Silicone Toothbrushes

You’ve heard of the traditional plastic brushes, you’ve heard of electric toothbrushes, you’ve seen wooden toothbrushes, but…have you heard of silicone toothbrushes? While traditional toothbrushes use nylon bristles, these new silicone toothbrushes remove the nylon altogether and replace it with silicone. But do these silicone toothbrushes live up to the hype, or are they ineffective against fighting plaque and gingivitis?

The silicone bristles that you find on silicone toothbrushes are similar in size to the regular bristles that you would find on a traditional toothbrush. They function the same way as well, cleaning between the teeth and removing particles along the gumline. For electric toothbrush users, the silicone toothbrush also comes in an electric form. 

As for whether it fares to the competition on the market, yes it does. In fact, using the rubber tipped toothbrush may actually be better and softer on your gums, while still providing the right amount of cleaning power that you need from a toothbrush. However, because of their newness on the market, more studies are needed to see if they truly are better in the long run than the traditional variety.

Silicone toothbrushes are not entirely new, though. In fact, they’ve been on the market for quite some time, just not in the form that we’re used to seeing. Silicone toothbrushes are popular amongst parents to use on their babies and young children both for cleaning and teething purposes because they massage the gums and work to lessen discomfort.

Whatever toothbrush you happen to stock in your bathroom cabinet, be sure to follow the recommended guidelines of brushing at least twice a day, followed by flossing and a good mouth wash for a healthy smile. If you’re not sure which toothbrush you should be using, ask your dentist the next time you go in for a cleaning.