The best Manual Toothbrushes: Reddit reviews

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

There are single use toothbrushes and flossers that I keep by my bed and find very helpful. You can get biodegradable flossers (or just use regular floss), the toothbrushes are plastic but I'm willing to use them to save my teeth and gums. I use Wisp, you don't need water or anything to use them:

Wisp on amazon

I love keeping these in my bag for brushing on the go. You don't have to spit, so you don't need running water or a sink. Just do it in your seat on the airplane and let the person next to you think you're weird. Who cares? You'll never see them again, and you'll be minty fresh.

It's usually seen as a "step" in becoming more serious in the relationship. So bring one at first, and then once you're ready to take that step (it's a relatively small one, but still an important one) talk about leaving one there. If both parties agree to it, go for it.

Don't use theirs.

Pro-tip: If you frequently host "sleepovers", your guests will greatly appreciate if you grab a pack of these and leave them in the bathroom. Be a good host and people will be more willing to come back for another sleepover, I promise.

I love this post because I can feel you on all of this. I have super bad anxiety. Chipotle freaks me out.

I would suggest sending her an email like this-

“Hey xxxxx,

I am interested in switching it up a little and booking a dinner date with you. You can pick your favorite restaurant and I can send an Uber for you or meet you there. We can have a delicious dinner and some wine and then retreat to your hotel. I can jump in the shower and freshen up and then we can have some alone time. I’m thinking I should book 3 hours? Thoughts?”

When you guys are leaving the dinner you can say-

“I’ll head to your hotel. You just shoot me a text me the room number when you are ready for me to join you.”

Walk in the room and just say “I’m going to freshen up really quick” and take a shower.

But some “Wisps” I love these and carry them in my purse.

https://www.amazon.com/Colgate-Wisp-Peppermint-16-Brushes/dp/B001TH8Y60

A hot ultrasonic with EC cleaner is the best way when you have a lot of flux that won't budge. Once it's out drown with 99% isopropyl and scrub with a fine toothbrush. Quality of the brush matters here, better ones make your job much easier. Personally I like brushes like these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WDW3JM1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_1BZbGb27WR3N0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 Let the board dry either on a hot plate set to a warm temp or in a toaster oven at 200f or something. I like to set it for around an hour. Too much heat when drying can cause nasty issues. Should look factory new once complete.

Clean teeth, when you’re on the move on foot for a significant period, and struggling as you will be in a true bug-out situation (trust the endurance runners, we know what an energy crash / bonk feels like) stopping for a few moments just to get your shit together can totally change things, and one of the best mood changers in this situation is freshly cleaned teeth and minty fresh breath. Some disposable toothbrushes are super cheap, light, and don’t take up much space at all

I..I don't understand how this works. Is this basically chewing on the toothbrush head? I don't know. Also, it is expensive, not cheap, as per this Amazon listing.

They actually make these for humans, too! Google sensory toothbrush. Example: https://www.amazon.com/bA1-Health-Specialty-Toothbrush-Sensitive/dp/B06XFHS5FT

I bought a bag of disposable toothbrushes (tiny little things) that have a bead of toothpaste in it. It advertises no water needed, but i prefer to wash my teeth with water. I just threw the bag in my purse and whenever i think (i should brush my teeth) i have the option.

Here's a link to them

This made a huge difference for me too. After taking a couple of college chemistry courses and learning what SLS and other chemical detergents do to your mucous membranes, I cut it out of my oral care routine for good (and hair care, face wash, body washes, etc.). This was way before I had an EDS diagnosis. It made such an immediate difference.

A few years ago, I started using this toothbrush too: Nimbus Microfine Toothbrush. I usually dislike using a soft toothbrush, opting for medium in the past. These are actually extra soft, so I thought no way will this work out for me. But I don't think I'll ever use anything else now. I chose to go with the compact size because I have a little mouth, but there are other sizes available. I suggest just reading the Amazon reviews if you're skeptical.

https://www.amazon.com/Colgate-Fresh-Disposable-Toothbrush-Peppermint/dp/B00HXAIN90 These disposable toothbrushes, they’re not a perfect replacement but I keep them next to my bed for when I just can NOT get up to brush my teeth. Awesome if u have issues with executive function.They are pretty minty tho

May I recommend Nimbus brand, soft bristle toothbrushes? My father, a dentist, first learned of these from a Periodontist friend, and they're fantastic! Nimbus offers 3 different sizes –– Regular, Compact (which I use because I have a smaller mouth), and Nimby, for children.

From personal experience, I can say the Silko toothbrushes being sold through social media ads are junk. The bristles undulate, but are all that length –– so the brush doesn't remove plaque between teeth well. Also, the bristles just fall out as you're brushing. They're from China and obviously made as cheaply as possible.

For more info: Nimbus: https://www.nimbusdental.com/ Or, Nimbus on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005LB8J06/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_8YK1EBQTTZDWP3NCB4NK?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

reposting my comment from a thread a couple days ago in case anyone stumbles here looking for oral hygiene salvation:
Some other ADHD oral health tips:
Keep no-water-needed disposable toothbrushes in places you frequent, such as your bedside table, your car, your desk, and your purse/bag. These or something similar. It's not as good as using a flouride-based toothpaste but definitely better than nothing.
Keep toothpaste tablets w/ flouride, bottles of water, and a cup/trashcan to spit in by your bedside table. Combined w/ the disposable toothbrushes, this will enable you to brush your teeth in bed (my biggest problem w/ regular brushing is that by the time I remember, I'm already in bed for the night and can't get up).
Chew gum. It's not as good as brushing your teeth, but does help keep them clean and is better than nothing. Can also help hyperactivity symptoms.

You can get mini tooth brush thingys that come with tooth paste on them and don't require water (https://www.amazon.com/Colgate-Fresh-Disposable-Toothbrush-Peppermint/dp/B00HXAIN90). I use these when I'm at work and when my brain just can't anymore.

Another useful thing to add, but they are a bit pricey are enof sachets (https://simplyenof.com/) which can be added to food without altering the taste to create a more balanced meal. If you're only really eating a limited amount of comfort foods, it can be hard to eat a healthy diet, adding a sachet to your comfort food is easy and one less thing to worry about. Priority is eating, more than what you're eating but this can help.

Great idea!!

Some other ADHD oral health tips:

Keep disposable toothbrushes in places you frequent, such as your bedside table, your car, your desk, and your purse/bag. These or something similar. It's not as good as using a flouride-based toothpaste but definitely better than nothing.

Keep toothpaste tablets w/ flouride, bottles of water, and a cup/trashcan to spit in by your bedside table. Combined w/ the disposable toothbrushes, this will enable you to brush your teeth in bed (my biggest problem w/ regular brushing is that by the time I remember, I'm already in bed and can't get up).

Chew gum. It's not as good as brushing your teeth, but does help keep them clean and is better than nothing. Can also help hyperactivity symptoms.

That is so tough. I hear how much it’s taking a toll on you. Have you been able to identify what about the teeth brushing causes the meltdowns/overstimulation? Texture, sound, taste?

I saw something like this: https://www.amazon.com.au/bA1-Sided-Autism-Toothbrush-Kids/dp/B06XFHS5FT

Might be worth a try?

There are pre-pasted disposable toothbrushes sold with the paste already on them—both quick little freshening brushes like this and full cleaning toothbrushes like this. They're probably too pricey to use to brush your teeth on a regular ongoing basis, but for days when you don't have the energy to even put toothpaste on a brush, you can just stick one of these in your mouth to brush with.

I am at week 49 and am getting another set of refinement trays next week. This is the travel toothbrush I put in my purse. I have a generic makeup case and I add my Invisalign travel case and a travel dental floss. I bought 2 generic travel case for my retainers (also from Amazon) that I keep at home.

I also bought an Ultrasonic cleaner and use that every morning to clean my retainers. Really helps because I have a lot of attachments. It took too long to clean all those indentations with a toothbrush.

I also had to use rubber bands. My tray changes were on Fridays. I found is less painful to start the new tray Thursday night with the old rubber bands and then change to new rubber bands Friday morning.

Wait this one? https://www.amazon.com.au/Colgate-Disposable-Travel-Toothbrush-Peppermint/dp/B00HXAIN90/ref=asc_df_B00HXAIN90/?tag=googleshopmob-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=341745443445&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11703955557612692452&hvpone=&hv...

First of all, even dermatologists say you don't need to shower every single day, so jot that down. Some will recommend even less often if you have certain skin conditions.

Two, flossing is more important than brushing, so start there if you only have a minute. Try to floss every time you eat; I keep floss picks with me to make this easy. I also keep these Whisp thingies stashed everywhere so if I realize my breath stinks I can fix it. Pro tip: driving to your destination is a great time for flossing and using a Whisp.

Wash clothes after 24 total hours of wear, maximum. (Three 8-hour work days, for example.) Less if you're physically active during the wear time.

Deodorant every day, but like, whenever. Some even work better if you do them before bed.

Shaving is optional.

Bottom line, make hygiene accessible, instead of doing it the "right" way or not at all. Anything is better than nothing.

But really, when was the last time you were like, omg, that person really smells? Probably far less often than you've been around a person who didn't happen to shower that day. I mean this in the kindest way: no one cares. No one pays attention that much. Don't worry too much about it.

Sincerely, a mostly functional adult with ADHD, anxiety, insomnia, and chronic depression

Seconding the suggestion of finding KC Davis and following her advice! She recently did a live video on Amazon (you can watch the recording here) going through all sorts of hygiene products and solutions for when you just can't get yourself to "do the things."

Three things that might help you the most:

1) Disposable pre-pasted toothbrushes! Keep them all over your home so whenever you think of it you can just grab one and pop it in your mouth. This takes out a lot of the effort and steps. They don't have a ton of toothpaste on them so you don't even need to spit when you're done!

2) Lower the bar and make your goal as small as easy as possible. Something like "brush one tooth, each day" (at ANY time of day, maybe not even using toothpaste). If you can make the goal small enough, it might be easier to build a habit of doing it every day. Some days you might keep going and brush two teeth (or even all of them), but if you only brush that one tooth, you've still met your goal! Eventually, you might be able to increase the goal, but go really slowly so you can remain successful. Think about it like spinning a wheel... It's easier to keep it spinning than to have to start spinning it from stopped. If you can keep moving towards your hygiene goals a teeny tiny bit at a time, you can build momentum.

3) Make it more interesting. Get a new toothbrush and/or a new kind of toothpaste (maybe toothpaste tablets?). Maybe get several flavors so you can rotate them to keep it interesting. Create a reward system (think a sticker chart or something similar) for building the daily habit. Maybe turn on some music or watch a short video or anything that might make it a little more interesting.

Are you using a toothpaste and toothbrush you actually like?? I struggled for years to regularly brush my teeth and it turns out I despise mint and plastic toothbrushes (I use watermelon toothpaste and bamboo toothbrushes now)

You can also get little single use dry brushes here, and here! That way you wouldn't even have to get up

I also use the Brush DJ app, it plays music for the 2mins I brush my teeth, super simple and effective.

As far as the showering goes, many people overwash their bodies, so showering every couple of days isn't that bad. You can use wet wipes in between, or a washcloth. Use dry shampoo or even baby powder to keep your hair from looking greasy, and keep it brushed/tied up.

Hope any of this helps 😊

Get some disposable toothbrushes. I used them when I was depressed and they helped so much.

NAD

I'm 30 years old and still have a lot of trouble consistently brushing my teeth. At the worst of times, I only brush my teeth maybe 4-5 times a YEAR (ADHD and bipolar disorder with long depressive episodes make it incredibly difficult to focus on self care). I didn't see a dentist for 5ish years. Bleeding gums is common after not brushing for a while. The important part is to try to keep yourself on track (use an app, sticky notes, write a reminder on your mirror with a dry erase marker, whatever you can do to remember to do it). I can't speak on what kind of dental work you might need though.

As another commenter said, focus on the future for now. Make an appointment with a dentist ASAP. If you haven't been for a while/it's a new dentist they'll likely do a thorough exam on your first visit and let you know what work needs to be done.

In the meantime, I might suggest getting an ultra soft bristle toothbrush (something like this ), it won't completely stop the gum bleeding, but it's not as abrasive so it will cut down on it a lot (as well as being less painful if your gums are sensitive)

I ended up buying a bunch of those one time use tooth brushes where you don’t add water and you just brush your teeth with. I ended up becoming chronically ill which put me into one of the most depressives states I’ve ever been in.

Using these helped me get buy when I would just lay in bed all day and didn’t even bother brushing my teeth. Granted, brushing your teeth with an actual toothbrush is still work better, but cleaning them with a disposable tooth brush is better than nothing. Sometimes doing the bare minimum is the way to go. Here’s a link to the ones I ordered https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071DPCBQG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

For dental hygiene, highly recommend single-use disposable toothbrushes for when it’s super hard to do anything! They don’t need water or anything so you can literally just keep the bag by your bed and do it whenever.

They make single-use waterless toothbrushes- I've seen them recommended a few times now for people who struggle with things like this! You can keep them in a convenient spot (next to your bed, in a bag you reliably carry, in the car) and do it right when you think about it, removing the hurdle of having to go get your toothbrush, find a sink, and stand there to do it.

Otherwise, I think it does help to incorporate it into a routine you already do, like someone said with showering! I tend to brush mine while I'm also brushing my hair and wandering around to grab clothes and items I'll need for the day.

Could something like this help? bA1 Sensory - 3 Sided Autism Toothbrush for Special Needs Kids (Soft/Gentle) - Clinically Proven, Fun, Easy - Only 1 Minute https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XFHS5FT/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_EKBPDSZTM14HJTMN1FKW

I've also heard of other people brushing with a soft towel. Oral health is very important to total body health. Please consider trying to floss top.

So I heard about them from Domesticblisters on TikTok, don’t know if she recommends a specific brand but I found at least one kind on Amazon:

Adult Pre-Pasted Disposable Toothbrushes - 144 per pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AU4LNBG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_5PDDDE0RHJBADRJVM6Q3

I think I know what you mean. I’m a quiet, shy person in general and the idea of brushing and flossing in a communal bathroom where colleagues could potentially walk in is too much for me. I work from home, so it’s not an issue.

You mentioned going out to lunch - would you be in your own car? Or do you guys (w/ colleagues) carpool to a restaurant? Have you considered just flossing and brushing your teeth in the car? Perhaps bring a large water bottle, a container (for spitting on, if you’re not comfortable spitting directly out of your car) and all your cleaning supplies and literally just brush your teeth inside the car using your container as a makeshift sink. Then just walk out of the car and spill out your container on grass somewhere. I know, this might seem like a stretch, but it’s doable.

If this is all too much, try looking into these: Colgate Max Fresh Wisp Disposable Mini Travel Toothbrushes, Peppermint - 24 Count (4 Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071DPCBQG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_CYG23Z3C6D33RQWBBY29?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

In the end I hope you find a solution that lets you enjoy the simple things again. Good luck.