A New Angle on Brushing

There’s a new $10 toothbrush that’s not electric and doesn’t spout water. It lasts three times as long as a traditional toothbrush, the manufacturer claims.

The brush, called Radius, has a special indentation for the thumb and is designed to allow brushing at a 45-degree angle. It has 5,000 fine bristles, about twice the number found in a traditional toothbrush.

Is it worth the extra cost? “I wouldn’t spend $10 for a toothbrush,” says Jack Broussard Jr., a Pasadena dentist. “I’d go to my dentist and get one free. I personally don’t recommend paying a lot for a toothbrush. I tell my patients to buy a name brand and that an ideal toothbrush is soft with a round head.”

But if spending $10 makes patients pay more attention to brushing, Broussard added, he’s not against it.