Electric Toothbrush Facts

Electric toothbrushes use electrical power to move the head of a toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes have become a popular item due to their effectiveness in cleaning teeth. Electric toothbrushes are very affordable, convenient and easy to use.

Year Invented

The first electric toothbrush was invented in Switzerland by Dr. Philippe-Guy Woog.

Effectiveness

Some dentists recommend that their patients use electric toothbrushes rather than regular toothbrushes because they believe electric toothbrushes are more effective. Some electric toothbrushes can perform up to 40,000 strokes per minute.

Research

Despite the beliefs of some, research has suggested that electric toothbrushes are no more effective than manual toothbrushes. The only exception to this are electric toothbrushes that with a "rotation-oscillation" model such as many Oral-B brushes which performed a little better during the research trials.

Power Source

Most current electric toothbrushes run on low-voltage power sources (less than 12v).

Timer

Many electric toothbrushes come equipped with timers that signal the user when around 2 minutes has passed.

Visual Screens

Some modern electric toothbrushes come with visual screens that show the timer and encouraging signs such as happy faces.

Models

There are many different models and colors of electric toothbrushes. Many electric toothbrushes come with replaceable or rechargeable batteries and replaceable bristles.