How to pick an electric toothbrush?

Is it better to choose sonic, oscillating or magnetic iO? One for sensitive teeth or for whitening? Learn how to find the best electric toothbrush for your needs.

One thing is certain: all types of electric toothbrushes are generally better than a standard manual toothbrush. The main difference among electric toothbrushes lies in the kind of motion the brush head performs while operating.

Electric toothbrushes can perform several tens of thousands of micro-motions per minute, which makes them way more effective than a manual toothbrush. If you’re still undecided as to which technology to go for, try the following recommendations:

If you need precise, deep brushing, pick an oscillating brush.
For gentle brushing, you’ll need the gentle vibrations of a sonic toothbrush.
If you’d like a combination of both, try a magnetic toothbrush with iO technology.

Sonic toothbrush

A sonic toothbrush uses high-frequency sonic friction in an up-and-down motion, which feels a lot as if the toothbrush is vibrating. This type of motion is great for thoroughly yet gently wiping off any plaque from the teeth and gums. This type of toothbrush is amazing for kids and those with more sensitive teeth. It usually features a brush head that is narrow and elongated.

Oscillating toothbrush

An oscillating toothbrush uses a similar principle. However, as you can tell from the name, it doesn’t move up and down, instead using a circular motion. It performs micro-circles with alternating twists and normally has a round head. Many toothbrushes with an oscillating-rotating technology also move back and forth. This makes them slightly more effective at removing stains on your teeth (left for instance by coffee or red wine).

Magnetic iO tootbrush

A magnetic toothbrush with iO technology is an Oral-B exclusive which combines the gentle energy of micro-vibrating bristles with a round head designed in collaboration with dentists. The shape of the head makes it an oscillating toothbrush without back-and-forth pulsations, and using a magnetised engine. The product comes with a magnetic charger.

Time-saver

One of the main benefits of an electric toothbrush is the recommended 2 to 3 minutes of brushing, which is a considerably shorter time than with a manual toothbrush. Saving 1 minute a day by using an electric toothbrush adds up to 6 hours a year! Not to mention that a shorter brushing time helps you create a regular habit of taking care of your teeth.

Kids

In general, cleaning your teeth with an electric toothbrush is more fun and helps most people brush their teeth for minutes at a time with way more enthusiasm . So, if you don’t enjoy your daily fight with your kids about toothbrushing, get them an electric toothbrush for Christmas or birthday.

Brushing technique

In order to achieve the best results, it’s important to maintain the right brushing technique. Forget about vigorous motions that turn your toothbrush into a witch’s broom – an electric toothbrush can do the work for you. Simply place it against your teeth and make sure that you get every last spot.

No matter what toothbrush you’re using, always start with your upper teeth. The reason is simple – you don’t want to clean your bottom teeth first and then get more impurities on them from above.

Start by cleaning your back teeth and placing the brush against each tooth for a few seconds. An ideal position is between the tooth and the gum where most of the impurities tend to accumulate. Make sure to clean the outer curve, inner curve and the top of the tooth.

Many electric toothbrushes come with a built-in pressure sensor that alerts you if you’re pressing too hard. Most also have a timer to make sure you brush your teeth for a sufficient amount of time. Some toothbrushes also have a smartphone app to show you the quality of your toothbrushing in real time.

In short – an electric toothbrush is always a good idea. Now you’ll only need your manual toothbrush as a back-up if you ever want to go camping in the wild without a power supply. Electric toothbrushes easily hold enough charge for several days but they obviously run out of power eventually, so you might want to keep a simple manual toothbrush at hand just in case.

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