People Are Just Finding Out Why Toothbrushes Have Different Coloured Bristles

If you've ever stopped and had a look at your toothbrush (odd admission, I know), you may have noticed that the bristles are actually different colours. If you haven't, go to your bathroom now and have a proper gander.

Well, it turns out people are discovering there's a genuine reason behind why the bristles are different colours, and no, it's not to make your toothbrush look pretty.

TikToker Jess - who goes by the username jmac8781 - took to the social media site to share the meaning behind the dark patch of bristles on your brush, and it's safe to say viewers were mind-blown by the revelation.

Jess starts the video by proclaiming: "Here’s a life hack you probably didn’t know.

"Do you ever wonder why your toothbrush has different colours? There’s a reason for that. The smallest of the colours, usually near the top, is to show you how much toothpaste you actually should be using."

Who knew?

Although, it does actually make sense seen as the recommended amount of toothpaste each adult should use is around a pea-sized amount.

"You’re actually not supposed to put the toothpaste all along the brush," Jess says.

If you were wondering about kid's toothbrushes, they also have a similar indicator, with the dark bristles smaller and placed towards the centre of the brush.

"Here’s a toddler toothbrush and you can see the blue in the middle shows you exactly how much toothpaste to measure out," she adds.

It should be noted the NHS recommends you 'use a tiny smear of toothpaste for babies and toddlers up to three years old, and a pea-sized amount for children aged three to six years.'

But it seems that Jess' tip is pretty accurate for adult brushes, with users on TikTok weighing in to share their thoughts.

One user wrote: "Mind blown. I was today year's old".

While another said: "Well then.. my life is a lie and I don't know how to do anything".

But the toothpaste revelations don't stop there - it turns out that different bristle types can actually have a pretty big impact on the health of your teeth.

The modern-day toothbrush came into existence all the way back in 1938, with the bristles made of nylon. Before that, who knows what people were using - blocks of wood?

Nylon is flexible and easy to clean but as technology has developed, silicone bristles came into play, working as a 'gum simulator to clean between teeth while removing plaque from along the gum line', as Colgate notes on its website.

Silicone brushes are also said to be better for gently cleaning gums and giving 'extra protection against gingivitis', a common form of gum disease that causes redness, irritation and swelling.

So, there you have it. Toothbrushes don't have different colours and types of bristles for decoration, but the different designs are great for telling brushes apart when you're in a full house. Who'd have thought it?