Electric versus Manual Toothbrush: Which is Better?

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On 14th March 201827th September 2018By ChloeIn Dental CareTags , ,

Electric versus Manual Toothbrush; Which is Better?

Sonicare and Oral B electric toothbrush verses manual toothbrush

What is better, an electric or manual toothbrush? I get asked this question all the time so here I have talked about the benefits of both so you get all the facts. The idea of brushing your teeth is to remove as much plaque bacteria as you can to help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. The tools you use, therefore, should be efficient and get the job done in the best way possible, but is the best tool an electric or manual toothbrush?

Manual toothbrush

Teeth brushing technique for a healthy smile with a manual toothbrush

  • These can be effective in cleaning your teeth provided that you use the right technique and spend enough time using it.
  • Make sure you spend at least two minutes brushing and a medium strength bristle with a smaller head is better. Hold the bristles at a 45-degree angle to the gum line and use circular motions to remove the plaque that build up where the tooth meets the gum.
  • We can move a toothbrush approximately 300 times a minute.

Chloe the Hygienist’s opinion – I used to use a manual toothbrush until about 8 years ago and thought I was doing a pretty good job until I tried an electric one! Now if I forget to take my electric brush on holiday and have to use a manual, I always end up missing somewhere and they never feel quite as clean.

Electric toothbrush
  • They can move between 3000 to 50000 time a minute which we could never achieve with a manual toothbrush
  • Most research conducted on plaque removal shows that electric brushes are more effective by at least 5 times that of a manual toothbrush
  • There are many types and choosing the right one for you can be tricky
  • Some spin around (oscillate) and some pulsate or use a sweeping action (using sonic technology), both are good at removing plaque from the gum line
  • The handle on the electric brush is a little bigger and therefore easier to grip and control

The types of action an electric toothbrush can produce

Chloe the Hygienist’s opinion – I have used both the oscillating and pulsating (the 3D cleaning action shown below) Oral B and the pulsating Sonicare electric toothbrushes and I found I got on better with the Oral B simply because I found it easier to place in the right position and feel that my teeth feel cleaner for longer. I also like that it lights up red to warn me if I put too much pressure on the brush.

Should I be using an electric or manual toothbrush then?

Ultimately the choice is yours weather you use an electric or manual toothbrush, but research suggests that you can do a better job with an electric brush. If you are worried that an electric tooth brush is going to cost an arm and a leg, then you needn’t be. At New Street Dental Care we sell the Oral B Pro 2000 for £40 (RRP £70) which has the new rechargeable lithium battery lasting two weeks, spins 9900 time a minute, has a two minute timer and a pressure sensor to make sure you don’t brush too hard!

Oral B Pro 2000 Electric Toothbrush that we sell at New Street Dental Care

If you have any other questions or queries, please to not hesitate to call New Street Dental Care on 01264301301 or email us at info@newstreetdentalcare.co.uk for some friendly advice.