Are Electric Toothbrushes Really Better than Hand Toothbrushes?

The bedrock of good oral hygiene and disease prevention is toothbrushing.

It doesn’t matter if your toothbrush is manual or electric – for all intents and purposes, they are among the most effective tools to maintain good dental health. The American Dental Association says so.

But if you’re wondering which one is better, let’s lay down some evidence-based truths about brushing your teeth.

Why Brushing Helps

Brushing your teeth removes the thin film of bacteria that lines the teeth, gums, and the rest of the mouth. Said film of bacteria, when built up over time and not regularly taken care of, leads to plaque. Plaque doesn’t sleep, too. It’s constantly building up every second. 

Plaque, when left to its own devices, leads to gum disease and tooth decay. And these factors can really do a number on your oral health, in the form of gingivitis, periodontitis, cavities, bad breath, and loss of teeth.

And this is where your toothbrush comes in handy. Both old-school manual toothbrushes and the new generation electric toothbrushes play an integral role in maintaining your oral health and fight the plaque that causes tooth decay and other oral health problems.

And the truth is, there’s not really much that separates them.

Which One is Better?

Facts are facts, and research supports that electric toothbrushes narrowly edge out manual ones when it comes to reducing plaque and gum disease. But only narrowly. Plus, the evidence is moderate at best.

That doesn’t mean you should drop everything and purchase an electric toothbrush post-haste. The differences in how electric toothbrushes seem to be somewhat more effective doesn’t mean the world when the rubber hits the road. Not to say that the differences aren’t significant – but it’s a minimal upgrade at best.

It all depends on your situation. Simply put, the better toothbrush is the one you choose to use two times a day to efficiently rid your mouth from plaque-causing bacteria. Doesn’t matter if it’s electric or manual.

What are the Main Differences Between Manual and Electric Toothbrushes?

There are many electric toothbrush models out in the market today, and even more manual toothbrushes. But the key difference that separates electric toothbrushes from their manual counterparts is the fact that they move differently.

Whereas manual toothbrushes tend to be constrained to a limited range of motion (up and down, left and right, rotation optional), electric toothbrushes offer a wider range of motion and vibration to more efficiently scrub bacteria and plaque away – they can vibrate, rotate, or oscillate as necessary.

Another key difference between electric toothbrushes and manual ones is the fact that electric toothbrushes are easier to handle. The bigger, more robust handles make it easier to use for people suffering from motor, fatigue, or coordination issues. Aging, illnesses, or preexisting health conditions are no longer a reason to cut back with brushing.

Yet another important difference that makes electric toothbrushes a good choice is that its motorized cleaning function doesn’t require you to brush with force, lest you hurt your gums cleaning it with a manual one – which leads to mouth sores. Plus, the targeted, systematized cleaning ability of electric toothbrushes allows those with orthodontal fixtures to clean them more easily.

Again, it’s all up to your situation. If these differences are “nice to haves” instead of “musts”, then you can always stick to your trusty regular toothbrush. 

Best Practices

Have you decided on what toothbrush you should use? You can’t go wrong by following the ADA’s recommendations.

Mainly, regardless of what type of toothbrush you use, try using ones with softer bristles, which damage your gums less and makes you less prone to overbrushing.

Another best practice is to look for the ADA seal on the toothbrush you are purchasing. The ADA seal guarantees that you are getting a product that has been tested to their rigorous standards – manual or electric notwithstanding.

Also, there are plenty of reputable resources as far as brushing your teeth is concerned – particularly for manual toothbrushes. For electric toothbrushes, simply follow the instructions out of the box. Most manufacturers of repute will have the best operating procedures outlined for safe and effective cleaning.

Lastly, replace your electric toothbrush heads once every four months, or replace your manual toothbrush altogether. Bristles that are no longer up to cleaning will make toothbrushing a tedious, inefficient, and time-wasting chore. Newer bristles make work easier.

The Bottom Line

Quite frankly, you don’t have to ditch your manual toothbrushes in favor of an electric one just because they’re of a newer technology. It’s all a matter of situation. If you feel that electric toothbrushes are better for you or make it easier for you to brush your teeth (whether or not you have a preexisting health condition), then go for it. Otherwise, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel – manual toothbrushes have been around since time immemorial, and they will most probably still be around a thousand years from now.

More information:

Toothbrushes – American Dental Association

Best Electric Toothbrush Reviews 2019 – The Oral Brush Up!

How to Brush Your Teeth the Right Way