I’ve used a traditional (non-electric) toothbrush for the last 39 years. Call me old fashioned, but I’ve never really seen the need to have a machine do to exact same thing my hand can do.
However, Megan recently spotted a good sale on electric toothbrushes, and we both got one. I’ve been using my Oral B 7000 for the last week.
I’m not entirely convinced that the 7000 does a better job than a traditional toothbrush, but my teeth do feel really clean afterwards, like that smooth feeling after you visit the dentist. So that’s nice.
Also, with my old toothbrush, I had a problem that I would start to think about games/business and end up brushing my teeth for 10+ minutes. That really isn’t good for my long-term gum health. The electric toothbrush requires a lot more focus, and it alerts me when I’m 2 or 3 minutes into the session.
The 7000 has a bunch of different modes and even bluetooth (it connects to an app on your phone), but I just like to keep it simple. Turn it on, brush, turn it off.
One of my main concerns was about the noise, and as I suspected, it’s pretty loud. But it’s just a few minutes, and it doesn’t scare the cats, so it’s fine.
The one other downside that isn’t immediately apparent is that the electric toothbrush will be considerably more expensive in the long run due to the cost of brush head replacements. We’ll see how that goes.
Have you used an electric toothbrush? Do you think it works better than a regular toothbrush?
I switched to an electric toothbrush back in 2014 when my dentist recommended a sonic care brush. I like them a lot and have used them ever since. I agree, my mouth feels cleaner afterwards, but the heads do get expensive. I think it’s worth it though. After switching, my dentist commented on my next visit that my teeth were much better than they had been at my last visit (and I hadn’t changed my routine) so that finished selling me on it. I will probably continue using electric forever at this point. Especially since there are some very cheap ones out there now if my current one breaks.
I’ve been using a Sonicare toothbrush for years and am very satisfied with the experience. I just recently upgraded my old one for the latest top of the range as it was on offer on Prime Day in the UK. The fact that this one monitors the health of the brush-head and reminds you to replace it (in about 3 months depending on usage pattern) is kinda nice even if the heads are expensive.
Worth it for how good a job it does compared to manual brushing.
Jamey,
I tried it for a few weeks, like many folks, due to the advice offered by my dental technician. I’m honestly not a fan, and while I’m sure it’s great for many folks, it’s a pass for me.
Cheers,
Joe
I have been using an electric toothbrush for 15+ years. I will never go back to manual brushing. Cleaner teeth, better gum health. 30-second quadrant brushing with beep reminders was a game-changer. A mistake newer users make is moving the electric brush back and forth too quickly – mimicking what you’re used to with a manual. Go slow, angle bristles properly. I’m sure there is a You Tube video for each manufacturer’s brush on “how to” brush. The higher equipment cost (replacement heads) will pay for itself with healthier teeth & gums that won’t require expensive work.
Thanks for the tip, Chris! I’ll start doing it that way.
I have an electric toothbrush, and I used it for a while. It’s VERY loud though–it’s a cheap one. Eventually I stopped using it and went back to manual.
In the last couple of years, my dentist has recommended electric every time I see him, and my brother-in-law, who is a dentist, uses an electric toothbrush. I know there are benefits…maybe this post is the jolt to get me to invest in a decent one and switch back!