How to choose a toothbrush? Toothbrush is an essential tool for brushing teeth, many parents wonder what kind of toothbrush they should choose. Which toothbrushes are suitable for babies? In this article, let’s learn about the different kinds of toothbrushes! The history of human toothbrushing can be traced back to more than a thousand years ago. Ancient Buddhists used willow branches to brush their teeth, while ancient Europeans used cloth to scrub their teeth. The earliest history of using toothbrushes in China was in the ancient tomb in the 9th year of the Yingli era (959 AD) of the Liao Dynasty, where there were two rows of 8-hole flocked toothbrushes. With the development of the times, toothbrushes have been continuously improved. There are various designs of toothbrushes depending on the age and the specifics of the mouth. For example, the size of toothbrushes for children and adults are different, the health status of periodontal tissues is different, and the softness of toothbrush bristles is also somewhat different. Toothbrushes in general can be divided into two categories: general-purpose and special-purpose. Adult general-purpose toothbrush bristles are soft and hard, arranged flush, and the arrangement of the bristles should not be too much, generally 10-12 bundles long, 3-4 bundles wide, with a certain distance between the bundles. The special toothbrush is designed to adapt to the characteristics of the oral cavity and special purposes, the shape of the brush head and the arrangement of bristles are different, such as flat, wave type and so on. The brush head is oblong, rectangular, diamond-shaped, small round, etc., to facilitate access to various parts of the mouth. Most of the bristles are nylon wire. Some bristles are specially treated to enhance the friction of the bristles and improve the efficiency of brushing. Brush handle is mostly plastic products, in order to not easy to bend, easy to hold for the purpose. Children’s toothbrushes, but also according to different designs for different ages, there are finger toothbrushes for babies, silicone toothbrushes for infants, 360-degree bristle toothbrushes, children’s cartoon toothbrushes with different brush head sizes, and so on. How to choose a toothbrush for your child when there are so many different types of toothbrushes? The basic principles of choosing a toothbrush for children: appropriate brush head size (2-3 incisors width is appropriate), medium or soft bristles, easy to grip brush handle, and suitable for different growth stages of children. Pre-eruption (0-6 months): Choose a finger toothbrush or a silicone head toothbrush to clean and massage the gums to relieve the discomfort before the teeth erupt. Post-eruption to 2 years: When baby’s teeth erupt, start using a toothbrush with nylon bristles. Since parents are the main brush for their babies at this stage, you should choose a toothbrush with a long handle, good grip for parents, soft bristles that do not sting, and a small brush head that can be turned flexibly in the baby’s mouth. You can also prepare a baby hand-held toothbrush for baby to try to brush their own teeth to play, you can choose bristles, brush handle are soft “toy-type” toothbrush, such as silicone toothbrush, or 360 degree bristles toothbrush, so that the baby can safely put the toothbrush in the mouth to play, without touching the gums or soft tissues in the mouth. These “toy” toothbrushes are slightly less efficient than those with nylon bristles, so the effective cleaning of baby’s teeth still depends on the toothbrush in the hands of the parents. 2-5 years old: you can teach your baby the correct way to brush their teeth. Parents can choose a child’s toothbrush that is easy to hold, with a small brush head and moderately soft and hard bristles. As your baby grows up, you can gradually replace the toothbrush with a slightly larger brush head and more bristles. How can I tell if the bristles are soft or hard? The standard is to be able to brush off the food on the teeth without stinging the gums. However, after the child brushes by himself, the parent still needs to help the child brush carefully a second time. Brushing is just a learning process for your child. It is up to the parents to do the real work of keeping the teeth clean. After the age of 5: When the sixth-age teeth begin to erupt, choose a child’s toothbrush with a larger brush head than that of an infant toothbrush. You can also choose a toothbrush with longer bristles at the end, which is better for cleaning the erupting teeth. You can let your child brush his or her own teeth, but parents need to supervise and check that the child brushes cleanly, and help him or her brush if necessary. In addition to manual toothbrushes, the invention of electric toothbrushes has improved the efficiency of brushing, and electric toothbrushes have been introduced to the American market since the 1960s. As the times progressed, electric toothbrushes improved in the form and frequency of movement. There are reciprocating arc or linear movements, some are a combination of both, some are circular movements, and some are elliptical movements. The use of electric toothbrushes is determined by the principle of mechanical movement of the electric toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes were initially designed for use by mentally handicapped children who cannot take care of themselves or those with hand dysfunction who need help brushing their teeth, but now more and more normal people are using electric toothbrushes as well. The results of clinical trials have proven that electric toothbrushes are more efficient than manual toothbrushes. However, it is worth mentioning that the mastery of the correct brushing method is a prerequisite to ensure the efficiency of electric toothbrush brushing. Sycamore often says that using an electric toothbrush is the icing on the cake on top of mastering the correct brushing method, and if the electric toothbrush cannot be used correctly, then the brushing efficiency of the electric toothbrush will be greatly reduced. When using an electric toothbrush for children, it is important to check the softness of the bristles and whether the mode and frequency of vibration is suitable for the child. For young children, it is recommended that parents use a manual toothbrush to brush their baby’s teeth in terms of safety and acceptance by the child. When the child is a little older, then try using an electric toothbrush. In addition, there are some special toothbrushes, such as inter-adjacent brushes and orthodontic toothbrushes for orthodontics. Interdental brushes resemble small bottle brushes with a single bundle of bristles, and are available in a variety of different sizes and models. The smaller interdental brushes usually have a handle inserted to make them easier to hold. It is mainly used to remove plaque and food debris from adjacent surfaces, and is suitable for adults with large gaps between teeth, or with periodontal disease. It can also be used for braces, fixed restorations, dental implants, gap retainers and other areas that are difficult to reach with commonly used toothbrushes. Orthodontic toothbrushes, on the other hand, are specifically designed for people who are wearing fixed braces. In conclusion, toothbrushes should be selected based on a combination of the user’s personal reality, health conditions within the mouth, personal preferences, and the dentist’s guidance. The easiest way, is to consult your dentist!