Sensitive Teeth, Oral Health Foundation. https://www.dentalhealth.org/sensitive-teeth; Accessed 17/02/2020. Referenced text is highlighted in source PDF. I always recommend that everyone uses soft bristle toothbrushes," says Dr. Horowitz. Not only do soft bristles clean just as well as more rigid bristles, but they also help prevent complications to the teeth and gums. "This is particularly important for people with sensitive gums as well as patients with worn teeth and thin and or missing enamel."

The main things to consider when choosing a toothbrush are electric and manual, making sure they’re American Dental Association approved, and have soft bristles, '' says Lilya Horowitz, DDS, FAGD, founder of Domino Dental in Brooklyn, New York. Brush, by Bite: The bamboo bristles on Brush, by Bite are eco-friendly and gentle, but the handle is awkwardly shaped and difficult to hold.There’s a range of products to help you maintain healthy teeth and gums. While Sensodyne Rapid Relief toothpastes provide fast relief from sensitivity in just 60 seconds, the Sensodyne Repair & Protect range helps to repair, strengthen and protect sensitive areas of your teeth and provide lasting sensitivity protection.* For clinically proven dualaction for both sensitive teeth and gum problems, there’s Sensodyne Sensitivity & Gum.

Although on the pricier side, it includes the brush, charging base, charger, USB charging travel case, three heads, and suction cup phone holder, in addition to all the special features, so it has all the bells and whistles. Our tester noted that her teeth felt incredibly clean after using the brush, and she could reach hard-to-reach areas easily. She also loved the tongue-brushing setting, which gently scrubbed her tongue and helped freshen her breath. Overall, it is an top-notch toothbrush that will make you and your dentist happy. Our testers also assessed each toothbrush's design, paying attention to factors like ergonomics, grip, brush head size, and other factors that might affect comfort and ease of use. We also evaluated the bristles for hardness and flexibility to get a sense of how well they would comfortably clean teeth. This data was compiled and used to calculate our final ranking. We also consulted with dental professionals to get their expert opinions on what to look for when choosing toothbrushes. They include: Caring For My Teeth and Gums, Oral Health Foundation. https://www.dentalhealth.org/caring-for-my-teeth; Accessed 17/02/2020. Referenced text is highlighted in source PDF. When it comes to brushing your teeth, there are a few simple rules that you must follow. People should brush their teeth using a soft bristled toothbrush for at least two minutes, twice a day. They should also refrain from brushing immediately after eating or drinking anything acidic, as this causes the enamel to be more vulnerable to wear over time and can lead to duller and yellowing teeth. Electric toothbrushes are an advanced type of toothbrush that uses either vibrations or rotations to clean the teeth. They're generally more expensive than manual toothbrushes and come with smart features, such as timers and pressure sensors that alert you when brushing too hard.

Acid Erosion: A Common Cause of Tooth Decay

There are two main types of toothbrushes on the market: manual and electric. While some electric toothbrushes use batteries, many now come with rechargeable bases. Manual toothbrushes are the most basic type of toothbrush, and they come in various shapes, sizes, and bristle types. They're typically more affordable and easier to find in local stores.

A regular oral health care routine is essential for helping to strengthen tooth enamel and protect against erosion. This includes brushing twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste 3 – ideally one that has been specially designed to help protect your tooth enamel from further damage, like Pronamel. For those experiencing mild or advanced gum disease, and/or symptoms such as swollen, tender or bleeding gums, it may also be painful to brush with a firmer toothbrush head. 2,3Not only can acid erosion threaten the long-term health of your teeth, it can also affect their appearance. As it wears away your enamel over time, acid erosion can expose the dentine layer underneath, causing a dull, yellow-ish discolouration in your teeth. If your enamel has been eroded, you may also start to experience sensitivity or pain when consuming hot and cold food and drinks, or find that the biting edges of your teeth are becoming worn down. Unfortunately, enamel loss can also mean that you are at a greater risk of developing cavities (holes in your teeth) later on. 1,2 MOON Toothbrushes, Soft Bristle: While soft and gentle on the gums, the stiff brush head design makes it difficult to get a deep clean. For all these reasons, it’s essential to know how to protect your teeth from the irreversible effects of acid erosion. And when it comes to the question of how to make teeth stronger, protecting your tooth enamel is the key line of defence. With so many toothbrush heads and types to choose from, you may be wondering, which one is right for me?

While manual toothbrushes are more traditional, electric toothbrushes are battery powered," explains Dr. Horowitz. "They rotate to help remove plaque and clean teeth and stain more efficiently than a manual toothbrush." Dr. Horowitz recommends speaking with your dentist if you want specific toothbrush recommendations. If you suffer from tooth sensitivity, gum disease or gum recession, however, an extra soft toothbrush head may be a better option. This is because brushing too hard (known as ‘toothbrush abrasion’) can actually wear away your tooth enamel and result in, or exacerbate, sensitive teeth – and an extra soft toothbrush head can help you maintain a gentle touch. 1 Soft bristle toothbrushes make it easier to move the bristles around your teeth when brushing, to get to hard-to-reach places," adds Dr. Horowitz. Since sensitive teeth are often caused by damage to our tooth enamel, strengthening the enamel is an important step in protecting your teeth against sensitivity pain. To help keep your enamel strong, try the Sensodyne Pronamel range designed to strengthen and reharden acid-weakened enamel for ongoing protection against everyday acid wear, to help keep sensitive teeth at bay.

Daily Protection

Don’t rinse your mouth with water straight after brushing your teeth! 6 This washes out your toothpaste and prevents it from doing its job. If you want to really clean your teeth properly, you should also floss. This is an important step in any routine to help remove plaque and food debris from between the teeth and keep your mouth fresh and your gums clean. 5 How To Brush Your Teeth Properly Pronamel is designed to help re-harden precious, acid-softened tooth enamel, helping to strengthen teeth. With a low-abrasive, pH neutral formulation, Pronamel toothpaste helps protect your enamel while you brush your teeth. Elizabeth Graves, registered dental hygienist and founder of Take Home Smile, a dental health education company