Ever wonder what all the fuss is regarding electric toothbrushes? Advertisements for them are everywhere, and they make it sound like there’s no way you can get clean teeth if you don’t use them. The truth is that you can practice good oral care just as well with a manual toothbrush as an electronic one – if they are used correctly. But, electric toothbrushes do have certain advantages over manual brushes that can definitely enhance your brushing experience. Let’s examine some of the benefits of these electric wonders and go over some of the more popular brands.
3 Benefits of Using an Electric Toothbrush
- Know how long to brush. The American Dental Association recommends that you brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time. However, we bet that very few people set a timer to make sure they brush their teeth for as long as they are supposed to. Many electric toothbrushes have a built-in, two-minute timer that helps you keep track of how long you brush your teeth each time. Several higher-end electric brushes even add a pulse every 30 seconds so you can focus on one quadrant of your mouth at a time.
- Get that super-clean feeling. Because of the way electric toothbrushes are designed, they make it much easier for people to effectively clean their teeth. Studies have shown that electric toothbrushes are 21% better at removing plaque than manual ones. Part of this is the technology, but part may also be because it encourages people to keep better oral hygiene habits. This leads us to benefit number three…
- They’re just more fun. An electric toothbrush is actually a lot of fun to use. It keeps you more focused on the task at hand, and let’s face it – it’s a gadget. Gadgets are fun, and people want to use them. This encourages consistent brushing habits, which is the key to keeping a healthy mouth.
Which is the Best Electric Toothbrush?
There are two major players in the rechargeable electric toothbrush market – Oral B and Philips Sonicare. Both brands are great brushes, but they work in different ways. Oral B tends to edge out Sonicare when it comes to cleaning, using a smaller brush head that relies on Oscillating-Rotating technology. You move the brush from tooth to tooth and the brush cleans as you go. It cleans the tooth completely and leaves your mouth feeling super-clean. Sonicare uses what they call sonic electric technology. The toothbrush head is similar to a traditional style brush head. As you move it around your mouth it couples a lightning-fast back-and-forth movement with sonic waves that break apart plaque that has accumulated on your teeth. Both brands have different models with their own bells and whistles. Below are four of the most popular models.
Oral B Pro 1000
As of the writing of this article, this model is listed as Amazon’s choice. It’s inexpensive but still includes great benefits including a built-in timer and a pressure sensor to keep you from brushing too hard while you brush. It only has a single cleaning mode, but it’s compatible with all Oral B replacement heads. Battery life is comparable to other brushes, lasting about one week before needing to be recharged.
Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100
This one is the current best-seller on Amazon. It’s a bit more expensive than the Pro 1000 but features a quad-timer that pulses in 30-second intervals and a better battery, lasting 14 days before it needs to be recharged. The ProtectiveClean 4100 is not as compatible with as many brush heads but still offers a good variety.
Oral B Genius X Limited
Our toys keep getting smarter, and now you can have your very own smart toothbrush! This one has built-in motion sensors and Bluetooth capability. The motion sensors track your movement as you brush. Connect to to your phone using the app and this brush will tell you how to get the best clean for your teeth and gums. It also has six cleaning modes, including a sensitive setting and one for whitening.
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean
If bells and whistles are your thing, this may be the sonic toothbrush for you. Not only does it have four brushing modes (Clean, Whitening, Gum Health and Deep Clean), it comes with different brush heads made for each mode. The brush moves at a whopping 62,000 movements per minute, and the charger doubles as a water glass. It also comes with a convenient travel case.
Waterpik Sonic-Fusion Flossing Toothbrush
This brush is truly a marvel, as it’s both a toothbrush and a water flosser at the same time. It also earns the ADA Seal of Acceptance. With the push of a button, you can change between sonic brushing to water flossing, or choose to do both at the same time. In comes with two brush heads, has a 2-minute timer with 30 second alerts and ten pressure settings. If you have troubles with flossing, this might be a good option!
When you try and discern between the best electric toothbrushes, you really can’t go wrong with any of these brands. They all remove plaque from your teeth and clean exceptionally well, so go with whatever your preference is. Remember that as with any toothbrush, you will still need to get new brush heads about every three months on average. Choose a replacement brush that has soft bristles. And most important, keep up that routine – it really is key to excellent oral health!
