Oral Irrigation and Electric Toothbrushes

What Is The Best Electric Toothbrush | Oral B or Sonic (5 Best Choices)

Electric toothbrushes

Are your gums bleeding? Do you have receding gums? Or do you just want to do all you can to improve your overall health? Chances are that you have been told by your dentist to start using an electric toothbrush.

With good reason too, because electric toothbrushes work way better than any manual toothbrush you can buy on the market. I will explain what is the best electric toothbrush you can purchase today. Oral B and Sonic toothbrushes will be discussed giving you the 5 best choices. I am going to take the confusion out of all the different choices so that you can make an informed purchase based on your dentist’s recommendation.

Has your dentist or hygienist told you that you need to be brushing better or that you are not brushing well in a particular area? Perhaps this area is behind the lower front teeth. Or, have you been told that you are causing damage to your teeth or gums for brushing too hard? Then an electric toothbrush is right for you.

I Want To Help You!

As a dental hygienist, I can honestly say that by using an electric toothbrush, I have seen THE BIGGEST improvement in my patient’s home care by simply making the switch from a manual brush.  See About the Author to learn more about me and why I would like to help you.

Much less bleeding, inflammation and a night and day difference in the amount of tartar formation. Not to mention, less plaque along the gum line (cavity prone area) and less recession of the gum line (exposing sensitive roots).

But why spend the money on an electric toothbrush when you can do just as good of a job brushing your teeth with a cheaper manual brush? The reason is…drum roll here…you are NOT doing just as good of a job using your manual brush!

I will explain how and why electric toothbrushes work better. Also, I want to help you decide which make and model is going to be the best fit for you based on your needs.

Why Use An Electric Versus A Manual Toothbrush?what-is-the-best-electric-toothbrush-oral-b-or-sonic-5-best-choices

You may be surprised at the features offered by electric toothbrushes these days.

With everything from built in timers, pressure sensors (to indicate when you apply too much pressure) and blue tooth technology (to alert you to where you need to spend more time) you will be brushing better in no time!

Electric toothbrushes will greatly improve your brushing technique. They are a simple addition to your home care routine that can save you hundreds of dollars on your dental care. 

Learn more about the benefits of using an electric toothbrush versus a manual brush.  This recent study was done by the US National Library of Health. This is not even considering all the benefits to your entire health in general, especially when you think of the health issues related to bacterial plaque. 

Learn about the correlation of gum disease and your overall health. Electric toothbrushes will provide you with more brush strokes per minute than a manual toothbrush. With your hand motion and a manual toothbrush you will be able to provide 500 brush strokes per minute.

Using an electric toothbrush, you will be achieving 40,000 to 60,000 brush strokes per minute- a far superior improvement over a manual brush. Do the math, THAT IS 100 TIMES MORE BRUSH STROKES per minute! Why is the speed of the brush so important? The more brush strokes per minute means more cleaning capacity per minute.

Think about if you were washing your car in a timed car wash. You would get a cleaner car if you went to a wash with faster moving brushes than one with super slow cleaning brushes. Without having to visit the dentist for twice daily brushing, you can still get high-quality cleaning results by simply adding an electric toothbrush to your home care routine.

Most Important Difference

The main difference in manual vs electric brushes is the fact that you are getting more effective brush strokes per minute. However, the other differences are not to be ignored. By using an electric toothbrush, you will be brushing for the full two-minute time frame recommended by dentists for effective plaque removal.

Believe it or not, most people on average spend less than one minute each time they brush when they use a manual toothbrush. That’s TWICE as long when using an electric!

Electric toothbrush head

It is important to brush for this length of time to make sure you are properly and thoroughly remove plaque from hard to reach places. These places include areas along and underneath the gum line where most plaque likes to hide.

Most electric toothbrushes even go a step further by including a quad pacer. This is noted as an extra vibration signal at 30 second intervals to notify you that it is time to move to the next quadrant (one quarter of your mouth).

This allows you to spend equal amounts of time in each section of the mouth. Another huge benefit to using an electric toothbrush is that they are kinder and gentler and do not allow for “over brushing” of your teeth.

Electric toothbrushes also make brushing easier. All you need to do is hold the brush against the tooth surface and move it from one side of the mouth to the next. There is nothing to think about- the brush does all the work for you.

They will benefit those that need extra to help remove plaque if they are a slacker or just plain lazy with their home care regimen. Some people have physical handicaps like arthritis in their hands that make brushing difficult and could use the extra help.

But, and this is huge, they will also benefit those people who put too much force or damaging pressure on their teeth and gums when they brush. Many of the electric toothbrushes come with a built in alert system to let you know you are being too aggressive.

Healthy teeth

Over brushing can cause all sorts of problems ranging from sensitive teeth to receding gumlines that expose sensitive, cavity prone roots. Recession of the gum line is most often caused by being too aggressive with your brushing.

The damage from recession cannot be reversed and can only be treated by seeing a gum specialist (periodontist) to perform a procedure such as a tissue graft. This is where they take tissue from another area of your mouth (usually the roof of your mouth) and reattach it over the sensitive exposed roots. Sounds drastic, doesn’t it? It is so much easier using an electric toothbrush in the first place to prevent recession.

Do You Want Rotating/Oscillating/Pulsating or Sonic?

There are two main brush types to choose from. You can either use a rotating/oscillating type brush head or one that works by sonic vibrations. Both are very effective electric toothbrushes for different reasons.

Let’s look at the mechanics of how each one works.  A comparative clinical study of rotating/oscillating/pulsating brushes versus sonic brushes can be viewed from PubMed. A rotating/oscillating/pulsating toothbrush does just that. It surrounds each tooth as it spins in circles.

The brush head pulsates to loosen plaque and then oscillates and rotates to sweep the plaque away. Oral B electric toothbrushes have a dentist inspired, small, round head which removes more plaque in hard to reach areas.

A sonic toothbrush works in an entirely different way. In addition to the regular scrubbing motion of a regular toothbrush it also creates a secondary cleansing motion to disrupt plaque. This motion is created beyond where the tips of the bristles can reach and is called fluid dynamics.

Fluid dynamics refers to the process where the intense speed and vibration of the brush head’s oscillating bristles agitate the fluids surrounding the teeth so that plaque is disrupted. After that, the regular motion of the brush head takes the plaque away.

With sonic toothbrushes, the fluid dynamics also creates tiny micro bubbles from the motion of the bristles in an air/fluid environment. Plaque can be disrupted by the energy created when these tiny micro bubbles burst. This happens when they are forcefully propelled against the tooth.

In reading this, it might make sense that a sonic type toothbrush would have added benefits when it comes to plaque removal. However, it has to be stated that there needs to be more research to prove the long-term benefit of using a sonic toothbrush over other types of electric toothbrushes. 

A recent 6-month clinical evaluation was performed comparing the different types of electric toothbrushes and can be viewed from the National Health Institute. Non-the-less, a sonic toothbrush will more effectively clean your teeth than a manual toothbrush. The biggest part of sonic brush’s cleaning mechanism is due to the conventional scrubbing action of the bristles on the teeth.

Electric toothbrushes

Each of these methods is very effective at cleaning your teeth. When choosing between rotating/oscillating/pulsating or sonic toothbrushes, it is a matter of personal preference. Some people like the quietness of the sonic vibration while others may be sensitive to the vibration so the rotating/oscillating/pulsating style brush is preferred.

Look For ADA Seal of Acceptance

ADA stands for American Dental Association. The ADA Seal of Acceptance was founded back in 1931 to give consumers a way of finding oral health care products that are safe and effective.

When a toothbrush has the ADA Seal of Acceptance, you know that the toothbrush has been proven to be safe and effective at removing plaque and also for helping to prevent and reduce inflammation of the gums.

In order for a product to earn the ADA Seal of Acceptance, it has to meet the ADA standards and pass a number of ADA laboratory tests. When a product displays this seal, you can be rest assured that the guess work has been done for you and you are getting a quality product that works! Always look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance on an electric toothbrush. The Oral B and Sonicare toothbrushes all have this seal.

So What’s The Best Electric Toothbrush?

Let’s look at the top 5 choices:

Best of the Best- Oral B Genius Pro 8000

Oral B Genius Pro 8000

Features and details

  • Position detection helps you brush the way your dentist recommends which tracks the time you’ve spent brushing each area of the mouth
  • Smartphone Oral B app uses innovative technology and your device’s camera to ensure you do not miss a zone
  • Pressure sensor technology to prevent over brushing which automatically reduces brush speed and a visual alert when too much pressure is applied to protect teeth and gums
  • 6 different cleaning modes: Daily Clean, Gum Care, Sensitive, Whitening, Tongue Cleaning and Pro Clean Mode
  • Real time visual coaching
  • Amazon Dash Replenishment option to automatically reorder replacement heads when it’s time if you choose
  • Travel case that allows charging of your smartphone and toothbrush at the same time
  • Built in timer

Cons

  • Slightly noisy
  • Can take a few days to get used to
  • Pricier than other Oral B models    

Best for Complete Oral Care- Sonicare DiamondClean Smart

Sonicare DiamondClean SmartFeatures and details

  • Smartphone app combines smart sensors to provide real-time feedback perfecting your technique
  • Location sensor tracks where you have brushed and where you have missed
  • Brush head reordering service automatically orders new brush heads for you when needed
  • Glass holder that instantly starts charging your brushes when you simply place your toothbrush in it
  • 5 modes including: Clean, White+, Deep Clean+, Gum Health and TongueCare+
  • 3 intensities: High, Medium and Low
  • Pressure sensor to alert you when you apply too much pressure- light ring on handle lights up
  • 4 different brush head types that automatically pair with the appropriate brushing mode
  • Built in timer

Cons

  • No stand or holder for smartphone
  • No brush head storage
  • More expensive than other Sonicare models

The Best Sonic Clean for the Price- Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6100

Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6100Features and details

  • Built in pressure sensor
  • Surface stain removal to whiten teeth
  • 3 intensities, high, medium and low
  • 3 modes including: Clean, White and Gum Care
  • Safe and gentle for sensitive teeth
  • Includes travel case
  • BrushSync tracks how long you have been using your brush head for and when it’s time to replace
  • 2 weeks of regular use from a single charge
  • Built in timer

Cons

  • Brush heads can be expensive depending on where you buy them
  • May have more features than you need

High Performer With Low Price- Oral B Pro 1000

Oral B Pro 1000Features and details

  • Rechargeable with one mode- Daily Clean
  • Clinically proven superior cleaning action rotates, oscillates and pulsates simultaneously
  • Pressure sensor will stop brushing action if too much pressure is applied
  • Features the CrossAction toothbrush head with crisscross bristles to reach between teeth
  • Compatible with a variety of Oral B brush heads for every oral care need
  • Amazon’s #1 best-seller
  • Built in timer
  • Very affordable

Cons

  • Does not come with extra features such as smartphone technology
  • No position detection to alert you to areas you’ve missed
  • No choices of modes or intensities

The Best Sonic Brush With Water Flossing- Waterpik SonicFusion

Waterpik SonicFusionFeatures and details

  • Combines the proven effectiveness of the Waterpik Water Flosser with the power of an advanced sonic toothbrush
  • The head of the brush contains a built-in water flosser tip
  • Time saving as brushing and flossing can be achieved at the same time
  • There are settings up to 10 to customize comfort and intensity of the clean desired
  • Built in timer
  • Comes with 2 patented water flossing heads
  • Includes travel case
  • Features 3 modes: brush, floss, and brush + floss
  • Water flossing removes twice as much bacterial plaque than traditional floss

Cons

  • When traveling you can take brush away from water reservoir and it will hold a charge for a full week or you can bring entire unit with you to utilize water flossing option
  • Basic model will hold 2 fewer ounces of water than professional model but professional model will take up slightly more space on the counter

Learn more about the Waterpik SonicFusion toothbrush by reading the product review or you can watch the video below.

Now You Know What Is the Best Electric Toothbrush

I have outlined what is the best electric toothbrush and given you the 5 best choices of Oral B and sonic brushes. By choosing an electric toothbrush, you will have made the choice to improve your oral health.

By improving your oral health, you are also improving your overall health. Read more about other oral health solutions you can implement into your home care. The mouth is a window into the health of the body.

Ongoing research studies are showing the relationship between bacterial plaque and many systemic diseases including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease. These are just to name a few!

If you can afford it, you will be very satisfied with a higher end model. You get what you pay for with more overall features. However, if affordability is an issue, you will still be getting a very good electric brush with the less expensive versions mentioned.

Please feel free to leave any questions or concerns below and I will be happy to help. I encourage you to please take the first step to better oral health by investing in an electric toothbrush. You are not only investing in your smile but a better overall you!

Medical Disclaimer:
The information that I provide on my website is not intended to take the place of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Care and investigation should always be sought from an appropriate health care provider.  I am not a doctor and do not claim to be one.  I have created this site as a way to share information and experiences. 


20 comments

  1. RoDarrick

    Wow! I’m always amazed at the rate at which technological development has helped us to make some striking development to our benefits. My dentist just prescribed getting an electric toothbrush today and I was kind of amazed. I never even knew that it existed till I was told today. Also, it feels nice to know that it is way more better than the manual brush. I like the Oral B Genius Pro 8000. The features are great and it would be a good way to kickstart with an electric brush.

    1. Michelle

      RoDarrick,

      I am so glad your Dentist recommended an electric toothbrush for you.  Quite honestly, I believe every single one of my patients could benefit from using one.  I feel the general public is unaware of the many oral health benefits of using one.  This may be due in part to the fact that not everyone visits the Dentist on a regular basis.

      To your continued oral health,

      Michelle

  2. MissusB

    Lucky me, I have been informed of the benefits of an electric toothbrush. The question is, do electric toothbrushes wear down tooth enamel? This article says that it brushes a lot longer time than manual brushes do, so even though it is just soft brushing, wouldn’t it still affect the enamel? Also, it seems to me that sonic toothbrushes perform better than the rotating/oscillating type so I think the Sonicare Protective Clean is the choice for me. Its features are exactly what I need. Thanks for providing us information about tooth brushing which is essential to our daily health. 

    1. Michelle

      Missus,

      Even though you are brushing for a full two minutes, (which is longer than most people spend with a manual brush) you are exerting less pressure.  When using an electric toothbrush from this article: What Is The Best Electric Toothbrush | Oral B or Sonic (5 Best Choices), you will have a built in pressure sensor.  This sensor alerts you to when you are applying too much pressure.  Dentists and Hygienists specifically recommend electric toothbrushes for those patients who show abrasion or wear on their enamel causes by over brushing with a manual toothbrush.  

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts,

      Michelle

  3. Henderson

    Wow, I have heard of the electric toothbrush so many times but I just found out that they have so many benefits. I used to think they were just part of the technological evolution of our world right now. Well, two minutes to brush my teeth? I don’t think I spend that much time with my manual tooth brush. Okay, yes, I am getting this toohbrush even though I feel they are somewhat expensive. Nothing is really expensive for my health is it?

    1. Michelle

      Henderson,

      You are absolutely correct.  Your oral health is directly correlated to the health of your entire body.  I am glad you see the importance of good oral health!

      Thanks for your comment,

      Michelle

  4. Dane

    I’ve been a bit lazy with regards to my daughter’s tooth problems since she was 5 years old. She currently has cavities and bleeds when ever she brushes her teeth. It really had me worried until about a few minutes ago when I saw the description of electric toothbrushes. It seems very nice, I must confess. Hope it’s safe to be used by a 5 year old child.

     

    1. Michelle

      Dane,

      Yes, an electric toothbrush is fine for a 5 year old child.  However, they are not recommended for children younger than age 3.  They are actually quite beneficial for children 3 years and older due to the lack of dexterity children have when using a manual toothbrush.  Please read this article related to children’s dental health: Children’s Dental Health- Helpful Tips For Parents.

      Best of luck with your child’s dental health,

      Michelle

  5. Peter

    Wow! Electric toothbrushes have come such a long way since I was a kid. Even now, when the batteries run out on my kid’s electric toothbrushes, we tend to revert back to the manual brushes with the novelty wearing off. Reading what you say though, we should replace the batteries or purchase a rechargeable style.

    Are there are other brands you might recommend? With my birthday approaching, I love the look of the Phillips Sonicare Diamond Clean Toothbrush, though that is a lot of money for a toothbrush, though I suppose if it reduces the requirements at the dentist it will pay for itself in time. Why aren’t all dentists recommending these?

    1. Michelle

      Peter,

      Yes, electric toothbrushes are clinically proven to remove more bacterial plaque than manual toothbrushes.  The Sonicare Diamond Clean is also a very highly recommended toothbrush and many people like it because of its sleek design.  I would avoid battery operated toothbrushes due to the fact that they do not provide as much power to give you the added brushstrokes per minute.  Also, battery operated toothbrushes tend to be big and bulky and do not provide as good of an overall clean as a rechargeable ‘plug into the wall’ brush will.  However, some people like to purchase these for their kids for the novelty of it and sometimes that is enough to encourage children to brush better.  All dentists are recommending these toothbrushes.  Please ask your dentist or hygienist about electric toothbrushes- you will find they are happy to share the latest advances in dental technology with you!

      Thanks for your questions and comments,

      Michelle

  6. Pentrental

    Improving my health is always something I’m interested in if I can help it using time-effective methods, as time is almost as important as health. Though without our health there is no time. An electric toothbrush is something I’m always interested in because it saves time while producing quality results over time. I agree that electric tooth brushes work better than manual ones. Of your choices I too think that Oral B Genius Pro 8000 is best. I like that it has all sorts of bells and whistles as well as 6 different modes. That it has a travel charger for brush and smartphones as well as a timer are added bonuses. I’ll definitely save your link for when it’s soon time for a new brush, thank you!

    1. Michelle

      Pentrental,

      Thank you so much for your comment.  You will be very pleased with the Oral B Genius Pro 8000.  I wanted to point out to you another article that discusses how you can save time by using another highly recommended product.  I agree that time is very important not to waste.  This article will further discuss the WaterPik SonicFusion which allows you to save time by brushing and flossing at the same time with one device.  You can read about it in further detail here:  Brush and Floss at the Same Time- Sonic-Fusion by Waterpik.

      Regards,

      Michelle

  7. Nice Gal Nikki

    Hi thank you for the review on best electric toothbrush. I’ve been thinking about investing in one as I know they are a lot better for your teeth and gums than a regular toothbrush. Does it get into places that a regular toothbrush cannot? I have been curious about this. Any tips would be great!

    1. Michelle

      Nikki,

      Thank you for your comment on What Is The Best Electric Toothbrush | Oral B or Sonic (5 Best Choices).  You will be very pleased with your purchase of an electric toothbrush.  You will be amazed at how much cleaner your teeth and gums will be after using one.  They are notorious for reaching into the “hard to reach” areas such as behind the lower front teeth and behind the last molar way in the back.  If you have a smaller mouth, I would advise using the Oral B as the head is small and round and fits easier in tight spaces.

      Thanks for reading,

      Michelle

  8. Henry

    Hi! Thanks for pointing to check out the ADA Seal of Acceptance. But I prefer to follow your recommendation and choose one of the five you mentioned here (they all have the ADA Seal).

    I went over to Amazon to check Oral B Genius Pro 8000’s price. I was expecting something astronomical, but it turns out it’s quite affordable.

    How often is it recommended to replace heads for this Genius Pro 8000? Thanks.

    1. Michelle

      Henry,

      You will be pleasantly surprised from the benefits of using one of the recommended electric toothbrushes mentioned in the article ‘What Is The Best Electric Toothbrush | Oral B or Sonic (5 Best Choices)’.  These brushes are quality products that will last you a very long time.  It is recommended to replace the brush of an electric toothbrush once every 6 months.  This is twice as long as the recommended 3 month replacement time for a manual toothbrush.  The replacement heads for an electric toothbrush can be bought in bulk making them even more affordable.

      Thanks for reading,

      Michelle

  9. jessetoikkanen

    Great and very educative article about choosing the best electric toothbrush. You really are the expert on the topic you are writing about! I have started a new website a couple of weeks ago and when browsing other sites among my niche, there are lots of people without any real knowledge about the topic and lots of false claims. Thumbs up for you! I fully agree that an electric toothbrush is much more effective than manual ones, both my own experience and all studies I have read about the thread underlines this fact. 

    1. Michelle

      Jesse,

      Thank you for reading What Is The Best Electric Toothbrush | Oral B or Sonic (5 Best Choices).  I do have plenty of experience in this matter.  I have been practicing full time as a Dental Hygienist now for almost 30 years and have completed extensive continuing education in the field.  I also have the benefit of seeing the results first hand in the improvement of the mouths of my patients who use an electric toothbrush. 

      Thanks for your comment,

      Michelle

  10. Marie

    This is very useful, educational and information-rich post. Dental hygiene is very important for personal care and personally, l always have the impression that the ordinary toothbrush will do a better job and the electric brush will be too sensitive for my teeth. However, this post has really informed and educated me more than my dentist. 

    1. Michelle

      Marie, 

      I am glad you took the time to read ‘What Is The Best Electric Toothbrush l Oral B or Sonic (5 Best Choices)’  Many people share your misconception about the cleaning capabilities of an electric toothbrush.  The clinical studies have proven their effectiveness and I am certain you will notice the difference yourself.  The main reason electric toothbrushes are better for sensitive teeth is because of the built in pressure sensor.  This sensor alerts you to when you are applying too much pressure.  This is also important if you have any issues with receding gums from over brushing.  Please read a related article on preventing receding gums.

      Thanks, 

      Michelle

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