The Best Toothbrush for Sensitive Teeth

Tooth sensitivity is a common problem, but if you’re experiencing it, it’s not one to be easily shrugged off. Thankfully, there are things you can do to help manage sensitivity, including choosing the right toothbrush!

Here’s how to choose the best toothbrush for sensitive teeth:

Soft Bristles
This is the number one feature to look for, whether you’re going with a manual brush or opting for an electric toothbrush. Pay close attention to the packaging and look for soft or extra-soft bristles.

Pressure
Applying too much pressure while brushing can create or aggravate sensitivity. If you’re using a manual brush, you’ll have to monitor this yourself. Get some tips on manual brushing technique in our article here.

One of the benefits of an electric toothbrush is consistent pressure – just make sure you are letting the brush do the work! Some models have “gentle” cleaning modes that you can choose if you have sensitive teeth, and some include pressure sensors which will warn you if you are using excessive pressure.

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Timing
Many electric toothbrushes are equipped with built-in timers that will indicate when you’ve brushed for the recommended amount of time, or even signal when it’s time to move on to the next quadrant of your mouth. This can help to ensure you aren’t over-brushing certain areas, which can aggravate sensitive teeth, and neglecting others.

If you’re using a manual brush, a simple clock or timer can help you to stay on track.

Replacement
Regardless of whether you are using a manual or electric toothbrush, the bristles are designed to last between 8 and 12 weeks. As the bristles wear out, they become harder and can contribute to tooth sensitivity. Make sure you are replacing your manual toothbrush or the replaceable head on your electric toothbrush frequently!

Oscillating vs sonic
An oscillating style of electric toothbrush moves back and forth and rotates around, while sonic models vibrate or pulse. Some recent research shows that an oscillating or rotating electric toothbrush leads to significantly less tooth sensitively than a sonic model.

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Make sure you know why your teeth are sensitive!
While choosing the right toothbrush is certainly important, it’s even more important to make sure you know the cause of your sensitivity, and that any serious issues are addressed. Check out our Dental Library article on tooth sensitivity here, and make sure you talk to your dentist to rule out a serious problem! Call, text, email, or use our online booking form here.

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