Sonic vs. Electric Toothbrush: Which Is Better for Your Teeth? (2024)

FAQs

Sonic vs. Electric Toothbrush: Which Is Better for Your Teeth? ›

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.

When it comes to your gums, sonic toothbrushes tend to win the popularity contest. Their softer touch makes them perfect for those prone to gum irritation or recession. If brushing often sends you running from the sink, a sonic toothbrush could be a game-changer.

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!

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.

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.

All other things being equal, studies have shown that sonic and ultrasonic toothbrushes are more effective at removing plaque and bacteria from the teeth than a regular manual toothbrush.

Absolutely! Using an electric toothbrush every day is generally recommended and can be beneficial for maintaining good oral hygiene. The consistent use of an electric toothbrush helps remove plaque effectively, reaches difficult-to-reach areas, and promotes better overall cleaning compared to manual brushing.

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.

The Cons of Electric Toothbrushes

Higher Cost- Battery-powered toothbrushes are more expensive than their traditional counterparts. They also require replacement heads, which can be quite pricey. Higher Risk of Damage- Because of their electronics, they are at a higher risk of damage if dropped or falling in the water.

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.

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.

For the vast majority of people, a soft-bristled toothbrush will be the most comfortable and safest choice. Depending on how vigorously you brush your teeth and the strength of your teeth, medium- and hard-bristled brushes could actually damage the gums, root surface, and protective tooth enamel.

Oral-B Pro1000 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush

With all the coveted benefits of an electric toothbrush — like a rotating head to remove plaque, a pressure sensor to prevent you from brushing too hard and a two-minute timer — it rings in at a fraction of the cost of many others.

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.

Bottom Line: Should You Buy Oral-B or Sonicare? If you're looking for a budget-friendly brand that still has all the necessary bells and whistles to keep your teeth clean, Oral-B electric toothbrushes are likely the way to go.

The video clip shown below is a high amplitude sonic toothbrush vibrating at 30,000 vibrations per minute in a glass of water. High tip-speed (amplitude) sonic toothbrushes remove more tartar and plaque beyond the tips of the toothbrush bristles by a process called dynamic brushing.

From the data of this study, researchers concluded that to maintain good plaque control and improve gingival health, the oscillating rotation electric toothbrush offers clinically relevant advantages compared to the sonic toothbrush, albeit with a small but significant difference.

While both are better at brushing power than manual toothbrushes, a sonic toothbrush is more effective at brushing than an electric one. Electric toothbrushes rotate at 1,300-8000 strokes per minute, while sonic toothbrushes vibrate at 24,000-40,000 strokes per minute.

Evidence has shown that the sonic toothbrush reaches areas which the normal toothbrush would find it difficult to get to. The extreme vibrations create a lot of energy which allows for the fluids in the mouth, such as saliva, toothpaste and water to get to areas where a regular toothbrush wouldn't.

Slower sonics with less tip-speed (amplitude), electric, and mechanical toothbrushes are reported to remove all or most tartar above the gumline between scheduled hygiene appointments.