A Guide to Buying Electric Toothbrushes

Looking to buy an electric toothbrush? Electric toothbrushes these days come with many different features, and with so many options to choose from, electric toothbrushes require a bit of thought before you make a decision, as they usually aren’t cheap either. See our guide to buying electric toothbrushes below to help you make the right decision!

How it is powered

Does the electric toothbrush run on rechargeable or battery power? While rechargeable toothbrushes are more economical, if you’re going for a holiday or someone that is often travelling away from home, lugging around a charger can be quite bothersome — and a nightmare if you lose it! For rechargeable electric toothbrushes, an important consideration is how long the battery will last for between charges. The last thing you want is to wake up and realise your electric toothbrush has no power while getting ready for work.

The features it comes with

Dentists will advise you to brush your teeth for a full two minutes to maintain good oral health. Rather than staring at the clock while brushing your teeth, many electric toothbrushes come with a timer built in so that you don’t need to think about the time. Another popular feature is that of pressure sensors, that will alert you if you are pressing against your teeth with too much pressure to prevent you doing more than harm than good. Also consider whether the electric toothbrush has a soft grip. This is not just for comfort’s sake — soft grips mean that the electric toothbrush will vibrate less, making for better brushing.

The type of electric toothbrush

Electric toothbrushes move in a wide variety of different ways. The most common (mainly because it is often the least expensive) are rotating electric toothbrushes. The next step up from that are rotating-oscillating electric toothbrushes, which rotate in one direction and then another, allowing for the cleaner brushing of individual teeth.

Pulsing electric toothbrushes are a kind that move the head backwards and forwards while spinning against the teeth, which is an effective method for dislodging plaque. For the maximum effect dual head electric toothbrushes are also a popular choice, with one head rotating while the other moves from side to side — combining the best of both worlds.

If you wear braces, it is generally advised that electric toothbrushes with small heads are used, as it allows the user to better manoeuvre the toothbrush into harder to reach places.