There’s nothing as annoying as getting a cavity. Besides the pain and discomfort, you face the shame of feeling as if you’ve done a poor job brushing.
To avoid all of this, you may have considered investing in a quality electric toothbrush. However, with some electric toothbrushes selling for as much as $350, is it actually worth the investment?
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What benefits do electric toothbrushes actually offer, as opposed to the cheap $1 manual brushes you can get at any store?
Dr. Alexandra Dahm, DDS, who graduated from Ohio State University College of Dentistry and works in Dayton, Ohio, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the majority of the patients she sees actually do just fine with a manual toothbrush.
“As you probably know, the goal of toothbrushing is to remove plaque which forms on our teeth every single day,” Dahm said. “Insufficient removal of plaque contributes to gingivitis (bleeding gums), decay, and if it gets bad enough tooth loss due to periodontal disease.”
“Effective tooth brushing with a manual toothbrush can remove most of the plaque on the surfaces of our teeth, and keep most people healthy,” she explained.
At the same time, some people may find an electric toothbrush necessary.
“Not every person is proficient at removing plaque, and for those people a sonic or ultrasonic toothbrush can provide a significant difference in plaque removal,” Dahm said.
Considering some people do not devote adequate time to brushing, fail to reach every tooth effectively or have have dexterity issues, electric toothbrushes do serve an important purpose.
“Studies have shown us that electric toothbrushes do significantly reduce plaque and gingivitis in people that use them,” Dahm pointed out.
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However, Dahm also sees buying an electric toothbrush for hundreds of dollars as a bit excessive.
"I do not think that anyone needs to spend $350 on an electric toothbrush when there are many available for $100 that will most likely work just as well."
There may be different features available with specific electric toothbrushes that some people prefer over others. Some powered toothbrushes even provide feedback via mobile apps.
“The toothbrush will let patients know if they are not spending enough time in certain areas of the mouth or are applying too much pressure,” Dahm explain, but said pricey electric toothbrushes are still more of a “luxury” for people who are “tech savvy”, or who simply want an expensive toothbrush.
Dahm recommends people spend two minutes brushing with a manual soft toothbrush twice daily (medium or hard brushes can actually cause wear to teeth). Flossing is also important to remove plaque from those hard to reach spots.
“If someone has been told they need to a better job cleaning their teeth, a powered toothbrush can be an excellent investment,” Dahm said, adding that she personally uses one and feels the difference.
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For more affordable electric toothbrush options you may want to consider one of the following:
Waterpik Complete Care 5.0 White Toothcare Set -
This set combines brushing and flossing in one device.
Buy it here for $99.99.
Philips Sonicare 2 Series Plaque Control Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush -
A simple and straightforward rechargeable electric toothbrush for an affordable price.
Buy it here for $39.99.
Rechargeable Sonic Toothbrush by Pop Dental -
Another straightforward electric brusher, but with a bit more flare and style.
Buy it here for $66.00.
The AJC may receive a commission for purchases made through some links in this article.
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