Toothbrushes today come in every shape and size that can be imagined.  The variations are nearly endless with tapered heads, boxy heads, angled heads; neon handles, and handles with bending rubber and handle that sport an image of a favorite cartoon character or super hero.  Looking at all of these choices in the range of toothbrushes can leave a potential consumer dizzy and confused just by trying to make a simple choice of a toothbrush. To begin with all brushes are made basically the same way.  An average brush has approximately 2,500 bristles grouped into tufts.  The tufts are folded over a metal staple and forced into pre-cored holes in the head and fixed in place. The handle is normally made of plastic and rubber for comfort and shaped to fit the hand at the right angle comfortably.  The question becomes with all of these choices-How to choose a toothbrush that is best for you.  Here are a few helpful tips-

1.    Consider the bristles as the most important part of the toothbrush.  Choose soft nylon bristles when purchasing a toothbrush.  These types of bristles are known to last longer and will not hurt gums even after vigorous brushing.  The toothbrush should also have three bristle rows in width and have a thumb wide in length. Bristles should be a normal hardness.  If the bristles are too soft they won't be effective enough and to hard will make it painful to brush.  The bristles on a toothbrush should always be untinted, transparent bristles as well.
2.    Make sure the brush head is small enough to access hard to reach areas.  It stands to reason if the toothbrush is too big to get into the mouth you won't be using it.
3.    A toothbrush does not just consist of bristles.  Toothbrushes with simple straight handles are recommended when choosing a toothbrush.  When a handle is bent, it is difficult to apply a toothbrush onto the back of the second molar of the upper jaw.  This is the most difficult teeth to clean as the bent portion of the handle touches with the inside of the cheek and lips. Also it is important to make sure the handle is free of protrusions (trademarks etc).  Any protrusion on a handle will disturb free movement of a thumb, which is necessary to clean the right and the left sides of a row of the teeth.
4.    Consider buying an electric toothbrush.  While there is not definitive evidence that an electric toothbrush works better than a conventional toothbrush many people prefer them.  This leads to the user brushing longer which promotes better oral health.  In addition many people who are handicapped or who wear braces may prefer an electric toothbrush.

It is important to note that a toothbrush should be replaced once every three months or sooner if it appears to have become worn. Also a toothbrush should be changed after recovering from an infection during which bacteria in the mouth and saliva might have attached to the toothbrush.  This will not only promote better oral health but stop the infection from continually occurring.

Once you have chosen the correct toothbrush for you, your oral hygiene plan needs to be diligently maintained.  The dental recommendation is that brushing should occur between 3 and 4 minutes at least twice a day.  Many people find this easiest to establish as a habit once in the morning and right before bed.  The toothpaste along with fluoride toothpaste (no more than the size of a pea) becomes your best tools in the dental hygiene arsenal for achieving that smile of pearly whites.