Many people ask me if they should really spend all that money on a fancy electric toothbrush. My answer is always a resounding YES.  First lets clarify a few options that you have; 1) Good old-fashioned hand operated manual toothbrush 2) A battery powered electric toothbrush 3) Fancy schmancy rechargeable electric toothbrush. Now let me explain why you should choose option 3 and go for a fancy schmancy every single time.

Numerous studies have shown that rechargeable electric toothbrushes are better at removing plaque and helping fight gingivitis than manual toothbrushes. The reason is that the brush head on an electric toothbrush will vibrate faster than your hand ever could. This means that it will clear away more of the bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease. Less bacteria means a healthier mouth.

Besides its cleaning power the rechargeable electric toothbrushes have some other essential features. They all usually include a timer. Most people don’t brush long enough even if they brush properly. The proper amount of time to brush is 2 minutes. Unless you’re using a sand timer chances are your over or under brushing. The fancy schmancy toothbrush gets rid of the guessing.

A lot of them also include a pressure sensor. I come across a good number of patients who brush too hard and end up damaging their teeth and gums. Unless you’re dating or married to a dentist theres no one at home to tell you if you’re brushing too hard.  The fancy schamcy toothbrush however will, and you wont even have to take it out to dinner. Not only can it better fight disease but it can also let you know if you're causing unnecessary harm to your teeth.

Wait why not just go with the cheaper battery operated ones, option number 2? The reason is that battery operated ones are not strong enough to vibrate as much as the rechargeable ones. Also they usually don’t come with other fancy features (timer, pressure sensor, etc) that in my opinion are not a luxury but are essential. The battery operated ones are still better than the old fashioned manual toothbrush but they come nowhere close to the rechargeable electric ones.

Your teeth are important and you brush your teeth everyday. They are a sign of confidence and help you enjoy the foods you love to eat. Be good to them and give them every chance to stay with you throughout your lifetime. A fancy schmancy electric toothbrush is one of the best tools to help you do just that. So make sure to add it to your birthday or christmas list.