As a kid I preferred toothbrushes with hard bristles. At first my mom bought me ones with soft bristles, but they wore out in no time because rather than brush properly, I spent half the time chewing on them. It’s a good thing I did or I might not have any gums or enamel left!

We occasionally get asked why we don't sell toothbrushes with medium or hard bristles. The fact is that all the dentists we deal with recommend using soft bristled toothbrushes.

But why?

Using medium or hard bristles can damage your tooth enamel and gums, especially if you're an aggressive brusher. The thicker bristles don't have as much flex, meaning they can cause damage from the abrasion during brushing. 

Soft bristles on the other hand flex more and clean more gently. Even if you have poor brushing technique or are aggressive, soft bristles tend to not damage your tooth enamel and gums.

Medium or hard bristles also can cause receding gums, which can cause bacteria to build up. Over time this can lead to periodontal (or gum) disease. 

Soft bristles will help protect your teeth from excessive wear.

After years of brushing with Nada's floss-tipped bristles, I recently tested a toothbrush with medium bristles. It did not feel good. At all. I had forgotten just how stiff medium bristles are. I felt like I was shredding my gums. Going back to my Nada toothbrush was a relief—I could almost hear my gums thanking me.

Soft bristles make brushing more comfortable, so you'll be less likely to rush through the process and ensure that every inch of those pearly whites get polished.

A soft brush is more gentle on your gums.

A toothbrush with hard bristles can be harsh on delicate tissues in the mouth and can cause irritation, pain or bleeding. Soft bristles are gentle on your gums without compromising cleaning ability.

In fact, in studies conducted with professional dental hygienists at the University of Washington School of Dentistry (UWSOD), participants were more likely to report more comfortable plaque removal when using soft bristles.

Using a soft brush may reduce the advantages of using an electric toothbrush.

Dentists sometimes recommend electric toothbrushes, but if you have sensitive teeth or braces, it can be more of a hindrance than a help. 

What toothbrush should I choose?

Nada toothbrush features soft, tapered bristles. Sometimes called 'floss-tip' bristles, these are pointed at the tip and can reach up to 4 times deeper than more common flat trimmed bristles. 

While some of our customers find our bristles a bit soft at first, they get used to them quickly and end up loving them. Don’t risk damaging your tooth enamel and gums by using medium bristles. Shop Nada toothbrushes here.

Thanks for reading.

Simon

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Unlike disposable toothbrushes, Nada doesn't collect germs, roll over or end up in landfill. Keep our hygienic aluminum handle for life and return your used brush heads to be 100% commercially recycled. Learn more here.