Hard and fast or soft and slow aka what type of toothbrush should I use?

Asked by tinyfaery (44085) September 8th, 2012 from iPhone

I have toothbrush issues. I tend to go with the medium and I usually brush my teeth hard and fast. I don’t really stand infront of the sink when I brush my teeth. I walk around, do stuff and hold my toothbrush in my mouth while I use my hands. All of this amounts to my toothbrush being flat and useless in about a month.

My wife can have a toothbrush for months and it still looks new.

So…how should one brush their teeth? What is the point of the different types of toothbrushes? How can I stop buying a new toothbrush every month, or so?

Oh, and sometimes I hurt my gums with the medium toothbrush.