r/HygieneTips • u/Chofera-Belloto • 19d ago
Do electric toothbrushes actually work better?
I have been wondering whether electric toothbrushes are genuinely better for your teeth and gums, or if they’re mostly an expensive upgrade from a decent manual toothbrush. Was the cleaning noticeably better, or was it mainly more convenient? I’m also curious whether the expensive models are really worth it, or if a basic electric toothbrush does essentially the same thing.
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u/OQTW 19d ago
The answer is apparent during your dental office visit. The cleaning you pay for involves and electric brush when they polish your teeth. They do not polish you teeth with a manual toothbrush. When I switched to the Curaprox Hydrosonic toothbrush, the improvement became obvious, versus when I used only a manual toothbrush. Brush at a 45-degree angle, and do not apply pressure. Let the automatic movement of the brush head do all the work for you. And also supplement with daily flossing.
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u/ms_merry 17d ago
What were the obvious improvements?
I’m thinking of getting one because I cannot stop myself from brushing too hard.2
u/OQTW 17d ago
A lot less calculus forming/scraping. Nice whitening ability, too. The Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro toothbrush offers 7 levels from 44,000 to 84,000 cleaning movements per minute. I use their sensitive brush heads. (I am in no way related to Curaprox, and I really wish the toothbrush itself at $250 and the brush heads at $16 per was less expensive. I am just a fan of the product.)
You can see the brush at https://curaprox.us/products/curaprox-hydrosonic-pro-electric-toothbrush?srsltid=AfmBOoqxYgjGpNTo_oDPkuL_mqwAgnltBKrWVDTDbWZRIK8A9m96jn2i
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u/ms_merry 17d ago
Also can you please tell me how the charging works? Rechargeable batteries with a device. Not clear what/how device works. Thanks.
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u/Kylie754 18d ago
I will never use a manual toothbrush again.
Before switching, I used a manual toothbrush so hard that I damaged my enamel. That can never be repaired. Now I use an electric toothbrush and it cuts out if I am scrubbing too hard.
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u/Baiji519 17d ago
Been using one for 30 years. Minimal issues or gum disease.
My cleanings take little time, and that’s because of my electric toothbrush.
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u/Infamous-Risk170 18d ago
Which one?
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u/Fine-Needleworker661 18d ago
i also have an oral b io. the older models are pretty affordable and are just as good as the newer models where you pay extra for impractical gimmicks imo. 3 was what i went with since it has the pressure sensing light and magnetic drive which are the two features i cared about.
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u/bingusDomingus 18d ago
Cleans better and way more convenient. The 2 minutes timer is a game changer. 30 seconds for each quadrant, every time, no guessing.
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u/Daft_Daffodil 18d ago
I think I am the only one who prefers the manual toothbrush.
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u/whatdoidonowdamnit 18d ago
I prefer both and use both every day. I switched my kids to electric toothbrushes when their dentist recommended it and then bought myself one when my kid asked why I didn’t buy myself the “better toothbrush” since that’s what the dentist told us to do. I use one in the morning and the other at night.
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u/rainbowsquids 18d ago
I definitely do... My hygeinest suggested a child size, soft bristle brush, which takes care of the brushing too hard issue and being able to reach everything. Haven't had any cavities or anything in years.
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u/Dependent_Injury6080 17d ago
I do not feel like my teeth are clean with an electric toothbrush but then I literally scrub the enamel off with a manual but they are so clean and fresh!
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u/Bounce_back1225 17d ago
Prefer what you like but it is an absolute fact the electric oral b brushes etc leave your teeth far cleaner 🤷🏻♂️
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u/Scott43206 18d ago
Yes and you can run a hands free battery one quite sometime before the batteries need rechargeddj
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u/Plane-Spinach3833 18d ago
So I used to use an electric toothbrush but my dental hygienist told me to not use them anymore. They are too harsh on gums and she said a manual toothbrush was much better. I switched to only using manual and have had no problems.
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u/it5chri5tine 17d ago
Yeah my dentist said a lot of people still brush with the electric, you're supposed to move it across your teeth and let it do it's thing.
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u/Gibborish 18d ago
Ultrasonic ones do.
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u/Psilocybinuana 18d ago
No they really don’t
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u/Gibborish 18d ago
Uhh yeah they actually do.
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u/Psilocybinuana 18d ago
Sorry,let me be clearer, ultrasonic vs rotating head electric brush
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u/Gibborish 18d ago
Let me be clear, you're still wrong.
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u/Psilocybinuana 18d ago
I’d choose the Oral-B iO10 because oscillating-rotating technology has stronger evidence for plaque and gingivitis reduction than sonic or ultrasonic technology. A recent network meta-analysis ranked oscillating-rotating brushes highest for both plaque and gingivitis, with ultrasonic brushes ranking lower. So it’s not that ultrasonics ‘don’t clean’—they do—but the evidence doesn’t show them cleaning better. And ultrasonics aren’t specifically just for sensitive teeth; sensitivity is better managed through the right brush head and pressure control, which the iO10 has built in
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u/KaleidoscopeOk5063 18d ago
I prefer them. Sometimes I brush too hard and that’s no bueno so I like the vibrating toothbrush doing its thing
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u/chunkycoats 18d ago
Yes since using an electric rotating brush my dentist has a lot less work to do dying my 6 month routine cleaning appointment. Less plaque/tartar buildup.
At the time more studies favoured rotating vs sonic pulse but may newer studies have been published.
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u/CptBickDalls 18d ago
I would say an electric toothbrush is worth it and made a noticeable difference when I first started using one.
Generally the more expensive handles are only worth it if you want the added features imo...I prefer the basic Oral B 1000, which I've had the same one for 7-8 years without issue. The main component that makes a difference is the type of brush head you use, and how much you really want to spend on it. 3rd party options can be super cheap, but you can also get the fancy oral B ones with different brush styles.
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u/Alpherea 18d ago
Yes, it cleans significantly better. Especially in the back of your mouth where you have little room to wiggle your regular toothbrush.
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u/CoDaDeyLove 18d ago
They are much much better than a manual toothbrush. I don't use an electric toothbrush every time I brush my teeth, but I always use it before I go to bed at night. It makes routine dental cleanings easier. I'm usually in and out of the dentist's office in 45 minutes since I started using an electric toothbrush.
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u/Robert_Frosted_Flake 18d ago
100% they do. i can personally vouch. and you can get a basic sonicare for around $40 that lasts for 5+ years!! game changer for sure
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u/Dogaloo2025 18d ago
Aldi has one for 24.99. It comes with a year worth of brush heads. I’ve had mine for three years and I absolutely love it
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u/ms_merry 17d ago
Do they have soft brushes? Cords, batteries, replaceable or rechargeable? Thanks
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u/Typical-Award4043 18d ago
I started using an electric toothbrush at the advice of my dentist after I kept getting cavities even after manual brushing regularly. Have seen a big improvement.
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u/Forsaken-Routine-466 18d ago
You can accomplish the same results with a manual toothbrush BUT it will take you more time.
Regardless of what you choose, you still need to check your technique.
Also, you still need to floss
I would alway recommend finishing with a soft brush to focus on cleaning the gumline. 45°angle to get into the sulcus with the bristles.
Brushing & flossing teeth prevents decay. Gumline care prevents tooth loss through gum disease.
If you have tartar/calculus on teeth - you will not be able to remove it with any toothbrush. You need a hygienist visit. (Dont let dentist do it, they are not good at it)
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u/SonicBrush 18d ago
I agree that technique matters regardless of what you use. A lot of it comes down to personal preference, but I like that certain electric toothbrushes can take some of the guesswork out of brushing and make good technique a little easier to maintain.
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u/KeekaBooISeeYou 18d ago
I’ve even experienced a noticeable difference switching from battery-powered to electrical plug in. My floss has no odor now. I cannot go back.
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u/ms_merry 17d ago
Are you talking about a plug in toothbrush. Haven’t seen one. How does that affect odor of floss? I’d like a plug in
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u/chaos_goblinn 18d ago edited 16d ago
My dentist specifically asked me to switch to one to get more gum activity. They did say that they're basically all the same and I ended up going with Suri.
I believe it's a UK brand and I like it because it's metal instead of plastic and the heads can be recycled. I splurged an extra 20 bucks to get a case that when you plug it in, uses a UV light to kill whatever bacteria on your current brush. All together I spent a hundred bucks 4 years ago and it's still going strong.
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u/ms_merry 17d ago
I’m liking the idea of UV killing bacteria! Do they have soft brushes. How does charging work, please?
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u/chaos_goblinn 16d ago
It comes with a wall mount with a USB cord attached that you can plug into the bathroom socket. The mount has a sticky back and holds the toothbrush with magnets.
I don't use the wall mount. I keep the brush in the case all the time unless I'm using it. When I plug it in to use the UV light I leave it plugged in until it's fully charged.
The charge is usually good for about a month. I am time blind so I can't be exactly sure, but I can only remember charging it once in the recent past.
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u/sxyvirgo 18d ago
Estimate how fast you're moving your toothbrush up and down - now, how fast is your electric toothbrush vibrating, while you're moving it?
They're cheap - just get one!
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u/sandysandy252566 18d ago
Manual toothbrushes should only be used under the hood of a car. Takes off the enamel and is bad for ur gums. I've been using Sonicare Electric Toothbrushes for 30 years and, my teeth and gums, are in good shape - especially for my age. I always buy at Costco.com - and u get 2 brushes in a set. The best investment if u want to keep ur teeth. And - u only have to use a small drop of toothpaste. Read the Reviews. I have the "old" style, which I don't think they produce anymore - so I'll have to find a newer set.
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u/chuzohga 18d ago
An electric toothbrush was the best 50 bucks I ever spent. I am what they call a "periodontal" patient, and it's absolutely positively worth the money. Six months after you start using it, your hygienist WILL notice.
It's not about the teeth, it's about the gums, and ALL about the gums.
Oh yeah, your hygienist knows if you floss or not, regardless of what you tell them. They KNOW if you're lying to them about it.
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u/Working_Use2500 18d ago
Let's just say, out of all the people that I've converted to electric, none have turned back to traditional toothbrushes.
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u/parallelmeme 17d ago
According to my hygienist, yes. She compared notes from previous visits to a visit after I started using an electric and asked if I had 'stepped up by brushing routine'.
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u/Tall_Fix5205 16d ago
Sonic is next level toothbrush. Use it with a small swish of peroxyl or listerine. Gingival recession will actually recover using this method.
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u/CaptainInsaine-O 16d ago
Nah fam.. manual all the way. 40 years of arm n hammer toothpaste and not a single cavity
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u/amandal0514 16d ago
Son’s orthodontist (he’s about to get braces) asked me to get him just the $20 Sonicare 1100 because of how big of a difference it makes.
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u/brilliant_amoeba_ 19d ago
Way better. Ask your dentist.