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“Which Toothbrush Is the Best?”

There are a lot of different brushes out there on the market. I have used a bunch of them. I will give my feedback on some of the biggies below, but the basic concept is simple. PROPER USE of the toothbrush is so much more important than the brush itself. I want to you use the toothbrush that works best in your hands. You don’t HAVE to have an expensive toothbrush. You don’t even HAVE to have an electric toothbrush.

This is what you HAVE to do:

Set a timer. If you don’t you are likely kidding yourself about how long you are actually brushing. But, here again, there is nothing magic about the number 2. In reality, the reason we recommend brushing for 2 minutes is because that’s the average amount of time it takes to make sure you are removing all plaque and covering all surfaces. It is certainly possible to brush for 2 minutes without brushing well, but sticking to this time limit is a great place to start!

The upper molars where the cheeks are tight. If you have trouble getting there, try a kid’s sized toothbrush.

The lower molars where the the tongue is. Keep your tongue relaxed so your toothbrush gets all the way to the bottom of the teeth and the gum line.

Under the lips. Keep your lips relaxed, otherwise they will push your brush out.

Behind the lower front teeth. Angle your toothbrush accordingly. If you don’t feel the bristles on your gums, you aren’t getting the entirety of the tooth surfaces.

Don’t be overly aggressive in your brushing, even with a soft bristled toothbrush. This can wear teeth down over time, particularly when you have exposed root surfaces. You can also cause damage to your gums if you brush them too hard. All of the toothbrushes I discuss below have soft bristles.

There are some charcoal bristle toothbrushes on the market now. There is reason to be concerned that these are too abrasive. The American Dental Association does not give any charcoal products its seal of approval. My advice: until more research comes out, stay away.

Your toothbrush can harbor bacteria. Don’t keep the same one too long. The bristles also splay over time and just aren’t as effective at getting into the nooks and crannies of the mouth. If your’s is looking rough before 3 months or you’ve been sick, replace it sooner! Again, nothing magic about the number 3, here, either. Maintain your brush so your time is well spent.

Brush in the morning. It will start your day with fresh breath and a clean smile!

Brush before bed. Don’t let food/drink from the day sit on your teeth overnight. That’s prime time for bad bacteria to go to town.

Brush more than that if you like!

If you have trouble with dexterity or just want to go the extra mile, this is when electric toothbrushes really make a difference. They are not a replacement for mechanical brushing, but an adjunct. It is possible to use an electric toothbrush and not do a quality job. And, no, electric toothbrushes are not replacements for flossing either.

Please keep in mind that the information below is a summary of my own personal opinion and experiences. I have nothing to gain or lose from these reviews. Just because I had a particular experience with a brush, does not mean your’s will be the same. Every person and every mouth is different. That’s why I advise that the BEST toothbrush, is the one that works best for YOU!

Old Faithful:

ORAL B COMPLETE HANDHELD

Amazon price: Brush: ~$3.25/brush

Heads: NA

These are what you find in the goodie bags from our office. Without any bells and whistles, they are tried and true. I grew up using these!

Pros:

They’re small. They fit in toothbrush holders, in a drawer, in your purse or suitcase, wherever you need. Super portable.

When I was pregnant and nauseous, THIS is what I used.

They are cheap.

They have grips on the handles.

Bristles are multiple lengths and fit the contours of the tooth well.

If you follow the guidelines above, this is all you really need.

Cons:

No built-in timer.

Can be difficult for children or arthritic patients to use when the dexterity for proper brushing just isn’t there.

My First Electric Toothbrush

ORAL B SMART SERIES

Amazon prices:

Brush: Smart Series $130, Pro $50

Head: ~$3.75/head

In full disclosure, I got one of these for free when I was in dental school. It was awesome! My teeth felt super smooth and clean after using it. Was it the toothbrush or the fact that I’d never timed my brushing before? Not sure. This is an effective toothbrush and a great option. I know people that swear by these. The newest model of the Smart Series even alerts you when you are brushing too hard. Pretty cool! We have these brushes available for purchase in our office. The Pro is a cheaper alternative under the Oral B umbrella.

Pros:

The round shape of the brush head mimics the shape of the prophy angle (what we polish your teeth with at check-ups). This shape fits the contour of the teeth and gums nicely.

The bigger handles can be easier for some patients to comfortably hold, compared to handheld brushes.

Cheaper than Sonicare.

Built-in timer.

Alerts when using too much pressure.

One handle can be shared by multiple family members by easily switching out the brush heads.

Cons:

It can feel BULKY and somewhat aggressive. It can be hard to fit in small mouths or where lips/cheeks are tight. The bulk is the primary reason this is no longer my go-to.

Requires a charger. It’s one more thing to add to your pile of cords and cables. It’s one extra thing to have on the counter.

The Fancy One

PHILIPS SONICARE

Amazon prices:

Brush: Diamond Clean $167, Protective Clean $40

Head: ~$8/head

I purchased the Diamond Clean brush years ago, despite the bigger price tag, and despite having the Oral B already. I loved it! This brush and brand has just as big a following as Oral B. The brush and head are both small enough that, to me, it felt more natural to use compared to the old school brushes I was always used to. It felt more delicate and gentle on my gums. This quickly became my brush of choice. But, admittedly, it was MUCH fancier than I needed. There are many settings offered on the brush, but I never utilized them. This brush is a great investment if it’s what you are looking for, but it may not be necessary to go that pricey. Sonicare also offers less “fancy” options, like the Protective Clean. I can’t imagine it’s less effective… or at least $110 less effective.

Pros:

My favorite of the big brands.

Gentle, with a petite brush head.

Built-in timer.

The bigger handles can be easier for some patients to comfortably hold, compared to handheld brushes.

One handle can be shared by multiple family members by easily switching out the brush heads.

Cons:

Pricey. This is what eventually drove me away.

Also requires a charger. Again, just one more thing to keep track of.

The Trendy One

QUIP

Quip website (www.getquip.com) prices:

Brush: plastic brush $25, metal brush $40

Head: $5/head (includes delivery)

I first heard about this brush from a patient, so I did my research and decided to give it a try. I have the copper metal version. This brush was developed by a dentist and their website has a lot of great information! It’s a neat concept- replacement heads in the mail every 3 months to help keep you honest. Subscriptions for replacement heads can even include toothpaste refills, if you’d like. They make it easy. They are sleek and modern looking. I have been using this one for about a year. The only problem I encountered was that I broke the toothbrush when I removed the head for the first time, causing the toothbrush head to pop off during each use. However, once I contacted the company, they sent me a replacement right away. I have since successfully changed the brush head without breakage- I advise watching the tutorial video before attempting the change.

Pros:

My current go-to.

Very sleek and most like a handheld brush.

No charger. This brush runs on a battery. Replacement batteries are delivered with the replacement heads. Again, easy! Because it has no charger, it fits down in my toothbrush holder.

Refill subscriptions available (but not required).

Built-in timer.

Cons:

Every family member should have their own. The brush heads aren’t meant to be changed out daily. The battery life is based on 2 brushings of 2 minutes daily by a single user.

Can break if the head is removed improperly.

I like that the handle is smaller than other electric toothbrushes, but I would NOT recommend this as the best electric brush for arthritic patients. It can be harder to hold because it is smaller and could pose a problem for some.

So, there’s my two cents. I’d love to know, what is your favorite brush and why?

Laura Fizer, DMD

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