Toothbrushes: Electric versus Standard

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Is an electric toothbrush better than a regular bristle brush? This really depends how good you are with your brushing technique, but even someone brushing correctly should notice less plaque with a good electric toothbrush. A Consumer Report published August 28, 2015 states, "Compared with manual toothbrushes, electrics reduced dental plaque 21 percent more and gingivitis (i.e., inflammation of the gums) 11 percent more after three months of use."


 As far as electric toothbrushes go, I like Philips Sonicare Flexcare and Oral-B Genius. There are lots of comparisons out there for Sonicare verses Oral-B, I don't intend to reinvent the wheel with a new study, but if you would like to look at the differences between each here are some links to reports that have compared them:


Note that the first link cites quite a few clinical studies which conclude that Sonicare is superior to Oral-B and vice versa. In short, BOTH are good options. I have both and find pros and cons to each. It really just boils down to personal preference.

 In the end, you can still keep your teeth clean with a good old normal toothbrush. Just make sure you use a brush with SOFT bristles (not medium or hard). Hard or medium bristled brushes can cause damage to the enamel of your teeth. 

 Brush gently no matter what type of toothbrush you choose to use for 2 minutes, twice a day. Happy brushing!
Order the Oral-B Genius here.                            Order the Sonicare Flexcare here.
                 
~ Cyrus M. Larson, DMD


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