Electric vs man-power toothbrushes

As I was on the phone with my partner this morning as he was brushing his teeth on a business trip overseas, he continued to complain about his manual toothbrush and how much he missed his electric one at home. He went on and on about having a fuzzy and unclean mouth after he finished his teeth cleaning regime. He then turned around and said, “Hey, you work at a dental clinic! What’s better, a manual or electric toothbrush?” To my dismay, I didn’t have a definitive answer – but I was determined to find out.

After hours and hours of research (as well as seeking some advice from my professional colleagues), it turns out that it’s a bit of a tie between the two!

According to the results determined by the Australian Dental Association‘s oral health committee, Chairman, Dr Peter Alldritt [1], has revealed that it’s not necessarily about the toothbrush itself, but how you use it (like many things in life). If you are brushing and flossing twice daily with the correct method and replacing your toothbrush/brush head every three months, then there shouldn’t be an issue or significant difference between the two.

We all know that we shouldn’t tamper with what works well. If brushing your teeth manually is working successfully for you and keeping the plaque out of the picture, that’s all that matters. The only thing to keep in mind, my fellow manual toothbrush users, is to make sure you don’t brush too hard (can cause abrasions or gum recession) and to use a smaller head as it offers easier access to your back molars.

• Does a lot of the work for you (just hold it and let the vibration do its thing).
• Comes in a range of cool colours and designs
• Easier to get children to brush their teeth (Cheers to a Disney image printed on your toothbrush)
• More convenient for those with who have arthritis or hand disabilities
• Fun to use
• Advanced electric toothbrushes come with a two minute timer

• Comes in different shapes and sizes
• You have all the control
• Has specialty heads for orthodontic patients, sensitive teeth patients, stain remover assistance and etc.
• More cost effective
• Some manual toothbrushes come with a bonus tongue cleaner
• Works out your arm muscles (not really haha)
• Easier to take travelling

I will not discuss the CONS as there are no cons in brushing your teeth and having healthy oral hygiene. Please note that it doesn’t matter what you brush your teeth with, but how well your technique and overall dental hygiene is. It’s super important that you also floss, clean your tongue and rinse your mouth thoroughly twice daily.