Do Electric Toothbrushes Remove More Plaque?

Electric toothbrush manufacturers provide studies that show their toothbrushes remove significantly more plaque that manual toothbrushes. Both the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) state there is no real difference in the cleaning capabilities of correctly used electric and manual toothbrushes. This leaves many people confused as to which is better. Do electric toothbrushes remove more plaque?

Do Electric Toothbrushes Remove More Plaque? A Study on the Studies
A study was conducted to evaluate the findings of several studies that compared electric toothbrushes and manual toothbrushes. Of the 106 studies, 63 found electric toothbrushes removed more plaque, 42 found the power and manual toothbrushes to be equally effective, and one claimed manual toothbrushes were better.

What was of interest to the research group was the difference in effectiveness based on the type of test subject. Seventy-five percent of the studies that used dental patients found the power toothbrush more effective at removing plaque than a manual toothbrush. Seventy-one percent of the studies conducted on children found the electric toothbrush removed more plaque. When dental students or professionals were used in the studies, the differences between the electric and manual toothbrush became less noticeable. Their conclusion? The vast majority of the average public does not know the proper way to brush their teeth with a manual toothbrush. This being the case, electric toothbrushes do offer an advantage in the removal of dental plaque.

Do Electric Toothbrushes Remove More Plaque? The ADA and ADHA
The conclusion of the above-mentioned study takes us back to the ADA and ADHA. The key to their statements on manual toothbrushes versus electric toothbrushes is the idea of using each one correctly. You can effectively remove plaque with a manual toothbrush if you know the proper way to brush. Alternately, you can remove less plaque with an electric toothbrush if you do not know how to use it.

The idea of effectiveness by knowing how to use the brush was proven in a study involving 60 dental students. When handed an electric toothbrush without instruction, the students cleaned just as well, if not better, with a manual toothbrush. Once the students were taught how to use the electric toothbrush, their plaque removal went up by 6%.

Do Electric Toothbrushes Remove More Plaque? Results Over Time
The studies that followed test subjects over several months found both manual and electric toothbrushes began to lose their effectiveness as time went on. In many cases, this was considered to be due to waning enthusiasm by the brusher and not an actual issue with the brushes.

Do Electric Toothbrushes Remove More Plaque? The Point of this Article
In the hands of the general public, electric toothbrushes remove more plaque than manual toothbrushes. Electric toothbrushes remove even more plaque when the consumer reads and follows provided instructions. Models that offer sensors and timers to keep you brushing your teeth correctly over many months will offer you the best in plaque removal and oral health.