Types of Toothbrushes - Choose the Best Brush for You (2024)

Types of Toothbrushes - Choose the Best Brush for You (1)

  • Choosing the Right Toothbrush
  • Get a Better Clean with an Electric Toothbrush
  • Choosing the Right Toothbrush Head

Choosing the Right Toothbrush

Using the right toothbrush can make your daily oral care routine more enjoyable—and more effective.
A toothbrush is personal, which is why they’re available in a variety of sizes and shapes. If you have a large mouth, you may prefer a full-sized toothbrush head. If you have a small mouth, opt for a compact head. And some adults even prefer youth or child-sized toothbrushes because they find them easier to use for brushing behind the back teeth.

If comfort is important, try a toothbrush with a non-slip grip, which makes it easy to use even if wet. Additionally, the handles on many Oral-B toothbrushes have been modeled based on research into the five different ways that people hold their toothbrush while brushing.

A manual toothbrush works well if you are a diligent brusher, but more and more people are opting for electric toothbrushes.

As with a manual toothbrush, the best electric toothbrush for you is the one you like and will use every day. Electric toothbrushes come in different sizes, too. In general, the replaceable heads of electric toothbrushes are smaller than the full-sized head of a manual toothbrush, so if you are used to a full-sized head, the electric toothbrush may take some getting used to.

Get a Better Clean with an Electric Toothbrush

Keep in mind that one of the benefits of the smaller head size on an electric toothbrush is that it is better able to clean each tooth individually and get to the hard-to-reach places of your mouth. Many different styles of brush heads are available, from polishing brush heads to brush heads for sensitive teeth. There are a number of varying bristle movements powered toothbrushes utilize. Oscillating/rotating technology is independently validated as better than manual brushing in reducing plaque and gingivitis.The Oral-B iO Series features the latest technology when it comes to brushing teeth and protecting your gums. The award-winning brush combines powerful, but gentle micro-vibrations with Oral-B’s unique dentist-inspired round brush head for a professional clean feeling.

The bottom line is that if you choose the toothbrush that is the right size and style for your mouth and your oral care needs, you’ll be able to clean your teeth more completely and help prevent bacterial buildup and the development of plaque.Check out Oral-B’s latest deals on top electric toothbrushes to find the one that’s right for you at a limited-time price.

Remember that regular replacement of toothbrushes contributes to maintaining a consistently high level of oral hygiene because clinical research shows a new toothbrush can remove up to 30% more plaque than one that's three months old.*

*Research with a flat trim manual toothbrush.

Choosing the Right Toothbrush Head

One way to be sure that you have the best toothbrush for your needs is to learn about different types of brush heads. The brush head is the top part of the toothbrush where the bristles are attached. You want to choose the type of toothbrush head that fits your mouth and lets you reach all of your teeth.

Some specialized types of brush heads include:

  • Angled: An angled toothbrush head helps reach the insides of your teeth, especially the insides of your lower and upper front teeth. These areas can be susceptible to tartar buildup because, for some people, they’re harder to reach with a standard toothbrush head.

  • Compact vs. Full Size: A compact toothbrush head is smaller than a full-size and has fewer bristles. Some people, especially those with small mouths, find compact heads easier to use. But other people simply prefer a full-size brush head, so you may want to try both and choose the one that works best for you.

  • Extra-soft Bristles: For a gentle yet effective clean, you may want to opt for a brush head with softer bristles like the Oral-B iO Gentle Care**. Its optimized bristle patterns adapt to the curves of your teeth and gums for maximum comfort.

  • Personalized Look and Feel: Toothbrushes can be a great way to further express your unique preferences—specifically in color. The Oral-B iO9 comes in a unique elegant Rose Quartz shade so you can always have a sophisticated, yet effective clean.

  • Whitening Brush Heads: Several Oral-B brush heads are designed to help you whiten your teeth by removing surface stains without damaging your enamel. Find the best whitening toothbrush head for you. The Oral-B 3D White Replacement Brush Head† features a unique polishing cup to gently whiten with end-rounded bristles for a safe, but effective whitening experience.

You’ll also be able to choose brushes that have ergonomichandles or no-slip grips to make them easier to hold, along with a variety ofbristle configurations to help clean around and between teeth, depending onyour trouble spots. Always use a softbristled toothbrush and if you have recession, you may want to consider anextra-soft bristled toothbrush. Consider switching to an electric toothbrush equipped with aSensitive Mode like the Oral-B iO9 which also comes with a Smart Pressure Sensor to better protect yourgums from overbrushing. The Oral-B iO Gentle Care Brush Head is also a great go-to when it comes ensuring agentler clean for teeth and gums.

From Oral-B, the #1dentist-recommended toothbrush brand.

**Compatible with Oral-B iO handles only
†Compatible with all Oral-B handles except iO

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FAQs

Types of Toothbrushes - Choose the Best Brush for You? ›

For the vast majority of people, a soft-bristled toothbrush will be the most comfortable and safest choice. Depending on how vigorously you brush your teeth and the strength of your teeth, medium- and hard-bristled brushes could actually damage the gums, root surface, and protective tooth enamel.

What type of toothbrush bristles are recommended for most patients? ›

Soft bristle toothbrushes are the most often recommended by dentists because they are gentle on teeth and gums while being able to remove bacteria and plaque. This is a brush that is useful for both children and adults and is able to brush close to the gum without irritation.

What toothbrush is most recommended by dentists? ›

Although toothbrushes with medium bristles have been shown to be effective at biofilm removal, the ADA recommends use of a toothbrush with soft bristles because they minimize the risk of gingival abrasion.

What are the different types of oral brushes? ›

Types of Toothbrushes: Which is Best for You?
  • Manual Toothbrush. The manual toothbrush is the original modern toothbrush and the most standard type on the market. ...
  • Electric Toothbrush. ...
  • Interdental Toothbrush. ...
  • Sulcabrush. ...
  • End Tuft Toothbrush. ...
  • Chewable Toothbrush. ...
  • Mouthpiece Toothbrush. ...
  • Egyptian Plover Bird.

How do I choose a dental brush? ›

Here is our guide to what you need to look for to help you make the right decision.
  1. Head Size. You will see a range of brush heads available, but by choosing a small-headed brush you will have better access to the parts of your mouth that can be trickier to access. ...
  2. Bristle Design. ...
  3. Bristle Firmness. ...
  4. Handle Grip.

What is the safest toothbrush bristles? ›

Boar bristle toothbrush:

Boar bristle toothbrushes are one of the only completely biodegradable toothbrush alternatives. Boar bristles can be composted and typically boar bristle brushes are made with a bamboo handle or other type of biodegradable handle.

What are the different types of toothbrush bristles? ›

There are three types of toothbrush bristles: soft, medium and hard. The Super Dentists recommends soft toothbrushes because they are gentle enough to protect your gums, yet flexible enough to access and remove tough-to-reach food particles, bacteria and other substances that can get stuck in the teeth.

Do dentists recommend Oral-B or Sonicare? ›

Sonicare's heads are large and flat compared to Oral-B's small round brushes, and they're long-lasting, according to Wellspring Dental dentist Mandy Nebel, who prefers Sonicare over other brands. This specific model — one of two from the brand accepted by the ADA — is a more entry-level Sonicare.

Which is better sonic or rotating toothbrushes? ›

Electric rotating-oscillating toothbrushes come with lower power than sonic toothbrushes, but due to the rotating head you can find them quite powerful in removing the plaque off your teeth. Sonic toothbrushes, on the other hand, are considered much more effective thanks to the high level of vibrations they provide.

What type of toothbrush should adults use? ›

Dental professionals recommend soft-bristle toothbrushes because too much pressure or overzealous brushing can negatively impact the enamel and gums. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends soft-bristle toothbrushes with angled or multi-layer bristles to ensure an excellent clean without harming your teeth.

What kind of Oral-B toothbrush do I have? ›

Type Number

It is a 4-digit number which can be found on the underside of your toothbrush and is highlighted by the red arrows below. The Type Number should also be listed on the user manual for your toothbrush.

Which Oral-B is most used by dentists? ›

The Oral-B iO Gentle Care Brush Head is also a great go-to when it comes ensuring a gentler clean for teeth and gums. From Oral-B, the #1 dentist-recommended toothbrush brand.

Which brush is soft for teeth? ›

Sensodyne Sensitive toothbrush is specially designed for gentle, yet thorough cleaning of teeth. This toothbrush comes with soft, round-ended bristles - which flex on contact with surfaces, and is therefore gentle on teeth and gums.

Does Sonicare or Oral-B remove more plaque? ›

Plus, an Oral-B electric toothbrush like the Oral-B Pro 1000 even removes 26% more plaque than Sonicare DiamondClean* and 100% more plaque than a regular manual toothbrush.

Is Oral-B genius better than Sonicare? ›

Sonicare vs Oral-B: Our Verdict

Both Oral-B and Sonicare make excellent electric toothbrushes. Oral-B represents the better value; the brushes themselves and replacement heads are cheaper than those sold by Sonicare. And they're easier to use for beginners and kids.

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