An electric toothbrush is a toothbrush using electric power to move the brush head, normally in an oscillating pattern, though electric toothbrushes are often called 'rotary' toothbrushes. Electric toothbrushes are wonderful inventions for those who may have difficulty handling a regular toothbrush. Often elderly patients, or those with wrist injuries, can benefit from the comfort and minimal effort of using an electric toothbrush.

A doubt that arises most commonly in our mind is which is better electric toothbrush or manual toothbrush. Be it any kind of brush, the most important is daily brushing and flossing.

Electric Toothbrush Types
There are two main types of electric toothbrushes: an oscillating one, in which the bristles rotate in one direction and then the other, and the other, is the Sonicare, which vibrates at a very fast pace. In spite of the dentists on television recommending the Sonicare toothbrush, whichever type you buy is really a matter of your personal preference.

Electric Toothbrush Benefits
There are many advantages of using an electric toothbrush. The basic being, while using an electric toothbrush, it gives you the feel of just being cleaned from the dentist him/herself. The movement of the bristles provides a deep cleaning that a manual brush cannot do. They are best suited for those who regularly drink coffee, as it is capable of removing stains. Besides, removing stains, an electric toothbrush also purifies the bad breath, caused by bacteria hiding in hard-to-reach places. And as previously said, it is best for the people suffering from arthritis, as they do not have to work as hard with an electric toothbrush.

Buying Electric Toothbrush
Buying an electric toothbrush is a tricky operation, as one can find a great deal of variety on the market. For choosing the best electric toothbrush, with adequate teeth cleaning, you must keep in mind the following facts:

• Electric toothbrushes come with handles having a variety of shapes and materials, choose one that fits better and steadily to your grip.
• Check the quality of the bristles. They should have rounded ends to avoid damaging the gums.  The best option is to have a toothbrush with sodt bristles.
• Go for brushes with pressure sensors, so as to regulate the speed of the brush to avoid damaging teeth and gums.
• You can select toothbrush with built-in timer, so as to control the duration of brushing.
• Always consult your dentist for the right toothbrush hardness (soft or medium) and type according to the specific needs, mouth shape and dental problems.