Are electric toothbrushes better?
One of the simplest things you can do to give your teeth a thorough cleaning each day is to upgrade from a basic manual toothbrush to an electric toothbrush. But what makes electric toothbrushes so effective, and why should you consider using one? Read on to learn more.
What makes electric toothbrushes so effective
The American Dental Association advises that thoroughly brushing the teeth for two minutes twice a day can effectively reduce the amount of plaque in the mouth. The head of an electric toothbrush strokes the teeth thousands of times per minute, whereas the average handheld toothbrush only strokes the teeth up to 300 times per minute, according to Healthline. For many people, the choice is clear from this data alone.
Manual brushing is also deemed acceptable by the ADA, but when you consider the advanced clean you get as well as the other helpful features some electric toothbrushes offer — built-in timer, pressure sensor, adjustable intensity, digital reminders, multiple cleaning modes, 3D mouth mapping for a pristine clean — it’s easy to see why so many people reach for an electric toothbrush every morning and night.
Who benefits from an electric toothbrush
Just about anyone who wants a clean, healthy smile can benefit from the plaque-eradicating action of an electric toothbrush, but several populations may have additional reasons to use this technology.
People with orthodontia (braces, spacers, aligners) may experience a more thorough clean with an electric toothbrush. We particularly like the Waterpik Complete Care 9.0 for braces because you can harness its power between the teeth and below the gumline with the included water flosser tips.
Children may find an electric toothbrush more engaging and interesting than a manual toothbrush. We like Philips’ interactive Sonicare for Kids, which comes with a free app that makes this colorful, musical toothbrush even more exciting.
Types of electric toothbrush technology
Electric toothbrush makers may describe their product technology as “rotating,” “oscillating,” “pulsating,” “sonic” or a combination of these characteristics. The way the head moves determines this label. Let’s take a look at what each of these words mean.
Rotating technology
The head of a rotating electric toothbrush is round and rapidly spins to loosen and sweep away plaque. It may spin full or partial circles, and it may change direction during a spin cycle. The Arm & Hammer Spinbrush Pro is a low-cost rotating toothbrush for under $10. The brush head is replaceable and is designed to remove plaque from hard-to-reach areas of the mouth that might otherwise be missed with a manual toothbrush.
Oscillating technology
The head of an oscillating toothbrush moves back and forth to agitate and dislodge plaque. The bristles are typically arranged in a circle on an oscillating head. We like the Oral-B Professional Care 2500 Electric Toothbrush, which uses a back-and-forth motion to cover and cleanse each tooth. The two-minute timer helps you keep up the task for the ADA-recommended amount of time.
Pulsating technology
A pulsating electric toothbrush emits periodic bursts of extra power during a brushing session. Often, the pulsate function is combined with another technology to make the toothbrush a double or triple threat. For example, the Oral B 1000 CrossAction Electric Toothbrush pulsates, rotates and oscillates to remove up to 300% more plaque from the teeth than manual brushing. It also has a pressure sensor and built-in timer. Consumers like it because it’s affordably priced, and numerous heads are compatible with it.
Sonic technology
A sonic toothbrush head may vibrate 60,000 times per minute or more, dislodging plaque through the power of its vibration as well as the friction of its bristles. For example, the sonic technology of the Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100 employs ultra-fast vibration (up to 62,000 movements per minute) to get teeth clean.
Melissa Nott is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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