Thank you so much for all the great feedback and comments regarding the first article on this subject of electric vs. manual brushing!
In case you haven’t read part one of this discussion, here’s a link to it: Electric vs manual brushing, which is better? part 1
In that first article, we established that how we brush our teeth is fundamentally more important than what tool we use.
In this second article of the two-part series, we’ll explore some pros and cons of several types of electric and manual toothbrushes.
Electric toothbrush overview
The spectrum of different devices has grown tremendously over the past 10 years.
Oral-B and Sonicare brushes have become the standards in the industry.
There are also several offshoots that use sonic technology as well as many other lesser-known brands.
Sonicare and other sonic-style brushes
The Sonicare company has done a tremendous job marketing its toothbrush to the world.
In fact, in sales circles, they are recognized as one of the best overall (not just dental-related) companies in the world at marketing their product! So it’s not surprising that many people love their Sonicare toothbrushes.
Here’s a bit of information you may not hear from the dentists who endorse (and sell) Sonicare toothbrushes.
Many of our dentist friends have told us that they aren’t impressed with the job that sonic brushes do to remove plaque.
We don’t know the exact reason why. Maybe sonic-style brushes just don’t clean teeth as well as their marketing departments claim. Or maybe the brush user places too much trust in the technology’s abillity to remove plaque, so they don’t use the brush as thoroughly as they might if they were using a lower-tech brush.
In any case, if you are happy with your sonic brush and your dentist/hygienist is giving you a thumbs-up, then keep doing what you’re doing.
However, if you use a sonic brush and still get mixed results during your dental checkups, then you may benefit from a different tool that will better support you along your path to greater oral health.
We have no personal experience with the Sonicare brush other than trying it once.
The way the brush head moves for sonic brushes does not facilitate the Bass Brushing Technique, and that has always been enough reason for us to look for more suitable options for our family.
Besides, the electric vibration in the mouth did not feel good to us. More on this farther down below…
Oral-B and similar spin / rotary brushes
As we mentioned, the Oral-B electric brush is the other industry standard. In full disclosure, we have had an Oral-B brush for many years and have used it off and on.
Everyone in our family generally prefers manually brushing with the Bass Brushing Technique and a Bass toothbrush.
However, every once in a while I still do use the Oral-B to give the surfaces of my teeth an extra polish and remove any remaining plaque. (Kind of like how a hygienist uses a rotary head tool to polish our teeth.)
As I have continued to improve my diet (mainly by continuing to cut back on sugars), the amount of plaque that I need to remove in this way has diminished dramatically.
If you’d like tips on ‘in-the-mouth’ and ‘whole-body’ strategies you can use to help support your oral health, feel free to download our FREE eBook, “How to stop tooth decay and remineralize your teeth”.
Rotadent brush
30 Second Smile and Bass-style electric brushes
Note of caution
Reminder to brush consciously
Additional tips
Manual brushes
Wrapping up…
The takeaways from the two articles in this series…
- How we brush is more important than what type of brush we use.
- We should each choose whichever brush and brushing technique we can consciously, comfortably, and effectively use to support our oral health by thinning plaque biofilms and disrupting thug bug colonies.
Helpful, Related Resources:
How to Stop Tooth Decay and Remineralize Your Teeth [free eBook]
Electric vs manual brushing, which is better? part 1 [article]
How To Brush Your Teeth To Reduce Gum Disease [article]
OraWellness Bass Toothbrush [product solution]
HealThy Mouth System [product solution]
What’s the best electric toothbrush to reduce gum disease? [article]
Meridian Tooth Chart [free resource]
What Causes Receding Gums and How to Stop it [article]
How to avoid 3 common tooth brushing mistakes that can damage your teeth and gums [article]
3 Easy Ways to Keep Thug Bugs From Growing on Your Toothbrush [article]
If one uses a waterpik must he also brush the teeth as well, whether manually or with an electric toothbush?
So.. I tested my new Sonicare with my emf reader at it was ready at about 75mG which was just as much as my microwave produces. I’m returning my toothbrush as it falls within the warranty. My old one lasted about 3 years. But after reading in the user manual EMF info and finding out that the EPA deems .5-2.5 safe levels, this is getting the heck out of my house and mouth and brain… Dunzo.
Any chance of smaller convertible Bass brushes for traveling? Are you familiar with the type that the head can be pulled off it’s hollow handle, and then flipped around to store the head inside that hollow handle, to be protected and kept clean once dropped into pocket/purse/backpack/glove box/etc?
That’d be great if there were a portable/travel Bass brush like that 🙂
Hey Ted,
I don’t think we’ll be creating any cool ‘convertible’ brushes. While it may sound a bit ‘unhygienic’, I tend to just have several brushes and keep one in the car, another in my backpack, etc. That way, I have a brush handy whenever I need one. (and yes, I do have several in my bathroom too :).
I hope that helps Ted!
I read your article with interest , Two years ago I suffered a stroke . The stroke happened as I was using a sonic toothbrush. The type of stroke was a pure motor stroke and in the area of the brain directly above where the toothbrush was being used. There were factors that were unusual. I was biting down on the toothbrush at the time, trying to remove some overalls . This type of stroke is usually associated with older men with high blood pressure /cholesterol etc., As I am a female with NO risk factors ( I have no narrowing of the carotid arteries and have had a 5 day heart monitor test to rule out atrial fibrillation also no high BP or cholesterol ) we, as a family, started to investigate. My husband is a vibration test engineer tested the frequency of the brush and this came out at a frequency that has been proven to cause damage to blood vessel linings and blood clotting. There is a lot of research into HAVs at this frequency (125hz/250hz ) and the damage it causes. The mandible an skull are also susceptible to frequencies >100hz. I understand that this may be a rare occurrence but when you start to investigate vibration and its damage you start to question whether it is a good idea to put a brush of this frequency anywhere near the head. We have compiled a report comprising the toothbrush test by us, and an independent source . We have also got all my medical scans (MRI) and hospital discharge notes and independent blood test results and we intend to send these out to the dental profession and anybody who has any interest so that this matter can be discussed.
Philips have been very uncommunicative . The best they offered was a refund for the toothbrush. This is not about money it is about informing the public that this product could be potentially dangerous to use. There is real ignorance about vibration and the damage it causes and I really feel it needs to be discussed.
Kind regards
Suzanne Manton
Aloha Suzanne,
WOW! Thank you SO much for writing your experience (and the reminder email!)
First, I’m sorry to hear of your experience.
Second, somehow your story does not surprise us in the least. As you read in our article, we are dubious of the vibration brushes like this emit. You may find more points of contact if you watch our video tutorial where we question whether cell phone radiation could be implicated with causing tooth decay because of the proximity the cell phone has with a gland called the parotid gland, which plays an important role in the primary remineralization pathway our bodies have.
Here’s a link to the video tutorial if you’re interested.
We are curious to hear more about your situation Suzanne. While we don’t know what help we could be, surely we can help bring more attention to your story and help others avoid such risk factors.
Please feel free to share more with us here.
Thank you for sharing your story with us and others who may benefit from reading it!
As a recommendation- a shorter post would be more beneficial to actually read or bullet points. Or videos are most helpful when there is tons of info to share. Thanks!
Thanks for the feedback LP!
I agree. I can be rather long winded 🙂
I hope the article provided some solutions for you.
I would like to know what you think about ionic toothbrushes!
Diane Wilkinson’s comment is the most enlightened on this topic.I would add that nearly all so called “recession” is actually tooth brush damage due to excessive scrubbing /force.
Ask your hygienist or dentist.There are different brushing techniques that children and adults (18-20+)can use as plaque is damaging with a poor diet (in between meal sticky refined carbohydrate snacks) In adult mouths with little or no snacks as above plaque may be protective and act as a buffer. Adult brushing should be a light pressure massage rather than a scrub.
I cannot substantiate these comments,but have a few years experience in dentistry to draw on.
Hello and thanks for all your articles which I find interesting. I am a Hygienist and Nutritionist in UK (41 years experience) and find I get best results from patients when instructed to use the Oral B oscillating brush correctly i.e. one tooth at a time and no scrubbing. The Sonicare is good for patients with excessive calculus and or staining but has to be used carefully so as not to scrub. The best manual brush I have come across thus far, is a Swiss brush made by “Curaprox” It has 5460 bristles in it which are ultra soft and so a safe brush to use using your excellent technique which I also endorse. I have not yet tried your brush and so cannot comment on that. Keep up your great articles and THANK YOU.
the link to the panel on electric v. manual toothbrushes is no longer live
Thanks for the heads up Eric! Not sure what happened to them, but I removed the dead link.
Holler with any questions, we’re here to help. 😉
Personally I love to use an Oral B electric toothbrush. I like the feel of the rotating action on my teeth. My teeth also feel cleaner for longer than when I used a manual brush.
I tried a sonic toothbrush once and didn’t like it because it tickled and felt like it wasn’t doing anything.
nice post
I have seen several patients that practically assault their gums with their electric toothbrushes! The brush is doing all the hard work, no need to add a ton of pressure. It’s not as if you need to sandblast your teeth to get them clean.
Aloha Dr Tagliarini!
Thank you for offering your input here! We completely agree! Hehe, sandblasting your teeth… 🙂
Pressure alert is present in electric brushes. So if too much pressure is given, the electric toothbrush will give alarm. That’s why it should not cause harm to the gums. Oral B is better between oral b vs sonicare.
Thank you for this two-part series! I’ve been using the Healthy Mouth Blend since October. I purchased a Bass brush as well and experimented with it after watching the video a few times but couldn’t get the hang of it, so I continued using my Sonicare. I have been using a Sonicare (given to me as a gift) for the past year. Plaque/tartar tends to build up on my teeth very quickly, especially in specific areas. I have been noticing that it the Sonicare wasn’t doing as great a job as it should, especially given that it’s supposed to be amazing at removing plaque. I would brush and then still feel that my teeth weren’t clean! I use a gentle brush head with the Sonicare. After reading this column I decided to give the Bass brush another try and my teeth are MUCH CLEANER. Wow. I should also mention that after a LIFETIME (I’m in my 30s) of bleeding gums during flossing, the bleeding reduced within DAYS of starting to use the Healthy Mouth Blend and cleared up completely within the month. This was a problem I was struggling to solve for years! Thank you for all your great products and excellent advice!
Wow Lily!
Thank you so much for posting here! We feel so blessed to hear that our information and products have helped you so profoundly! I hear you on the challenge of learning the Bass technique at first! 🙂 I’m so glad you persisted! Now you know why so many people rave about our awesome brushes! 🙂
Thank you and Aloha!
Thanks for your response, Will! I’m still having success with the Bass brush and the Healthy Mouth Blend. One of the other improvements I’ve had is that I pay much more attention when brushing. I still have to remind myself to keep the brush at an angle and use only gentle pressure. Since using the Bass brush in place of the Sonicare, I haven’t had the tartar build-up that I was having. There are still a few areas that are hard to maintain but there is definite improvement. And there is no bleeding when flossing (maybe one particular tooth every few weeks), which is excellent. I have a cleaning scheduled in April and look forward to seeing what they have to say. Thanks again for your help!
I like my Sonicare and have had great feedback from multiple dentists about my dental hygiene since I started using it (I’ve used one for 12+ years now). However, I think the quality of the brushes (both the base and the brush heads) has diminished now that they are no longer made in the USA. The last set of brushes we got seems harder on my gums and I have to agree about the fading color (I don’t need dyes to tell me when to change my brush and would rather not have them in my mouth).
Aloha Shelly,
Thanks for posting your experience with Sonicare. I hear you on the products not being made in the USA. I definitely feel better knowing where our products are being manufactured. That’s yet another reason why we love our Bass brushes! 🙂
Actually Walmart replacement brushes the last time I checked are superior to the Sonicare brand. Go figure. Sonicare wants us to replace them more often.
Not a argument but comparison, I bought Walmart replacements for my Oral B and found them I’ll fitting, slightly difficult to put on and off the shaft… Recently got a real deal on genuine Oral B replacement brushes and they not only slips more easily but also the power of my brush seems increased as if the mechanism is working with more freedom and power due to more accurate connections! I’m a happy customer!
Curious to know what you think of ionic toothbrushes.
Thanx for an intelligent article. It made me rethink why I use an electric toothbrush, although I do not use it as long as recommended.
Thanks for stopping by! I’m glad we got you thinking! 🙂
I love your honesty and openness. I feel supported by your information and delivery. Thank you for doing what you do! I’m off to brush with my bass mindfully. I’m also symbolically brushing away any plaque from my ability to express truth graciously. With love.
Wow Alissa!
Thank you for being the bright light you are in the world! Your ability to express yourself is just fine Sweetheart! Keep up the good work! 🙂
Aloha!
I used to use an electric toothbrush years ago but stopped once I learned about EMF’s. A good quality toothbrush and high quality tooth powders or toothpaste are next on top of the list alongside good nutrition. I have had clients report back to me that their dentists are impressed with their dental work after working with me. Its good to get feedback to know that what I’m doing is helping. There is no place for gum disease, dental caries and poor mouth hygiene and my nutritional programs for all my clients is a top to bottom process that leads to overall well being (not just symptom improvement).
Thank you for your information. When I read your posts I see that you often rattle cages with the responses and its good to get people to think, learn and change instead of just following mainstream beliefs. Blessings
Would you recommend the Bass brush for someone with braces?
Definitely!! The bristle tufts are more spaced out so it’s easier to work around braces!!
Enjoyed the second electric vs. manual brushing. Never thought about EMF’s and the brush and I’m very conscious about them. Good to know.
The Bass brush is the most beneficial brush I have ever used and will never purchase another brand.
You have my business for as long as I’m brushing my teeth.
Love and Best Wishes, Carole
Thank you sweet Carole! 🙂
We feel your support and appreciation!
I want to say that for most of my life I was a poor tooth brusher. I have the dental bills to prove it! Then I found Sonicare. Now, I actually don’t mind brushing. The two minutes that the brush allows is not enough time. I go through the cycle twice for a total of about 4 minutes. I am able to carefully go over each tooth and hard to reach areas. I learned from a miserly friend that you don’t need to cover the entire brush with toothpaste. If you want a rave review, speak to my dentist! I also found Johnston’s under bridge cleaners to be the bomb! Unfortunately, they seem to have gone out of business. Glide, by the way, simply does not have enough “tooth” but seems at times to be the only one available. I don’t know what they were thinking in developing this useless product. Using a toothpick would be better.