I still remember the dentist who had come to our school and told us to use toothbrushes with soft bristles. That lesson has stuck to me even since and I have been trying out different toothbrushes over the years. None of them were rally soft. Indeed, some were so hard, you felt that they would tear off the gums if you kept using them. There seemed to be nothing that would suffice. Until now, that is.
Colgate’s Sensitive toothbrush is not a new product. It has been around for the past two decades. Of course, during childhood, toothbrushes were not really a topic that captured the imagination, so I mostly forgot about this hidden gem, till I stumbled across a multi pack recently.
The Product
At Rs. 40 for a single piece or Rs. 65 for a pack of two, Colgate Sensitive appears to be a bit pricey for what seems, on the surface, a pretty nondescript toothbrush. It does not have special bristles which clean every invisible corner of the mouth, it does not have a tongue cleaner. Even it’s colours are bland and boring. Silver background with light pink, light green, grey or blue accents, anyone?
And when you grip it in your hand, you wonder what the fuss is all about. It does not have a flexible head and feels pretty ordinary. Like any other toothbrush. But the real secret is not the grip, it is the bristles.
In a diamond shaped pattern, the bristles, um, bristles like soft feathers in the wind. Indeed, while other companies also make Sensitive toothbrushes, Colgate’s version seems to be the softest. The bristles are incredibly fine and feel that they want to caress your gums, not scrub them to bits.
Using Colgate Sensitive; The Benefits
Since it is an incredible soft toothbrush, it is very useful to use if you have sensitive teeth and / or gums. Since it is not very abrasive, it does not irritate gums as much as other brushes. Even infected / sensitive gums are less likely to start bleeding when you use this toothbrush.
For teeth which are in healthy condition, it will probably not make too much of a difference. But for sensitive teeth, the added softness goes a long way in not aggravating pain when brushing, especially when you combine it with a Sensitivity Toothpaste like SensoDyne or Colgate Sensitive. You can therefore be a bit more firm when using it, enabling you to clean your teeth more effectively.
The Drawbacks
Since it is very soft and not very flexible, you may have to slightly change your regular brushing technique to enable the toothbrush to be effective. For plaque around the edges, a firmer brushing technique is required to clean the area. Also, it is not very effective at removing food stuck between teeth during brushing.
Who is it meant for
Apart from being an excellent daily usage toothbrush, Colgate Sensitive is especially useful for people who are recovering from a dental procedure, or have tender gums. It is this also useful for the elderly.
Conclusion and Comparison
Since I rediscovered Colgate Sensitive, I do not think I am going back. However, it is not the only soft bristled toothbrush in the market. These are various alternatives:
Colgate 360 Sensitive: Rs. 75.
Pepsodent Pro Sensitive: Rs. 60.
Sensodyne Ultra Sensitive: Rs. 50.
Personally, I find Colgate Sensitive to be the softest among all these brushes so I would recommend it over the others. The fact that it is the most affordable is simply icing on the cake.