What's the Difference between Electric and Manual Toothbrushes? - Active Dental (2024)

FAQs

What's the Difference between Electric and Manual Toothbrushes? - Active Dental? ›

Bottom line. Between the two, electric toothbrushes are better when it comes to cleaning between teeth. They can reach areas that conventional toothbrushes cannot. If you have sensitive gums, they are definitely for you.

More strokes per minute – no matter how strong or fit you are, a human using a manual toothbrush can only move the brush around about 300 times per minute. An electric toothbrush easily does well over 1,000, with each rotation getting bristles around and between teeth for better cleaning.

A 2021 meta-analysis of 28 studies provided further evidence that powered toothbrushes seem to have a slight edge over manual ones when it comes to plaque removal.

Both regular manual toothbrushes and battery power toothbrushes require you to provide all or most of the brushing action, moving the brush back and forth along all sides of your teeth and gums. In contrast, rechargeable electric toothbrushes provide the cleaning action while you need only guide it along all surfaces.

Dentists agree that overall, electric toothbrushes are superior to manual ones. "Because electric brushes have a rotation, they essentially force the toothpaste in more difficult-to-reach areas, which is where cavities start," says Dr. Creaven.

Manual toothbrushes have a simple design. They have the perfect length and size so you can use them easily. However, electric toothbrushes are better for people with limited mobility. They may be heavier, but they do the majority of the work.

The American Dental Association (ADA) confirms that manual and electric toothbrushes are effective. For general oral health, a manual toothbrush with soft bristles is recommended by the ADA. Examples include the Colgate 360 Toothbrush which has soft tapered bristles and soft rubber polishing cups.

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.

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.

Brushing with receding gums requires a gentle yet effective approach to maintain oral hygiene without exacerbating the condition. Electric toothbrushes offer valuable benefits for individuals with receding gums, providing precise cleaning action and customizable settings to accommodate varying oral health needs.

What's a benefit of a manual toothbrush? ›

The American Dental Association (ADA) states that manual brushing is a safe and effective method of dental biofilm removal. Manual toothbrushes are considerably less expensive than powered toothbrushes. There also tends to be more choice in bristle style, ergonomic design, color, and other features.

Colgate 360 Enamel Health Toothbrush

The gentle bristles reduce wear while polishing cups minimise enamel erosion, making this a particularly good manual option for those with sensitive or damaged teeth.

Pros: less abrasive yet more thorough than a traditional toothbrushes. A built-in timer helps you keep accurate track of brushing time. allows individuals suffering from arthritis to brush properly with less pain.

So, are electric toothbrushes better than manual toothbrushes? The answer is a resounding yes! They are more effective at removing plaque and bacteria from your teeth, they are easier to use, and they come with built-in timers to help you brush for the recommended time period.

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!

Manual Toothbrushes put Minimal Pressure on the Teeth and Gums. People can feel exactly how much pressure is applied to the teeth when one is doing the brushing. This way, one will not put too much pressure on the teeth. The same feel is not provided by electric toothbrushes.

The American Dental Association (ADA) states that manual brushing is a safe and effective method of dental biofilm removal. Manual toothbrushes are considerably less expensive than powered toothbrushes. There also tends to be more choice in bristle style, ergonomic design, color, and other features.

The key to preventing tooth decay, say experts, lies in the way a toothbrush -- electric or otherwise -- is used. "If you are a wonderful brusher and a wonderful flosser ... then the manual toothbrushes are just great," says Kimberly Harms, DDS, an ADA consumer advisor who is also a dentist in Farmington, Minn.

Even though an electric toothbrush has been proven to give you a better clean, it can never replace flossing! Floss daily to remove food from between your teeth and below your gum line, where even an electric toothbrush cannot reach.