As a dentist, I receive a lot of questions regarding electric toothbrushes. The number one question people ask me is: "What is the best electric toothbrush." The quick answer? –It really depends on your personal preference. If you’re thinking, “which electric toothbrush should I buy?” then you’re already on the right track towards improving your oral health. The point is that ANY electric toothbrush is better and more efficient at cleaning your teeth than a manual one. My favorite feature of an electric toothbrush is its timer. Having a built-in timer, you know you’re brushing for at least 2 minutes. When we use a manual toothbrush, our brain thinks we’re brushing for 2 min, but research shows we are really brushing for an average of 30sec-1min. You can imagine how much “stuff” we’re leaving behind with a manual toothbrush! Another pro is that most electric toothbrushes (depending on the model) have sensors to let you know if you’re brushing too hard. This is especially beneficial for people, who show signs of recession and/or toothbrush abrasion.
The two most popular electric toothbrushes on the market today are Oral-B and Sonicare. The major difference between those two is their technology. Sonicare uses high frequency vibration technology, while Oral-B uses rotation-oscillation technology. Whatever the technology, electric toothbrushes are much more efficient at removing plaque than any manual toothbrush. Period.
Another point worth mentioning is that only Oral-B electric toothbrushes (select models: Oral-B Pro CrossAction 1000, 1500; Oral-B Professional Care 2000; Oral-B Pro 3D White 3000; Oral-B Pro SmartSeries 5000, 6000, 7000; and the Oral-B Pro Genius 8000) received the ADA Seal of Acceptance. To receive the Seal of Acceptance, Procter & Gamble (the product manufacturer), had to pass ADA laboratory tests and meet ADA and American National Standards Institute-approved dental standards, as well as, submit numerous studies proving clinical safety and efficacy.
OK, at this point you’re probably thinking, “so, how do I pick the one toothbrush that’s best for me?” This is an easy answer: As long as the electric toothbrush has a built-in 2-minute timer and interchangeable brush heads, you are good to go!
Personally, I like the Oral B electric toothbrush (I use the Oral B Genius X), because of its circumferential action on each tooth surface. I love its round brush head, because it easily cleans behind my lower incisors (area where most people accumulate the most plaque and tartar). Some people prefer Sonicare, because it operates at such a high frequency, which creates a cavitational force that blasts plaque off the teeth without actually touching the tooth. (*Update* I have recently upgraded to the OralB iO electric toothbrush. Love it, use it every morning, but still reach for my old OralB Genius at night because of the smaller head brush). At the end, it really boils down to personal preference and how much money you’re willing to spend. There are a lot of very expensive electric toothbrushes out there with a lot of fancy features you might not even use or need. Remember, you don't have to spend a lot of money on an electric toothbrush! I would stick to the two rules: a built-in 2-minute timer and interchangeable brush heads. You can save money by using one toothbrush for the whole family by switching the brush heads, of course!
If you’re the type of person, who likes all the bells and whistles, then I would recommend the Oral-B Genius X, OralB iO or the Sonicare Diamond Clean Smart. What's nice about those three is that they come with a mobile app (via Bluetooth), which gives you real-time feedback about your brushing habits. If you’re the type of person, who does not care about the fancy features, then I would recommend: Oral-B Pro 1000, or the Sonicare 2 Series. Those are the two least expensive electric toothbrushes that sill have the two features you need.
Hope that helps! If you have any questions, please comment below.
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