What To Look For
An electric toothbrush is a battery-operated or rechargeable toothbrush that uses vibrating and oscillating motions to clean teeth. Some electric toothbrushes, such as the Philips Sonicare use sonic technology to clean and reduce plaque and tartar buildup. When selecting an electric toothbrush, make sure it has a timer because dentists recommend brushing for two minutes to effectively clean teeth. Choose a model that has replaceable brush heads, since toothbrushes should be changed every three months to ensure optimal performance.
The American Dental Association recommends paying special attention to the size and shape of the brush head because it needs to fit comfortably in your mouth and be easy to maneuver in order to properly clean teeth.
Common Pitfalls
Electric toothbrushes are not as small and compact as manual toothbrushes, which can make it hard to bring them with you when traveling. They are also significantly more expensive than manual toothbrushes and still require a brush head change every three months. Those with extremely sensitive teeth and gums may find an electric toothbrush too harsh and abrasive, and it can sometimes be challenging to find extra-soft brush heads.
Where To Buy
Electric toothbrushes are commonly sold everywhere manual toothbrushes are, which include grocery stores, drugstores, department stores such as Macy's and retailers such as Target and Bed, Bath and Beyond. It's important to note that high-end electric toothbrushes that use sonic technology are not usually sold in drugstores, but the basic types, such as the Arm & Hammer Sprinbrush, which is a battery-operated toothbrush, are available.
Cost
Basic battery-operated electric toothbrushes available in drugstores typically retail for $9 to $18 and the higher-end electric toothbrushes that utilize sonic technology usually retail for $99 to $150. As a rule of thumb, the higher the price of the toothbrush, the more technology is included.
Comparison Shopping
Affordable electric toothbrushes are becoming more readily available. Arm & Hammer recently introduced the Pro Clean Sonic Recharge, an electric toothbrush that, according to the brand, uses the same sonic technology as the more expensive electric toothbrushes but is sold at an affordable price.
Consumer Search rated the Oral-B Professional Care Smart Series 4000 as the best-reviewed electric toothbrush.
