Elizabeth Graves, registered dental hygienist and founder of Take Home Smile, a dental health education company Many toothbrushes come with either soft, medium, or hard bristles. While you may think stiff bristles are better at removing plaque, they can cause gum irritation, tooth sensitivity, and damage to the mouth if used too aggressively. Soft bristles are gentler on the teeth and gums. The main things to consider when choosing a toothbrush are electric and manual, making sure they’re American Dental Association approved, and have soft bristles, '' says Lilya Horowitz, DDS, FAGD, founder of Domino Dental in Brooklyn, New York. A regular oral health care routine is essential for helping to strengthen tooth enamel and protect against erosion. This includes brushing twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste 3 – ideally one that has been specially designed to help protect your tooth enamel from further damage, like Pronamel. Our testers also assessed each toothbrush's design, paying attention to factors like ergonomics, grip, brush head size, and other factors that might affect comfort and ease of use. We also evaluated the bristles for hardness and flexibility to get a sense of how well they would comfortably clean teeth. This data was compiled and used to calculate our final ranking. We also consulted with dental professionals to get their expert opinions on what to look for when choosing toothbrushes. They include:

Don’t rinse your mouth with water straight after brushing your teeth! 6 This washes out your toothpaste and prevents it from doing its job. The Verywell Health team tested toothbrushes based on three main criteria: comfort, ease of use, and functionality. We ranked each toothbrush on a scale of 1 to 5, with five being the best. We also evaluated the toothbrushes for overall quality, including handle design, bristles, and added features. Although on the pricier side, it includes the brush, charging base, charger, USB charging travel case, three heads, and suction cup phone holder, in addition to all the special features, so it has all the bells and whistles. Our tester noted that her teeth felt incredibly clean after using the brush, and she could reach hard-to-reach areas easily. She also loved the tongue-brushing setting, which gently scrubbed her tongue and helped freshen her breath. Overall, it is an top-notch toothbrush that will make you and your dentist happy. Not only can acid erosion threaten the long-term health of your teeth, it can also affect their appearance. As it wears away your enamel over time, acid erosion can expose the dentine layer underneath, causing a dull, yellow-ish discolouration in your teeth. If your enamel has been eroded, you may also start to experience sensitivity or pain when consuming hot and cold food and drinks, or find that the biting edges of your teeth are becoming worn down. Unfortunately, enamel loss can also mean that you are at a greater risk of developing cavities (holes in your teeth) later on. 1,2

Learn more about how to strengthen teeth by protecting your tooth enamel below. How Pronamel Can Help Give you Stronger Enamel and Whiter teeth.* I always recommend that everyone uses soft bristle toothbrushes," says Dr. Horowitz. Not only do soft bristles clean just as well as more rigid bristles, but they also help prevent complications to the teeth and gums. "This is particularly important for people with sensitive gums as well as patients with worn teeth and thin and or missing enamel."

The Sensodyne Daily Care Toothbrush has been specially created for the twice daily cleaning and brushing of sensitive teeth. Its soft bristles are designed to be gentle on sensitive teeth and gums, while its small toothbrush head helps to effectively remove plaque in even the hardest to reach areas of the teeth and mouth.

During testing, our testers unboxed the toothbrushes and added toothpaste. After setting a timer for two minutes, they began brushing all surfaces of their teeth, paying particular attention to areas that are typically difficult to reach. They took note of how comfortable the bristles were, how easy the toothbrush was to maneuver, and whether they felt like their teeth were adequately clean afterward. Pronamel Gentle Whitening has a unique formulation that delivers minerals to actively help to strengthen your enamel. It also helps to polish away stains for stronger, whiter teeth*. Sensodyne toothpaste is the #1 dentist recommended toothpaste brand for sensitive teeth.†† For nearly 60 years, Sensodyne has been creating products specially formulated for people with sensitive teeth. Today Sensodyne toothpastes are formulated not only to look after sensitive teeth, but also to provide the benefits of an everyday paste, including fluoride, cavity protection, fresh breath and whiter teeth by removing surface stains.**

MOON Toothbrushes, Soft Bristle: While soft and gentle on the gums, the stiff brush head design makes it difficult to get a deep clean. Pronamel is designed to help re-harden precious, acid-softened tooth enamel, helping to strengthen teeth. With a low-abrasive, pH neutral formulation, Pronamel toothpaste helps protect your enamel while you brush your teeth.If you suffer from tooth sensitivity, gum disease or gum recession, however, an extra soft toothbrush head may be a better option. This is because brushing too hard (known as ‘toothbrush abrasion’) can actually wear away your tooth enamel and result in, or exacerbate, sensitive teeth – and an extra soft toothbrush head can help you maintain a gentle touch. 1 Discover the complete range of Sensodyne products, including the Sensodyne Daily Care Toothbrush designed to be gentle on sensitive teeth, and Pronamel Daily Mouthwash to help keep your teeth strong and healthy.

When it comes to brushing your teeth, there are a few simple rules that you must follow. People should brush their teeth using a soft bristled toothbrush for at least two minutes, twice a day. They should also refrain from brushing immediately after eating or drinking anything acidic, as this causes the enamel to be more vulnerable to wear over time and can lead to duller and yellowing teeth. For most people, a medium or soft toothbrush with a small head and compact bristles is the best tool to keep their teeth clean and healthy, as long as they are brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. 1 How To Keep Your Teeth Clean, NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/how-to-keep-your-teeth-clean/; Accessed 17/02/2020. Referenced text is highlighted in source PDF. If you want to really clean your teeth properly, you should also floss. This is an important step in any routine to help remove plaque and food debris from between the teeth and keep your mouth fresh and your gums clean. 5 How To Brush Your Teeth Properly

Daily Protection

In addition to the firmness of the bristles on your toothbrush head, you also have the option of choosing either an electric or manual toothbrush. Some people find that brushing with an electric toothbrush makes it easier to brush more thoroughly, however this is just personal preference. Rest assured that either an electric or manual toothbrush option is more than adequate for properly cleaning your teeth, as long as you brush properly and twice a day. 1 Which toothbrush is right for me? There are two main types of toothbrushes on the market: manual and electric. While some electric toothbrushes use batteries, many now come with rechargeable bases. Forms a protective layer over the sensitive areas of the teeth. Brush twice a day for lasting sensitivity protection. Life’s too short for sensitive teeth, and there’s no doubt that sensitive teeth can sometimes get in the way of life. That unexpected jolt of short, sharp pain when you’re trying to enjoy a bite of ice cream or a sip of hot coffee can be extremely frustrating. But the good news is that while having sensitive teeth can be a pain, it’s also easy to manage –and Sensodyne is here to help. Electric toothbrushes are an advanced type of toothbrush that uses either vibrations or rotations to clean the teeth. They're generally more expensive than manual toothbrushes and come with smart features, such as timers and pressure sensors that alert you when brushing too hard.