For most patients, finding a new toothbrush is often as simple as choosing their favorite handle color. But for dental professionals, the checklist is more technical, with several other important factors coming into play.
Dr. Sara Ghaemmaghami highlighted the importance of one’s toothbrush enabling “ease of brushing posterior teeth,” Dr. Anthony Glorioso mentioned it should “extend into interproximal areas,” and Amy Corder, RDH, described the ideal choice as “a really soft brush that won’t cause trauma to gingiva, reaches back molars sufficiently, and gets between teeth.”
With unique bristle designs, maneuverable head sizes, as well as handles affording an ergonomic grip, the newest GUM Technique toothbrushes offer a solution for diverse at-home oral care needs.
During this DPS product review, each evaluator received 1 Enamel Clean, 1 Sensitive Clean, and 1 Deep Clean toothbrush to assess over a brief trial period, and as a result, this family of GUM Technique toothbrushes earned a coveted DPS Best Product badge.
Unique Bristle Design
The Deep Clean and Sensitive Clean toothbrushes feature double-layered, ultrathin tapered bristles for a deeper, more thorough clean, while the Enamel Clean has micro-feathered bristles, which allow for 70% more surface cleaning.*
Corder felt the Deep Clean toothbrush “cleaned my teeth best due to the shape and flexibility of bristles and was easy on gingiva,” and Dr. Glorioso said, “It really seemed to get into the interproximal areas, was gentle on the gums,” and cleaned off plaque.
One hygienist appreciated that the Enamel Clean bristles were firmer but still effective. Brittany Ashenfelter, LDH, said its “bristle design cleans thoroughly and efficiently with ease,” and also commented that the Sensitive Clean bristles “are super soft and provide adequate coverage of teeth while brushing.”
Dr. Glorioso agreed that the Sensitive Clean would be “great for people who like or need a softer feel.”
“The Deep Clean and Sensitive Clean are my favorites because they are super soft, which makes you want to brush more,” said Dr. Christi Clifford, adding, “The Enamel Clean is better for stains because it has tougher bristles.” Dr. Ghaemmaghami noted, “I liked the texture of the bristles for most of [the toothbrushes].”
Head Size and Maneuverability
Most evaluators deemed the GUM Technique toothbrushes’ head sizes and maneuverability as “excellent” or “very good.”
“All 3 toothbrushes are unique in their head design,” hygienist Jonathan Jones said. “Being able to use all 3 has given me better insight as to the type of patient I’d recommend each brush for.”
Specifically, Ashenfelter lauded the Enamel Clean’s “easy-to-maneuver head size compared to a regular manual tooth-brush” and said the head of the Sensitive Clean is also “adequate and easy to maneuver, even for a small mouth.”
One hygienist said, “The head shape is perfect for me.” Corder wished the head sizes were less narrow, but added, “The Deep Clean had the best shape and size.” With that, Dr. Ghaemmaghami reported, “The thinner head size made it possible to reach in the back of the mouth.”
Innovative Quad-Grip Handle
The ergonomic Quad-Grip handle is strategically manufactured to promote proper brushing technique, which helps users position their toothbrush at the optimal 45-degree angle as recommended by dental professionals.
“The handles are the best,” one dentist remarked, adding, “They are the most ergonomic that I’ve used.” Ashenfelter added, “The Quad-Grip allows users to hold the handle with their fingertips for light, gentle brushing.”
Similarly, Jones expressed, “I love the handle design; it is truly unique to GUM and unlike any other brush on the market.” Additionally, he found the GUM Technique “handle design made it simple without thinking how to properly angle the toothbrush toward the cervical edge. When grasping the brush, the bristles are immediately put in the correct angulation for optimal plaque removal.”
Overall Satisfaction
Dr. Clifford declared the GUM Technique family “good toothbrushes—better than most out there. I used electric, and now I like manual better.”
“I liked a lot of things with these brushes,” another dentist noted. “The head shape is perfect for me. The handles are the best. The bristles were gentle but thorough and gave a clean feel. I really did notice a difference compared to my usual brands.” When asked what could be improved, one hygienist said, “No improvements,” concluding that “each brush could be useful to various patients depending on their needs.”
