Well years ago it was thought that hard bristles was the best, but current research supports the use of a soft bristle brush... it effectively removes the soft plaque and will not damage the teeth... Medium and Hard bristle brushes have been know to cause severe abrasion of the teeth and tooth roots... So when your at Wallgreens look for the soft tipped brushes.... and it's a good idea to change your brush every couple months or so.... and to be perfectly honest.. the electric Sonicare brush is probably the best of them all, because it makes you brush for 2 full minutes and does most of the work for you....

Bottom line a toothbrush is used to remove Plaque from aroud the teeth and gums...A toothbrush when used correctly will more then adequately remove plaque from most places. For a great illustration head to Proper Brushing a great resource from the American Dental Hygienist's Association http://www.adha.org. The illustration above adequately displays that most of the time should be spent brushing the junction between the tooth and gum, since that is where most plaque settles. Toothpaste in not necessary for plaque removal... just pick one that tastes good... If you happen to have tooth sensitivity discuss your brand of toothpaste with your dentist or hygienist, since some types can actually cause tooth sensitivity.

Gum disease has been linked to Osteoporosis,Heart Disease and Stroke, Pregnancy Problems, Diabetes, and Respiratory Disease. Proper toothbrushing along with regular visits with your dentst and dental hygienist will keep gum disease at bay, for more read the Mouth Body Connection!

Is it necessary to sterilize your toothbrush? I did a brief search and found no research to support the need to sterilize a toothbrush. The mouth is full of all kinds of bacteria, most are normally occurring and necessary. Toothbrushes are made of various types of nylon, in which the bacteria can't invade or colonize. Bacteria in theory could colonize on the surface of the brush, but this would require a few days of incubation in the necessary environment for colonization. If the brush is allowed to dry thoroughly colonization will not occur. Using a toothbrush over and over again will not re-colonize the mouth, the bacteria will never leave the mouth. The purpose of the toothbrush is to disrupt the colonization of the bacteria, not reduce their levels. There is no harm in sterilizing a toothbrush, but at this time it doesn't appear necessary. It is strongly recommended to never share a toothbrush and to not let the brush tips touch another toothbrush.
it is also a good idea to replace a tooth brush every 3 months or so. While various types of bacteria(some good, some bad) can be colonized from a used toothbrush there is no evidence that sterilizing a toothbrush will reduce the risk of periodontal disease.