How To Choose An Electric Toothbrush
There was a time when your biggest decision in choosing a toothbrush was soft or firm bristles … and maybe the handle color. These days, consumers face seemingly endless options in the oral-care aisle, with dozens of electric-powered models, each boasting an array of features. They promise to whiten, remove plaque and combat gum disease — all while talking to your smartphone. Dental professionals agree that the stroke efficiency of an electric toothbrush — which essentially does the work for you — beats a manual model, hands down, but a decent one can cost anywhere from $40 to $300 or more.
Do you really need to break the bank to keep your teeth healthy? For some answers, I went to three oral-care specialists: Adrienne Hedrick, a general practice dentist with 16 years of experience in Longmont, Colo.; Chicago-based dental hygienist Whitney DiFoggio, who founded the YouTube channel Teeth Talk Girl; and Michael Israel, assistant clinical practice leader at Touro College of Dental Medicine in Hawthorne, N.Y. Here are their tips on what to consider when choosing an electric toothbrush.
Do brand and cost matter?
“A lot of electric toothbrushes look appealing but don’t have a lot of backing,” Hedrick says. “I like the major brands, such as Oral-B and Sonicare, because they have proven reliable, and you get a guarantee if something does go wrong.” But don’t get caught up in the hype of a top-of-the-line model. The technology is similar across a brand’s various options, from basic to high end. “Paying $250 for a toothbrush is insane,” she says. “The brush and how it works is the same, you just get more bells and whistles with more expensive versions.”
Look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance
The American Dental Association awards this seal to oral-care products that are safe and effective. There are a number of low-cost, “faux” battery-powered electric toothbrushes on the market that are more aesthetically pleasing than they are clinically effective. The handle vibrates more than the head, but dupes you into thinking the brush head is doing the work. So before you buy that toothbrush in your favorite color, check the packaging for the ADA seal.