Brushing with a manual or electric toothbrush?

Created: September 22, 2022 | Updated: March 22, 2023

Table of contents

- Handheld or electric toothbrush?

- Brushing with a manual toothbrush

- The electric toothbrush: the cons

- Advantages of an electric toothbrush

- Electric vs regular toothbrush

If you ask scientists what makes someone attractive, it will not surprise you that a nice smile is high on the list of popular traits! Having well-groomed teeth is, of course, crucial in this regard. Besides, your teeth should last a lifetime, so it is important to take good care of them throughout your life. But what is the best tootbrush and what is the best way to use it? Today we look at the electric toothbrush vs manual toothbrush competition.

Handheld or electric toothbrush?

To keep your teeth properly clean, it is important to brush them daily. Many dentists therefore recommend brushing at least twice a day: in the morning and in the evening. To do this, you use a toothpaste that contains at least fluoride, as well as any other supporting ingredients that can help with sensitive gums or whiten your teeth. One of the most important choices you can make for your teeth is between an electric or manual toothbrush.

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Brushing with a manual toothbrush

Classic manual toothbrushes have been used since 1498 – so super old, and maybe a bit dated too? Of course, with the right brushing technique, you can go a long way with a manual toothbrush. The bristles ensure that plaque and food particles are removed, but you have to make sure you make the right movements while doing so. This means you spend more time brushing your teeth.

An advantage of the manual toothbrush is of course that it costs little, is easy to take with you and does not need to be recharged. So when you go on holiday or want to brush away the green bits of salad between your teeth at work or study before you walk into another meeting, it is absolutely ideal! When brushing with a manual toothbrush, make sure you brush carefully and not too hard!

The electric toothbrush: the cons

An electric toothbrush is quite similar to the traditional toothbrush in appearance. It still involves a brush on a handle, but the handle is a lot thicker. This is because the electric toothbrush is motorised and therefore battery-powered. Both the motor and the rechargeable battery are built into the handle.

The disadvantage of an electric toothbrush, therefore, can be that it is a bit more difficult to carry around. The toothbrush is a bit bigger and heavier than its traditional counterpart, and you have to check in advance that it is charged. If you are going away for a bit longer, such as on holiday, you will also need to take the toothbrush charger with you to keep brushing.

Advantages of an electric toothbrush

However, this is offset by an important advantage: an electric toothbrush helps you brush incredibly well. For example, the toothbrush often tells you when you have brushed long enough. Many toothbrushes are also equipped with a sensor that indicates whether you are brushing too hard.

However, the most important advantage is in the way you brush: because an electric toothbrush makes the brushing movements itself, your teeth will be much cleaner than with a regular toothbrush. In a 2015 consumer report, we can read that with an electric toothbrush, you remove as much as 21% more plaque than with a manual toothbrush!

You also don’t have to pay as much attention, with a little routine, your teeth will be perfectly clean even in the morning with a sleepy head because brushing is easier and most of the movements are made by the toothbrush itself.