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Electric Toothbrush Vs. Manual: Which One is Better?

In this day and age you have so many choices for a toothbrush. Yet, they all really fall into two categories: manual and electric toothbrushes. With so many choices, how do you know which one is right for you? Is one type of toothbrush better than the other? The answer really depends on your situation. 

“If you are a wonderful brusher and a wonderful flosser…then manual toothbrushes are just great,” says Kimberly Harms, DDS, an ADA consumer advisor who is also a dentist in Farmington, Minn. However, she says powered devices can help people who have trouble physically moving their brushes around their mouth to clean all teeth surfaces. These may include anyone with a motor disability or arthritis.

At 6,000 to 30,000 strokes per minute, electric brushes appear to provide more power and take less time to do a thorough job than a manual toothbrush. Yet, for some, that may be too much. For people with sensitive teeth or gums, like senior citizens or younger kids, the stroke action of an electric toothbrush may be uncomfortable to them.

Toothbrush maker Braun Oral-B has come out with a report of its own on the effectiveness of the electric toothbrushes. In one study, more than 16,000 patients were asked by their dentists or hygienists to use a Braun Oral-B powered toothbrush. When asked to monitor their patients’ progress, the dental professionals said the electric brush had a positive effect on the oral health of more than 80% of the patients. Most participants reportedly even said their oral health was better after using an electric toothbrush. Results of this study appeared in the March 2000 issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association.

In conclusion, there is no clear cut answer on whether an electric tooth brush or manual one is better for your oral health. The answer lies in which is best for your situation. If you want a good cleaning job in little time, then an electric toothbrush may be your answer. If the vibrations are uncomfortable or you’re just a very thorough brusher, then a manual toothbrush will be fine for you.