# Electric toothbrush. Do you use one? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 21, 2018, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-toothbrush-do-you-use-one/814560 "2018-05-21T15:12:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-toothbrush-do-you-use-one/814560/1 "2018-05-21T15:12:57Z")
After many years, my Sonicare electric toothbrush has lost some power. I decided to go the manual method. But my teeth don’t seem to be as clean. Would like to purchase another electric toothbrush. Do you have any preferences? ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-toothbrush-do-you-use-one/814560/2 "2018-05-21T15:24:22Z")
Happy with my OralB. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-toothbrush-do-you-use-one/814560/3 "2018-05-21T15:50:59Z")
Very happy with my Sonicare; I like it better than the OralB I used previously. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-toothbrush-do-you-use-one/814560/4 "2018-05-21T18:24:24Z")
I had a SoniCare and it died. I also got a new dentist in that time (the dentist who sold me the SoniCare didn’t die, he just retired). The new dentist recommended OralB. She preferred the spinning head over the up-and-down of SonICare. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-toothbrush-do-you-use-one/814560/5 "2018-05-21T18:44:31Z")
One came with my Waterpik. Used it once. Hated it. The Waterpik itself, OTOH, is awesome. I use it every evening. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-toothbrush-do-you-use-one/814560/6 "2018-05-21T18:49:47Z")
I use a [Colgate 360° sonic toothbrush](https://www.colgate.com/en-us/products/toothbrush/360-total-advanced-sonic-power). It’s cheap and disposable, but it has a round head and vibrates at 20,000 strokes per minute. It still beats a manual toothbrush. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-toothbrush-do-you-use-one/814560/7 "2018-05-21T19:00:37Z")
I prefer electric toothbrushes and I don’t see myself going back to manuals. The Oral-B Pulsonic was great, used it for 4 years. But they don’t make it anymore, and it’s light weight was great for my weak wrists. I got the lightest weight Sonicare I could find (Plaque Control) and on bad days it can take me two hands to move from a top quadrant to the bottom one to avoid hitting my teeth w/ the brush head. My teeth don’t feel as clean either. I also tried a battery-powered one that does an ok job cleaning my teeth and is a good weight, but it sounds like a buzzsaw. The hunt continues. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-toothbrush-do-you-use-one/814560/8 "2018-05-21T19:05:49Z")
I’ve been giving serious thought to the Tao clean electric toothbrush, it cleans itself. A bit pricey, so I’m still on the fence. [https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/tao-clean-aura-clean-sonic-toothbrush-and-cleaning-station/5179710?skuId=65109458&mcid=PS\_googlepla\_nonbrand\_beautywellness\_online&product\_id=65109458&adtype=pla&product\_channel=online&adpos=1o2&creative=224160675101&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&mrkgadid=558384266&mrkgcl=609&rkg\_id=h-69471e1bafbebb893e2125179a25fd1b\_t-1526929495&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3InYBRCLARIsAG6bfMTyQp383vjgOR7kRaYglQmdL1yTVMiZ9sDNmEC9rlg9mF67yje-XIkaArmUEALw\_wcB](https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/tao-clean-aura-clean-sonic-toothbrush-and-cleaning-station/5179710?skuId=65109458&mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand_beautywellness_online&product_id=65109458&adtype=pla&product_channel=online&adpos=1o2&creative=224160675101&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&mrkgadid=558384266&mrkgcl=609&rkg_id=h-69471e1bafbebb893e2125179a25fd1b_t-1526929495&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3InYBRCLARIsAG6bfMTyQp383vjgOR7kRaYglQmdL1yTVMiZ9sDNmEC9rlg9mF67yje-XIkaArmUEALw_wcB) ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-toothbrush-do-you-use-one/814560/9 "2018-05-21T19:41:13Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I had a SoniCare and it died. I also got a new dentist in that time (the dentist who sold me the SoniCare didn’t die, he just retired). The new dentist recommended OralB. She preferred the spinning head over the up-and-down of SonICare. I had a Sonicare, but went with an OralB after I dropped and broke the Sonicare. I thought about replacing like with like, but the sonic cleaning method apparently doesn’t have the recommendation from dentists that OralB has. As an aside, it’s a pain in the rear that I can drop my phone ceaselessly and it will still function, but a single drop from shelf height has killed two not inexpensive electric toothbrushes. I killed my first OralB, with a neat blue tooth linked LCD display and timer and replaced it with another, lesser model. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-toothbrush-do-you-use-one/814560/10 "2018-05-21T22:41:54Z")
Yes, I do use one. Got the first one from my grandmother for my17th birthday. Very first dentist visit after that my dentist commented on improvement. First electric toothbrush lasted well over a decade. I think I’m only on my second one now, it’s been over 20 years (might be third, but I think second). Pretty sure both Oral-B. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-toothbrush-do-you-use-one/814560/11 "2018-05-21T23:01:44Z")
I’ve been using a Sonicare for almost 20 years and I’m only on my second one. I switched from the Essence (I thin that was it, it was the bigger one) to a smaller one, couldn’t tell you which model. To be honest, I liked the bigger one. Tip:Don’t buy the target brand heads for them. I thought I was going to wake up the people across the street with how loud it is. Well, maybe not across the street, but I really thought I was going to wake up my kid sleeping across the hall. I actually threw them out and got better knock offs. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-toothbrush-do-you-use-one/814560/12 "2018-05-21T23:51:48Z")
I use an OralB; Costco sells them in a pack of 2 with half a dozen replacement heads. I’m still working my way through the replacement heads, and I figure I’ve got a spare if the first one dies on me; I’ve had it for two years now. ---
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-toothbrush-do-you-use-one/814560/13 "2018-05-22T05:10:05Z")
I liked my Sonicare so much that when it died I bought a replacement. They’re down to $20 on amazon last I looked. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-toothbrush-do-you-use-one/814560/14 "2018-05-22T13:14:17Z")
Just wanted to say that my Oral B is on its way out and I literally was going to post a thread today asking this very question so thank you 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-toothbrush-do-you-use-one/814560/15 "2018-05-22T14:25:45Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > I use an OralB; Costco sells them in a pack of 2 with half a dozen replacement heads. I’m still working my way through the replacement heads, and I figure I’ve got a spare if the first one dies on me; I’ve had it for two years now. +1. On our second set now after 5 years. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-toothbrush-do-you-use-one/814560/16 "2018-05-22T14:37:32Z")
I have an OralB and I really like it. I think the heads are a bit expensive and I probably use them longer than recommended but it still seems to do a great job. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-toothbrush-do-you-use-one/814560/17 "2018-05-22T14:40:00Z")
I have three OralBs…due to the fact that I’ve forgotten the charger on a couple of trips. I’ve learned my lesson since and now I store a toothbrush and charger in my suitcase. (You’d think I would’ve come up with that solution after forgetting the charger the first time, but no.) ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-toothbrush-do-you-use-one/814560/18 "2018-05-22T16:05:23Z")
What’s the advantage of these expensive ones (sonicare and the like) over the cheap $7 disposable electric brushes? I’ve been using the cheap spin-brushes for years and they’re great. What’s better about the pricy ones? edit: this study seems to suggest the cheap oscillating ones are better? Or am I reading that wrong?[A 12-week clinical comparison of an oscillating-rotating power brush versus a marketed sonic brush with self-adjusting technology in reducing plaque and gingivitis - PubMed](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24282870) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-toothbrush-do-you-use-one/814560/19 "2018-05-22T16:20:16Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > I have an OralB and I really like it. I think the heads are a bit expensive This is why I get store-brand heads for my OralB. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-toothbrush-do-you-use-one/814560/20 "2018-05-22T17:43:00Z")
I used a Sonicare for about 15 years and just switched to a Quip (or quip, to be accurate). I’m very happy with it. Inexpensive, they mail you replacement heads every three months, and much slimmer than the Sonicare. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-toothbrush-do-you-use-one/814560.md?page=2)