The main materials of soft-bristle toothbrushes include nylon (such as PA6, PA66) and PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), as follows:
Nylon material
Nylon 6 (PA6) is one of the most commonly used materials for soft-bristle toothbrushes. It has strong water absorption (up to 8%), becomes softer after absorbing water, has a gentle touch and good resilience, and can effectively reduce irritation to gums and enamel.
Other nylon types such as PA66 and PA610 are also used in toothbrushes, but their softness is slightly lower than PA6.
For example, Oral-B's classic soft-bristle toothbrush is made of nylon, which was first created by founder Dr. Robert Hutson in 1938.
PBT material
PBT bristles are soft and wear-resistant, and the cleaning effect is better than ordinary nylon, which is suitable for people who need to balance mildness and cleaning power.
Its characteristic is high durability, but it should be noted that excessive softness may affect cleaning efficiency.
Other Materials
Natural pig bristles are softer and suitable for sensitive mouths, but due to their high price and easy breeding of bacteria, they have gradually been replaced by nylon.
Materials such as polypropylene (PP) and PET are too hard and are mostly used for hard-bristled toothbrushes or industrial brushes, not for soft-bristled toothbrushes.