This post is authored by Dr. Augustin Gabriel Iancu, DDS, owner of 15 Aspen Dental offices across New York State and Vermont.

Ever wondered if the electric toothbrushes on display at your dentist’s office, or the electric brushes you see on the shelves of your neighborhood store, are more effective and better than the manual toothbrush you’ve been using?

Although the effectiveness of brushing your teeth is not solely reliant on the toothbrush that you use, experts believe that the type of toothbrush you use is a factor affecting how well you remove plaque from your teeth. According to a 2005 independent study on the Oral-B website, “Brushes that worked with a rotation oscillation (round and round) action removed more plaque and reduced gingivitis more effectively than manual brushes in the short and long-term… No other powered brush designs were consistently superior.”

Rechargeable electric toothbrushes and manual toothbrushes both offer benefits to users, but which type should you choose? Let’s look at the options:

The Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush

Also known as the “power toothbrush”, the rechargeable electric toothbrush plugs into the wall to charge and is most similar to what the dentist uses during your cleanings. There are different types of technology used in different brushes – so some may oscillate and rotate while other ‘sonic’ brushes vibrate hundreds of times per second.

Fans of the Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush Say:

There are different brushing modes specialized for sensitive teeth, whitening benefits or gum-massaging.

The toothbrush itself provides the cleaning action while you only need to guide the brush along the tooth’s surface.

Built-in timers help to keep track of how long you are brushing.

Pressure sensors in the brush detect if you are brushing too hard.

Brushes remind you to replace your toothbrush head.

The Manual Toothbrush

Your good, old-fashioned, manual toothbrush is still the most common toothbrush used today (your dentist probably sends you home with one after each visit!). Although it does not offer the same features as the electric brush, the technology in manual toothbrush heads is becoming more advanced. Additionally, battery powered toothbrushes, which are similar in design to the manual toothbrush, offer a bit of extra cleaning action.

Fans of the manual toothbrush say:

Manual toothbrushes are affordable and easily accessible.

The manual toothbrush does not require power sources or batteries and is easy to bring with you on travels.

Advanced toothbrush head technology (including bristle and handle design, tapered/angled heads, gum simulators and tongue cleaner pads) allows for better cleaning and brushing.

Battery powered manual toothbrushes offer vibration in the brush head for extra cleaning action.

With all toothbrushes, it is important to change your toothbrush or toothbrush head every 3 months. And don’t let the brush work alone – your brushing technique, frequency of brushing and length of time you spend brushing will directly affect how well you remove plaque. As always, your dentist is there to help discuss what might be the best option for you, so feel free to bring it up the next time you visit the dentist.

© 2013, Guest Blogger. All rights reserved.