We all know how important it is that we take care of our teeth and gums. On average, an American will spend around $30 per person yearly on toothbrushes, floss, toothpaste, and other oral hygiene products to fight plaque buildup, freshen breath and keep teeth sparkling white. Toothbrushes are the tool we rely on to maintain our oral health. But we aren’t always sure about what’s the best toothbrush to use. Will any old manual brush do, or should we purchase an electric toothbrush? What if we have added dental issues like gingivitis?

The American Dental Association (ADA) endorses using electric and manual toothbrushes with soft bristles to brush teeth twice daily for a minimum of two minutes. They recommend replacing your toothbrush every three to four months — sooner if the bristles appear frayed or if you’ve been ill. 

That works out to a minimum of three brushes a year, which can be a significant investment in your teeth. You want to ensure you buy the best toothbrush to meet your dental care needs. 

Whether you’re brushing your teeth by hand or using a powered toothbrush, we’ve got a toothbrush to suit your needs. Let’s look at a selection of the best toothbrushes to keep your teeth bright, happy, and healthy.

1. Quip Slate Metal Electric Toothbrush 1ct

This ADA-approved electric toothbrush is the easier way to brush better. Its gentle sonic action won’t damage your tooth enamel or put a strain on your gums. Reinforce good brushing habits with Quip’s sensitive sonic vibrations, a built-in two-minute timer, and 30-second pulses to remind you when to switch sides. Its slim travel-friendly design is shower safe, so you can use it anywhere.

$45.99

2. Public Goods Bamboo Toothbrush 2ct

Sometimes, simple is better. Public Goods has designed a manual biodegradable bamboo toothbrush that is an environmentally friendly and attractive upgrade from standard plastic brushes. The ergonomically designed handle gives a firm grip, and the carefully selected bristles are soft on sensitive teeth and gums yet firm enough for a refreshing brushing experience.

$7.99

3. Boka Classic Manual Toothbrush - Bone

It’s a classic for a good reason. These brushes are the ideal solution for people who suffer from tooth sensitivity, thanks to their beautiful design and silky soft bristles made with Binchotan activated charcoal. These bristles provide a gentle, thorough clean for teeth and gums, while the charcoal helps eliminate odor-causing bacteria. It’s thoughtful, effective dental care from Boka.

$4.99

4. Hello Kids Soft BPA Free Toothbrush

Hello Kids! BPA-free toothbrush is bright, colorful, and thoughtfully designed for little hands and mouths. The brush has soft bristles to make it gentle on delicate tissues, while the wide handle makes it easy to grip and maneuver over teeth and gums. Brushing away dirt from your kiddo’s pearly whites has never been so fun. 

$3.79

5. Colgate Wisp Optic White Cool Mint Toothpaste 4ct

Brush your teeth on the go, anytime, anywhere, with Colgate’s mini prepasted travel toothbrush. You get clean teeth and fresh gums with no rinsing necessary. Colgate brushes also whiten teeth by removing surface stains. These single-use disposable travel toothbrushes use sugar-free, gluten-free toothpaste, so they’re great to keep in the home, office, or backpack.

$3.19

6. Oral-B Battery Powered Electric Deep Clean Toothbrush

Pamper your pearly whites with the cleaning power of this small but mighty machine. Oral-B uses a rotating head with criss-cross bristles to gently remove plaque, clean stains, and freshen your breath. It’s all the tools you need to get a dentist-inspired, professional-level dental health routine that fits in the palm of your hand. Battery included.

$8.49

7. Colgate Extra Clean Soft Full Head Toothbrush

Colgate Extra Clean Full Head Soft Toothbrush is designed with circular power bristles to help remove tooth stains. Its cleaning tip bristles effectively reach and clean your back teeth and the spaces between. This manual toothbrush has an easy-to-grip handle to provide comfort and control while brushing. Remember to change your toothbrush every three months.

$1.39

FAQ

Which toothbrush is best?

Your oral care needs determine the best toothbrush for you. You should consult with a dental hygienist or another dentistry professional to review your oral hygiene habits and make a recommendation based on an evaluation.

Here are some oral care products that can help you with some common dental concerns. 

Best toothbrush for sensitive teeth: Soft bristles are the number one feature to look for. If you have especially sensitive teeth and gums, you may want to consider a toothbrush with silicone bristles instead of nylon. These are wide, flat, and feel softer than the traditional bristles, which may require adjustment, but they’ll be more comfortable when you’re cleaning around your gum line. 

Silicone toothbrushes are available in both manual and electric versions.

Best toothbrush for braces: If you’re investing in braces, you must invest in a toothbrush to keep your teeth healthy throughout the process. You can use a manual toothbrush, but an oscillating or sonic electric toothbrush may be more effective. Look for a toothbrush with a rounded head and soft, flexible bristles that can reach under wires and around brackets to sweep away plaque and food debris. 

The best manual toothbrush for braces will also have extra-soft bristles with a cross-action orientation to better clean around the hardware and shape to get into tight spaces. You might also consider a water flosser to provide extra cleaning power.

Best toothbrush for receding gums: People with a receding gum line will want to consider investing in a rechargeable electric toothbrush. Manual users can apply too much pressure when brushing, aggravating gum recession. The best electric toothbrushes come with a pressure sensor to let you know when you’re being too aggressive with your brushing and a gum cleaning mode that gently removes food and plaque from the gum line.

Best toothbrush for kids: Setting the foundation for good oral health at a young age is essential for children. Whether using an electric or manual toothbrush, they need an easy-grip handle to maneuver the brush head easily over teeth and gums. The best electric toothbrush for kids will have a built-in timer that will chime to let kids know they’ve brushed long enough. Bright colors and fun shapes also help encourage children to get into the brushing habit.

Best toothbrush for travelers: People who travel are often limited by space. They don’t have a lot of room to pack lots of different equipment. If you’re carrying an electric toothbrush, you should find one that’s rechargeable and with long battery life, so you won’t need to bring a charger for a short trip and a travel case to keep everything neat. For people who prefer manual brushes, look for collapsable brushes or prepasted toothbrushes, so you don’t have to carry a tube of toothpaste.

Best toothbrush for indifferent brushers: A smart toothbrush may be just the thing for people who don’t want to think about brushing their teeth.

You link your electric toothbrush to your phone using Bluetooth connectivity, and you’ll see how long you brush and how well, in real-time and with some brands, you receive in-app coaching.  

Best toothbrushes for environmentalists: Traditional manual toothbrushes create a lot of plastic waste.

Given that you should change brushes at least three to four times a year, it would be nice if there was a way to cut down on what you throw away. There’s a simple solution, buy a toothbrush made of biodegradable material like bamboo or a toothbrush that lets you keep the handle, but swap out replacement brush heads.

Which toothbrush is recommended by dentists?

You may have your preferences for your toothbrush, but they must meet your dentist’s criteria for an effective oral care tool. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), toothbrushes, whether manual or electric-powered, dentists recommend a toothbrush head that’s a half-inch wide and one inch high with a handle long enough to reach your back teeth comfortably. 

The bristles are also an important consideration. Because most people use too much pressure when brushing, the AMA recommends using soft bristles with rounded tips to protect tooth enamel and sensitive gum tissue. When choosing a toothbrush, check to ensure it’s received the ADA seal of acceptance. Products displaying this seal have undergone extensive testing to ensure they’re safe and deliver effective cavity and gum disease prevention and plaque control.

Are electric toothbrushes better than manual?

The ADA endorses manual and electric toothbrushes as an efficient means of maintaining good oral health when used correctly. That being said, studies have found electric toothbrushes to be more efficient and easy to use, making them the better choice. Using an electric toothbrush resulted in 22% less gum recession and 18% less tooth decay throughout an 11-year study. 

Electric toothbrushes have certain advantages over manual ones. First, they have timers to tell you when to switch from each quadrant of your mouth. They include pressure sensors to let you know you’re pressing too hard on your teeth, risking damage to tooth enamel and gum tissue. Other sensors remind you when it’s time to change your brush head. They’re also programmed with multiple brushing modes that let you tailor your brushing to different needs like gum care, teeth whitening, or plaque removal.

Finally, oscillating or sonic toothbrushes are more effective at removing food particles, bacteria, stains, and plaque from your teeth. The result is a whiter smile and fresher breath. Who doesn’t want that?