Toothbrushes for users with hand dexterity limitations

Brushing our teeth is a simple everyday task many of us take for granted. While nothing beats the thoroughness of a professional teeth cleaning, there are a lot of good toothbrush brands on the market. Unfortunately, there are many individuals, old and young alike, that are unable to grip a traditional toothbrush. Manufacturers are recognizing this population and have become very creative with their toothbrush designs. We picked a few of the most popular alternative toothbrush designs and put them through the Pinnacle Dental test.

Toothbrush Brands We Tested

Radius Big Brush (find on Amazon)

Pros:

  •  Large handle design to help those individuals who are unable to grip a narrow toothbrush handle
  • Offered in several designs, including right-handed or left-handed and adult and child sizes
  • Large brush head to cover more surface area at once
  • Replacement brush heads or biodegradable products, reducing plastic waste
  • Made with sustainable products, including sustainable timber for the handle and vegetable-based nylon bristles
  • ADA accepted design

Cons:

  • Still requires user to have enough manual dexterity to move the brush around their mouth to clean all surfaces of the tooth
  • Having a larger brush head is helpful, but can also be a hindrance if the patient has limited opening or a small mouth, making it hard to get the insides of the teeth or the very backs of the teeth.

Who Would Benefit From This Style:

  • We love the fact the brush is both eco-friendly and user-friendly. Offering right-handed and left-handed designs allows for a more comfortable experience compared to some of the standard larger brush handles. We think this type of brush is best for patients that have decreased grip strength, but still has the ability to maneuver the brush throughout their mouth.

Autobrush U-Shaped Electronic Toothbrush (find on Amazon)

Pros:

  • Highly effective for those with even the most limited mobility
  • Rechargeable U-Shaped design with several different settings, all of which are very quiet and gentle
  • Cute animal designs make it a fun way to get even the most reluctant child to brush

Cons:

  • You cannot simply just hold the device in your mouth, it is best to move the mouthpiece up and down and side to side to get all surfaces of the teeth.
  • Regular toothpaste will not work well; it does not disperse around the mouthpiece, even after several brushing cycles. It requires the foam toothpaste for best results. There are limited options for a fluoride foam paste; we did find an option here
  • Expensive but the cost can be decreased by signing up for a subscription

Who Would Benefit From This Style:

  • This is the best option for our patients with the most limited dexterity and is highly recommended for elderly patients that are unable to brush properly or small children still learning.
  • The Autobrush has provided an alternative method for patients with sensory issues. The vibrations are softer than a traditional electric toothbrush and the foam toothpaste offers a different texture compared to a gel paste.
  • After testing patients with a plaque disclosing solution, we can say first hand the Autobrush removed plaque efficiently. Also, we have seen several current patients brushing with this style of toothbrush who have had good checkups at their dental hygiene appointments.

Triple Bristle (find on Amazon)

Pros:

  • The Triple Bristle looks similar to a traditional sonic toothbrush, but instead of a single brush head has three that wrap around and cover the entire tooth surface.
  • Great for individuals, especially kids, that tend to skip down along the gum lines.
  • Great for wearers of braces
  • Comes in rechargeable and non-rechargeable styles, providing affordable options.
  • Comes with a tongue scraper for an even cleaner mouth
  • If you are currently a Sonicare user, you can just buy the Triple Bristle brush heads to use with your current handle (check Sonicare website for compatible models)

Cons:

  • This brush design still requires the dexterity to move around the mouth.
  • The brush head is bulky and takes practice to get used to it.
  • Strong vibrations almost tickle when using it, especially the top teeth. Comes with an insert in the packaging that recommends using the brush for 2 weeks before becoming accustomed to the vibration and brush head.
  • Difficult to get used to brushing the front teeth without touching the hard side of the bristle.

Who Would Benefit From this Style:

  • The Triple Bristle design seems to be best for those patients who consistently miss brushing along the gum line. It is an excellent choice for those with braces.
  • This design would not be best for patients with very limited dexterity or sensory issues - even on the lowest setting the vibrations are strong.

We understand that every patient is unique and has different needs. We are happy to say there are more and more options available to make the task of brushing your teeth easier. The three options we chose are the most popular alternative brush designs. If you have any questions or have a different design you love, let us know at your next cleaning visit.

Has it been more than six months since you had your professional teeth cleaning? If so, contact us for an appointment today at our Grove City dental office.