A shining, shimmering smile always perks up a personality. A great smile also builds self-confidence and adds appeal to the person wearing it. It is therefore not unusual for people to be completely conscious and anxious about their teeth. Since part of daily good hygiene is brushing teeth, most would wonder if they ought to purchase the more expensive electric toothbrush or stick with there regular, manual ones.

The concept of an electric tooth cleaner came out in the 1800s but Squibb Pharmaceuticals released the first actual model in 1960. The Broxodent, as what it was called, saw a lot of improvements as manufacturers experimented nonstop on perfecting the device, which was primarily intended for orthodontic patients during that time.

As people became busier and yes, a bit lazier, the electric toothbrush became a household device for the convenience and the thought that it can actually clean the teeth 25% more efficiently than the ordinary toothbrush. Many people preferred the battery-operated tool to the manual because of the design, the convenience, and the efficiency in cleaning the mouth.

How does the electric toothbrush work in cleaning our teeth?

The heart of this tool lies in the oscillator, which allows the head of the brush to rotate and move upwards and downwards. These brushes are powered by electricity or rechargeable batteries and are more expensive than ordinary toothbrushes, of course.

Compared to an ordinary toothbrush, you just need to place the electric brush on one tooth at a time and it will do its thing with its rotating, enhanced cleaning system. Many manufacturers of these devices claim that their products clean better than the competition.

Since the Broxodent, there have been a lot of popular brands that came out. The toothbrushes are produced using high quality plastic and other materials. Their cleaning system has become more innovative and more efficient. Their prices too, have dropped so more people can buy and use them. The newer ones these days boast of softer, finer bristles that caress the gums to prevent gingivitis. A lot of these toothbrushes claim to promote healthy gums and give shining teeth because of the intensive cleaning actions these babies do on the teeth.

Although many favor the electric toothbrush over the manual, experts who conducted a study say that both can clean the teeth as efficiently. It only depends on how they are being used and if the user knows how to brush teeth properly as advised by dentists.

Briefly, here are some differences between electric toothbrushes and their manual counterparts:

"Price - The power-assisted ones are more expensive since they cost more when you purchase them. They cost even more since you have to recharge the batteries using electricity or replace them with new ones (which cost extra amount).

"Design - The electric brushes look more sophisticated and their designs are really nice compared to the dull, traditional manual brushes.

"Convenience - The battery-powered brushes need no hand movements from the user. The brush will do the cleaning on its own through its oscillator.

"Disposability - Manual toothbrushes can be disposed instantly and you can just buy a new one after a month if you want to. Electric brushes are much too expensive to throw.

"Efficiency - Many people believe that the electric toothbrush is a more efficient tool but effective cleaning really depends on the user and his ability to brush properly according to his dentist's recommendations.