Electric tooth brush

[Funkstar]

After some teeth issues recently (me last wisdom tooth has come through, causing much pain and my first visit to the dentist in more than 10 years) I'm thinking about getting an electric tooth brush.

Are they that much better than a manual tooth brush? I'm a complete cynic when it comes to tooth brushes. I buy very basic own brand ones from supermarkets, I think they are two for 10p from Tesco. Fancy ones with polishing rubber bits for £3 really aren't any better, it's all just marketing. Probably more of a con than shampoo or "age defying" face cream.

So any recommendations? Just seen an advert for one brand (Braun perhaps?) are all half price. Are any better than others?

Thanks

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Stop destroying the planet with your.......electric toothbrushes!! We need the energy to run our uber rigs!!

AFAIK,Braun and Phillips seem to be big names in electric toothbrush technology!! I hope I have not started an electric toothbrush brand flame war though!!

[Anders]

I've had a Philips Sonicare Elite for a few years and it gets my teeth a lot cleaner in 2 minutes than a manual would. Not sure an electric toothbrush would have helped wisdom teeth though

[steve threlfall]

After some teeth issues recently (me last wisdom tooth has come through, causing much pain and my first visit to the dentist in more than 10 years) I'm thinking about getting an electric tooth brush.

Are they that much better than a manual tooth brush? I'm a complete cynic when it comes to tooth brushes. I buy very basic own brand ones from supermarkets, I think they are two for 10p from Tesco. Fancy ones with polishing rubber bits for £3 really aren't any better, it's all just marketing. Probably more of a con than shampoo or "age defying" face cream.

So any recommendations? Just seen an advert for one brand (Braun perhaps?) are all half price. Are any better than others?

Thanks

They really are

My dentist and the hygienist told me to get one and its made a big difference to my teeth. Obvious impovement in the space of two appointments.

Braun Oral B ftw

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Braun-Profes...8587026&sr=8-8

[Vimeous]

I use a Braun Oral B Sonic.
It's certainly more consistant every clean. Just remember not to keep the heads too long and if it feels weak recharge it.

I too was a skeptic but I did find funny shaped manual brushes helped and cheap ones really were rubbish. Wasn't keen on the electric rotating versions but having seen sonic baths at work I thought I'd give that a go and I have to say it seems to work.

If you are having real problems did you dentist mention a mouthwash as well?
I don't but it might also help.

[matty-hodgson]

They really are

My dentist and the hygienist told me to get one and its made a big difference to my teeth. Obvious impovement in the space of two appointments.

Braun Oral B ftw

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Braun-Profes...8587026&sr=8-8

i also have this toothbrush and it's really good. you can also easily swap the heads and find a head that suits your brushing best. after trying all the ones i've been able to find, this one seems to do the best job at getting right into the gaps between teeth.

[MadduckUK]

the ladies seem to like em

[Clunk]

the ladies seem to like em

[TooNice]

I am also using the Oral B 9900 Triumph with SmartGuide. It was really between that and Phillips Sonic range, and ended up with the Triumph because I already used a non Phillips Sonic toothbrush before and wanted to try out a rotation type electric. Plus, I managed to get mine for under £50.

[r_j_k_p]

Having tried both manual and electric tooth brush, i don't feel one has any massive advantages over the other.
The main reason for toothbrushing is to remove plaque and food debris from teeth and gum margins, and this can be done equally well using manual or electric. This usually requires a small head with either medium or firm bristles.

I recommend electric toothbrushes to anyone lacking manual dexterity, such as those with disabilities, or the elderly.

If you did require a toothbrush, i would recommend something with a "sonic" capability.

[TheAnimus]

All i can think:

http://thereifixedit.com/2009/07/17/...ic-toothbrush/

[Funkstar]

If you are having real problems did you dentist mention a mouthwash as well?
I don't but it might also help.

On a course of antibiotics and some Corsodyl mouth wash for the moment. I use regular maouth wash anyway.

Apparently my teeth are in really good shape. Going to see the hygenist later today for a once over, but for not being to the dentist in 10 years, he was quite surprised (never had a problem until now and don't have a single filling).

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll see what the hygenist says this afternoon too.

[alpha channel]

You're lucky I went to my dentists (again after ten years of never going near the place, no-one likes him and is commonly known as The Butcher around town) with a few issues with my wisdom teeth, I walked out minus two (on one side, one was coming through, now gone, and the remaining one is impacted i.e. a hospital visit if it needs to come out), nerve damage (it aches every so often, especially if it's damp) and my cheek swelled up to the point that it looked as if someone had stuffed a cricket ball in to my mouth. I was off uni for a week and the swelling only started to go down in the second week (getting to sleep was a nervous affair).

As for toothbrushes I've started going for the type with multi-level brushes, tried an electric tooth brush, can't say I was overly impressed to be honest (mind you that was a few years ago).

[shaithis]

I recommend electric toothbrushes to anyone lacking manual dexterity, such as those with disabilities, or the elderly.

Or people like me, who are like zombies first thing in the morning and need all the help they can get to keep the teeth clean!

[DefineByte]

My dentist told me to avoid sonic toothbrushes as the side to side motion of them can damage the gums. I've got an OralB Triumph myself.

[Funkstar]

Well after a scale and polish (man that was horrible) I think I'm just going to stick with a cheap manual one for just now.

The hygienist said my teeth were fine and even the most thorough brushers miss bits and need a little scraping by the dentist. then I told her I hadn't been to the dentist for over 10 years. She just told me to carry on doing whatever it was I was doing as that was working brilliantly

So that £60 scale and polish has probably saved me about £80 or so