14 Best Manual Toothbrushes (Review) In 2021

Our best choice for a manual toothbrush is the Colgate 360° Advanced Optic White Medium Toothbrush, which comes in a pack of two. This brush has multi-action bristles that are more effective than a standard flat design and has a cheek and tongue cleaner which will help remove even more bacteria from your mouth. The spiral polishing bristles are designed to help remove more stains and encourage your teeth to shine, to give you a naturally whiter smile. They don’t actually whiten your teeth so the name may be a little misleading.

The handle is comfortable and easy to hold with flexible finger grips to reduce slippage so you can be precise with your toothbrushing and tackle the hard to reach areas. The Colgate 360° Advance Optic is available in three colors and while we reviewed the medium bristles, it is also possible to get a soft version.

The Oral-B Pulsar 3D White Advanced Soft Toothbrush combines the best features of an electric and manual toothbrush together. This is a battery-operated brush that will vibrate gently when you use it, making it more effective at breaking down and removing plaque. With the split head design, the bristles are able to get in-between your teeth and also moderate how much pressure is being applied to your teeth and gums.

With the soft, round-ended bristles, plus the split head, this is a good option if you want to protect your gums or suffer from sensitive teeth. You should note that with the Pulsar once the battery runs out, you will need to replace the whole brush, as the battery isn’t removable. However, it should last for a few months, when it is time to change your brush anyway.

Our budget pick for the best manual toothbrush is the six-pack of Colgate Extra Clean Soft Toothbrush. This is an excellent value for money option, great for replacing brushes for the whole family. It is designed with circular power bristles that work to scrub away stains, while the tip bristles, in a narrow arrangement, will make it easy to use when cleaning right around your back teeth. The handle is not ergonomically designed but it does have an easy to grip handle for added comfort.

Our best value pick is at the same time an environment-friendly alternative to a plastic toothbrush. The Nuduko Biodegradable Bamboo Toothbrushes are worth looking at, in this pack you get ten brushes, and they are all made from bamboo plus have BPA free nylon bristles. The whole brush is 100% natural, and this includes the packaging.

The bamboo is a strong, reliable alternative to plastic and once disposed of, will break down fully in around six months. You will need to break off the bristles and put that section in the usual trash as only the handle is recyclable. There is nice added touch with these Nuduko brushes and that is they have the letter A, B, C, D, and E on the brushes and have either black or white bristles. This makes them easy to distinguish in a shared bathroom.

The Oral-B Indicator Color Collection Manual Toothbrush is one of the best toothbrush options if you like a soft brush head without many additional features. The handle on this brush is pretty basic, and there are no accessories like a tongue scraper or a brush cap. However, the wave design makes it easy to use in the hard to reach areas, while being soft on your gums. The end-rounded bristles are soft on your teeth and gums.

If you often forget to change your brush regularly, then you will love the colour indicator feature. The blue section of the bristles will turn white over time, so when they have changed colour, you know it is time for a change. Switching your brush regularly is a quick way to improve your oral health.

One slight flaw with these toothbrushes Oral-B have made is in the colouring of the handles. Many customers have reported receiving multi-packs that are all one colour, which is not ideal for use in a family or shared bathroom.

The Colgate 360° Total Advanced Floss-Tip Sonic Battery Power Toothbrush is another cross over between an electric and manual toothbrush. This toothbrush operates with one AAA battery, which is replaceable, and it uses this battery power to brush at 20,000 strokes per minute. The floss-tipped bristles are said to provide a clean which is four times deeper than a regular flat brush. While it doesn’t replace the need to floss, it will help to destroy plaque more effectively.

There is also a tongue and cheek scraper with this model, so it is worth considering as one of the best toothbrushes for overall oral health. Although you can replace the battery on this Colgate model, the head is not replaceable, so you will need to dispose of the whole thing every few months.

With this manual toothbrush, Oral-B promises whiter teeth in two weeks thanks to the surface stain removal properties of charcoal. The Oral-B Charcoal Toothbrush Whitening Therapy has extra-long, power tip bristles that are designed to remove plaque and stains in hard to reach areas, and the gum massagers on the edge of the head will gently clean the gum line without causing any abrasions.

The Charcoal Toothbrush Whitening Therapy brushes have medium bristles and also a tongue and cheek cleaner on the head. There is also a ridged handle with cushioned grips although the handle is quite thin so may not be comfortable for everyone.

If you are looking for a super-soft brush for use on fragile teeth or children’s teeth, then you could consider the Boao Micro Nano Toothbrush with Extra Soft Bristles for your best manual toothbrush. This has a small brush head, fitted with 20,000 super soft bristles, so it can reach tricky areas, rub around small teeth and effectively clean even the most fragile mouth. The wave design also helps to protect your gums while you brush the tooth surface so you can use it regularly without damaging your dental health.

These are cute brushes, with attractive colors and come in a pack of four. The brush surface is a little shorter than regular adult brushes so they probably won’t suit everyone. The Boao bristles will splay flat quite quickly if you press too hard as they are only designed for gentle brushing. The handle may also take some getting used to as there are no ergonomic enhancements or cushioning to make it comfortable.

The Isshah Biodegradable Bamboo & Charcoal Toothbrush is another option if you want to ditch plastic toothbrushes and save the environment while brushing your teeth. Made from fully biodegradable bamboo, these brushes have soft BPA-free nylon bristles that will effectively clean your teeth but will not scratch at any enamel or damage your gums. The bristles are charcoal infused to make stain removal easier.

Although these brushes come in a pack of four, each brush has its own packaging, which is all bio-degradable, and the handles are number 1-4, to help you identify which is yours if the whole family use the same design. As with other bamboo toothbrushes, the bristles are not bio-degradable, and the design is pretty simple, with no advanced arrangement for more efficient cleaning.

The Dental Expert Charcoal Whitening Toothbrush is created to give you the same effects as when you use charcoal toothpaste. Activated charcoal is said to remove stains effectively while destroying bacteria, so you are left with whiter teeth. The bristles on this brush are ultra-fine, so will not aggravate your gums or create any further sensitivity even with regular use. The head is also slimmer than many other adult toothbrushes, so they are easy to maneuver around your back teeth. There is no wave or multi-level arrangement of the bristles.

You can use this brush with regular toothpaste, or for better whitening results, pair it with charcoal toothpaste. The Dental Expert brush has a great grip on the handle, making it easy to use, but you may find the feel of the bristles a bit unusual to start with.

Our premium pick for the best manual toothbrush is the Oral-B Clic Manual Toothbrush with Magnetic Holder. This comes in black, white or chrome finishes and, at first glance, could be mistaken for a pen thanks to its sleek design. In this kit, you get a magnetic holder so you can store your brush hygienically in the bathroom, along with an ergonomic handle and two brush heads. As you can replace just the brush head, you will actually be saving 60% of plastic compared to changing a plastic brush every three months for two years. The head clips into place with the high precision ClicFit Mechanism, although the magnetic holder isn’t the most reliable.

The manufacturers have given a lot of attention to this brush, and the bristles are no exception. They are made with X-filament technology, which is the most advanced when it comes to plaque removal, and are angled in a crisscross pattern to give you maximum coverage per stroke. This is a very sophisticated soft brush – it is almost a shame to hide it in the bathroom!

The Nimbus Microfine Toothbrush is another option for those who want extra-soft bristles to prevent receding gums and sensitive teeth. The head of this brush was designed by a periodontist to protect teeth and gums while still removing plaque. There are two sets of soft bristles; the long-tapered ones can reach into tricky areas while being incredibly soft; the shorter, support bristles help to enhance plaque removal. This combination makes it effective yet very gentle to use.

The Nimbus comes in a pack of five, multi-colored brushes and each one is individually wrapped. The handle is also made with a slight curve and several grips, making it easy to control even when wet. There is very little criticize with this brush, except it doesn’t have a cheek and tongue cleaner which would be a nice added feature.

The Virgin Forest Biodegradable Bamboo Toothbrush is made from natural, sustainable bamboo and is recyclable. The bristles are made from BPA-free nylon and are some of the softer options out there, making them great for sensitive teeth and gums. In this kit you get four boxes, each containing two toothbrushes and all the packaging is biodegradable. Each brush head has different colored bristles, making them attractive but also easy to distinguish in a family bathroom.

These brushes are relatively slim, both in terms of the handle and head, and as the handle is entirely flat and wooden, it is not the most comfortable to hold.

The Oral-B Sensi-Soft Toothbrush makes it possible to clean teeth gently yet effectively. The bristles are ultra-soft and end-rounded so while you use them to give your teeth a good clean, they won’t damage your gums at all. The head is a little smaller than the average adult toothbrush but too large to use as a child’s brush. This size makes it easier to get right to the back of your mouth which will improve your overall oral health.

The handles on these are also ergonomically designed with curves, a flexible neck, and a comfortable grip. There are some reviews that state these bristles do not feel ultra-soft but this is often a personal preference and will also depend on the pressure you use when brushing.