Replace your toothbrush every 3 months.
The stiffness of toothbrush bristles is basically classified as soft, medium and hard, although there are additional types such as extra soft. Unless your dentist recommends another type of bristle, soft or extra-soft toothbrushes are best for most people. Hard bristles, as well as some medium ones, on your toothbrush can be hard on your gums and cause gum wear. This can lead to the need for extensive and expensive dental treatment to repair damage to the gums. Toothbrush bristles vary in length: many have a single height, while others have staggered bristle lengths designed to conform to uneven tooth surfaces.
Toothbrush bristles range from hard to extremely soft.
A battery-powered toothbrush usually has short bristles. Toothbrush bristles in all style types are usually in straight, regular rows, but with triangular-shaped brush heads, the pattern will be different. Some triangle toothbrushes can be adjusted to different angles, like dental instruments, to better reach the back of the mouth and between the teeth.
Both types of natural and synthetic toothbrush bristles are available today, although synthetic ones are much more common. Nylon and polyester are the main synthetic materials used in toothbrush bristles. Some brands of designer toothbrushes feature thick boar’s hair bristles. Before synthetics became the norm for toothbrush bristles, only boar and horsehair bristles were used. Natural bristles may not be as resistant to bacteria as synthetic ones; plus, they are more likely to fall out of the bush.
The hard bristles of toothbrushes can damage the gums.
While many toothbrush bristles are white or off-white, they can be any color. Some types of toothbrushes that combine different bristle heights signify each level with a different color. Regardless of the type of bristles on a toothbrush, all types of bristles tend to flatten out within a few months. Toothbrushes that are used daily should be changed at least every three months, according to many dental experts.
Not changing your toothbrushes often enough can make it harder to remove the plaque that causes cavities.
The more toothbrushes you use, the more the bristles will flatten and spread out instead of being straight to better clean your teeth. Like a household brush used to clean tough stains, flat or crushed toothbrush bristles don’t work as well as upright bristles. Without changing toothbrushes every three months or sooner, users run the risk of not being able to brush their teeth properly and also effectively remove the sticky film called plaque that can build up on the surface of teeth and cause cavities. When choosing a suitcase to carry a toothbrush, be careful to find one that does not crush the bristles. Cheap folding travel toothbrushes can be of inferior quality; it may be better to buy a good brush with soft bristles.