One of the first things you notice after moving to Switzerland is that even toothbrushes have a premium tier here. Walk into any Coop or Migros and you’ll see the familiar international brands (Oral-B, Colgate, Elmex) alongside two names that are unmistakably Swiss: Curaprox and Trisa.
Both are made in Switzerland. Both are recommended by Swiss dentists. And both cost more than whatever you were using before. So the obvious question: is a CHF 7 toothbrush actually three times better than a CHF 2 one?
After several years of using both brands — and after being told by more than one dental hygienist that what I was using before was essentially destroying my gums — here’s my honest take.
The two Swiss brands you need to know
Curaprox
Curaprox is the one your Swiss dentist will almost certainly recommend. Based in Kriens (near Lucerne) and founded in 1972, the company is built around one core idea: softer bristles, packed more densely, clean better and cause less damage.
Their flagship product is the CS 5460 — the number refers to the bristle count (5,460 ultra-fine filaments on a single brush head). For comparison, a typical supermarket toothbrush has 500–800 bristles. The bristles are made from Curen, a proprietary material that’s softer than nylon but stays firm when wet, meaning it doesn’t lose its shape after a few weeks.
The result? A brush that removes plaque effectively while being genuinely gentle on gums. If you’ve ever had a hygienist tell you that your gums are receding because you’ve been brushing too hard with a medium-bristle brush, Curaprox is what they’ll point you towards.
What it costs:
- CS 5460 single: CHF 6.60–7.50
- CS 5460 two-pack: CHF 13.95
- CS 12460 Velvet (12,460 filaments, even softer): CHF 9.50–10.50
- Curaprox Wood (biodegradable beech handle): CHF 8.50
- Hydrosonic Easy (sonic electric): CHF 89–109
- CPS interdental brushes (set of 5): CHF 7.50–9.50
Replace every three months, so the annual cost for a manual Curaprox is roughly CHF 28–30.
Curaprox also makes interdental brushes, toothpastes (the Be You and Enzycal ranges), and a sonic toothbrush. The interdental brushes are particularly well-regarded — most Swiss hygienists will recommend them over floss, and they’re genuinely easier to use once you get the hang of them.
Trisa
Trisa is the quiet giant of Swiss oral care. Based in Triengen (canton of Lucerne) and operating for over 135 years, Trisa manufactures toothbrushes, interdental brushes, and sonic toothbrushes — all in Switzerland. If Curaprox is the boutique brand your dentist recommends, Trisa is the industrial-scale Swiss manufacturer you’ll find on every supermarket shelf.
Trisa’s range is broader and generally more affordable than Curaprox. Their toothbrushes use conventional nylon bristles (not Curen) but are well-made, with good bristle rounding (important for gum protection) and practical designs.
What it costs:
- Trisa Flexible Head (manual): CHF 3.50–5.00
- Trisa Pro Interdental (manual, with interdental bristles): CHF 4.00–5.50
- Trisa Natural Clean (FSC-certified wooden handle): CHF 4.50
- Trisa Sonic Performance (sonic electric): CHF 39–59
- Trisa interdental brushes (PaperCare, 10 pack): CHF 4.90
Annual cost for a manual Trisa: roughly CHF 16–22.
Trisa has leaned heavily into sustainability — their PaperCare interdental brushes use FSC-certified paper handles instead of plastic, and their wooden toothbrushes are fully biodegradable. For the environmentally conscious, this is a meaningful differentiator.
Berninox
Berninox is the newest entrant — a Swiss startup based in Neuchâtel that’s taken a completely different approach to the toothbrush. Instead of a disposable plastic handle, Berninox uses a permanent handle made from 316L surgical stainless steel (the same hypoallergenic alloy used in medical implants). You keep the handle for life and replace only the clip-on brush head every three months. The heads are made from recycled ocean-bound plastic in partnership with #tide ocean material, a Swiss recycling firm.
The brushing quality is genuinely good — the heads are developed with dental professionals and come in super soft, soft, and medium bristle options. The whole thing is dishwasher-safe and steam-sterilisable, which makes it more hygienic than any plastic or wooden handle. It’s also a beautiful object — the kind of toothbrush you’d actually want sitting on your bathroom shelf.
What it costs:
- Starter pack (handle + 3 heads): CHF 45.80
- Refill heads (3-pack): CHF 12.90
- Handle only: CHF 32.90
The upfront cost is significantly higher than Curaprox or Trisa. But because you only replace the heads (CHF 12.90 per quarter = CHF 51.60/year), the ongoing annual cost is comparable after the first year. Over five years, a Berninox works out to roughly CHF 14/year for the handle plus CHF 51.60/year for heads — about CHF 65/year total. Not cheap, but not dramatically more than a Curaprox habit, and you’re producing a fraction of the plastic waste.
If sustainability is your priority and you don’t mind the upfront investment, Berninox is the most environmentally serious option on this list — and it’s 100% designed and manufactured in Switzerland.
Elmex and Meridol
You’ll see these two brands everywhere in Swiss pharmacies and supermarkets. Elmex and Meridol are both Swiss-born brands, created by GABA International AG — a company rooted in the Goldene Apotheke Basel, one of the oldest pharmacies in Switzerland, founded in 1638. GABA was acquired by Colgate-Palmolive in 2004, and production has since moved to Poland, so they’re no longer manufactured in Switzerland. But they were developed here, the formulations came out of research at the University of Zurich, and they remain the go-to recommendation from Swiss dental professionals.
Elmex is primarily known for its toothpaste, particularly the Caries Protection formula. It uses amine fluoride (olaflur), an organic fluoride developed in Zurich in the 1950s that forms a more durable protective layer on enamel than standard sodium fluoride. Elmex also makes mouthwashes and a children’s range. The classic Swiss advice you’ll hear: “Elmex in the evening” — for overnight cavity protection.
Meridol focuses on gum health. Its toothpaste and mouthwash use a combination of amine fluoride and stannous fluoride that targets the bacteria responsible for gum inflammation. If your hygienist has ever told you that your gums are inflamed or that you’re showing early signs of gingivitis, Meridol is likely what they’ll suggest.
What they cost:
- Elmex Caries Protection toothpaste (75ml): CHF 3.50–4.50
- Elmex Sensitive Professional (75ml): CHF 6.50–8.00
- Elmex mouthwash (400ml): CHF 6.00–7.50
- Meridol toothpaste (75ml): CHF 4.00–5.00
- Meridol mouthwash (400ml): CHF 6.50–8.00
These aren’t toothbrushes — Elmex and Meridol do make brushes, but they’re not what they’re known for. Their real value is in the toothpaste and mouthwash, which pair perfectly with a Curaprox or Trisa brush. Think of it this way: Curaprox or Trisa for the tool, Elmex or Meridol for the paste.
What Swiss dentists actually recommend
I’ve asked this question to every hygienist and dentist I’ve seen over the years, and the answer is remarkably consistent: soft bristles, small head, and interdental brushes every day.
The specific brand matters less than the technique and the bristle type. But when pushed for a recommendation, Curaprox wins overwhelmingly among Swiss dental professionals. The reason is the bristle density — 5,460 ultra-fine filaments cover more tooth surface per stroke and are far less likely to cause gum recession than a standard brush with 600 bristles and medium-hard nylon.
That said, I’ve had one hygienist tell me that Trisa’s Pro Interdental is excellent value for the price, and another say that for children, Trisa’s kids’ range works perfectly well. The consensus isn’t “Curaprox or nothing” — it’s “soft, dense bristles and proper technique.”
Every single hygienist, without exception, has also recommended interdental brushes over floss. Curaprox’s CPS range is the most commonly mentioned, but Trisa’s paper-handled version works well too and is cheaper.
The cost/value calculation
Here’s where my “cost of dental care” brain kicks in. Is spending more on a toothbrush actually a financial investment?
Annual cost comparison:
- Budget supermarket toothbrush (replaced quarterly): CHF 8–12/year
- Trisa manual (replaced quarterly): CHF 16–22/year
- Curaprox CS 5460 (replaced quarterly): CHF 28–30/year
- Berninox heads only (replaced quarterly, after initial handle purchase): CHF 52/year
- Add interdental brushes (Curaprox CPS, monthly): CHF 90–115/year
- Add interdental brushes (Trisa PaperCare, monthly): CHF 60–70/year
- Add Elmex or Meridol toothpaste (tube every 2–3 months): CHF 15–25/year
- Add Elmex or Meridol mouthwash (bottle every 2–3 months): CHF 25–35/year
So the full “Swiss dentist-approved” daily routine — a Curaprox toothbrush, interdental brushes, and Elmex or Meridol toothpaste and mouthwash — costs roughly CHF 160–205 per year. That’s about CHF 14–17 per month.
Now compare that to what poor oral hygiene costs:
- One filling: CHF 200–400
- One scaling session to deal with heavy tartar: CHF 200+
- Periodontitis treatment: CHF 1,500+
- A single crown: CHF 1,500–3,000
The maths aren’t subtle. An extra CHF 100/year on better brushing tools is trivial compared to a single unplanned dental bill. And if using a softer, denser brush means less gum recession — which means fewer expensive periodontal treatments down the line — it’s not a cost, it’s an investment.
My hygienist put it simply: “A CHF 7 toothbrush that you use properly is worth more than a CHF 200 cleaning every six months.” She wasn’t saying don’t come for cleanings. She was saying that the patients who invest in good home care need less intervention — and spend less money overall.
My recommendation
If you’re going to spend money on one dental upgrade after reading this blog, make it this:
Switch to a Curaprox CS 5460 (or the three-pack for better value), a set of interdental brushes in the right size for your gaps (your hygienist can tell you which size at your next cleaning), and a tube of Elmex Caries Protection or Meridol toothpaste depending on whether cavities or gum health is your bigger concern. Use the interdental brushes every evening before brushing.
Total cost to get started: about CHF 25. Annual cost for the full routine: about CHF 160–205.
If budget is tight, Trisa’s Pro Interdental manual brush plus their PaperCare interdental brushes and a standard Elmex toothpaste will get you 80% of the benefit at roughly half the cost.
Either way, you’ll be doing what Swiss dentists have been telling their patients for decades — and you’ll almost certainly notice the difference at your next scaling session, when there’s less for the hygienist to scrape off.
And less scraping means a shorter appointment, which means a smaller bill. See? Even toothbrush advice comes back to money eventually.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I change my toothbrush? Every three months, or sooner if the bristles start splaying outwards. After three months, even the best bristles lose their shape and cleaning effectiveness, and bacteria build up in ways that rinsing can’t fix. A simple trick: change your brush at the start of each season (spring, summer, autumn, winter) and you’ll never forget.
What does it mean when bristles start falling out? It means the brush is past its useful life and you should replace it immediately. Loose bristles can get stuck between teeth or along the gumline, and a brush that’s shedding filaments isn’t cleaning properly anyway. If a new brush starts losing bristles within the first few weeks, that’s a quality issue.
Soft, medium, or hard — which should I choose? Soft. Always soft. My hygienist has told me this repeatedly, and every dental professional I’ve asked says the same thing. Medium and hard bristles feel like they’re doing more work, but what they’re actually doing is wearing down your enamel and pushing your gums back, damage that’s irreversible. A soft brush with good technique removes plaque just as effectively without the collateral damage. If your dentist or hygienist recommends ultra-soft (like the Curaprox CS 5460), go with that. The only people who might use medium are those specifically advised to by their dentist for a particular reason — and even then, it’s becoming less common.
How should I store my toothbrush at home? Upright, in open air, and somewhere it can dry completely between uses. This is where most people go wrong. Those closed toothbrush cups and holders without drainage holes are breeding grounds for bacteria and mould. You know that slimy residue that builds up at the bottom of a toothbrush cup? That’s biofilm — a mix of bacteria, mould, and stagnant water. It’s the opposite of hygienic, and your toothbrush is sitting in it twice a day.
The fix is simple: use a holder with drainage holes at the bottom, or a wall-mounted holder that keeps the brush head exposed to air. Rinse the holder weekly. If you’re using a cup, tip the water out daily and clean it regularly. Berninox has an edge here — the stainless steel handle is dishwasher-safe, so you can sterilise the whole thing periodically.
How should I store my toothbrush when travelling? Use a ventilated travel case — one with small holes or slots that allow airflow. A completely sealed case traps moisture and creates the perfect environment for bacteria to multiply. Let your brush air-dry as much as possible before putting it in the case, and when you arrive, take it out and stand it upright immediately. Never leave a damp toothbrush sealed in a toiletry bag for days. If you travel frequently, consider keeping a separate travel brush so your main one stays at home in optimal conditions.
Should I use an electric or manual toothbrush? Either works well if you use proper technique. Electric (sonic) toothbrushes like the Curaprox Hydrosonic or Trisa Sonic Performance can be helpful if you tend to brush too hard (the motor does the work, so you apply less pressure) or if you have limited dexterity. But a manual Curaprox CS 5460 with good technique is just as effective as any electric brush — Swiss hygienists confirm this regularly. It comes down to personal preference and budget.
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