the bristles are less likely to flatten, allowing for cleaning a large surface at once. However, cleaning the interdental spaces may be somewhat challenging, so it's advisable to use interdental brushes, dental floss, or water flossers in conjunction with a toothbrush.
Conversely, individuals with widely spaced or uneven teeth should choose the convex-concave type to allow the bristles to penetrate into the uneven areas and gaps between teeth more easily for more effective cleaning.
In addition, you should also pay attention to the neck of the toothbrush, as it significantly affects whether the brush can reach the innermost teeth or not. A toothbrush with a straight neck is suitable for those with evenly spaced teeth. If you find it difficult to brush the innermost teeth, opt for a toothbrush with a curved neck.
However, parents may encounter difficulties in encouraging young children to brush their teeth independently. The most important thing is to instill the habit of regular brushing in children, and the best idea to encourage this is to choose a toothbrush with an appealing and attractive design for the child; it doesn't necessarily have to be convex or concave. Once the child becomes aware, then you can select the appropriate type accordingly.


5. Type of Toothbrush
Depending on your budget, you can choose toothbrushes for yourself and your loved ones ranging from premium to affordable ones. Currently, toothbrushes come in various price ranges corresponding to their quality. However, to ensure safety during use, you should choose from reputable brands and pay attention to the quality of the brush components. It's best to opt for brushes made of high-quality plastic or silicone.
On the market, there are electric toothbrushes, also known as automatic toothbrushes or toothbrushes. This device will help users brush their teeth cleaner and more effectively than conventional manual brushes. Manufacturers such as OralB, Phillips, Panasonic, Xiaomi, Colgate, etc. offer a wide range of products from vibrating electric brushes to ultrasonic wave brushes. You can explore to choose a suitable brush and a reputable brand for yourself.


6. Consider the Shape of Bristles
There are several typical shapes of toothbrush bristles that you should consider, such as: bristles with equal lengths neatly arranged, wavy-shaped bristles, or multi-layered bristles designed to clean the most inaccessible areas. Alternatively, bristles with a dense density help reduce pressure on teeth and are gentle on the gums. Depending on preferences and tooth characteristics, you can choose the most suitable toothbrush with the appropriate bristle shape.
Conventional toothbrush bristles typically have a round diameter of around 0.2 mm, characterized by high cleaning efficiency. This type of brush is also recommended for those who prioritize teeth whitening because round bristles can effectively 'polish' the tooth surface. Particularly, round bristles are very effective in removing dirt on the front and back surfaces of teeth and in the concave parts of posterior teeth.
Additionally, there are toothbrush bristles with a thinner diameter, which are considered sharp bristles (super-fine bristles). Sharp bristles easily access the gaps between teeth and other interdental areas, while sharp bristles are often very soft, causing minimal irritation to teeth and gums, suitable for those with gingivitis. However, super-fine sharp bristles remove plaque much less effectively than round-headed ones, so you need to brush more thoroughly if you choose sharp bristles.


7. Explore Special Features
When choosing a toothbrush, you should also pay attention to some of its special features, such as: the brush head must be flexible to adapt to your teeth and gentle on your gums. It should also have a rubber polishing layer to effectively remove dirt and polish teeth, with a tongue cleaner to remove bacteria from the surface of the tongue and keep your mouth healthy.
When selecting a modern toothbrush with many features, first, you should research the brand. Because this is an intelligent oral care device, powered by a battery in the body, it acts on the bristle head to remove bacteria and plaque from the teeth. Electric toothbrushes are not cheap, usually ranging from over a million to several million VND per toothbrush depending on the type. Surely, the more features, the more expensive it is.


8. Lifespan of Toothbrush
If you can't remember the last time you replaced your toothbrush, chances are after reading this article you'll swap it out immediately. Brushing your teeth every day is something that's become second nature, done upon waking up, after meals, or before bedtime. However, replacing the toothbrush is something many people tend to forget. Of course, if the brush isn't clean, how can you effectively clean your teeth?
Dentists always advise changing your toothbrush every 3 months if you brush twice a day regularly. Because with frequent use, the bristles of the toothbrush can become bent and worn out. When that happens, it means your brush will no longer be effective on the surfaces behind the teeth. This will undoubtedly render your toothbrushing ineffective. Not to mention the residual toothpaste buildup, which serves as a breeding ground for numerous bacteria, further diminishing the effectiveness of your oral hygiene.


9. Choose Toothbrush According to Preference
Opting for a toothbrush based on your preference can make your brushing experience incredibly enjoyable, potentially motivating you to brush at the right times. You can choose between a conventional manual toothbrush or the battery-powered type, which is widely available on the market. Additionally, patterns on the brush can enhance comfort and make brushing more appealing, especially for children.
Remember, oral hygiene is a daily necessity. So, to make the task more enjoyable, why not choose based on preference, such as focusing on color, design, or appearance of the brush. What could be more delightful than having matching toothbrushes with your loved one?


10. Choose a Toothbrush Suitable for Braces Wearers
A toothbrush is an essential tool to care for and protect your precious smile. However, improper use can lead to harmful bacteria buildup.
For those with braces, specialized brushes designed for orthodontic care feature shorter bristles in the middle to clean both teeth and braces effectively. Similarly, individuals with crooked teeth should opt for brushes with longer bristles at the brush head, shaped like arrows, to reach challenging areas easily.
Braces wearers should choose soft-bristled brushes to remove plaque gently, ensuring safety and effective orthodontic treatment without causing undue stress on the braces. Selecting small-sized brushes facilitates maneuverability and convenient brushing actions.


