Dentists agree that brushing your teeth for two minutes, twice a day is the best thing you can do to keep your teeth healthy. And some studies suggest that an electric toothbrush may help keep your teeth cleaner.
Consumer Reports just tested some and tells us which models did the best.
An electric toothbrush can cost well over $100. So, how do you choose the right one? Consumer Reports enlisted some volunteers to test a batch of powered toothbrushes.
The volunteers were instructed to skip brushing their teeth or using any other dental products for eight hours. Then a dental hygienist checked their teeth for plaque levels.
Afterward, each volunteer was given an
electric toothbrush. They were instructed to brush for 2 minutes, and the
hygienist measured their plaque levels again.
CR’s cleaning performance score is
based on the before-and-after differences. The electric toothbrushes were also
tested for battery performance, ease of use, and noise.
The electric toothbrush at the top of
CR’s ratings is the Oral-B, which got the top score for ease of use.
A cheaper option that also did well is
the Philips Sonicare.
Whether you’re using a top-of-the line
powered toothbrush or a manual one, experts say the way you brush your teeth is
important. Here are a few tips:
- Angle your toothbrush at 45 degrees to reach the space between your teeth and gums.
- Focus on two teeth at a time and work your way around your mouth.
- Don’t brush too hard, because that could do more harm than good.
Consumer Reports says another thing to
consider is how much waste plastic manual toothbrushes create. By using an
electric model, you only have to replace the brush head, so you’re tossing out
a little less plastic.
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