Find amazing value in the electric toothbrush

If I could have only one gadget, it would be the electric toothbrush.

The coffee grinder comes in a close second place, but I only use that once a day (twice for the toothbrush). My flip phone and portable AM/FM radio also rank high on the list, but I doubt they save me as much money as my electric toothbrush. If you believe like I do that using an electric toothbrush results in fewer cavities and healthier gums, you’re also benefiting from less dental work and smaller bills.

Some dentists claim there’s little difference in performance between manual and electric toothbrushes. The American Dental Association states, “Either manual or powered toothbrushes can be used effectively.” However, at least one study suggests electric toothbrushes outperform their manual counterparts.

Electric toothbrushes remove more plaque

The Cochrane Oral Health Group reviewed 56 studies published through 2011 examining 5,068 participants randomized to receive either a powered toothbrush or a manual toothbrush.

The study found an electric toothbrush removed more plaque compared to a manual toothbrush: “There was an 11% reduction in plaque at one to three months of use, and a 21% reduction in plaque when assessed after three months of use. For gingivitis, there was a 6% reduction at one to three months of use and an 11% reduction when assessed after three months of use. The benefits of this for long-term dental health are unclear.”

Even if long-term benefits “are unclear,” a 21% reduction in plaque is, in my view, significant. That kind of performance is not to be ignored. After all, if a different pair of shoes could help you run 21% faster, wouldn’t you get them?  

My 20 years of using an electric toothbrush

My own experience hardly qualifies as scientific. However, I can’t remember getting a new cavity since switching to an electric toothbrush almost 20 years ago. Most dental work I need nowadays involves old fillings I acquired before switching to an electric toothbrush. It’s possible other variables have played a role in my improved dental hygiene. Around 20 years ago, I also began flossing daily. Still, I can’t dismiss my relative good fortune as mere coincidence.

My first electric toothbrush was called a Rotadent. You won’t find it in stores, as it’s only sold through dentists. Along the way, I switched to the Philips Sonicare and have had no complaints. Sonicare and other brands of electric toothbrushes frequently go on sale. If you’re in the market for one, the American Dental Association publishes a list of what it considers acceptable electric toothbrushes.

3 more reasons to use an electric toothbrush

If you’re still not sure about buying one, here are three more benefits to consider:

• Many electric toothbrushes come with timers. The ADA recommends brushing for two minutes, twice a day. With an electric toothbrush, you won’t have to guess when to stop. It will shut off automatically.
• Brushing too hard becomes less of an issue. Some people use too much pressure when brushing, which can damage the gum line over time. It’s still possible to push too hard with an electric toothbrush, but it’s less likely because the electric brush is doing the work for you. All you have to do is move the toothbrush to different parts of your mouth. Some electric toothbrush models will automatically turn off if you’re pressing too hard.
• Possibly lower your dental bills. You should, theoretically, get fewer cavities using an electric toothbrush, assuming it removes more plaque than a manual brush. It’s been a satisfying feeling for me to go to my six-month dental cleaning and get the “all good” assessment.   

How much money could you save money?

A Delta Dental study found the lifetime costs for a decayed tooth ran as high as $3,343. It’s easy to imagine how the costs might pile up. For example, if a cavity requires a filling and that filling later breaks, you then might require a crown. Later, a root canal. Of course, all this work is going to cost you, and your dental insurance might pick up only a fraction of the expense.

Practicing good dental hygiene is frugalmatic, in large part, because of the long-term financial savings. Plus, the price of electric toothbrushes has fallen over the years, and you don’t need a fancy one to get good results.

And don’t forget to floss

At this point, I should mention an electric toothbrush is no substitute for flossing. Studies show flossing is critical for healthy teeth and gums, and the ADA notes, “Using floss or interdental cleaner with toothbrushing is more effective than brushing alone at reducing plaque and gingivitis.” It’s not only your mouth’s health at stake. Several studies have found a link between gum disease and heart disease. The connection is a bit of a mystery, but one theory is that the bacteria infecting the gums also attacks the cardiovascular system.

There are plenty of people who use a manual toothbrush with great results. I’m not saying a manual toothbrush is inferior in all circumstances. If you’re someone who’s mastered a manual toothbrush and have no or few cavities to prove it, kudos to you. But for the rest of us, whose manual brushing skills might be lacking, the electric toothbrush is a superior gadget.