Are Electric Tooth Brushes better than Regular Manual Tooth Brushes?

Recently, a number of people have asked me, `Are Electric Toothbrushes better than regular Manual toothbrushes?’ The answer is generally YES. A well respected report by `Cochrane’ says, `Powered toothbrushes reduce plaque and gingivitis more than manual toothbrushing in the short and long term.’ Powered/electric toothbrushes compared to manual toothbrushes for maintaining oral health | Cochrane

The reason I say generally is because there are a couple of things that influence the effectiveness of an electric brush. One of them is, how it is used. The way you use an electric brush is different than the way you use a regular manual brush.

Step 1: Make sure your toothbrush is charged. Many electric toothbrushes have charge level indicator lights, so you can actually see when the toothbrush is charged. Step 2: Start with the outside surfaces of the teeth. Guide the brush head slowly from tooth to tooth, holding the brush head in place for a few seconds against each tooth before moving on to the next one. Follow along with the shape of each tooth and the curve of the gums. Step 3: Repeat Step 2 on the inside surfaces of the teeth. Step 4: Repeat Step 2 on the chewing surfaces of the teeth as well as behind the back teeth. Step 5: Direct the brush head along the gum line and upon the gums. Again, do not press hard or use a scrubbing action. Using a Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush - Oral-B (oralb.com)

There are numerous types of powered toothbrushes available, ranging in price and mode of action. Different powered toothbrushes work in different ways (such as moving from side to side or in a circular motion). Powered toothbrushes also vary drastically in price. My recommendation is always the ORAL B Toothbrushes. These brushes have the oscillating motion (circular) and are more effective. Price also indicates the feel of the brush in the mouth - the cheaper the brush the more BUZZY if feels and some people don’t like this feeling. The more expensive brushes are SMOOTHER or less buzzy and feel much better. Also the rechargeable battery life is longer in more expensive toothbrushes. Often a good quality brush will last up to 7 years in my experience.

If you would like to know more about Electric Power Tooth Brushes please email me and I will do my best to answer your questions. brusherbox@gmail.com