People have been cleaning their teeth with brushes for centuries. But toothbrushes have come a long way from sticks and animal hair, and today, you’ve got tons of models to choose from. Even as electric toothbrushes have risen in popularity, we think manual ones still offer convenience, effective cleaning, and great value.
Choosing the right toothbrush for your teeth might seem like a tall order, but we’re here to help. This guide has all the information you need to pick your ideal manual toothbrush, including a few of our top recommendations.
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The 5 Best Manual Toothbrushes
The best toothbrush for you depends on your particular circumstances and dental conditions. But we’ve researched a variety of brands and models and picked the ones we think would be great options for most readers.
Best Overall: Oral-B Pro Crossaction Health All In One
The Oral-B Pro Crossaction Health All In One toothbrush packs a ton of cleaning power. The head contains 550 extra-long bristles — more than many other brushes — and the outside ones are angled to attack plaque from different directions.
Oral-B even claims the Crossaction All In One cleans along the gum line 55% better than other manual brushes. You can often get them for around $3 per brush if you purchase a pack.
Runner Up: Colgate 360° Whole Mouth Clean
The Colgate 360° Whole Mouth Clean takes a different approach to bristle design, but cleans just as well. It’s a versatile brush designed to — as the name suggests — clean your entire mouth rather than just your teeth.
Colgate says the circular bristles remove 151% more plaque than other brushes, and that they can also help fight stains. The back of the brush head has a cheek and tongue cleaner that can scrub bacteria from other parts of your mouth. It’s often slightly cheaper than the Oral-B Crossaction All In One, but it depends on where you buy it.
Best Budget Manual Toothbrush: Colgate Extra Clean
If you’re looking to stock up on a solid manual toothbrush, Colgate’s Extra Clean is a great option. Its circular-arranged bristles of different lengths sweep plaque from your teeth.
The comfortable handles come in different colors, but the best part is that they fight plaque on just about any budget. If you purchase a multi-pack, you can sometimes get them for less than $1 per brush.
Best Manual Toothbrush for Sensitive Teeth: Nimbus Extra Soft Toothbrush
The Nimbus Extra Soft Toothbrush is one of the gentlest toothbrushes out there, but it still provides a deep clean. Developed by a periodontist, the tapered bristles are different lengths and use MICROFINE® technology to reduce plaque without irritating the teeth and gums.
They’re slightly more expensive than other manual brushes, but if you’re worried about dental or gum sensitivity, they’re well worth it.
Best Manual Toothbrush for Gum Care: Curaprox CS 5460
The key to this manual toothbrush’s gum-friendliness is in its bristles. They’re finer and softer than regular toothbrush bristles, and instead of traditional nylon, they’re made from Curen, a patented material that’s designed to be gentle on the gums.
The Curaprox CS 5460 has 5,460 bristles on each brush head, helping it remove plaque. However, like the Nimbus Extra Soft, they’re slightly more expensive than other manual brushes.
Which Should I Choose?
We think the Oral-B Crossaction All in One or the Colgate 360 Whole Mouth Clean are excellent options for most readers, but they’re all great choices, and the best one for you really comes down to your teeth, priorities, and budget. Do you have a history of sensitive teeth? Go with a model designed for sensitivity. A tight budget? Go with a more affordable one.
Just pay attention to head size and bristle firmness. You want a brush head that fits comfortably in your mouth, and dentists recommend soft bristles for most people. It might seem like hard bristles would be better at cleaning plaque, but they can actually wear down your enamel and gums. The most important thing is maintaining a good oral hygiene routine — brushing twice and flossing once per day.
If you’re unsure, you can always ask your dentist. They know your teeth better than anyone, so they can recommend a brush that fits your particular needs.
Toothbrushing Tips
First things first: Brush your teeth every day, twice a day, for two minutes per session. It’s what the American Dental Association and dentists everywhere recommend, and it’s the backbone of any good oral hygiene routine. But almost as important as when you brush is how you brush.
If you have a manual brush, hold it at a 45-degree angle to the gums and move it back and forth over the front, back, and chewing surfaces of your teeth, spending 30 seconds on each quadrant of your mouth. Scrub each tooth carefully, but do it gently, since brushing too hard can erode your enamel.
Do that twice a day, and floss once a day, and you’ll be in good shape. Skip one session and you’re still okay, as long as you get right back on track. But forgo brushing for multiple days in a row and you could be headed for some serious oral health concerns, since allowing plaque to accumulate on your teeth can cause cavities, gingivitis, periodontitis, plus decay and infections.
Manual vs. Electric Toothbrushes
If you’re in the market for a new toothbrush, you’ve likely considered an electric one — but are they actually any better? According to recent studies, yes. Those studies have shown them to be more effective than manual brushes at cleaning plaque and preventing gingivitis. Plus, they reduce the risk of brushing too hard, since they perform the brushing motions for you.
They can also come with features like multiple intensity options and pressure sensors. However, they’re also more expensive, and can cost up to $300. And manual brushes can still work well, as long as you use them correctly.
So if you value convenience and powerful cleaning, and you don’t mind paying more, an electric brush could be your ideal choice. But if you’re sticking to a tight budget and value simplicity, any of the manual brushes in this guide are solid choices.
Toothbrush Maintenance
A toothbrush can only effectively clean plaque if you keep it in good condition. And for both manual and electric brushes, that means replacing them often enough. The American Dental Association says you should get a new toothbrush or electric toothbrush head every 3–4 months. But even if it’s sooner than three months, if you notice your bristles fraying or flaring, replace your brush or brush head ASAP.
Store your toothbrush upright and out in the open, so it can air dry, and if you want to sanitize it, you can soak it in mouthwash or a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution for around three minutes. But don’t put it in the dishwasher or let it sit in boiling water, since that can warp the plastic in the handle.
Other Good Oral Hygiene Habits
Brushing might be the bedrock of your oral hygiene routine, but it shouldn’t be the only item on your list. Flossing is equally important, since it removes hard-to-reach plaque from between your teeth and near the gum line. Dentists recommend flossing once per day — typically before bedtime — or after each meal if you frequently get food stuck between your teeth.
Take 18–24 inches of floss and wrap the ends around your middle fingers until you’ve got just 1.5–2 inches left. Pull it taut with your thumbs and index fingers. Then, once you’ve got the floss between two teeth, pull it into a C shape around one side and move it up and down. Repeat this move on the opposite side, being careful not to run it into your gums. When you’re done, move to the next gap, and so forth.
Floss picks work well too, but they’re considered slightly less effective, since they don’t let you form the same C shape around each tooth, and they can carry bacteria from one gap to another. Waterpiks could be a good alternative, but they’re much pricier than floss.
Mouthwash can also help clean bacteria from hard-to-reach places, fight bad breath, and keep your mouth feeling fresh. It’s not essential, but it can certainly help, especially if you like that fresh, minty feeling.
Lastly, don’t neglect your twice-yearly dental cleanings. You might have a solid routine at home, but a dental hygienist can still provide a much deeper clean. Plus, it gives your dentist a chance to assess your smile and treat any issues they find.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right toothbrush might seem like a tall order, but take heart. As long as you pay attention to bristle firmness, take good care of your brush, and keep a solid oral hygiene routine, your teeth and gums should be in good shape. Plus, you’ve got our researched-backed recommendations, and the advice of your dentist, to rely on. Soon, you’ll have a toothbrush you love and a mouth full of healthy teeth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose the right toothbrush?
Your budget is an important factor, since electric toothbrushes can range from $10 to around $300, and manual ones are much less expensive. But you should also consider the size of the head and bristle firmness as well, since comfort is key and using the wrong bristle type can harm your enamel.
If you want an electric toothbrush, think about which brushing motion—rotation or up-and-down—is more comfortable for you, as well as the features you want. Some have multiple brushing modes and some have a pressure sensor that warns you if you’re brushing too hard. If you’re struggling to decide, you can always ask your dentist or orthodontist for their recommendation.
Is it better to have hard or soft bristles?
Dental professionals recommend soft-bristled toothbrushes for most people. Medium and hard bristles are great for removing plaque and food particles, but they can also harm the enamel or gums, especially if you brush too hard. Soft bristles still give you an excellent clean, without the added risk. Ask your dentist if you’re unsure which is the best option for you.
What happens if you don’t replace your toothbrush?
If you don’t replace your toothbrush often enough (or at all), its bristles will fray and lose their effectiveness. That leaves more plaque and food particles on your teeth, which can cause things like decay, gingivitis, and bad breath.
How should I clean my toothbrush?
Rinsing it thoroughly with lukewarm water after each cleaning, then letting it air dry, can be effective for most people. But if you want to take it even further, you can use antiseptic mouthwash, denture cleaner, UV sanitizers, or a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Follow the directions carefully with any cleaner, and don’t soak it for longer than 15 minutes in mouthwash or the peroxide solution.
What’s the best way to brush your teeth?
Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums and move it back and forth over the front, back, and chewing surfaces of your teeth, spending 30 seconds on each quadrant of your mouth for a total of two minutes. If you’re using an electric toothbrush, it will do the brushing motion for you, so simply move it over each surface, spending 30 seconds in each quadrant.
How long should you brush your teeth?
The American Dental Association recommends brushing for two minutes, twice per day. That means you’ll want to spend around 30 seconds in each quadrant of your mouth.
What time of day is best to brush your teeth?
Typically, you should brush once in the morning and once at night, right before bed. The key is finding a routine that works for you, so you won’t forget to brush.
Are electric toothbrushes worth it?
It depends on your priorities and budget. Certain studies have shown that electric toothbrushes are better than manual ones at eliminating plaque and reducing gingivitis. But they’re also more expensive, and some people don’t like how they feel. Plus, manual toothbrushes are still considered effective, as long as you use them the right way, keep them clean, and brush regularly.
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