If you’re selecting a new toothbrush, then you might reason that hard bristles are the best way to go. After all, shouldn’t stiffer bristles do a more effective job at removing plaque? They do … although they still aren’t recommended.
The foremost authority on dental health in the U.S. doesn’t even advise medium bristles. The American Dental Association exclusively recommends toothbrushes with soft bristles!
Why Are Hard- and Medium-Bristled Toothbrushes Not Recommended?
The science is in: Toothbrushes with hard and medium bristles do a more effective job of removing the biofilm that leads to tooth decay. But their superior performance comes at a heavy cost. Stiffer bristles also harm gums, which can lead to a condition known as “gingival abrasion.”
What Is Gingival Abrasion?
Gingival abrasion (aka gum recession) is pathologic damage to the gums resulting from exposure to a foreign substance. It may be caused by using an overly abrasive toothpaste, brushing with excessive force, brushing too often or for too long, or brushing with overly stiff bristles.
In other words, gingival abrasion is premature wear and tear of the gums. That can cause one or more teeth’s root surfaces to become exposed, which can lead to serious issues. When their sensitive root surfaces are exposed, teeth become far more vulnerable to damage resulting from mechanical abrasion. Likewise, exposed teeth are at greater risk of becoming damaged by acidity, which can be especially problematic if someone suffers from acid reflux.
Gingival abrasion can ultimately lead to tooth loss. In addition to increasing the risk of dental abrasion, receding gums aren’t able to properly stabilize teeth. This can cause teeth to gradually loosen until they require extraction – or even fall out on their own.
Gingival abrasion has yet another downside. It affects your appearance by literally making you look “long in the tooth.” In no uncertain terms, avoiding gingival abrasion is essential to preserving your dental health and your smile’s natural beauty.
Is Gingival Abrasion Reversible?
Dental medicine has yet to develop a treatment that grows back gums once they have receded. Several treatments for gingival abrasion are available, however, including grafting and surgery. Scaling and root planing, which involves removing tartar and plaque and then smoothing out the teeth’s roots, can also slow or halt the progression of gingival abrasion.
Naturally, you’d really rather avoid needing any of these treatments. That’s why we have to underscore the key takeaway from this article: Only brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Stiffer bristles may keep your teeth cleaner in the short run, but their long-term implications for your health aren’t remotely worth it.
Would you like to take even greater care to keep your gumline from receding? Then we welcome you to contact All About Teeth today to schedule a teeth cleaning at our clinic in Logan, UT! In addition to removing the plaque and tartar that could gradually harm your gums, receiving regular teeth cleaning is an excellent way to detect the early signs of gum disease. Dr. Corey Hogge will happily tell you the other steps you can take to preserve your one-of-a-kind smile.
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