Keeping your teeth clean is more important than ever when you have braces or other orthodontics, but it’s also way tougher: you need to brush and floss effectively but not too harshly, and you’ve got to get under, in between, and around all those wires, brackets, and hard-to-reach places. Amy James, DMD, of Dr. Amy James and Associates, says braces are like little jungle gyms with many nooks and crannies for germs to hide. She adds that the wires that connect the brackets can get in the way of a toothbrush's bristles reaching all of the needed surfaces of the teeth. A proper toothbrush for braces will reach and clean all those hard-to-get spaces for better oral health. We researched more than a dozen popular toothbrush styles, looking for ones that provide a deep, effective clean and do so safely for people with orthodontics. We also tested toothbrushes at home and evaluated them on effectiveness, comfort, and value. We then had a dentist from our Medical Review Board review this article for medical accuracy. To meet the unique challenges of brushing with braces, you’ll need a toothbrush with the following: Our Top Picks Best Overall: Best Electric: Best Soft Bristle: Best for Gum Health: Best for Travel: Best for Plaque Buildup: Best with App: In This Article Features to Look for in a Toothbrush for Braces Our Picks Our Experts FAQ Our Expertise Pros Grippy, long-lasting handle Eco-friendly Deep-reaching bristles for extra cleaning Cons Could be smaller and softer Type: Manual | Bristle Firmness: Medium soft | Added Features: Replaceable brush heads This manual toothbrush looks like something out of Star Trek, but we promise it’s much simpler. The Colgate Keep is an eco-friendly toothbrush with a long-lasting aluminum handle and replaceable brush heads, so you can reduce the usual waste of manual toothbrushes by hanging onto the handle, no matter how often you need to replace your bristles. What we love about this toothbrush for people with braces is the unique style of the lightweight aluminum handle; with a figure-eight shape and grippable sides, this toothbrush will not only feel good in your hands, but it’ll also make it easier to twist and turn your brush head as you clean all around your teeth and braces. Ghias Jabbour, DDS, owner of Blanco Crossing Dental, says an ergonomic toothbrush with a larger handle can help children clean their teeth more effectively. As far as brush heads go, the Colgate Keep checks off those key boxes, too: it’s smaller and oval-shaped with softer bristles, making it easy to maneuver into tight spots and clean effectively without damaging braces. We wish this brush head were smaller, with even softer bristles. Pros Two-in-one toothbrush and wire brush Pack of four Good for kids Cons May be too soft for deep cleaning Can shed Type: Manual | Bristle Firmness: Soft | Added Features: Interproximal brush for cleaning around wires If you or your child are tough on toothbrushes, you might not want to splurge on electric or manual options, instead opting for something that’s easily tossed and replaced when it’s worn out. But you still need to use a toothbrush that gets the job done, which is why we chose this v-trim double-ended brush by Dental Aesthetics. With angled bristles for a deeper clean around oral appliances and a colorful handle grip, these toothbrushes (which come in a convenient pack of four) are a good choice for people with braces who want a thorough, reliable cleaning and a constant rotation of brand new brushes that won’t break the bank. As a bonus, they come with an attached interproximal brush for cleaning in and around archwires, something our experts recommend. This option may be too soft for a deep cleaning and the bristles may shed. Pros Small, streamlined brush head Pressure-sensing for sensitive teeth Smart timer tells you how long to brush Cons Does not include a USB wall adapter Fixed shut-off after two minutes Type: Electric | Bristle Firmness: Medium | Added Features: Brush head replacement reminder Some people want all the bells and whistles when they’re paying for an electric toothbrush, and that’s fine, but if you’re just looking for a high-powered cleaning that keeps your teeth healthy while you straighten them, you don’t need a cadre of extra features to confuse you.That’s what we like about the Philips Sonicare 4100: it’s a dentist-recommended electric toothbrush that provides a powerful clean and enough extra features to make brushing easier (but not so many that brushing twice a day becomes overly complicated). The small oval brush head is compatible with braces and busts plaque on your teeth and gum line better than a manual toothbrush. While some people prefer a more high-tech toothbrush, people who want a powerful, deep-cleaning, straightforward toothbrush will love this pick. While it offers several helpful tools—like an auto-timer and brush head replacement reminder—it doesn't have an accompanying app or any extra features, making it good for children or tech-averse adults. It doesn't come with a USB wall adapter and has a fixed shut off after two minutes. Also the manufacturer advertises a pressure sensor feature, but we didn't notice it when using it. We also wish it had softer bristles. They were a little too hard for us. Pros V-shaped bristles for deeper reach along gums Pack of four Includes interproximal brush for wire cleaning Cons May be too soft for deep cleaning Type: Manual | Bristle Firmness: Soft | Added Features: None All of the dentists we spoke to emphasized the importance of choosing a soft-bristled toothbrush if you have braces; not only are your teeth more prone to irritation, but you also have some (very expensive) oral appliances that need protecting. Of the many toothbrushes we reviewed, the Y-Kelin v-shaped orthodontic toothbrushes consistently came up as one of the options with the softest, gentlest brushes. They may even be a bit too soft for some, but we think that makes them a good choice for kids and people with sensitive teeth. We also like that the Y-kelin brushes feature V-shaped bristles for a deeper clean and a slim and grippable handle design. These brushes also have a smaller interdental brush for wire cleaning, an important step in braces hygiene. As we mentioned, the bristles are very soft and may be too soft for some users. Pros Tapered bristles for gum line cleaning Soft polyester bristles Pack of three Cons Not a small head brush Can be irritating to some users with gum disease Type: Manual | Bristle Firmness: Soft | Added Features: None Keeping your gums healthy involves brushing well along your gum line and making sure you’re flossing at least once a day to clean out the nooks and crannies between your teeth. The Perio toothbrush by Dr. Collins makes maintaining squeaky clean teeth and gums a total breeze, thanks to the unique design of the bristles. Not only are they made of soft polyester, but they taper down to a slim point at the end, meaning you can get closer to the gum line, deeper in between teeth and archwires, and more smoothly around brackets whenever you brush. Other features of the Perio brush include an elongated neck for reaching back into your mouth and some nifty antibacterial properties—the bristles are infused with natural antiseptics, like tea tree oil and magnolia bark, and the polyester fibers are less porous, reducing the chances of bacterial growth. The brush head isn't small, and this brush may be irritating for people with gum disease. Pros Runs on battery power, no need to charge Cleans three sides of your teeth at once Three vibration modes Cons Battery compartment is finicky Brush heads may not last as long as competition Type: Electric | Bristle Firmness: Soft | Added Features: Autotime, brush head replacement indicator Many electric toothbrushes rely on a charge via USB cable or wall plug to power up, which is fine . . . unless you’re a frequent traveler who doesn’t appreciate the inconvenience of having to pack your toothbrush and a charging base. Enter the Triple Bristle GO, a travel-friendly version of the Triple Bristle Original. Instead of needing to be charged, the Triple Bristle GO runs on two AA batteries, so you can pop in a fresh set, toss your toothbrush into your luggage, and, well, go. On the braces side of things, we like that the Triple Bristle brush head is a soft, angled style with bristles on three sides of the head: this allows you to get a more thorough cleaning with less maneuvering around and in a shorter period of time, although you should still brush for the full two minutes! This is particularly great for kids with braces since they tend to be unreliable brushers; even if they start slacking a bit, the Triple Bristle GO will keep their teeth and braces cleaner than the average toothbrush. The battery compartment can be a little finicky and the brush heads may not last as long as other options. Pros Small round brush head Multiple types of vibration for cleaning Long-lasting lithium battery with charge Cons Noisy Gaps in brush allow for toothpaste buildup Type: Electric | Bristle Firmness: Medium | Added Features: Autotimer, pressure sensor All electric toothbrushes are champions when breaking up plaque and destroying more gunky, disease-causing stuff than most manual toothbrushes. James says that plaque, or the accumulation of germs and old food particles, can be responsible for gum disease, gingivitis, periodontitis, and cavities. What we love about the small, round, brace-friendly brush head on the Oral-B Smart 1500 is that it’s designed to tackle plaque in three different ways: by oscillating, rotating, and pulsing, cleaning the surfaces of your teeth better than the average electric toothbrush. Other notable features of the Oral-B Smart 1500 include a pressure sensor to protect your gums from aggressive brushing and a timer that lets you know when to move from one part of your mouth to another. The brush also runs on a long-lasting lithium-ion battery, which requires less charging to get your teeth and braces sparkling clean. This electric pick is a little noisey, and the gaps in the bristles allow toothpaste buildup. Pros Color-coded pressure sensor Ideal for small mouths Smart toothbrush Cons No automatic shut-off Recommended disassembly after every use Type: Electric | Bristle Firmness: Soft | Added Features: Rechargeable, brushing timer, pressure sensor, app The Oral-B iO Series 5 toothbrush is a soft-bristled electric toothbrush that guides you through a perfect brushing session. The thin removable brush head has soft bristles, making it easy to clean hard-to-reach, tight spots in the back of the mouth. Our editor appreciated the size during testing, especially since she has a smaller mouth. Paired with the color-coded pressure sensor, this pick ensures gentle yet effective braces-friendly brushing.We loved how convenient and user-friendly it was. The built-in timer buzzes to indicate when to switch sides and when the brushing session is over. It also displays a rainbow gradient on the pressure sensor. While it's unnecessary for a good cleaning, we were blown away by the app. It provided insight into how well we cleaned our teeth using an AI display of a mouth and virtual medals for a job well done. It also showed us the remaining battery life and allowed us to change the ring color. It’s available in four colors and comes with a two-year warranty. While this toothbrush is easy to use, we highly recommend reading the instructions. There are many features, and if we hadn’t read the directions, we wouldn’t have figured out how to use this pick. Manufacturer instructions also suggest unassembling and cleaning the toothbrush after every use, which can be tedious. There’s also no automatic shut-off when the timer is done. We researched the top toothbrushes on the market and tested over 30 electric toothbrushes currently available to see which would be the best for braces. We evaluated each toothbrush for: We spoke to the following experts throughout every part of researching and writing this article: Are manual or electric toothbrushes better for braces? If you truly prefer a manual toothbrush, there’s no reason why you can’t make one work for you, but you will have to do more work to ensure you’re cleaning your teeth and braces thoroughly. For that reason, most of the dentists we asked recommended electric toothbrushes. Are there any risks of brushing with an electric toothbrush when you have braces? As long as you use your electric toothbrush according to the instructions, it is safe to use if you have braces. The one thing you should be particularly careful about, said Reich, is how hard you brush; using too much pressure can tangle the bristles with your archwires. Keep the pressure gentle but firm, and utilize your toothbrush’s automatic pressure sensor if it has one. How often should you brush your teeth when you have braces? Ideally, brushing should be increased to more than twice daily when you have braces. James noted that it’s always recommended to brush before you go to bed (to remove any lingering daytime food particles) and in the morning (when the nighttime mouth germs are at their highest levels). Sarah Bradley has been writing health content since 2017—everything from product roundups and illness FAQs to nutrition explainers and the dish on diet trends. She knows how important it is to receive trustworthy and expert-approved advice about over-the-counter products that manage everyday health conditions, from GI issues and allergies to chronic headaches and joint pain. Features to Look for in a Toothbrush for Braces
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Best Electric
Philips Sonicare Electric Toothbrush
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How We Tested & Selected Toothbrushes for Braces
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By Sarah Bradley
Sarah Bradley has been writing parenting content since 2017, after her third son was born. Since then, she has expanded her expertise to write about pregnancy and postpartum, childhood ages and stages, and general health conditions, including commerce articles for health products. Because she has been homeschooling her sons for seven years, she is also frequently asked to share homeschooling tips, tricks, and advice for parenting sites.
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