Barbara Ann Rich, a spokesperson for the School of Dentistry, said that any type of brush is OK, but when you use a power toothbrush, you are more likely to spend the appropriate amount of time brushing your teeth - two to three minutes. A dentist in Cherry Hills, New Jersey. (Manual brush heads average less than one minute.) Whichever brush head you use, choose a bristles. Others may be too abrasive and may cause the gums to recoil. No matter what brush you choose, be sure to use dental floss every day.