Brushing your teeth with one of the best electric toothbrushes can help prevent gum disease, fend off tooth decay and banish bad breath, all of which can help you live longer in return. It's a fact. One recent study actually found that brushing your teeth regularly and properly could slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (gum disease can speed up mental decline by six times), while further research suggested that poor dental care and lack of oral hygiene can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease and pneumonia. But not everyone brushes twice-daily (a 2019 study by Simply Health found that nearly a quarter of Brits shamefully only manage one teeth brushing session a day!) – and you might not brush for your full two minutes when the next beginning of Luckiest Girl Alive is calling. Or, you might be doing so manually.
Enter: state-of-the-art electric toothbrushes from the likes of Oral-B and Phillips that can time your brush, help you apply the right amount of pressure and remove plaque more effectively than ever before.
Are electric toothbrushes better than manual toothbrushes?
How do electric toothbrushes work?
What is the difference between oscillating and sonic electric toothbrushes?
What to consider when shopping for an electric toothbrush
How often to charge it?
How often to replace it?
The best electric toothbrushes, reviewed
Read More
Gucci Black Friday sales exist and they're everything we dreamed of
Here's where to find them.
By Georgia Trodd
Are electric toothbrushes better than manual toothbrushes?
Absolutely. Dr Reena Wadia, gum specialist and founder of dental clinic RW Perio told us that electric toothbrushes are undoubtedly more effective than their manual counterparts. “A rechargeable electric toothbrush has been scientifically shown to be more effective at removing plaque than a manual or battery operated brush,” she said. Time and time again. “The advantage of an electric toothbrush is that it does the work for you. The bristle movement is optimal – you just need to hold it in the right place.”
How do electric toothbrushes work?
Put most simply, electric toothbrushes are battery powered toothbrushes that work to reduce plaque, improve gum health and freshen breath with features like timers, pressure sensors and app connectivity. They use either sonic or oscillating vibrations.
What is the difference between oscillating and sonic electric toothbrushes?
There are two main types of electric toothbrush: the oscillating kind and the and sonic kind. Oscillating electric toothbrushes have round, oscillating heads which rotate at high speeds. The latest Oral-B iO model (series 9) has an oscillating head. On the contrary, sonic heads look a bit more like a classic electric toothbrush - they don't rotate, rather vibrate. A good example would be any of the electric toothbrushes in the Philips Sonicare range. Both are just as effective as each other - you simply need to decide which you might prefer.
Read More
I tried Kendall Jenner's £20 teeth whitening pen and it's actually pretty good
By Bianca London
What other features should I consider in an electric toothbrush?
Besides the vibration type, there are a few other features you might consider before investing in a new electric toothbrush... a pressure sensor being one of them. The best electric toothbrushes come armed with sensors that flash or bleep when you're pressing too hard on your teeth, to prevent you from damaging them.
You should also look for a timer (to remind you to brush for two minutes, no less), a selection of cleaning modes (like sensitive, whitening or featherlight to help you target different concerns) and whether your electric toothbrush connects to an app. Many of the latest models do, and they can be really useful in showing you which parts of your mouth you're missing, how long you're brushing for, recording gum bleeding or whether you've cleaned your tongue.
How often do you need to charge an electric toothbrush?
That totally depends on the model - but if you invest in a good quality electric toothbrush, you're look at approximately once a week. Or even less - Philips' Sonicare electric toothbrushes only need charging around once every three weeks. Impressive, right?
How often do I need to replace my toothbrush?
Unlike with manual brushes, once you've invested in a good quality electric toothbrush, it'll last you for years without the need for switching things up. You just need to replace the electric toothbrush head once every couple of months. Most models come with a selection of heads in the box, and you can purchase replacements on Amazon fairly affordably. This pack of eight Oral-B compatible electric toothbrush heads costs just £20.
