Electric vs Sonic Toothbrush: How to Choose Between Them (2024)

By Dr. Daniel Dohnalek, DDS

Electric vs Sonic Toothbrush: How to Choose Between Them (1)

There have been major leaps in brushing technology, but—with so many options available—it can be difficult to know which toothbrush is the right one for you. Do you know whether you’d prefer an electric toothbrush over a sonic toothbrush? Now you can find out! Let’s see how these two kinds of toothbrushes stack up against each other in these important categories.

Brushing Power

The winner is: sonic toothbrush.

While both the electric toothbrush and the sonic toothbrush blow the manual toothbrush out of the water when it comes to brushing power, the leader here is most definitely the sonic toothbrush. An electric toothbrush can increase your number of brushstrokes to around 2,500 to 7,000 strokes per minute. However, the sonic toothbrush boasts a whopping 30,000 brush strokes per minute, making it an excellent choice for those with limited mobility.

Price

The winner is: electric toothbrush.

With great brushing power comes a hefty price tag, which is why the electric toothbrush wins in the price category. Sonic toothbrushes have a tendency to have a pretty big price tag in comparison to the simpler electric toothbrush. As you’re buying, just be sure to keep an eye on cost to get the most out of your money!

Cleaning Mechanism

The winner is: sonic toothbrush.

While both the sonic and electric toothbrushes work well in comparison to the manual toothbrush, the sonic toothbrush is undeniably more efficient in cleaning your teeth. Electric toothbrushes typically have bristles that either scrub forward and backward or rotate in a mechanized motion. So while it does a lot of additional work for you, you’ll still need to move your toothbrush up and down on your teeth.

With the sonic toothbrush, on the other hand, you can rely on high velocity speeds and high frequency sound waves to remove plaque from the surfaces of your teeth. This toothbrush will even power the fluids in your mouth through hard to reach places, such as between your teeth and along your gum line. Ultimately, you’ll only need to guide your toothbrush along the various surfaces of your teeth and the brush will do the rest.

Ease of Use

The winner is: it’s a tie!

Depending on what you’re looking for, both of these brushes are very easy to use! On the one hand, electric toothbrushes have simple controls, a rechargeable battery, and are easy to maneuver. Also, many electric toothbrushes use a two-minute timer to ensure you’re brushing for the recommended amount of time.

Sonic toothbrushes also aim to improve your brushing experience, but in a slightly different way. First, you wont need to expend much energy when using a sonic toothbrush, so this is great for those with limited mobility. Sonic toothbrushes also have a handy two-minute timer like the electric toothbrush. However, some sonic toothbrushes add possibly unnecessary features—like Bluetooth—that cross the line from “improved brushing experience” to “unnecessarily complicated.”

Like brushing, visiting the dentist every six months is a critical part of your oral healthcare routine. To schedule your next visit, call Manus Dental today!

Electric vs Sonic Toothbrush: How to Choose Between Them (2024)

FAQs

Should I get a sonic or electric toothbrush? ›

If you are looking for an easy-to-use option with a wide range of features, an electric toothbrush may be the best choice for you. If you are looking for a more intense cleaning experience and a wider range of brush head options, a sonic toothbrush may be the better option.

What is the downside of a sonic toothbrush? ›

However sonic brushes do have one major drawback; they tend to be quite expensive compared to both manual and electric versions making them cost-prohibitive for some users with tighter budgets who still want a quality brush for cleaning their teeth thoroughly each day!

Which is better ultrasonic or electric toothbrush? ›

While both the sonic and electric toothbrushes work well in comparison to the manual toothbrush, the sonic toothbrush is undeniably more efficient in cleaning your teeth. Electric toothbrushes typically have bristles that either scrub forward and backward or rotate in a mechanized motion.

Do dentists recommend oral B or Sonicare? ›

Sonicare's heads are large and flat compared to Oral-B's small round brushes, and they're long-lasting, according to Wellspring Dental dentist Mandy Nebel, who prefers Sonicare over other brands. This specific model — one of two from the brand accepted by the ADA — is a more entry-level Sonicare.

How to choose sonic toothbrush? ›

Consider handle style (It should feel comfortable in your hand.), head shape and style of bristles. A toothbrush with a small head makes it easier to reach every spot in the mouth. And soft bristles will clean your teeth without damaging your gums or enamel.

Which is better electric toothbrush ultrasonic or rotating? ›

Electric rotating-oscillating toothbrushes come with lower power than sonic toothbrushes, but due to the rotating head you can find them quite powerful in removing the plaque off your teeth. Sonic toothbrushes, on the other hand, are considered much more effective thanks to the high level of vibrations they provide.

What are the disadvantages of an electric toothbrush? ›

They are more expensive compared to manual toothbrushes, making them less accessible to everyone. Electric toothbrushes are also fragile and require a lot of care to prevent damage. Although you have to charge them, overcharging, dropping, or damaging the batteries can mean the end of your electric toothbrush.

Do I need to floss if I use a sonic toothbrush? ›

Do I need to floss if I use an electric toothbrush? Yes, you still need to floss even if you use an electric toothbrush. But a sonic toothbrush does clean all the deep surfaces that are hard to reach, which makes it better for oral care than a manual toothbrush.

What is the difference between a sonic toothbrush and an electric one? ›

But what's the difference between these two? Regular electric toothbrushes have rotating heads that can spin several thousand times per minute, but sonic toothbrushes spin tens of thousands of times per minute, which can give you a cleaner smile in a shorter period of time.

Is Sonic better than Oral-B electric toothbrush? ›

Do dentists recommend Oral-B or Sonicare? Oral-B and Philips's Sonicare are two of the most widely recommended toothbrush brands by dentists, but there's no industry consensus on which electric toothbrush is best.

Do doctors recommend electric toothbrush? ›

Dental Professional Recommendations

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends using an electric toothbrush – or a manual one that has the ADA Seal of Approval – for all children as soon as their first tooth erupts.

Which type of toothbrush is most effective? ›

Always choose soft bristles. In fact, if you have a manual toothbrush with soft bristles now and you feel like it's not doing a good job removing plaque from your teeth, try switching to an electric toothbrush with soft bristles—you'll be pleasantly surprised by what a difference it makes.

Does Oral-B remove more plaque than Sonicare? ›

Plus, an Oral-B electric toothbrush like the Oral-B Pro 1000 even removes 26% more plaque than Sonicare DiamondClean* and 100% more plaque than a regular manual toothbrush.

What is the #1 electric toothbrush? ›

The Oral-B iO Series 10 is a great choice for those seeking an advanced electric toothbrush option featuring seven cleaning modes, real-time coverage, pressure monitoring, and a built-in timer right on the smart charger.

Which toothbrush is best to prevent gum recession? ›

Soft-bristled toothbrushes are generally recommended for those with receding gums or gingivitis because they are gentler and less likely to contribute to further recession. However, it's important to note that proper brushing technique is just as crucial as the bristle type.

Is a sonic toothbrush worth the money? ›

These sonic waves contribute a lot to making sure that plaque cells, which are unreachable by the bristle, are broken up. Additionally, the sonic toothbrushes are a great tool for those with sensitive gums or tend to brush overly hard. Since the machine does most of the work, your job would only be to direct it.

Are sonic toothbrushes better for gums? ›

Sonic toothbrushes deliver the best oral care due to the higher number of strokes they provide in one minute. They work by using high-frequency vibrations, which allows them to clean the teeth better and improve gum health.

Is electric toothbrush actually better? ›

A review of studies showed that, in general, electric toothbrushes do decrease more plaque and gingivitis than manual toothbrushes. After three months of use, plaque was reduced by 21 percent and gingivitis by 11 percent. Oscillating (rotating) toothbrushes seem to work better than just vibrating toothbrushes.

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