The 5 Best Special Needs Toothbrushes of 2023

Written by Kelly O'Lone

Updated on April 19, 2023

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• Children with developmental disabilities, like autism and other cognitive disorders, may need extra assistance maintaining oral health. 
• A toothbrush for a child with special needs has soft or silicone bristles and is gentle on all mouth surfaces. 
• Poor dental health can lead to severe issues like tooth decay, gum disease, and gingivitis. 

While not many children love to brush their teeth, children or adults with sensory issues can experience anxiety when dealing with the everyday task. Thankfully, the dental industry understands this concern, and several brands have worked hard to provide a comfortable toothbrush. 

Parents and caregivers will appreciate the care that went into developing proper brushes to ensure maximum dental health. 

A special needs toothbrush helps make brushing your teeth more manageable and less impactful. You’ll want to save these top toothbrushes to ensure you pick the perfect one for the special needs child in your life. 

Our Choice: bA1 3-Sided Toothbrush 

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The bA1 3-Sided Toothbrush provides 360 degrees of coverage and is made from high-quality materials. The benefit of 2-sides is that you can brush more in less time, making cleaning easier. 

In addition, the toothbrush is soft and gentle, making brushing your teeth more enjoyable. Parents and caregivers will also appreciate that the toothbrush has special expansion pleats that adjust to various tooth widths. 

The ergonomic toothbrush handle provides a secure hold and a better grip. Regardless of the user’s age, the bA1 3-sided toothbrush is efficient and effective. 

Finally, the only concern parents noticed about the bA1 is it doesn’t stand up well against heavy biters and will break sooner. Since you can’t always control heavy biting, choosing one of the other brushes on the list prevents you from constantly buying new ones. 

Material: Plastic, Nylon | Age Range: Kid | Power Source: Battery Powered
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Best Budget: Collis Curve Toothbrush

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The Collis Curve Toothbrush is popular for cleaning teeth and gums, even for adults. One of the best features is that the bristles curve into the gum line, providing a thorough cleaning. 

In addition, the Collis Curve toothbrush is gentle on teeth, which is ideal for children with sensory issues. Parents also prefer the Collis Curve because it is an adaptive device for those with limited mobility. 

Collis Curve brushes can reach into recessed gum lines and pockets that a regular brush can’t access. 

Finally, the brush is excellent at getting to the back of the mouth, where cavities often call home. 

Material: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene | Power Source: Corded Electric
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Best High Tech: Colgate Hum Smart Manual Toothbrush 

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The Colgate Hum Smart Manual Toothbrush is an innovative toothbrush that syncs with an app, so children can monitor how well they are brushing. If your child does well with positive reinforcement, this is the toothbrush for them! 

In addition to being tech-savvy, the smart toothbrush allows children to earn rewards for brushing and unlock new worlds on the app. In addition, the app will track the areas in the mouth that need extra attention, giving children a visual of where to brush. 

You will need your phone out during brushing because you will open the app and point it at them. As your child is brushing, the video shows “monsters” that kids need to clean, and it will direct them on when to spit.  

I’ve noticed kids do well when something is considered a game, and the Colgate Hum does an excellent job teaching positive brushing habits while having fun. A promising sign of healthy brushing is when kids get excited to brush! 

Also, they can compare scores if they have friends with the same brush, which my friend does with her son. 

Material: TPE, Polypropylene, Nylon | Age Range: Kid
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Best Triple-Angle: Frida Baby Triple-Angle Toothbrush 

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Frida makes some fantastic baby products, so I wasn’t surprised the Frida Baby Triple-Angle Toothbrush provides an excellent option for children with special needs. The triple-angle brush helps clean all tooth surfaces so kids can ensure they don’t miss a spot. 

You’ll also appreciate that the bristle turns white when it’s time to replace the toothbrush. I’m guilty of wondering when to replace a toothbrush, so I enjoy this feature. 

Like others, soft bristles are ideal for children not keen on cleaning their teeth. For example, if your child resists brushing their teeth, Autism Speaks suggests letting the toothbrush touch your child’s lips or inside of the mouth first. 

It’s also a good idea to encourage your child to “open wide,” aiding in the process. 

Material: HDPE, Micro-Fiber | Age Range: Toddler | Power Source: Battery Powered
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Best Electric: Quip Kids Electric Toothbrush 

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The Quip Kids Electric Toothbrush has a 2-minute timer and offers 30-second pulses to help with the countdown. The brush has a travel cover and mirror mount, making it incredibly accessible for little hands. 

My friend’s son has autism and prefers this toothbrush because it lets you know when to move on to the next section of your mouth. In addition, my friend appreciates that the motion isn’t overwhelming and is gentle enough in the mouth. 

You can sign up for a delivery service of new brushes and pay no shipping, which is cost-effective over time. 

Finally, parents and caregivers will appreciate the Quip runs on batteries instead of charging the toothbrush every week. (I highly recommend rechargeable batteries!) 

Material: ABS, Plastic, TPE, Nylon | Age Range: Kid | Power Source: Battery Powered
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Dental Care for Children With Special Needs

Children with special needs typically need extra assistance regarding dental hygiene. For example, a typical brush may seem foreign to kids with special needs or oral sensitivities. You should look for a toothbrush with silicone or soft bristles, offering gentle teeth cleaning. 

Generally, the gentler the brush, the more it will desensitize your child’s gums and mouth. Unfortunately, a lack of proper dental hygiene has severe consequences. 

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), common signs of poor oral habits include:

• Tooth decay
• Gum disease 
• Oral malformations
• Delayed tooth eruption
• Gingivitis 
• Malocclusion, making chewing and speaking difficult 
• Plaque buildup 

While caring for a family member with special needs can be challenging, there are several things you can do to prevent potential dental problems, including:

• Flossing regularly
• Brushing twice a day
• Visit a dentist for a cleaning twice a year

It’s vital you monitor your child’s teeth and dental hygiene to ensure they avoid major health issues. 

Remember only to put a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the toothbrush and find a comfortable spot for your child, even if it isn’t in the bathroom. Also, make yourself aware of tools for self-care skills to help the child in your life become more comfortable and independent with brushing. 

Choosing the Best Special Needs Toothbrush

There are several factors caregivers and parents should consider when choosing the right toothbrush for their child, including: 

Soft Bristles 

Finding a toothbrush with soft, gentle bristles is key to ensuring they are gentle on teeth and gums. As an adult, I prefer a gentle toothbrush because it doesn’t hurt when I brush. Children with sensory issues prefer a softer bristle because it helps desensitize a child’s mouth.  

Offers Excellent Coverage

While finding a toothbrush your child feels comfortable with is crucial, you should also find one that cleans their teeth. It’s wise to find one that provides 360 degrees of coverage and thoroughly cleans teeth, regardless of size or width. 

Try More Than One 

There’s nothing wrong with trying more than one brush for your child. While you don’t want to break the bank, finding one that is a proper fit is vital. As a caregiver of a child with special needs, you want to ensure you provide them with a toothbrush that makes them feel comfortable. 

Provides Superior Dental Care

Keeping your kid’s teeth clean is another page out of the parenting book, but ensuring they are comfortable is a different ball game. The best brushes for kids with special needs offer a gentle, comfortable brush while providing a thorough cleaning. 

Helpful Special Needs Dental Accessories

Finding the perfect toothbrush for your child is only the first step in successful dental hygiene at home. A few special needs dental accessories can make the process so much easier!

Mouth Props

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Mouth props can help hold your child’s mouth open while you brush their teeth. This is especially useful for kids with low muscle tone who can’t hold their mouths open independently. These mouth props work well but are small, making it hard to hold on to while brushing your child’s teeth. Some parents tie a string through the loop at the end of the prop so they can easily pull it out when they finish brushing.

Brush and Bite

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The Brush and Bite is similar to the mouth prop, but has a handle making it easier to hold and stabilize. The bite does not get your child’s mouth to open as far as the prop does, but it might be easier to manage.

Soft Mouth Props

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For kids who don’t bite very hard, soft mouth props are a great resource. They come with a wooden stick to help stabilize them, and they are very gentle on the mouth. These are disposable too, so you don’t have to worry about cleaning them after every brushing session.

Dental Molt

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If your child has a strong bite and can’t open their mouth at all on their own, then you’ll want to consider a dental molt. The molt not only holds your child’s mouth open, it also has a graduated crank on the side that allows you to slowly increase the opening. The molt is made of metal and can handle any biting, but is also covered with a replaceable soft cover, so it’s gentle on your child’s teeth.

Oral Care Swabs

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Oral care swabs are used to clean your child’s tongue or to pick up debris in the cheeks or between the gums and teeth. You can also dip the swabs in mouthwash to add an extra level of antiseptic to your child’s mouth.

Floss Sticks

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Flossing is difficult for a lot of kids and floss sticks make the process a bit easier. Rather than wrapping floss around your fingers, floss sticks let you get in and out quickly!

Colgate Gel-Kam

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To add another level of protection, swabbing your child’s teeth with fluoridated Colgate Gel-Kam before bed can help you avoid cavities and extra trips to the dentist!