The electric toothbrush is superior to a manual brush in so many ways!

1.  Efficient Brushing with an electric toothbrush

The surface area that the electric toothbrush bristles cover in a minute versus the surface area we manually can cover are of no comparison.  The bristles of a toothbrush are what actually do the work and sweep away the plaque and food particles that are covering all the surfaces in your mouth.  The extra scrubbing of an electric brush results in better removal of stains from coffee, tea, and smoking.

2. Easier Brushing

An electric toothbrush does most of the work for you, all you have to do is move it over all the tooth surfaces.  The electric toothbrush is great for individuals with physical problems with their hands or wrists, such as arthritis.  Since most electric toothbrushes come with integrated timer, you are more likely to brush for the recommended amount of time (two minutes).

3. Deeper Cleaning

Electric toothbrushes are designed to use sonic vibration or water pressure to reach areas that are often uncleansable with a manual brush. These are the areas the people typically get decay, such as the gumline and in between the teeth.

4. The Proven Long-Term Results

Some people purchase a new electric toothbrush, hoping that the novelty of the product will inspire them to brush more regularly. There is some research to back this notion, especially in children.1  A Cochrane review (JADA 2003 Sept) of all the current research states that “Some powered toothbrushes with a rotation-oscillation action achieve a significant, but modest, reduction in plaque and gingivitis compared with manual toothbrushes.” A lit review by Makhmari AJO-DO 2017 says something very similar for those in braces.

5. More FUN!

Most people like an electric toothbrush and some of the gadgets they come with.  When something is more entertaining we are much more likely to partake in that activity.  The more likely you are to use your toothbrush the better it will work for you no matter what type, kind, or brand you use.  So if it’s fun, or at least slightly more stimulating, it’ll be better for you!

 

Types of Electric Toothbrushes

Electric toothbrushes clearly provide more cleaning power than the average manual toothbrush does. Within the category of electric toothbrushes, there are a few different types of brushes, including  sonic toothbrushes. Some of the differences between these two types of brushes are outlined in the chart below. The chart also includes some information about manual brushes so that users can compare the benefits.

Type	Rotations/Strokes Per Minute	Description
Manual Toothbrush	300 to 600	Powered by user, inexpensive, and should be replaced roughly every three months.
Regular Electric Toothbrush	3,000 to 7,500	Imitates motion of the hand (rotation), requires batteries or must be recharged, head should be replaced every few months.
Sonic Toothbrush	30,000 to 40,000	Much faster than a regular electric toothbrush, bristles vibrate instead of rotating, head should be replaced every few months, and requires battery be recharged or replaced.

Buying An Electric Toothbrush

Nearly all grocery stores and drugstores sell electric toothbrushes. Costco often has the best price, but really good prices can be found online as well.  We no longer sell them because we found that stores can do this much more cost effectively than we can.