# Toothbrushes **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 27, 2000, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrushes/7795 "2000-02-27T10:10:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrushes/7795/1 "2000-02-27T10:10:00Z")
So toothbrushes come in soft, medium and hard. Thing is, every dentist I’ve ever heard from has recommended soft bristles. Why do they even make the tougher kinds? For people with Gums of Steel? * * * **Gypsy** : Tom, I don’t get you. **Tom Servo** : Nobody does. I’m the wind, baby. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrushes/7795/2 "2000-02-27T10:26:00Z")
They are manufactured that way so people will have a choice. And will buy one. ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrushes/7795/3 "2000-02-27T11:19:00Z")
Meaning people buy more toothbrushes because there are a selection available? Hmmm ---
**Author:** ![mr\_john](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@mr\_john](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr_john)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrushes/7795/4 "2000-02-27T14:29:00Z")
The hard ones is good for cleaning the grout between tile. Say, I bet the dentists who recomend hard bristles also recomend gum with sugar in it. * * * “Pardon me while I have a strange interlude.”-Marx ---
**Author:** ![Bluepony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Bluepony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluepony)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrushes/7795/5 "2000-02-27T16:03:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by mr john: > \*\*The hard ones is good for cleaning the grout between tile. Say, I bet the dentists who recomend hard bristles also recomend gum with sugar in it. > > \*\* ## Oddly enough, those are the ones with successful practices. 🙂 _…send lawyers, guns, and money…_ ``` Warren Zevon ``` ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrushes/7795/6 "2000-02-27T16:12:00Z")
They suggest soft ones so youll come back more often for cleanings. Too much brushing your gums can receed & then the roots show. Better a well designed brush, not one of those straight top ones, which are kinda basic. But then everytime since Ive been in like 3rd gr. they show a new pattern to brush your teeth. ---
**Author:** ![mr\_john](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@mr\_john](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr_john)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrushes/7795/7 "2000-02-27T16:37:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Bluepony: > \*\* > Oddly enough, those are the ones with successful practices. 🙂 > > \*\* well, my thinking was they would have profitable ones anyway, after their patients get fitted for false choppers,the dentist rarely sees them any more. * * * " Scent sourballs,gum,and honey.".Henry Hull ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrushes/7795/8 "2000-02-27T17:45:00Z")
So the best answer anyone can give is that its due to a Dental Conspiracy? Are the people at OralB purveyors of the Truth? Sorry, kids. Thanks for the conspiracy theory, but this ain’t GD. * * * **Gypsy** : Tom, I don’t get you. **Tom Servo** : Nobody does. I’m the wind, baby. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrushes/7795/9 "2000-02-27T17:58:00Z")
I scrub the hell out of my gums with the hardest brush I can find (I figure if it’s not uncomfortable, my gums are okay with it), and I always get good marks from the dentist. He jabs me in the gum line with a sharp implement and is always surprised when it doesn’t sink in very far. ---
**Author:** ![upstatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ce73a5/32.png) [@upstatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/upstatic)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrushes/7795/10 "2000-02-27T23:58:00Z")
Soft bristles: herbivores Medium bristles: omnivorous people Hard bristles: carnivores * * * R.J.D. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrushes/7795/11 "2000-02-28T00:05:00Z")
I use one of those Oral B Plaque removers (battery operated)…you don’t get a choice on the brushes, it’s one firmness fits all, that and they are sooooo expensive damnit. When you first use them, they make your nose tickle, it’s kind of fun 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrushes/7795/12 "2000-02-28T00:07:00Z")
Alphagene, Shouldn’t that be: Purveyors of the Tooth ? ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrushes/7795/13 "2000-02-28T00:33:00Z")
Also important is toothpaste, which the active stuff in it is, in brief, sand. For some strange reason people dont like to share toothbrushes. they might kiss that area of the mouth tons though. What gives you paranoid toothbrush sharers? ---
**Author:** ![SingleDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9e8a1a/32.png) [@SingleDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SingleDad)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrushes/7795/14 "2000-02-28T04:50:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by techchick68: > \*\*I use one of those Oral B Plaque removers (battery operated)…you don’t get a choice on the brushes, it’s one firmness fits all, that and they are sooooo expensive damnit. > > When you first use them, they make your nose tickle, it’s kind of fun :)\*\* ## If you want a toothbrush that **really** tickles, try the SoniCare. They actually have a little rubber washer you put in it so you can get used to it. He’s the sort to stand on a hilltop in a thunderstorm wearing wet copper armor, shouting ‘All Gods are Bastards!’ ---
**Author:** ![upstatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ce73a5/32.png) [@upstatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/upstatic)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothbrushes/7795/15 "2000-02-28T10:11:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Alphagene: > \*\* > > Sorry, kids. Thanks for the conspiracy theory, but this ain’t GD. > > \*\* Hey, Alphagene, maybe it’s time to loosen up a bit. Try to think back, when you were a child, didn’t you like to laugh at a joke once in awhile? We’re not kids. (Don’t fuss so much about the strength of bristles, Einstein didn’t.) (Ever wonder if OralB developed different strengths to keep people like you at bay?) * * * R.J.D.