How Much Money Should You Spend on a Toothbrush?

Toothbrushes come in at an astounding array of price points. For a basic manual brush with a flimsy plastic handle, you can spend somewhere south of $2. For a fully motorized toothbrush with all the latest features, that figure can be amplified by a factor of 100 or more.

The difference is not exactly even between basic and luxury, but functionality. What features are important, and how much did you pay for them? That’s the question. The answer?

Well, it depends on your health needs, your priorities, your habits. In this article, we take a look at what features are worth paying for—and which are not.

Are Electric Toothbrushes Better?

So, to begin with, are electric toothbrushes, inherently better than manual? Let’s get this right out in the open. There are valuable features that come with a more expensive electric toothbrush. These are observed most keenly in the department of plaque removal, where electric brushes are, statistically speaking, almost twice as effective as the manual alternative.

The numbers on this are going to vary pretty significantly based both on your technique and your habits. But there is definitely an objective statistical advantage in most cases between electric toothbrushes and manual in this specific area.

How that statistic impacts your life can vary pretty significantly from person to person. Some people can use a manual toothbrush three times a day for the doctor-recommended two minutes and never have any oral health problems at all, while other people may do everything they’re supposed to do and still live in fear of visiting the dentist, anticipating the sting of a needle, the whirring of a drill.

 You don’t need an electric toothbrush to see good results. Better brushes can provide an easier, more comfortable path to improved oral hygiene but at the end of the day, there is no substitute for proper technique.

When Spending More Makes Sense

Spending more money on a toothbrush with a wide range of features can be beneficial when those features are directly solving an oral health problem that you’re having. Electric toothbrushes, for example, encourage longer brushing sessions. Most come with timers that are broken into four-part increments.

Not only do these timers ensure that you brush for the dentist’s recommended two minutes, but they also monitor the quality of your brushing, guaranteeing that each section of your mouth is given equal attention. Is this feature worth $200? That’s a subjective consideration.

In fact, every cell phone in the world has a timer, and you can easily enough replicate this functionality manually. But that begs the question—will you? The big benefit of electric brushes is that they automate many components of good oral health, taking guesswork out of the process.

The plaque removal component is worthwhile for anyone who needs to remove more plaque. The other possibilities are a little more subjective. Good habits and techniques will produce good results regardless of what type of toothbrush you use.

Electric Toothbrushes Aren’t Always Best

There are certain situations where electric toothbrushes can actually be worse than the manual alternative. For one thing, the price is genuinely prohibitive for some people.

Many cannot justify spending upwards of 100 times what they could budget for a simpler option. That alone is a worthy enough reason to stick with manuals.

Electric toothbrushes can also be a little too aggressive for people with sensitive teeth or gums.

They remove that extra plaque not through good manners, but through power. Those strong vibrations can cause discomfort or even pain for those with gum issues. If that’s your situation, find a manual brush. It’s certainly the best option.

Not sure? Ask your dentist

If you aren’t sure which toothbrush model is right for you, the simplest solution—inevitably—is to ask your dentist. Make sure you present the complete question to them. If you ask, “What toothbrush is best?” they might very well recommend something that costs $200, feeling that it is objectively the best.

But if you provide context for the question—for example, “Which toothbrush is best for someone with sensitive teeth who would prefer to spend under $50?”—they’ll probably be happy to recommend a great product that fits both your comfort level and your finances.

If you’re ready to make an appointment at Integrated Dental, we provide regular consultations alongside a full slate of other dental services.