Autobrush is the ultimate toothbrush for one-handed use

Before the accident that caused the paralysis in my left arm, I was always someone who enjoyed multi-tasking—especially while brushing my teeth. But after the accident, that previously mindless habit became an all-consuming task from the moment I needed to open the toothpaste to the actual act of brushing.

I looked for the right electric brush in the hopes that it would be more time-efficient (every minute counts for me!). Since I rely on my right hand for everything, I found the vibrations from most of the brushes I encountered very uncomfortable on my (often fatigued) functional hand. It was also quite tricky to find one that would remain stable on a countertop while dispensing toothpaste onto it.

It quickly became apparent that I needed something different from your-run-of-the-mill electric toothbrush. Luckily, I found exactly what I needed in the Autobrush, an automatic toothbrush designed with accessibility in mind.

What is the Autobrush?

The Autobrush can easily be mistaken for one of those fancy-looking home teeth-whitening devices we've seen pop up across the web recently. Still, it's not (or not entirely). It's a geometric-shaped brush with a brush head that reaches all of your teeth simultaneously. You insert the entire brush into your mouth, and all you have to do is move it side-to-side. The dual-sided brush head simultaneously cleans your top and bottom rows of teeth in just 30 seconds, while the single-sided brush cleans all of your teeth in just one minute (30 seconds for the top and 30 for the bottom).

Autobrush was designed with disabilities in mind. It was created to help users with mobility issues find independence when it comes to brushing their teeth. The 360-degree brush head means you don’t need to move it around nearly as much as you would a standard brush. Instead, all you have to do is gently move it from side to side, and you barely need to grip the brush to make that happen since you’ll be holding it in place by gently biting down on the brush head.

What makes it one-hand-friendly?

The brush doesn’t roll over

One of the most significant toothbrush difficulties when you're only using one hand comes with toothpaste application. If you don't find a toothbrush that is flat enough to sit steadily on the countertop, it'll fall over when you go to apply the toothpaste to it. The Autobrush is closer in shape to a quadrilateral rather than the standard elongated toothbrush so it sits flat on any surface with zero chance of falling or rolling over when you go to apply the toothpaste.

I use the one-sided nylon brush head, so I don't need to worry about applying the toothpaste to two sides. It would likely fall off upon flipping over the brush to get to the other side. That means that instead of simultaneously brushing my top and bottom rows of teeth, I flip the brush mid-way through the brush cycle. I'm already brushing an entire row of teeth at once, so I can live with that adaptation. The little timer built into the brush will let you know when it's time to flip.

It’s comfortable to grip

Whether you go for the kids' or the adult Autobrush, it’s coated with soft silicone, which is very comfortable to hold. The brush heads are all interchangeable, so if, like me, you find a lion toothbrush preferable to a solid color, consider your toothbrush wishes granted. Autobrush, also designed to be accessible for anyone who experiences sensory issues, focuses on gentle massaging vibrations versus an intense vibration. I found this to be exponentially more comfortable using my one hand without over-stimulating or tiring it out.

It comes with one-hand-accessible toothpaste

I was initially fascinated with the Autobrush for its unique design but never thought that I’d be equally as excited about the toothpaste that came with it. I’ll start by saying that you can use any toothpaste you like with this brush. But the Autobrush toothpaste is pretty cool and one-hand-accessible. Usually, unless you go for a brand that has a flip cap, you’ll be fumbling with a tiny cap you’ll need to unscrew every time you go to brush your teeth. After having undertaken one too many toothpaste cap rescue missions after their frequent escapes down the drain, I was thrilled to come across this particular toothpaste.

Autobrush toothpaste comes with a large plastic cap you can pop off with your thumb and index while holding the container with your bottom three fingers. Then you don’t even need to worry about squeezing a tube because the toothpaste dispenses with a pump so you can evenly distribute it on the curved brush head. The tube-free packaging also means wasting less product. Rolling a tube or using one of those tube squeegee devices to get that last bit out was always something I found challenging to accomplish with one hand. Plus, this toothpaste doesn’t require rinsing, so that’s one less step in the process.

Autobrush is a small thing that makes a big difference

Brushing your teeth seems like a small task, but since small tasks can make up the bulk of your day, it’s essential for people with disabilities to make these everyday tasks as accessible as possible. I appreciate finding solutions to these tasks that help me achieve them independently and do them in a way that doesn’t feel tedious. Limiting fatigue in my functional limb is also a huge priority. And when I come across a product such as Autobrush created with efficiency and lessened effort in mind, I feel pretty grateful.

Is the Autobrush worth it?

Absolutely. While $130 might feel like a lot for a toothbrush, it's no more expensive than other high-end electric toothbrushes as far as initial investment. The replacement heads will cost you more with Autobrush, at $20 each, but if you're in this for the accessibility factor, it's well worth the extra few bucks a month. It also might be worth the peace of mind parents can get from knowing their kid is brushing thoroughly.

Does everyone need Autobrush? Maybe not, but I don't see you regretting the purchase, "need" it or not.

Get the adult Autobrush from Amazon for $139

Get the kids' Autobrush from Amazon for $129

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.