TARZANA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The verdict is in: Older toothbrush models perform better than today’s brushes.
What’s the difference, you may ask? Older toothbrushes have a flat bristle design compared to today’s versions which tend to be uneven. A research study presented by Tufts University School of Dental Medicine at the July, 2021 International Association for Dental Research Conference, available here, reports the surprising finding that the older version is effective longer than current products. Their study, “Wear Comparison of Twelve Manual Toothbrushes,” shows that the Sound Feelings brand with an old-fashioned “flat-style” bristle had the least amount of wear compared to other brands, including Oral-B, Colgate, Nimbus and Reach.
A prior study from 2013 shows that when “bristle flaring” from worn toothbrushes occurs, they are less effective in removing the dental plaque which increases the risk of dental cavities and periodontal disease. Because the Sound Feelings brand toothbrush has the lowest wear index, it is more effective in removing plaque and preventing tooth decay for longer periods of time.
Sound Feelings’ brushes are made according to Dr. Robert Hutson’s 1958 patent of the flat bristle toothbrush design, with closely-packed, same-level bristles that support one another during brushing and help prevent splaying and curling. Another benefit to the older design is that the flat handle makes brushing your teeth much easier. Ease of use is a boon to those who may be mobility-impaired, have arthritis or other chronic conditions that effect their motor skills, and for children who are still developing their coordination. A bonus benefit is that the traditional flat, slim handles fit in wall toothbrush holders, while the newer brushes do not.
Despite its effectiveness, this superior original design has mostly been abandoned by the larger toothbrush manufacturers. Howard B. Richman, founder of Sound Feelings, re-discovered the older model in his own quest for a brush that would work for his sensitive gums.
Richman explains, “The multi-leveled bristles of modern-style toothbrushes would irritate my gums while brushing my teeth. This is because the longer bristles extend further than necessary, depending on the angle of the brush. So for several years, I would literally cut down the long bristles to make them all even. I knew that was not ideal because after this ‘haircut,’ the bristles were no longer ‘end-rounded.’ I could no longer find a classic toothbrush at the local drugstore and suspected that I was not the only one. So, I founded a company to make these older model plain toothbrushes available to people everywhere.”
Customers agree on the ease and effectiveness of the Sound Feelings plain toothbrush. “When I went to the dentist, the hygienist scraped plaque on only a very little portion of just one or two teeth, and the dentist barely found any plaque at all,” says William L. LeBleu, a Sound Feelings toothbrush user from Lake Charles, Louisiana. Richard Lavender, from Parker, Texas, reports, “I have arthritis and could not use any of the toothbrushes on the market today, because their round handles make them impossible to hold and cause me a lot of pain. With the flat-handle brushes, there is no pain when I brush my teeth.”
Sound Feelings works closely with a USA manufacturer to create toothbrushes that meet its exact specifications. The adult size (47-tuft) comes in extra-soft, soft, medium, hard, and extra-hard. The kids (24-tuft) is extra-soft. Handles are translucent in various colors, while bristles are made of nylon. The handles are made of Cellulose Acetate Propionate (CAP), a type of plastic produced from wood pulp cellulose. CAP is strong, non-brittle, shiny, and translucent, making it a perfect material for toothbrush handles and eyeglass frames. The products are BPA-free and phthalate-free, with prices comparable to other brands.
Sound Feelings toothbrushes are available from the Plain Toothbrush website www.plain-toothbrush.com as well as Amazon, eBay, and ToothbrushExpress.