One of the essential personal items is a toothbrush, which you should consider seriously before purchasing. It’s not only about the handle, head shape, or color, but the softness of the bristles.
You might wonder, do extra soft toothbrushes work. Well, different bristles will deliver varying results, leading to our main concern. Now, which one is ideal for you? Soft vs. extra soft toothbrush?
Although it may be challenging to choose the ideal toothbrush, it may depend on the state of your teeth. For sensitive teeth, you may have to decide between a soft or extra soft toothbrush, depending on the severity of your situation.
Sometimes they’re also known as specialty toothbrushes, but it’s important to know the different toothbrush bristles.
You may have discovered that toothbrushes have ultra, therapeutic, and supple descriptions, measured by their fineness. Most manufacturers don’t provide bristle details in millimeters on the package, which is why this post will help you make better choices while on the toothbrush aisle.
But first of all, let’s have a quick look at this comparison table on soft and extra soft toothbrush.
Comparison Table On Soft vs. Extra Soft Toothbrush
Why you need a Soft Toothbrush
Since brushing your teeth is a critical part of proper oral health, you need the right toothbrush to do the job. The right toothbrush is gentle on your gums while cleaning your teeth of food debris and removing plaque.
For regular brushing, choose a soft toothbrush to use twice daily, as dentists recommend. However, an extra soft toothbrush is an excellent option if you have dental issues like receding gums and sensitivity. Here are the pros and cons of a soft toothbrush.
Pros of Soft Toothbrush
- You can’t apply too much pressure when brushing.
- It’s gentle on gums and preserves tooth enamel.
- Prevent receding gums and root exposure.
- The flexible bristles curve well around the tooth and gums.
- They clean gum cracks and get in between teeth.
Cons
- You must replace the toothbrush frequently.
- No timer to guide you when brushing.
What is an Extra Soft Toothbrush
From the title, an extra soft toothbrush has ultra-soft bristles. People with gingivitis or receding gums typically use them. Extra soft toothbrushes are gentler on gums yet clean your teeth well.
Pros of Extra Soft Toothbrush
- Ultra soft bristles
- No risk of damaging gums
- More gentle on gums
- Ideal for people with dental issues; gingivitis, receding or sensitive gums
- More refined and more bristles that are easy to bend
- Ideal for people who scrub teeth hard to break the habit and save gums from inflammation and irritation
cons
- Expensive
- Hard to find
- Might not clean teeth effectively
Soft vs. Extra Soft Toothbrush: Similarities
Toothbrushes, whether it is soft or extra soft- are essential components in oral hygiene. You’ll find a wide range of toothbrushes on the market today, and your choice is mainly dependent on your oral needs. Let’s compare the similarities between soft and extra soft toothbrushes.
- Gentle on teeth and gum
- They clean teeth while massaging the gum
- The soft bristles prevent irritation and inflammation
- It helps control the user from applying unnecessary pressure when brushing
- Fine bristles
Soft vs. Extra Soft Toothbrush: Differences
Soft and extra soft toothbrushes perform the same job of cleaning your teeth while taking care of the gum’s soft tissues. However, these two preferable brush choices have differences that set them apart.
- Bristles are in different sizes and number
- The extra soft toothbrush needs you to use dental floss and mouthwash to help clean your teeth to achieve the same results as with soft options. Dental floss and mouthwash remove plaque in the interdental space, where the extra soft bristles can’t reach.
- A soft toothbrush removes food debris and combats plaque without irritating the soft gum tissue, while the extra soft counterparts only work the surface of the tongue and gums.
- Bending an extra soft brush is easy. It can also access hard-to-reach spots, unlike the soft option.
- You need a doctor’s advice to use the extra soft toothbrush because they’re locally available, but the soft options are available in your nearest store.
- Extra soft toothbrushes are ideal for persons with dental problems, while the soft options are recommended for most people, children, and adults alike.
- An extra soft toothbrush only removes surface food debris, leaving the plaque untouched, unlike the soft counterparts. As a result, bacteria growth in such an environment is unavoidable, and within a short time, you suffer cavities.
Which one is better: Soft or Extra Soft Toothbrush
The extra soft toothbrush is not ideal if you’re not frequently using mouthwash and dental floss. Moreover, the extra soft toothbrush is best for people with gingivitis or tooth sensitivity, as it’s more gentle when cleaning teeth.
Therefore, if you’re a typical person looking to buy a toothbrush, the soft option is what you need, and remember to brush twice daily.
Is a soft or extra soft toothbrush better?
With so many brands coming up, each is pledging to offer the best teeth-cleaning options. And you may find it challenging to choose between a soft or extra soft toothbrush. However, dental issues might require you to use an option that addresses the issue, like an ultra-soft toothbrush for receding gums.
A soft or extra soft toothbrush delivers different results, like plaque removal or preventing gum erosion. Here are the major differences and comparisons of soft vs. extra soft toothbrushes. Here are the different types of toothbrush bristles that will help you reach in a decision!
Hard
From the title, this toothbrush has firm bristles, meaning they don’t wear out fast. These options can improve your teeth since you can apply more pressure when brushing.
However, vigorous brushing with a hard-bristled toothbrush can harm your teeth and gum. Some of the problems you’re likely to encounter when brushing with a hard-bristled toothbrush are; wearing the tooth enamel causing it to turn yellow, tooth sensitivity, and cracked teeth.
Medium
A medium brush is between soft and hard options, meaning its efficacy isn’t as good as a hard one. However, it will do better to clean your teeth than a soft or extra soft toothbrush.
Although they aren’t as harsh on teeth as hard brushes, medium options can inflame the gum and cause a recession. Since this toothbrush can lead to the same issues as a hard bristled toothbrush, it’s not recommended.
Soft
Given a choice between soft and hard toothbrush bristles, the latter might sound ideal for cleaning your teeth right. However, soft bristles can clean up well because you need to concentrate on the brushing technique, not the intensity.
This may leave questions like, is a medium bristle toothbrush bad? If the toothbrush serves you right, it’s good enough for you.
When brushing your teeth, ensure the bristles angle towards the gum and make circular moves to remove the plaque. Don’t put too much pressure on teeth or gums to avoid damaging gum health; spend two minutes on each tooth, as the American Dental Association (ADA) directs.
Applying too much pressure, even with a soft brush, is as detrimental as using hard or medium options.
Extra Soft
As for extra soft toothbrush options, it’s a specialty brush unavailable at your local pharmacy. Once a periodontist diagnoses you with receding gums, they recommend an extra soft toothbrush.
They’ll help you devise a perfect plan to use the softest brush to clean and not cause more damage.
What softness of toothbrush is best?
Dentists recommend using soft-bristle toothbrushes. This is because brushing overzealously can damage the enamel and gums. The ADA recommends using a soft, angled multilayer toothbrush to ensure you don’t damage your teeth when cleaning them, and it’s gentler.
However, if the toothbrush you have feels like an extra soft toothbrush Colgate, opt for an electric option, or angled bristles, as they can clean all corners and crannies.
Since it’s recommended to brush twice a day, go for a toothbrush that’s comfortable to use, whether manual or electric options—using too much pressure when brushing doesn’t mean cleaner teeth. But issues like gum loss and enamel erosion contribute greatly to tooth sensitivity.
Should everyone use a soft toothbrush?
The ADA directs that soft toothbrushes are safer and gentle on your teeth, while protecting gums. So, when shopping for a new toothbrush, go for options with the ADA Seal as proof of Acceptance. The seal means the toothbrush is tested and is safe to rid your teeth of plaque without causing harm to your mouth.
Other options like hard and medium toothbrushes have thicker bristles, making them a threat to your tooth enamel. They also cause damage to your teeth and push back gums. If you experience bleeding gums when brushing, your toothbrush might be too harsh, cutting into the gum. Although, Medium toothbrush benefits are in between perfect texture to keep your teeth clean and your oral health in check. Although the bristles are stiff, they clean your teeth to remove plaque and food particles. They won’t harm your teeth or damage your enamel.
Do dentists recommend extra soft toothbrushes?
Dentists recommend extra soft bristles for; dental hypersensitivity and gingivitis. It’s also a good choice for those who have undergone periodontal surgery. However, these options aren’t effective in removing plague, as they only reduce it on the baseline.
The way to describe an extra soft toothbrush is that it has finer bristles, which can be hundreds or thousands. These bristles are more gentle on your teeth and gums each time you brush and are ideal for you if you have oral sensitivities. If a soft option causes pain when brushing, change to an ultra soft toothbrush to help you brush effectively.
For instance, the nimbus extra soft toothbrush is recommended by a periodontist, and it’s ideal for sensitive and receding gums. It’s durable, absorbs less water, and uses a Micro-fine Technology. It has two levels of bristles to create a soft and stable effect when brushing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does tooth enamel grow back?
Tooth enamel doesn’t grow back as it’s a non-living tissue, meaning it can’t regenerate naturally. Therefore, it’s impossible to regrow it artificially, but the minerals from saliva and fluoride in toothpaste can help repair it slowly. However, if erosion continues, more minerals are lost, leading to tooth decay which is permanent damage.
What is the disadvantage of using an electric toothbrush?
The main disadvantage of an electric toothbrush is the price. They’re far more costly than manual options, which makes them less accessible to the majority. Besides the cost, they’re fragile and need a lot of care to avoid damage.
Can the use of an electric toothbrush cause gum recession?
Electric toothbrushes are unlikely to cause gum recession because they’re deemed safer and gentle. Regardless of your toothbrush, ensure you select one with soft bristles. Further, aggressive brushing can increase the chances of gum recession; however, it’s not rampant when using soft-bristled toothbrushes.
Who should use a medium toothbrush?
The medium toothbrush is ideal for those who find softer options unable to clean their teeth effectively. Soft or extra toothbrushes bend when brushing, making them uncomfortable to use. However, a medium toothbrush can be harsh on gums if you apply excess pressure.
Final Verdict
Consider your needs before purchasing when comparing a soft vs. extra soft toothbrush. Some of these needs include dental problems like tooth sensitivity and receding gums. However, if you want an ideal toothbrush to clean your teeth without harm, the soft option is what you need.
Avoid hard toothbrushes because they’re harsh, and you are in risk damaging your gums and eroding tooth enamel. Weak enamel is difficult to remineralize, as the process can take up to four months to be effective.
However, your teeth will remain strong if you’re cautious about fortifying your enamel and using the right toothbrush.
Also, read Does Brushing Your Lips With a Toothbrush Make Them Bigger?