Buy electric toothbrush: you should pay attention to this

Before you buy an electric toothbrush, you have to make a few decisions. Because there is no longer just one type of electric toothbrush. In addition to different brush head shapes, you also have to choose between rotating, "sound" or "ultrasound". We give you some clues.

Electric toothbrush: rotating or (ultra-) sound?

The first decision you have to make is between rotating-oscillating cleaning technique or cleaning with sound or ultrasound:

• With the rotating-oscillating brushes, so-called round-head brushes, the round brush head turns quickly alternately to the left and right - driven by an electric motor. The plaque is reliably removed. However, you have to press the brush onto the tooth. This damages the enamel and the wear on the brush head is comparatively high.
• With sonic toothbrushes, the brush head does not rotate, but vibrates - driven by sound waves with more than 30, 000 vibrations per minute. Less pressure has to be applied and the enamel is protected. In addition, the cleaning effect is slightly better and the interdental spaces are better reached. The brush head is similar to that of the conventional manual toothbrush.
• Ultrasonic toothbrushes look like normal sonic toothbrushes, but they work with a multiple of vibrations and a higher sound frequency. As a result, the toothbrush has an antibacterial effect: the brush does not clean at the macro, but at the micro level. Ultrasonic toothbrushes cause bubbles to burst in special toothpaste. In terms of handling, ultrasonic toothbrushes take a bit of getting used to, since they are placed on the teeth for ten seconds each and so each tooth is cleaned individually.
• In many cases, sonic toothbrushes may be slightly more expensive than conventional round-head brushes. But the cleaning effect due to the fast vibrations is also greater.

Electric toothbrush: technical extras

With today's electric toothbrushes you will often find technical extras such as pressure regulation and various cleaning programs that are quite practical:

• Most newer electric toothbrushes have several cleaning programs in which the number of vibrations or rotary movements per minute can be varied. So you can clean your teeth with quick vibration and massage the gums with slower.
• Many electric brushes also have a timer. By briefly suspending the toothbrush, the optimal brushing time is signaled four times (once for each quadrant).
• Some toothbrushes have a digital display (Smart Guide). On the display you can see whether you are pressing too hard and how long you need to clean.

Conclusion: Which electric toothbrush is right for me?

In summary, it is not possible to say exactly which toothbrush is the best. Every toothbrush has its advantages and disadvantages. However, it depends on the type of cleaning.

• In terms of cleaning performance, the sonic or ultrasonic toothbrush is recommended. However, these models are more expensive than the traditional round head brush.
• If you like to be a bit careless when brushing your teeth, you should still use the sound variant, because you have to be less careful than with the rotating brush.
• Nowadays almost every good electric toothbrush has technical extras. You have to decide for yourself whether you need things like a digital display.
• Note the follow-up costs: Over time, the brush heads, which you should change regularly, are more expensive than the purchase of the brush. Since the heads of the sonic toothbrushes wear out less quickly, additional costs can be saved when purchasing.
• You can find tips on how to brush your teeth properly in another practical tip.

In the next article, you can read which electric toothbrush performed best at Stiftung Warentest.