For the brush, I think it's best to use a regular pin brush (with no plastic/rubber tips on the ends). If you are having a problem with matting, try a little bit of corn starch and see if you can work thru the mats a little at a time..starting out and working in towards the skin. If the mats are too far gone for that to work, you might have to clip or cut them out (just use a small pair of blunt nose hair scissors..remember to slide a comb or something between the mat and the skin to ensure you don't accidentally nick the skin).
I do recommend getting a spray in conditioner and/or detangler. It will really help catch the tangles before the start matting up.
Mandie had a problem with her front legs and cheeks matting. After trying several things to fix this, what worked for me (since I started about 3 weeks ago) was using a good conditioner, patting her dry as much as possible, brushing her with a pin brush (comb only on her mustache), and blow drying her. I used to just let her run around and dry herself, but that is really where the matting and tangles began, I think. Since blow drying while brushing as I go, her mats have stayed gone with just daily brushing...I haven't even had to use the detangler at all anymore. Oh, I also always combed her because her hair wasn't super long and I thought the comb would be better than the pin brush. I was wrong. No comb on the body..only pin brush. And blow dry.
I think the reason your brush isn't doing anything is because of the tips. Try a good pin brush like the Madan...mimimomo sells them at topline..here's the link so you can see the different styles:
toplinepet.com