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Accessibility statementSkip to main content Democracy Dies in Darkness SubscribeSign in Advertisement Democracy Dies in Darkness Well+BeingBody Food Fitness Mind Life Well+BeingBody Food Fitness Mind Life ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSHES ARE BETTER. BUT THE RIGHT TECHNIQUE MATTERS MORE. With the proper approach, a manual toothbrush can be as effective, particularly for people who are more comfortable with them, a dental expert said. By Lindsey Bever June 7, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. EDT (Linnea Bullion for The Washington Post) Listen 5 min Share Comment on this storyComment438 Add to your saved stories Save THE QUESTION: Is it true that electric toothbrushes are better than manual toothbrushes for your teeth? Subscribe for unlimited access to The Post Save up to 75% for a limited time. Get your first year for €1 every four weeks THE SCIENCE: Whether oscillating and rotating to sweep away debris or using sonic vibrations to get the job done, electric toothbrushes are better at removing dental plaque and reducing gingivitis than manual brushes, studies show. Still, dental experts say, there are other factors to consider. A 2014 review of studies that had more than 5,000 participants in total reported that after using an electric toothbrush for three months, there was a 21 percent reduction in plaque, which can cause gingivitis (inflammation of the gum) and tooth decay. And there was an 11 percent reduction in gingivitis, which, left untreated, can lead to more advanced gum disease and tooth loss. Story continues below advertisement Research has also shown that oscillating-rotating toothbrushes may have a slight edge over high-frequency sonic toothbrushes. Advertisement But the toothbrush may not be the key. 🧘 Follow Health & wellness Follow “The most important thing is not so much the brush, but the brusher,” said Edmond Hewlett, a spokesman for the American Dental Association. “And by that, I mean that we talk to our patients about one toothbrush versus another and try to help them choose the one that they’re most likely to use, and then to use it effectively.” Skip to end of carousel GET WELL+BEING TIPS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX (Abbey Lossing for The Washington Post) Sign up for the Well+Being newsletter, your source of expert advice to help you live well. End of carousel With the proper approach, manual toothbrushes can be as effective, particularly for people who are more comfortable with them, said Tien Jiang, an assistant professor at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Story continues below advertisement “It all comes down to technique,” regardless of the kind of toothbrush people choose to use, Jiang said. Experts say bad brushing techniques not only fail to properly clean teeth and gums, but also can damage them, potentially leading to gum recession, tooth sensitivity and loose teeth. Advertisement One advantage to electric toothbrushes is that they do much of the work for the user — they oscillate and rotate or vibrate to dislodge food particles and plaque; many of them have timers to tell users how long to brush; and some have pressure sensors to alert users when they are brushing too hard. “It doesn’t require mastery” of the preferred manual brush technique, said Hewlett, a professor and an associate dean at the School of Dentistry at the University of California at Los Angeles. Story continues below advertisement Electric toothbrushes are also sometimes recommended for people with dexterity issues such as arthritis because they can be easier to hold and maneuver inside the mouth. The main downside is the price tag. The most widely-used rechargeable electric toothbrushes can range from about $30 to about $200. (Battery-powered versions can be purchased for less.) Advertisement Experts emphasized that people should speak with their oral health-care provider about which toothbrush is best for them and, most importantly, to learn proper brushing techniques. WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW: Regardless of the toothbrush you choose, learn the right way to use it, experts say. For manual toothbrushes: Story continues below advertisement * Choose a soft-bristled brush. Not only is it gentler on the gums, but it also splays across the tooth for better coverage. * Hold the toothbrush bristles at a 45-degree angle toward your gum line — where your gums meet your teeth — as this is where plaque tends to be missed. * Using light pressure, brush in a circular motion to sweep the plaque away from the gum line. * Be gentle. “The gum is very delicate and thin, so if you use too much force repeatedly over time, you can cause the gum to recede,” said Sheila Yaghmai, an assistant clinical professor of interdisciplinary dentistry at UCLA’s School of Dentistry. When that happens, she said, the root surface beneath the gum gets exposed, making the tooth hypersensitive to temperature changes and more prone to decay. * Start at one corner with the upper teeth and use this technique to brush from one side to the other across the front of the teeth before moving to the backside and the biting surface. Then move to the lower teeth. Do not spend more than 2 minutes, or about 30 seconds per quadrant, brushing your teeth. For electric toothbrushes: * Get a brush head with soft bristles. * Hold the bristles at a 45-degree angle toward your gum line. * Use light pressure and slowly move the bristles across your teeth using the same approach — across the front of the upper teeth, the backside and then the biting surface before moving to the lower teeth. Hold the brush steady; there is no need to move the brush head in a circular motion. * Some electric toothbrushes alert you when to move to the next quadrant and when the full two-minute brush is complete. But if yours does not, be mindful of the time. Whether using a manual or electric toothbrush, replace your toothbrush or toothbrush head every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles become frayed, according to the ADA. THE BOTTOM LINE: Electric toothbrushes have been shown to be more efficient at removing plaque and reducing gingivitis than manual toothbrushes. But when using the proper brushing technique, experts say, any toothbrush can be effective. READ MORE FROM WELL+BEING Well+Being shares news and advice for living well every day. Sign up for our newsletter to get tips directly in your inbox. A mystery illness stole their kids’ personalities. These moms fought for answers. ‘Menopause brain’ is real. Here’s how women’s brains change in midlife. I’m an oncologist. Here’s what I advised my mom after her cancer diagnosis. How to pick a retirement home and thrive High levels of ultra-processed foods linked with early death, brain issues Share 438 Comments NewsletterDaily Today’s Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors, delivered every morning. Sign up Subscribe to comment and get the full experience. 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