Does Your Toothbrush Matter? Electric Toothbrush Vs Manual Toothbrushing

The toothbrush you choose can have an impact on your oral hygiene, and the condition of your teeth.

Whilst electric toothbrushes have been proven to be more effective at cleaning teeth, that doesn’t mean that you can’t get an effective clean from a manual brush.

In this piece, we’ll cover:

• Why it’s important to choose a brush with the right bristles
• Are electric brushes better than manual brushes
• How to choose a toothbrush
• What is a sonic toothbrush?

Why it’s important to choose the right bristles

Manual and electric toothbrushes come in many different designs, though it’s only manual toothbrushes that can have a hard-bristled head (electric brush heads are small and soft-bristled).

Whilst hard bristles can be more effective at removing plaque from teeth, the harm that harder bristles can do to your gum tissue outweighs the benefits.

Most people who use toothbrushes with harder bristles tend to overbrush their teeth, which causes a condition called gum recession. As the gums start to recede, the vulnerable dentin underneath them becomes exposed. This is a much weaker part of a tooth’s anatomy, as it isn’t protected by enamel. Once you have eroded enough gum tissue by brushing too hard, you then become much exposed to cavities and gum disease.

The takeaway: If you do want to go for a manual toothbrush, make sure you choose one with soft bristles so that you don’t risk eroding your gum tissue. You should also take extra gentle when brushing the area close to the gum line (it can be tempting to avoid it for fear of eroding your gums, but this will increase your gum disease risk!)

Are electric (oscillating) brushes better than manual brushes?

As dentists, we generally encourage patients to switch from a manual to an oscillating electric brush, due to the fact that the majority of people will struggle to adopt the correct technique needed to make manual brushing effective.

Manual brushing takes a lot more dexterity on the part of the user (as there is no electric oscillating head to do it for them). This is the key difference between manual brushes and electric brushes – a manual brush has a head that oscillates between 1,300 and 8,000 strokes per minute (far more than a human is capable of wielding!)

Most of us usually tend to give up good technique when we get about halfway through our brushing, which is something an electric brush helps to combat. As it does most of the hard work, there’s less chance of the user giving up halfway through.

Many electric brushes incorporate timers as part of their design, helping you to brush for the full 2 minutes. One of our favourite features as dentists (and one which we think helps patients to brush with better technique) is the red flashing light that appears when you brush too hard. This helps you reduce the possibility of losing gum tissue due to brushing too hard.

The takeaway: electric brushes are better for people who don’t have the time, inclination or manual dexterity to use a manual brush.

What about sonic toothbrushes? Do they differ from oscillating electric brushes?

The most recent brush to hit the market is the sonic toothbrush. Whilst sonic toothbrushes perform significantly more brushes per minute (30,000 compared to 8000 per minute), there is currently no clear clinical evidence to suggest they are keeping our teeth healthier than electric brushes (the latter have incidentally been proven to reduce gingivitis more effectively than manual brushes).

Sonic toothbrushes also tend to be more expensive than electric brushes, so if you’re looking to get the most for your money, we recommend an electric brush.

The takeaway: sonic toothbrushes are not (yet) strides ahead of electric brushes (but they are more expensive). Stick with an electric brush (it’s the technique that will make all the difference!)

How to choose an electric toothbrush?

With Black Friday edging forwards, you might be thinking about purchasing an electric toothbrush in the sales. There are some genuinely good deals to be had, and this is one of the few times that purchasing a higher-end electric brush can be highly affordable.

Our dentist’s favourite current Black Friday deals are:

Phillips Sonicare 990 Prestige (was £5499.99, now £199.99)

The premium brush within the Phillips ultrasonic brush offering, the Sonicare 990 Prestige can reach 62,000 vibrations per minute, delivering an intense (yet gentle) brush.

One of the best things about this brush is that it adapts to your brushing style – if you brush too hard, it adjusts its intensity, which means your brushing intensity doesn’t risk causing gum recession.

The 62,000 vibrations per minute have been proven to remove 20 times more plaque than cleaning with a manual brush. You can also learn about your brushing habits using the Philips Sonicare app and store your brush in its stylish travel case.

This brush genuinely makes brushing enjoyable!

Oral-B iO3 Was £160 now £69.99

Free from gimmicky features and a quiet oscillating motor, the Oral-BiO3 is the cheapest in the Oral-B premium iO range. If you’re looking for a brush that performs the important things well, and you don’t the slightly shorter battery life, this brush is great value for money.

Choose Meliora Dental for constructive guidance on oral health and brushing technique

If you need to freshen up your brushing or flossing technique, or you would like some advice on easy things you can do at home to avoid common dental issues like cavities and gum disease, we’re more than happy to guide you.

Our resident hygienist Dr Namrata Shah has helped many patients make simple (but transformative) changes to their oral health routine, designed to keep dental treatment to a minimum.

Book in with Dr Namrata for personalised guidance, and a full gum health MOT for peace of mind going into 2025.