Manual or Electric Toothbrush: What Should You Choose?

This is a question you often ask us at the practice: Should I keep my manual brush or switch to electric?

The choice may seem simple, but it has a real impact on your oral health.

In this article, we help you see clearly to choose the tool that truly suits you.

What matters most is your technique

Before even talking about technology, two elements make all the difference, regardless of the type of brush:

Brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes
Use a gentle and effective technique (don't forget the gums or inner surfaces)

In other words: poor technique with a good brush is still poor brushing.

✔️ Accessible, economical, lightweight

✔️ Easy to carry and find

✔️ Effective if the technique is flawless

But be careful: the manual brush requires more discipline.

Many patients tend to:

Regular and automatic movements
Built-in timer on most models to respect the 2 minutes
Pressure sensor on certain models to avoid irritating the gums
Better accessibility to hard-to-reach areas
Removes up to 2 times more dental plaque, according to certain clinical studies

👉 Thomassen, T. M., Van der Weijden, F. G., & Slot, D. E. (2022), International Journal of Dental Hygiene.

It is particularly recommended for:

Change your brush or head every 2 to 3 months, or as soon as the bristles are worn. For children: sometimes the brush needs to be replaced more frequently as they tend to chew on it.
Always prefer soft bristles, more respectful of the gums
Small rounded head: more manageable, ideal for reaching back molars