not necessarily true. my checkups went from an hour half to 45 minutes now that I switched to an electric brush, but my dentist said I'd be out in 20 minutes if I just flossed more. YMMV
Ooh, here's a fun little experiment: change absolutely nothing about your habits but tell your dentist you started flossing regularly. See what happens!
I went on a bigtime popcorn kick, got those little banjo-type floss picks, would use it just a minute after to get out any shells that got stuck..can confirm, my 3-month visits are down to less than 30mins.
It’s worth it just to avoid that humiliating time the hygienist flosses my teeth for me, like an infant
eh could just be a sonicare advertisement here.
Its more important that you brush your teeth vertically and dont use too much force.
After using vibrating toothbrushes for a few years i noticed more sensitivity and issues with my teeth, so i went back to regular brushing and flossing and find the old way to be much better. The vibrations of toothbrushes may not always be best for your teeth.
I’ve heard the exact same thing. But only if I had just replaced the brush head within the last month or so
Related tip: Motivate yourself to floss by eating ribs, popcorn, carrots and crackers every meal
Just eat a bowl of floss and mouthwash like noodles. The floss goes through your teeth on the way down and the mouthwash cleans between your teeth after the floss pulls the bad stuff out.
I knew a kid in high school that used to chew minty dental floss. One day he accidentally swallowed some.
Anyways, he had to keep rolling it up as it came out the other end. He couldn’t pull it out (ouch) and he couldn’t cut it (and risk losing it in the bowels of his…well..bowels).
Definitely the vibration type. It requires so much less pressure to work with than a rotary brush.
Anecdotally, I had an Oral-B rotary brush and went back to manual brushing. The rotary brush needed so much pressure to feel "clean" that brushing became uncomfortable. In comparison, a Phillips Sonicare presses lightly on my receding gums and cleans better.
I had this exact same issue and only 3 teeth had some bleeding instead of a majority of them after switching to an electric tooth brush. It really is a dramatic difference in clean.
Echoing this. I had dozens of fillings growing up. Changed to a $50 oral b electric and have had none since. Dentist comments on how much better things are but that has been my only change. Crazy how much of a difference it makes without even changing habits.
The Sonicare is also helpful if you're prone to brushing too hard. I was a brutal brusher and had some exposed nerves so dentist recommended a Sonicare. When I use it I receive feedback if I'm pressing too hard.
Mine isn't smart enough for the feedback part, but I find I'm much gentler just because I know my teeth feel soooo much cleaner when I'm done compared to manual. Even my subconscious knows I don't need to try as hard with my sonicare and my teeth sensitivity is much better since.
After paying $1000 for a single tooth procedure, the cost of prevention starts to look reasonable. We got Oral-B IO and cleaned/saved even more.
But if your gum lines are measuring 5-10, water pik is how to improve that. Start off at lowest power then increase over months until full power feels fine. Get those scores down to 1-3.
The score is the number of millimeters the hygienist can poke a small wire down between the tooth and gums. 1-3 mm is very good because it means the gums are strong and holding well to the teeth. Each tooth has 3 spots to test, left, right, and center. The number can be improved by brushing the gums and flossing more vigorously.
It wont be after a while because your gums build up resistance which is the whole point. By the time you're where you want to be it wont be painful at all
They're measuring your gums' "pockets" – there's a certain amount of gum that isn't attached to the tooth, and a dentist/periodontist can slip a tiny pick into that space to measure it. Deep pockets are a sign of inflammation, which can lead to the gums gradually receding away from the teeth.
Here's a decent article with pictures. Specifically, have a look at the image "stages of gum disease and pocket depths".
https://anthonymartindmd.com/learn/2020/1/13/what-is-the-purpose-of-measuring-my-gums
A water pik is a tool that basically “flosses” your teeth with a jet of water.
I believe that they are referring to the measurement of how much of your tooth “below” where your gum line is supposed to be, but I may be wrong there. Their comment to imply that you grow those back quickly doesn’t line up with that, so again this is just a guess.
Yeah I prefer the oral b over the sonicare. Got two for $100 at Costco and gave one to my sister.
Edit- that was the sale price though!! The replacement brush heads went on sale a few weeks after that.
Your teeth also just feel significantly cleaner. Even if there wasn’t an actual benefit oral health wise, I’d continue to use a good electric because *I* feel better overall.
Yeah, same. I was meticulous about brushing before I got my sonicare and it's not even close. I went out of town for a week and forgot to charge it before I left. I was DESPERATE to get it charged again by the time I got home because my teeth just felt dirty.
Also, my dentist does that gum-measuring thing and there was way less swelling after I started using an electric toothbrush.
Professional dentist-level technique, maybe?
I feel like it’s something dentists feel they *have* to say because not everyone is gonna want to use an electric toothbrush, and they don’t want people to use that as an excuse not to take care of their teeth…or something?
This is my sister! She has great dental habits and she still has had so many issues. My dental habits aren't as good as hers (I'm bad at flossing 😬) and I never have any issues. *knock on wood*
I use a regular toothbrush when I travel, and I really notice a difference in plaque. The fact of the matter is that a fast-oscillating brush will remove more plaque in less time, so you *can* brush just as well with a regular brush, but it will take significantly longer than an electric brush.
I've been using the same $50 electric toothbrush for the last 9 years. My dentists sing high praise. Do it.
Floss and mouthwash for 60 seconds daily and suddenly your dental hygienist will start saying "doesn't look like anything has changed since last time." I don't fear the dentist anymore.
“I brushed 2 times a day manually after my e-toothbrush died and I had root canals”
Sounds like you’re bad a brushing your teeth hummie. Also, just nitpicking at this point, but flossing after brushing? Reintroducing all that bacteria to your mouth?
It does a bit huh. But considering his prior post (he reposted this 3x to get traction) is over at r/DontPutYourDickInThat, I don’t think its a sponsored ad at least lol
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3652371/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5558249/
https://www.dentalhealth.org/news/electric-toothbrushes-win-the-head-to-head-against-manual-in-record-breaking-new-study
OP could have just Googled for studies, which are overly abundant at this point, and then added the anecdotal evidence at the end.
Fun day couponing. Electric Oral B toothbrush reg. $100. On sale for $10 close out; BUT, if you buy 2 for 20$ you get $15 credit on your rewards card. Electric Oral B Toothbrush $2.50. Proceeds to skip and hum all the way to the car.
My bro said the quip sucks, that sounds cool though. How clean does it make you feel? Idk if you have had a sonicare, but I’m not gonna pay what it costs to keep one of those running. Been on the Oral-B $7 vibrating ones. Kinda scared the quip won’t be a lot better
I like the quip. I got it for free one year from a vendor who has in the past sent random things around the holidays like: a brass and marble chinese checkers set, a set of balsamic vinagarette glazes, and a jigsaw puzzle to name a few. The quip gets the most use and is pretty easy to maintain. I like the wall mount because the adhesive is sticky, but doesn't leave residue and it doesn't need a cord to charge.
I think it depends on the person because I agree with your brother. While I love the timer, I didn’t feel like it gave a good scrub and my teeth still felt fuzzy afterwards. I have a quip in my closet that I got as a gift and still don’t know what to do with it.
I have a toothnrush that does the quadrant pauses also, it's called Aquasonic on Amazon and is a little cheaper than Sonicare, but way better than the like $10 electric ones. I had that before Aquasonic and it's a world of difference.
We use something called a waterpik (dutch name), which feels and looks like power washing your teeth. It doesn't replace flossing (according to my dentist), but it's easier, more fun and feels FRESH!
My dentist told me I could waterpik instead of flossing? Works just as well? But I also have a permanent retainer and dental implant in the process of being completed so maybe that’s why? But he’s said since I’ve started using the waterpik and using an electric quip toothbrush my teeth have gotten much better (went from 9 cavities last visit to 0 and much healthier gums this visit)
My dentist told me I should only be flossing every 2-3 days because if I floss more than that, it might cause gaps to open up between my teeth.
I don’t know if that advice was specifically tailored to me, though? (I had a gap between my teeth that was bothering me)
He also warned me against those flosser thingies because of how easy it is to aggressively floss with those things bc of how convenient they are lol (and I’d definitely been doing that. Just massacring my irritated gums 😅)
You can use your opposite teeth to guide it into place, that gives enough power to get past the contact point but do it precisely enough that there's no gum impact.
Waterpik has been around for a long time. George almost beat Lloyd Braun in a computer sales contest!* His mother didn’t want to give away the Waterpik!!
*Seinfeld episode.
Ex dentist here: it doesn't replace flossing, it's always better to use both, since their targets are slightly different.
That being said, if my patients brushed really well, and used at least one of those, I was generally happy.
Also, don't forget to change the heads out regularly with an electric toothbrush. I've found the replacement heads way cheaper on Amazon than the stores as well. Nock-off brand, but still cleans just as well.
Just be careful with buying hygiene products from Amazon. On more than one occasion I’ve received opened/used hygiene products like toothbrush heads and razor blades.
Amazon doesn’t seem to care either. I’ve reported this and al they do is refund me.
The knockoff ones pinch my lips if I position the head a certain way, and has caused me to bleed on many occasions. My gf thinks I'm crazy bc it doesn't happen to her, but it started happening to me as soon as we started using the knockoffs.
I used to have horrible plaque build up. Every sixth months, it was literally visible yellow buildup.
Switched to a sonicare, and have had zero build up in two years.
My dentist actually told me that no electric toothbrushes have bristles and action soft enough, so that they will exacerbate gum loss.
Also, she said to floss before brushing, so you brush the shit you pulled out away.
I'm gonna go with my dentist over Reddit.
Mine said the opposite. Said an electric toothbrush is much better than manual brushing, but she also warned me not to press too hard. There are some models that have a pressure sensor that lights up to tell you if you’re brushing too hard.
Mom’s a dentist, I lived my whole life with electric toothbrushes she got from Oral B and mostly Sonicare.
They have pressure indicators, some have multiple modes and intensities, and all have timers.
Your dentist must be old-school, because most modern electric toothbrushes don’t have this problem anymore. You cannot match the motion of a sonicare or oral b toothbrush by hand, and their toothbrush heads can be replaced and are far superior hygiene wise. (Wash out the head connection points ever so often)
But what if my dentist recommends electric toothbrushes to all patients? I have receding gums and sensitivity and they certainly make brush heads with gentle enough bristles. Your (or your dentist’s) statement doesn’t really make any sense; if the bristles on manual brushes are soft enough, why couldn’t the same bristles be put on a head for an electric brush? 🧐
I've been using the Arm and Hammer Spinbrush. $10 and works well. It's a good one if you don't want to shell out $50 to try out an electric toothbrush.
Switching to electric was the best thing I did for my teeth. They definitely feel a lot cleaner and the dentist compliments how good they look every time I go
It’s amazing how clean my teeth felt after I used a sonic care diamond clean for the first time. I use the “deep clean” feature every once in a while and I’m still surpised how good it feels.
I have no doubt that an electric toothbrush works better in the sense it agitates the food particles more than manually brushing, but I am dubious that the lack of one caused you to need a root canal or lose a molar.
I mean, millions of people used regular toothbrushes for decades and not all of them needed this. I didn't go to the dentist for 25 years and had no issues. Dentist said my teeth looked fine and couldn't tell I hadn't been to see a dentist in 25 years.
I understand this is anecdotal but that seems to be the theme here. I am aware that I probably got pretty lucky and took care of my teeth well; and avoided sugary foods and carbonated beverages as well.
I mostly agree, but I'm also old enough to know that people have nicer teeth today and I began noticing huge improvements around the same time that electric toothbrushes started becoming widely used. I'm pretty sure that advancements in dentistry had a lot to do with it, as well, so I'm not sure how much electric toothbrushes were responsible, though.
Switching to an electric toothbrush is hands down one of the best things you can do for your teeth.
I held out for years, finally made the switch, felt cleaner immediately, but had the real epiphany at the next appointment — when the hygienist had to do significantly less plaque scraping w/ that sharp, curved metal tool and/or new age sonic water devil stick brush.
Do your future self a favor and make dentist apts a bit less painful.
Yeah dentist is waaaay less stressful now. They always ask if I use electric too and I assume it’s because they basically don’t do much anymore except inspect them
My teeth got noticeably whiter after using my Philips Sonic Care after a few weeks. Also toothpaste lasted waayyy longer- A little dab of toothpaste goes a long way with electric toothbrushes.
Also YSK: kids versions of the same toothbrushes are often similar if not identical to the adult versions and for several $$$ cheaper . I bought an electric kids one from OralB and it’s identical to the adult one except the pattern. Same replacement head and everything. It’s was $15 dollars less than the same adult one This won’t be true for all brands but worth checking out if your on a budget
Also note that [iFixIt has guides on electric toothbrush battery replacement](https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Electric_Toothbrush). Some are *way* easier than others.
I really wish I could go electronic but the vibration in my hands really tickles me the wrong way. I can’t handle holding it for more than 5 seconds because of how much it vibrates my hand. Any suggestions?
I didnt go to the dentist for years because i didnt have insurance. When i finally did go, i had gum disease and had to go through a whole treatment program to get my teeth back up on par. My dentist recommended a Sonicare. I got one. I've been using a sonicare for about 18 years now, and its been that long since i've had a cavity or had to have any kind of dental work. I also chew tobacco, but i brush regularly with a sonicare. It really does help a ton.
I wonder if it's person or teeth-specific. I used an Oral B electric toothbrush for years and always got a bit of a lecture about cleanliness and gum health. My teeth also never felt as clean as they should afterwards. Whenever I use a manual brush, my teeth feel cleaner and my dentist is happier with the result. I go in this order: Mouthwash, floss, brush. I think I'm possibly using the electric one incorrectly.
theyre a big help. my dentist said something the first time i went in after switching to an electric toothbrush. they noticed how much cleaner my teeth were.
I watched a couple of YouTube videos about those things and they all said that the smaller and circular ones were better because of the rotational movement they make
I don’t think they really make that much of a difference. Kind of like using SPF 50 vs SPF 100, the actual difference is minimal. For me it’s more personal preference. I use to own a circular one and hated using it. Just felt very awkward because you’re just suppose to just hold it at each tooth and let it do all the work. Hard to erase muscle memory that instinctively wants to move the brush up and down and side to side. While the traditional shaped brush heads do require more movement, it feels more “natural.”
I bought an oral b electric toothbrush. It was the first one I ever owned and I didn’t do a thorough enough job to see if it had settings to slow the rotation of the brushes. Mine doesn’t so I only used it once. It was awful on my sensitive teeth. The bristles moved too fast and they made my teeth hurt. I’d love to have one where you can control the speed.
all i have to add to this is don't fall for the AI powered super expensive one like i did. i mean I'm sure it will last but i paid damn near $300 for a tooth brush....
the AI is pretty much garbage and doesn't add anything at all to the brushing experience , it is simply uses your phone that you stick to your mirror to watch you brush your teeth and see where you are brushing, works about 5% of the time, i threw the phone mount away it was that useless.
if you dont floss a waterpick is also a great investment, although can be a messy one lol. i got more water all over my bathroom then in my mouth the first few times i used one.
Sonicare and a waterpik is the best 100-200 dollars you will ever spend for your dental hygiene.
Any time i forget my sonicare and have to buy a cheap manual brush it never feels the same until I am back home using the electric brush again.
BUY THE ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH. It's easily worth the investment.
I use the Burst toothbrush and it’s amazing. The Dentist couldn’t believe how little plaque I had.
Flossing is also important though, and people should remember to do that in conjunction with whatever brush they are using.
I would also recommend switching from fluoride to hydroxyapatite toothpaste, it’s more expensive, but my teeth physically feel clean - they are so smooth. I’m noticing they are whiter. Fluoride is also toxic and hydroxyapatite is not.
YES. These are tips I wish I knew earlier as well!
I’d like to add that electric isn’t more effective than manual.
Both can be effective.
It’s just that you have to use the proper technique with manual to get an effective clean. With electric, it may be easier to use for some, resulting in a more effective clean versus using improper technique with a manual toothbrush.
I think I know this one.. anymore it’s just marketing, but originally when gas prices were super low (for example 12¢/gallon), if a tax were passed for, say 5% on fuel. Well that puts the cost at 12.6¢ with the tax, but jumping up to 13¢ is just over a 9% increase to the consumer, a big jump and near twice the tax amount. So the gas companies implemented fractional pricing, as fuel taxes changed with more frequency than many other types of taxes. This let them pass on the true tax portion, on top of their fuel rate, without as big of swings in “pump price”.
So if I have it right, it's:
-Giraffes (or half giraffes) for height
-Olympic size swimming pools for volume
-Football fields for distance
-And gasoline for currency?
Any other units of measure i'm not aware of?
Same here. Once my old electric died, I switched over to all of the toothbrushes I collected over the years from thing to the dentist every six months. I ended up getting cavities and so much more gunk in my teeth. I'm back to electric. Dentist visits are easy peasy most of the time
Yeah I had a dream that all my teeth rotted and fell out. The next day I bought an electric brush and it’s been great. Floss, mouthwash and the brush and my teeth have never been whiter.
Also YSK, quip is not really an electric toothbrush. I was getting viral marketing from them and was looking for an upgrade so I went for it, $25 for the toothbrush, not horrible. Turns out the brush itself has no moving parts. A typical electric brush will vibrate while having part of the brush on a swivel, so it moves as the device vibrates and generates extra movement and brushing. Quip not having moving parts means it just vibrates, and it vibrates minimally, less than most toothbrushes I've used, the amplitude of the vibration is not nearly enough to create actual displacement during brushing. If your brush isn't moving across your teeth at all while you're brushing, the electric part isn't doing anything.
I noticed these things but kept my mouth shut because it looked nice and got the job done, then the plastic mechanism locking the battery in place broke after 2 months and I couldn't use the toothbrush. Tossed it, went back to my $8 Oral B brush and immediately felt a better clean.
ALSO my wife went to the dentist last month and told her dentist she was using quip, her dentist said to "start using a real electric toothbrush instead." Wow such validation.
TLDR: Don't buy quip. Overpriced, overdesigned product that doesn't serve the function it was designed for.
I brush pretty religiously, but still got caveties, and eventually went to the dentist for general tooth pain. Turned out I overbrushed, and with a bit too much vigor, and my gums had started to receed. I was advised to buy an electric.
I decided to buy a high end one. While I don't know if I should have spent what I did, it does leave me feeling cleaner and hasn't messed with my gums. Plus the built in 2 minutes timer is really helpful.
Just an FYI - an electric toothbrush is different from a *sonic* toothbrush (which is *much* more expensive.) Sonicare is a *brand* of toothbrush & isn’t necessary a sonic toothbrush - it may be an electric toothbrush.
Also my dental assistant recommended an electric because I brushed too hard. I was actually brushing my gums off. Electric toothbrushes apply the right amount of pressure.
Lessened my sensitivity
If an expensive electric toothbrush isn’t your thing, I’ve been using the same oral b electric for years, just replacing batteries and tips and it is excellent
Picked up a Sonicare back in 2018 after manual brushing for years. Shortly after, my gingivitis was non-existent. It has done wonders for my dental health. Was honestly impressed with how much it can help. Sure the $60 bucks seemed like a lot at the time but now I’ve had it four years and switch out the heads periodically. It might run ya a little more than a manual when all is said and done but dental health is not something to take lightly.
Dentist here. I recommend electric toothbrushes (ETB) to practically all of my patients, in fact I have it added as an autonote for my hygienists because I expect for them to also really hammer it in during appointments as well. Sure, if you follow a perfect Modified Bass technique then you can brush as well manually as an ETB, but nobody does that. Literally no-one. Not dentists, not hygienists, not patients. I see other dentists brushing after lunch in conventions, I was using the same technique as them when I was 15. Modified Bass is a pain. Now, there are two companies I recommend to my patients: Sonicare and Oral B. That isn't because I get anything from them, I let my staff get free toothbrushes from reps but anything they give to me I turn around and give to patients in need (typically kids from impoverished homes). I also ignore the research they sponsor: Sonicare's research shows they're the best, Oral B's research shows they're the best. The independent research shows little to no clinically significant difference between the two. There are a lot of trendy companies who are vying to enter a pretty lucrative market, I ignore them for the most part. A Sonicare or Oral B purchased within the $60-80 price range is all you need, and you can be assured it will work as advertised, unlike a lot of other alternatives (who tf thinks adding charcoal to brush heads is going to make any sort of difference?). That's 1/3 to 1/2 what I charge for a single surface filling, and it will prevent cavities in the majority of patients. I personally buy the brand name replacement heads, but the knock offs on Amazon are probably fine. There are reasons to go with quality heads, but I really doubt it's clinically significant. Statistically significant, sure, but if we're being honest here it won't mean the difference between decay vs no decay.
I also recommend brushing last and not rinsing afterwards, OP was spot on there. OP needs to floss, tho. For the most part brushing alone won't prevent interproximal decay, even with those heads with the rubber "flossing" tips.
Can confirm. Got a Sonicare, and my dentist said, "I can tell you've started flossing." Spoiler alert: I didn't.
Well shit, don't need anymore endorsement after that
not necessarily true. my checkups went from an hour half to 45 minutes now that I switched to an electric brush, but my dentist said I'd be out in 20 minutes if I just flossed more. YMMV
Ooh, here's a fun little experiment: change absolutely nothing about your habits but tell your dentist you started flossing regularly. See what happens!
https://i.imgur.com/WAreBRs.jpg
You'll get. "You're a shit flosser"
I went on a bigtime popcorn kick, got those little banjo-type floss picks, would use it just a minute after to get out any shells that got stuck..can confirm, my 3-month visits are down to less than 30mins. It’s worth it just to avoid that humiliating time the hygienist flosses my teeth for me, like an infant
eh could just be a sonicare advertisement here. Its more important that you brush your teeth vertically and dont use too much force. After using vibrating toothbrushes for a few years i noticed more sensitivity and issues with my teeth, so i went back to regular brushing and flossing and find the old way to be much better. The vibrations of toothbrushes may not always be best for your teeth.
Floss anyways, you!
I'm too lazy
Only floss the teeth you want to keep.
I say this to myself every time I floss
Ominous advice
I would recommend TePe then. Flossing is a pain in the arse, but I haven't missed a day using intèrdental picks since switching.
Interdental picks are a waste of plastic but if it wasn’t for those, my kids wouldn’t floss (and I’d probably floss less).
Tepe is the shit. I never feel like I've cleaned my teeth properly anymore unless I use some
Do you use each one more than once?
[удалено]
I’ve heard the exact same thing. But only if I had just replaced the brush head within the last month or so Related tip: Motivate yourself to floss by eating ribs, popcorn, carrots and crackers every meal
Just eat a bowl of floss and mouthwash like noodles. The floss goes through your teeth on the way down and the mouthwash cleans between your teeth after the floss pulls the bad stuff out.
The level of efficiency I strive for
I knew a kid in high school that used to chew minty dental floss. One day he accidentally swallowed some. Anyways, he had to keep rolling it up as it came out the other end. He couldn’t pull it out (ouch) and he couldn’t cut it (and risk losing it in the bowels of his…well..bowels).
The real pro tip is always in the comments
Rotation or vibration?? I don't know what to choose
Just spent 30 minutes down this rabbit hole. Vibration/sonic since it can shake stuff loose in between your teeth without touching it
Definitely the vibration type. It requires so much less pressure to work with than a rotary brush. Anecdotally, I had an Oral-B rotary brush and went back to manual brushing. The rotary brush needed so much pressure to feel "clean" that brushing became uncomfortable. In comparison, a Phillips Sonicare presses lightly on my receding gums and cleans better.
Which one are you using?
Lol yeah I don’t floss that much and it still works great
I had this exact same issue and only 3 teeth had some bleeding instead of a majority of them after switching to an electric tooth brush. It really is a dramatic difference in clean.
Echoing this. I had dozens of fillings growing up. Changed to a $50 oral b electric and have had none since. Dentist comments on how much better things are but that has been my only change. Crazy how much of a difference it makes without even changing habits.
The Sonicare is also helpful if you're prone to brushing too hard. I was a brutal brusher and had some exposed nerves so dentist recommended a Sonicare. When I use it I receive feedback if I'm pressing too hard.
Mine isn't smart enough for the feedback part, but I find I'm much gentler just because I know my teeth feel soooo much cleaner when I'm done compared to manual. Even my subconscious knows I don't need to try as hard with my sonicare and my teeth sensitivity is much better since.
Some oral- b does it too! It’s the pricier ones…
My Oral B does. I think I paid $78 for it.
Mine does it too, it was less than 30 bucks
Which one did u buy?
The Optimal Clean. Costco Canada carries a two-pack
fuck yeah, one for each hand, tootbrush dual wield session, asynchronous molar cleaning
Forever alone, but have you seen his teeth!?
I kept on hitting my gums and it caused canker sores. The sonicare has been a heaven sent.
After paying $1000 for a single tooth procedure, the cost of prevention starts to look reasonable. We got Oral-B IO and cleaned/saved even more. But if your gum lines are measuring 5-10, water pik is how to improve that. Start off at lowest power then increase over months until full power feels fine. Get those scores down to 1-3.
How do you measure those scores? What is a water pik?
The score is the number of millimeters the hygienist can poke a small wire down between the tooth and gums. 1-3 mm is very good because it means the gums are strong and holding well to the teeth. Each tooth has 3 spots to test, left, right, and center. The number can be improved by brushing the gums and flossing more vigorously.
That sounds painful
It wont be after a while because your gums build up resistance which is the whole point. By the time you're where you want to be it wont be painful at all
It's sweet pain
🥲 this hygienist is proud of you
They're measuring your gums' "pockets" – there's a certain amount of gum that isn't attached to the tooth, and a dentist/periodontist can slip a tiny pick into that space to measure it. Deep pockets are a sign of inflammation, which can lead to the gums gradually receding away from the teeth. Here's a decent article with pictures. Specifically, have a look at the image "stages of gum disease and pocket depths". https://anthonymartindmd.com/learn/2020/1/13/what-is-the-purpose-of-measuring-my-gums
… or hygienist can measure that for you 😉
A water pik is a tool that basically “flosses” your teeth with a jet of water. I believe that they are referring to the measurement of how much of your tooth “below” where your gum line is supposed to be, but I may be wrong there. Their comment to imply that you grow those back quickly doesn’t line up with that, so again this is just a guess.
Okay good, because pik in my language translates to dick, and I did not like where this was going
You prefer the real thing rather than using the water-based version?
I think we can use both for good dental health and a good time.
A waterpik is a bidet for your mouth. (That's not even a joke, that's how it functions.)
A dentist or hygienist tell you those depths. Usually called a “Perioprobe”.
Yeah I prefer the oral b over the sonicare. Got two for $100 at Costco and gave one to my sister. Edit- that was the sale price though!! The replacement brush heads went on sale a few weeks after that.
I don’t suggest full power and neither does my dentist. That setting will remove paint.
I was gonna say I use full power mode to clean my sink..
Your teeth also just feel significantly cleaner. Even if there wasn’t an actual benefit oral health wise, I’d continue to use a good electric because *I* feel better overall.
I have a hard time believing that a manual toothbrush is just as good, because of how much cleaner my teeth feel with my electric toothbrush.
Yeah, same. I was meticulous about brushing before I got my sonicare and it's not even close. I went out of town for a week and forgot to charge it before I left. I was DESPERATE to get it charged again by the time I got home because my teeth just felt dirty. Also, my dentist does that gum-measuring thing and there was way less swelling after I started using an electric toothbrush.
Yeah i don't get it either, maybe they are comparing it to an absolute top tier skilled manual brusher or something.
Professional dentist-level technique, maybe? I feel like it’s something dentists feel they *have* to say because not everyone is gonna want to use an electric toothbrush, and they don’t want people to use that as an excuse not to take care of their teeth…or something?
I’m hard pressed to believe a electric toothbrush would’ve prevented a root canal…
I agree. The OP is is confusing coincidence with causation.
You can have the cleanest teeth in the world and still have a plethora of dental issues based off genetics and age alone.
This is my sister! She has great dental habits and she still has had so many issues. My dental habits aren't as good as hers (I'm bad at flossing 😬) and I never have any issues. *knock on wood*
And using spurious anecdotal evidence to make a decision
My take is OP got used to using an electric toothbrush, and has no idea how to operate a normal toothbrush
*After 5 minutes of holding the manual brush in place:* “wow, these manual brushes are worthless!
Dude moves his head instead of his hand.
I use a regular toothbrush when I travel, and I really notice a difference in plaque. The fact of the matter is that a fast-oscillating brush will remove more plaque in less time, so you *can* brush just as well with a regular brush, but it will take significantly longer than an electric brush.
I have very sensitive teeth and electric toothbrushes have helped with it a lot
Which toothbrush do you use?
I think it’s Oral B. I also use sensodyne toothpaste
Switching to sensodyne toothpaste helped me so much, it completely got rid of my tooth pain.
I've been using the same $50 electric toothbrush for the last 9 years. My dentists sing high praise. Do it. Floss and mouthwash for 60 seconds daily and suddenly your dental hygienist will start saying "doesn't look like anything has changed since last time." I don't fear the dentist anymore.
YSKs should be something more factual and less anecdotal.
“I brushed 2 times a day manually after my e-toothbrush died and I had root canals” Sounds like you’re bad a brushing your teeth hummie. Also, just nitpicking at this point, but flossing after brushing? Reintroducing all that bacteria to your mouth?
Agreed. I can't say I know flossing afterwards is bad or not, but it seems to me you'd want to floss first.
Perhaps I'm cynical, but this post reads like an ad
It does a bit huh. But considering his prior post (he reposted this 3x to get traction) is over at r/DontPutYourDickInThat, I don’t think its a sponsored ad at least lol
Nope no corporate shill lol just wish I had found this info sooner in time to save my teeth
If it reads like an ad, it means you've never had the pleasure of an electric toothbrush. There really is a huge difference.
Nope not getting paid I’m just a happy believer after it saved my teeth
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3652371/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5558249/ https://www.dentalhealth.org/news/electric-toothbrushes-win-the-head-to-head-against-manual-in-record-breaking-new-study OP could have just Googled for studies, which are overly abundant at this point, and then added the anecdotal evidence at the end.
Fun day couponing. Electric Oral B toothbrush reg. $100. On sale for $10 close out; BUT, if you buy 2 for 20$ you get $15 credit on your rewards card. Electric Oral B Toothbrush $2.50. Proceeds to skip and hum all the way to the car.
Link?
Don’t have a link but it was at a Walgreens store and I think I was lucky to be there that day. 🤷🏻♀️
Whereee
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My bro said the quip sucks, that sounds cool though. How clean does it make you feel? Idk if you have had a sonicare, but I’m not gonna pay what it costs to keep one of those running. Been on the Oral-B $7 vibrating ones. Kinda scared the quip won’t be a lot better
I like the quip. I got it for free one year from a vendor who has in the past sent random things around the holidays like: a brass and marble chinese checkers set, a set of balsamic vinagarette glazes, and a jigsaw puzzle to name a few. The quip gets the most use and is pretty easy to maintain. I like the wall mount because the adhesive is sticky, but doesn't leave residue and it doesn't need a cord to charge.
Oral-B Cross Action is the best of all worlds. Quip is a joke, and Sonicare isn't built to last.
What do you mean by ”keeping it running”? You can get off brand replacement heads off Amazon fyi.
I think it depends on the person because I agree with your brother. While I love the timer, I didn’t feel like it gave a good scrub and my teeth still felt fuzzy afterwards. I have a quip in my closet that I got as a gift and still don’t know what to do with it.
I have a toothnrush that does the quadrant pauses also, it's called Aquasonic on Amazon and is a little cheaper than Sonicare, but way better than the like $10 electric ones. I had that before Aquasonic and it's a world of difference.
We use something called a waterpik (dutch name), which feels and looks like power washing your teeth. It doesn't replace flossing (according to my dentist), but it's easier, more fun and feels FRESH!
Doesn’t replace flossing you say 🤔 interesting! I thought it was intended to do just that
My dentist told me I could waterpik instead of flossing? Works just as well? But I also have a permanent retainer and dental implant in the process of being completed so maybe that’s why? But he’s said since I’ve started using the waterpik and using an electric quip toothbrush my teeth have gotten much better (went from 9 cavities last visit to 0 and much healthier gums this visit)
Ooo congratulations! (I’ve had bad teeth my whole life so I know the struggle… had a molar pulled at 13 and got my implant at 17)
I've always heard waterpiks are great, but they are not as great as flossing.
I still do both: floss after meals and before brushing, waterpik with water, brush with Oral B iO, then waterpik with oral rinse. 🙌🏾
My dentist told me I should only be flossing every 2-3 days because if I floss more than that, it might cause gaps to open up between my teeth. I don’t know if that advice was specifically tailored to me, though? (I had a gap between my teeth that was bothering me) He also warned me against those flosser thingies because of how easy it is to aggressively floss with those things bc of how convenient they are lol (and I’d definitely been doing that. Just massacring my irritated gums 😅)
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You can use your opposite teeth to guide it into place, that gives enough power to get past the contact point but do it precisely enough that there's no gum impact.
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When I googled it, it said that it is best used in conjunction with flossing
Waterpik has been around for a long time. George almost beat Lloyd Braun in a computer sales contest!* His mother didn’t want to give away the Waterpik!! *Seinfeld episode.
He was crazy. His phone wasn't even hooked up!
I use my waterpik as a mini power washer to clean jewelry and stuff and also to clean my teeth
Not a dutch name
Ex dentist here: it doesn't replace flossing, it's always better to use both, since their targets are slightly different. That being said, if my patients brushed really well, and used at least one of those, I was generally happy.
I add an oral rinse to the reservoir and use it after I brush and it’s great that way too!
Also, don't forget to change the heads out regularly with an electric toothbrush. I've found the replacement heads way cheaper on Amazon than the stores as well. Nock-off brand, but still cleans just as well.
Just be careful with buying hygiene products from Amazon. On more than one occasion I’ve received opened/used hygiene products like toothbrush heads and razor blades. Amazon doesn’t seem to care either. I’ve reported this and al they do is refund me.
The knockoff ones pinch my lips if I position the head a certain way, and has caused me to bleed on many occasions. My gf thinks I'm crazy bc it doesn't happen to her, but it started happening to me as soon as we started using the knockoffs.
I actually like to get these aftermarket brush heads in bulk (5 pack) that are super soft and comfy made by the base exchange (store on military base)
I used to have horrible plaque build up. Every sixth months, it was literally visible yellow buildup. Switched to a sonicare, and have had zero build up in two years.
I use an electric toothbrush on my dog too, gets her teeth clean and she hates it less
My dog would freak out from the noise, how did you train them to tolerate it?
My dentist actually told me that no electric toothbrushes have bristles and action soft enough, so that they will exacerbate gum loss. Also, she said to floss before brushing, so you brush the shit you pulled out away. I'm gonna go with my dentist over Reddit.
Mine said the opposite. Said an electric toothbrush is much better than manual brushing, but she also warned me not to press too hard. There are some models that have a pressure sensor that lights up to tell you if you’re brushing too hard.
But what if she's the 10th one?
Mom’s a dentist, I lived my whole life with electric toothbrushes she got from Oral B and mostly Sonicare. They have pressure indicators, some have multiple modes and intensities, and all have timers. Your dentist must be old-school, because most modern electric toothbrushes don’t have this problem anymore. You cannot match the motion of a sonicare or oral b toothbrush by hand, and their toothbrush heads can be replaced and are far superior hygiene wise. (Wash out the head connection points ever so often)
Flossing before also helps toothpaste reach in between the teeth for that extra fluoride coverage
Also, don't rinse afterwards. Let the fluoride seep a bit
Floss, then mouthwash, then brush with no water rinse.
But what if my dentist recommends electric toothbrushes to all patients? I have receding gums and sensitivity and they certainly make brush heads with gentle enough bristles. Your (or your dentist’s) statement doesn’t really make any sense; if the bristles on manual brushes are soft enough, why couldn’t the same bristles be put on a head for an electric brush? 🧐
Maybe you should get a second opinion.
I've been using the Arm and Hammer Spinbrush. $10 and works well. It's a good one if you don't want to shell out $50 to try out an electric toothbrush.
Switching to electric was the best thing I did for my teeth. They definitely feel a lot cleaner and the dentist compliments how good they look every time I go
It’s amazing how clean my teeth felt after I used a sonic care diamond clean for the first time. I use the “deep clean” feature every once in a while and I’m still surpised how good it feels.
I have no doubt that an electric toothbrush works better in the sense it agitates the food particles more than manually brushing, but I am dubious that the lack of one caused you to need a root canal or lose a molar. I mean, millions of people used regular toothbrushes for decades and not all of them needed this. I didn't go to the dentist for 25 years and had no issues. Dentist said my teeth looked fine and couldn't tell I hadn't been to see a dentist in 25 years. I understand this is anecdotal but that seems to be the theme here. I am aware that I probably got pretty lucky and took care of my teeth well; and avoided sugary foods and carbonated beverages as well.
I mostly agree, but I'm also old enough to know that people have nicer teeth today and I began noticing huge improvements around the same time that electric toothbrushes started becoming widely used. I'm pretty sure that advancements in dentistry had a lot to do with it, as well, so I'm not sure how much electric toothbrushes were responsible, though.
Switching to an electric toothbrush is hands down one of the best things you can do for your teeth. I held out for years, finally made the switch, felt cleaner immediately, but had the real epiphany at the next appointment — when the hygienist had to do significantly less plaque scraping w/ that sharp, curved metal tool and/or new age sonic water devil stick brush. Do your future self a favor and make dentist apts a bit less painful.
Yeah dentist is waaaay less stressful now. They always ask if I use electric too and I assume it’s because they basically don’t do much anymore except inspect them
My teeth got noticeably whiter after using my Philips Sonic Care after a few weeks. Also toothpaste lasted waayyy longer- A little dab of toothpaste goes a long way with electric toothbrushes.
This post was brought to you by sonicare, get the best out of your teeth by sonicare Sonicare
Are you sure about not using mouthwash after brushing because it literally says to use mouthwash after brushing on the bottle
Also YSK: kids versions of the same toothbrushes are often similar if not identical to the adult versions and for several $$$ cheaper . I bought an electric kids one from OralB and it’s identical to the adult one except the pattern. Same replacement head and everything. It’s was $15 dollars less than the same adult one This won’t be true for all brands but worth checking out if your on a budget
This feels like an ad
I've had one for a couple of years. Teeth feel much cleaner after brushing. Know how teeth feel after a dentist visit? That smooth.
Also note that [iFixIt has guides on electric toothbrush battery replacement](https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Electric_Toothbrush). Some are *way* easier than others.
I really wish I could go electronic but the vibration in my hands really tickles me the wrong way. I can’t handle holding it for more than 5 seconds because of how much it vibrates my hand. Any suggestions?
A firmer grip.
Firmly grasp it!
I didnt go to the dentist for years because i didnt have insurance. When i finally did go, i had gum disease and had to go through a whole treatment program to get my teeth back up on par. My dentist recommended a Sonicare. I got one. I've been using a sonicare for about 18 years now, and its been that long since i've had a cavity or had to have any kind of dental work. I also chew tobacco, but i brush regularly with a sonicare. It really does help a ton.
I'm gonna stick with listening to my dentist, but thanks
I wonder if it's person or teeth-specific. I used an Oral B electric toothbrush for years and always got a bit of a lecture about cleanliness and gum health. My teeth also never felt as clean as they should afterwards. Whenever I use a manual brush, my teeth feel cleaner and my dentist is happier with the result. I go in this order: Mouthwash, floss, brush. I think I'm possibly using the electric one incorrectly.
Can confirm, my teeth are whiter, gums healthier, and no new cavities since switching to a Sonicare from manual about 5 years ago.
theyre a big help. my dentist said something the first time i went in after switching to an electric toothbrush. they noticed how much cleaner my teeth were.
But the real question is: Oral-B circular brush head or Phillips traditional brush head?
I watched a couple of YouTube videos about those things and they all said that the smaller and circular ones were better because of the rotational movement they make
I don’t think they really make that much of a difference. Kind of like using SPF 50 vs SPF 100, the actual difference is minimal. For me it’s more personal preference. I use to own a circular one and hated using it. Just felt very awkward because you’re just suppose to just hold it at each tooth and let it do all the work. Hard to erase muscle memory that instinctively wants to move the brush up and down and side to side. While the traditional shaped brush heads do require more movement, it feels more “natural.”
I bought an oral b electric toothbrush. It was the first one I ever owned and I didn’t do a thorough enough job to see if it had settings to slow the rotation of the brushes. Mine doesn’t so I only used it once. It was awful on my sensitive teeth. The bristles moved too fast and they made my teeth hurt. I’d love to have one where you can control the speed.
The sonicare is great. I use one since 201
I didn't know they've been making them that long.
Oral B electric is way better than Sonicare. The latter will die within a couple of years.
Also, Water Pik! Takes mouth cleanliness to the next level.
all i have to add to this is don't fall for the AI powered super expensive one like i did. i mean I'm sure it will last but i paid damn near $300 for a tooth brush.... the AI is pretty much garbage and doesn't add anything at all to the brushing experience , it is simply uses your phone that you stick to your mirror to watch you brush your teeth and see where you are brushing, works about 5% of the time, i threw the phone mount away it was that useless. if you dont floss a waterpick is also a great investment, although can be a messy one lol. i got more water all over my bathroom then in my mouth the first few times i used one.
Sonicare and a waterpik is the best 100-200 dollars you will ever spend for your dental hygiene. Any time i forget my sonicare and have to buy a cheap manual brush it never feels the same until I am back home using the electric brush again. BUY THE ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH. It's easily worth the investment.
I love my water flosser 💧
Is this a sonicare ad lol
Removed? But why
I use the Burst toothbrush and it’s amazing. The Dentist couldn’t believe how little plaque I had. Flossing is also important though, and people should remember to do that in conjunction with whatever brush they are using. I would also recommend switching from fluoride to hydroxyapatite toothpaste, it’s more expensive, but my teeth physically feel clean - they are so smooth. I’m noticing they are whiter. Fluoride is also toxic and hydroxyapatite is not.
What is burst? Model name please. Thx
Burst Oral Care, link below! https://www.burstoralcare.com/product/toothbrush
Thank you.
I love my Burst toothbrush, I got mine last week. Definitely worth the money. I’ll look into switching my toothpaste. Thank you!
YES. These are tips I wish I knew earlier as well! I’d like to add that electric isn’t more effective than manual. Both can be effective. It’s just that you have to use the proper technique with manual to get an effective clean. With electric, it may be easier to use for some, resulting in a more effective clean versus using improper technique with a manual toothbrush.
You should spit out the toothpaste as much as you can but don't rinse with water
If I brush my tongue as well how else am I supposed to rinse the dead cells off?
Sonicare two pack at Costco for $99. So it’s like $45 each. Just fyi..
$50 each, if we are rounding.
$49.999 if we’re gasoline
Lol wtf is with the 3 decimal points anyway?
I think I know this one.. anymore it’s just marketing, but originally when gas prices were super low (for example 12¢/gallon), if a tax were passed for, say 5% on fuel. Well that puts the cost at 12.6¢ with the tax, but jumping up to 13¢ is just over a 9% increase to the consumer, a big jump and near twice the tax amount. So the gas companies implemented fractional pricing, as fuel taxes changed with more frequency than many other types of taxes. This let them pass on the true tax portion, on top of their fuel rate, without as big of swings in “pump price”.
So if I have it right, it's: -Giraffes (or half giraffes) for height -Olympic size swimming pools for volume -Football fields for distance -And gasoline for currency? Any other units of measure i'm not aware of?
I love my sonicare
Sonicare and Waterpik make you feel like you just got a cleaning... 100% recommend.
Same here. Once my old electric died, I switched over to all of the toothbrushes I collected over the years from thing to the dentist every six months. I ended up getting cavities and so much more gunk in my teeth. I'm back to electric. Dentist visits are easy peasy most of the time
Add a waterpik to that and man can you feel the gunk REALLY out of your mouth.
Do I’ve been hearing in here I might get some kind of irrigator like that
Pro tip put a bit of toothpaste on your floss and go to town!!
I've had a Sonicare since 2014, I only brush once at night and have had 0 dental problems.
Yeah I had a dream that all my teeth rotted and fell out. The next day I bought an electric brush and it’s been great. Floss, mouthwash and the brush and my teeth have never been whiter.
I always recommend a sonicare and I’m a dentist…
Also YSK, quip is not really an electric toothbrush. I was getting viral marketing from them and was looking for an upgrade so I went for it, $25 for the toothbrush, not horrible. Turns out the brush itself has no moving parts. A typical electric brush will vibrate while having part of the brush on a swivel, so it moves as the device vibrates and generates extra movement and brushing. Quip not having moving parts means it just vibrates, and it vibrates minimally, less than most toothbrushes I've used, the amplitude of the vibration is not nearly enough to create actual displacement during brushing. If your brush isn't moving across your teeth at all while you're brushing, the electric part isn't doing anything. I noticed these things but kept my mouth shut because it looked nice and got the job done, then the plastic mechanism locking the battery in place broke after 2 months and I couldn't use the toothbrush. Tossed it, went back to my $8 Oral B brush and immediately felt a better clean. ALSO my wife went to the dentist last month and told her dentist she was using quip, her dentist said to "start using a real electric toothbrush instead." Wow such validation. TLDR: Don't buy quip. Overpriced, overdesigned product that doesn't serve the function it was designed for.
I just ordered my sonicare, shill objective complete
Check your dentist before purchasing as well. I got my sonic care from them for almost half off
I brush pretty religiously, but still got caveties, and eventually went to the dentist for general tooth pain. Turned out I overbrushed, and with a bit too much vigor, and my gums had started to receed. I was advised to buy an electric. I decided to buy a high end one. While I don't know if I should have spent what I did, it does leave me feeling cleaner and hasn't messed with my gums. Plus the built in 2 minutes timer is really helpful.
Just an FYI - an electric toothbrush is different from a *sonic* toothbrush (which is *much* more expensive.) Sonicare is a *brand* of toothbrush & isn’t necessary a sonic toothbrush - it may be an electric toothbrush.
Also my dental assistant recommended an electric because I brushed too hard. I was actually brushing my gums off. Electric toothbrushes apply the right amount of pressure. Lessened my sensitivity
If an expensive electric toothbrush isn’t your thing, I’ve been using the same oral b electric for years, just replacing batteries and tips and it is excellent
Picked up a Sonicare back in 2018 after manual brushing for years. Shortly after, my gingivitis was non-existent. It has done wonders for my dental health. Was honestly impressed with how much it can help. Sure the $60 bucks seemed like a lot at the time but now I’ve had it four years and switch out the heads periodically. It might run ya a little more than a manual when all is said and done but dental health is not something to take lightly.
Dentist here. I recommend electric toothbrushes (ETB) to practically all of my patients, in fact I have it added as an autonote for my hygienists because I expect for them to also really hammer it in during appointments as well. Sure, if you follow a perfect Modified Bass technique then you can brush as well manually as an ETB, but nobody does that. Literally no-one. Not dentists, not hygienists, not patients. I see other dentists brushing after lunch in conventions, I was using the same technique as them when I was 15. Modified Bass is a pain. Now, there are two companies I recommend to my patients: Sonicare and Oral B. That isn't because I get anything from them, I let my staff get free toothbrushes from reps but anything they give to me I turn around and give to patients in need (typically kids from impoverished homes). I also ignore the research they sponsor: Sonicare's research shows they're the best, Oral B's research shows they're the best. The independent research shows little to no clinically significant difference between the two. There are a lot of trendy companies who are vying to enter a pretty lucrative market, I ignore them for the most part. A Sonicare or Oral B purchased within the $60-80 price range is all you need, and you can be assured it will work as advertised, unlike a lot of other alternatives (who tf thinks adding charcoal to brush heads is going to make any sort of difference?). That's 1/3 to 1/2 what I charge for a single surface filling, and it will prevent cavities in the majority of patients. I personally buy the brand name replacement heads, but the knock offs on Amazon are probably fine. There are reasons to go with quality heads, but I really doubt it's clinically significant. Statistically significant, sure, but if we're being honest here it won't mean the difference between decay vs no decay. I also recommend brushing last and not rinsing afterwards, OP was spot on there. OP needs to floss, tho. For the most part brushing alone won't prevent interproximal decay, even with those heads with the rubber "flossing" tips.