I'm a dental hygienist and generally we recommend electric toothbrushes.
I have both the braun oral-b oscillating head type and the phillips sonicare. My personal preference is for the braun oral-b. It has a small head so you can access the back teeth, I also have found that patients find it easier to use correctly.
The Sonicare is quite technique specific but it also a very good brush, and I know many dental professionals who prefer them to the Braun Oral-b.
Whichever one you plump for they are worth the investment and generally give results superior to manual toothbrushing. I would advise you to take your brush with you to your next dentist/hygienist appointment so they can show you how to use it properly, as neither are designed to be used with a manual toothbrushing technique. Oh and go for one with a timer as most people are surprised by how long 2 minutes actually is!
Happy brushing!
Kate

Really???

Same thought crossed my mind - what is the carbon footprint from the average vibrator?

Yup. Worth it. Sonicare is the original one which is what really works for me. It has to vibrate at high enough frequency to reduce plaque and also destroy stains making your teeth whiter without peroxide. Cheaper ones don't vibrate at high enough frequency to work as well.

My kids use it you can buy it in the chemist, or when you next visit your dentist you can ask for some (it is cheaper from the dentist).
I am with you with i can`t stand brushing my teeth it makes me nearly vomit

That must be really crappy for you guys. When I was pregnant I had this urge to ram the toothbrush right to the back of my mouth whenever I cleaned my teeth, seemed I just couldn't get it in far enough, I'd have to chew it and force it behind my back teeth.....was very strange. Never had the urge since thank goodness.

I took my daughter to the dentist this afternoon and having been told off by Lou for hijacking the thread I thought I'd do penance and ask him. He said electric toothbrushes are just a tool. Manual brushing does the job if the technique is right but most of us don't know how to clean our teeth properly and the electric ones compensate to some extent for bad technique. But he said in his view the bigger issue is that not enough people floss regularly.

I agree we bought electric toothbrushes, but because it makes me ill, i could not use it, told my dentist, and he said the best is to floss 3 times a day (after each meal)

Further to my previous comment, the preventative contraceptive measures of electric toothbrushes can be extended to flossing.

If I had plenty of bathrooms, I would be slept, up, showered, dressed and on my way to work before my partner completed her evening dental rituals.

dave

hi tooth brushers.

i am a dental hygienist, and in my opinion electric is better and when used correctly do not cause gum problems.

with the normal tooth brushes everyone seems to want to use harder ones to make their teeth cleaner and scrub to cause recession, or they just dont use them well and manage to clean everywhere.

the sonic ones are different to electric and in my observations offer no major benifits over the normal type except people tend to use them more often perhaps from because of the gadget factor....

electric ones from oral-b/braun are definately the best but you still need to floss too! once a day well is better than 3 times badly!

I was told 3 times a day

without knowing your specific situation its hard to say, i dont want to contradict the dentist or anything, but i know that its not necessary chemically or bacterially speaking....

maybe they are reccomending that as a preventative measuere in the hope it gets done once a day rather than twice a week like most people... or are just really keen on flossing!

we know by the way, even when people lie and say they floss every day, we can tell!!

LOL. Are you my dentist i never used to floss back in the UK, but since moving here i am flossing lots (well at least when i remember) off to floss now hey look how white my teeth are

ohhh, from the UK.... maybe not the best reputation for having good teeth there!

glad to hear you have changed your wicked ways...

Me too. I thought I was the only one.

Rod

I kept trying to tell that to my ex-girlfriend... but would she listen?

You are not on your own me too

A Swedish dentist introduced me to specially shaped, flattened wooden toothpicks that get driven between the teeth. They feel good, very good. So good you actually have to stop yourself form doing it.

It's the perfect substitute for those who find floss a pain (IMO the sticks are better)

the little brushes feel even better, no pointy wooden bits!! (interdental brushes)

My NEW Dentist gave me those, and i have problems with them