Toothbrush question.

There_Goes_Trouble

I went to buy a new toothbrush today, and they ranged from the branded 'all singing all dancing' ones for £3, to the basics range which was 10p for 2 brushes.

Do you really get what you pay for with toothbrushes? Or is it more a question of technique and the brush itself doesn't matter?

Toothsmith

The nicer brushes have nice, softer, better quality bristles which are nicely rounded at the end.

Cheaper ones have quite harsh bristles.

Cheaper toothbrushes may well seem to last longer than expensive ones - this is because they're harder.

Long term use of cheap brushes would ultimately damage your gums. (Although it would be preferable to NOT brushing them)

I would buy good brands like Oral B or Sensodyne - but I would wait until there was a good offer on them somewhere and buy in bulk!

Cheap ones are excellent for getting gunk of akward areas like bicycle chains and behind toilet seats. I really wouldn't put one in my mouth though!

There_Goes_Trouble

That's brilliant Toothsmith, thank you!

I'll go back tomorrow, they did have a few on special offer (BOGOF) but I just got a bit confused with it all today (I could feel a migraine coming, I'm not normally so easily confused!!)

There_Goes_Trouble

P.S - one more question, sorry!

Are manual brushes better than electric ones? I've used an electric one for the last few years (another reason why the manual ones confused me a bit, I've not bought one for ages) but my sisters dentist told her that manual ones were better. I forgot to ask my dentist but since I'm paying quite a lot of money at the moment to get my teeth sorted out I want to make sure I am taking proper care of them in future.

Toothsmith

I prefer the oscillating/pulsating action of the Oral B Braun toothbrush.

You don't have to spend a fortune though. The thing that does the job is the brush speed - and the brush speed from the ones lower down the price range are exactly the same as right up at the top.

Don't go right down to the ones that you need to buy new batteries for - get a rechargeable. But something like this is all you need http://www.gordons-chemists.com/products/60612?gclid=CILKvY719aECFRyX2AodEQqcEA

(This is just an example of the brush - it may be on a better offer somewhere else, and I have no connection with that website)

There_Goes_Trouble

Thank you.

The one I have is a rechargeable Oral B but a little more basic than that, it only has one speed/setting but it is a few years old. Perhaps I'll just get new heads for it rather than go back to manual, it was only because my sister said her dentist said they were better.... no wonder I'm confused!

Thanks for your help - again!

Eric_Pisch

Toothsmith wrote: »

I prefer the oscillating/pulsating action of the Oral B Braun toothbrush.

You don't have to spend a fortune though. The thing that does the job is the brush speed - and the brush speed from the ones lower down the price range are exactly the same as right up at the top.

Don't go right down to the ones that you need to buy new batteries for - get a rechargeable. But something like this is all you need http://www.gordons-chemists.com/products/60612?gclid=CILKvY719aECFRyX2AodEQqcEA

(This is just an example of the brush - it may be on a better offer somewhere else, and I have no connection with that website)

cheap ones can be extremely dangerous, 10 years of using the wrong brushes (cheap) and toothpaste lead to me teeth going see through as i was brushing the enamel away

i use the basic oral Bs and there brilliant, i think I paid £12 for mine there the same speed as the top ones and have a timer, all you really want.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Braun-Oral-B-Vitality-Sensitive-Toothbrush/dp/B000RNVVG2/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=drugstore&qid=1275115136&sr=8-13

you have to hunt about for the heads, the 4 multipacks on line can be 60% cheaper than single heads in supermarkets....

I tried cheap copies of the oral b heads but my teeth never felt clean and they all broke after 2 weeks ....