Electric toothbrushes, water flossers and toothpaste: choosing oral care tools

Quick answer: any toothbrush works when used properly, but many people find an electric brush with a built-in two-minute timer easier to use well. Brush twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste, replace the brush head every three to four months, and clean between your teeth once a day with floss, picks or a water flosser. Look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance on products, and ask your dentist about anything specific to your teeth.

Oral care aisles have grown into a wall of gadgets. The basics have not changed: brush thoroughly, clean between teeth and see your dentist regularly. The tools simply make those habits easier to keep.

Electric toothbrushes: sonic or oscillating

There are two main designs. Oscillating-rotating brushes have a small round head that turns back and forth. Sonic brushes have a longer head that vibrates at high speed, similar in shape to a manual brush. Both are designed to be guided slowly from tooth to tooth rather than scrubbed.

Useful features include a two-minute timer with 30-second pacing for each part of the mouth, a pressure sensor that warns you if you press too hard, and a battery that lasts through a trip. Soft bristles are the usual recommendation. The 7AM2M sonic toothbrush has five modes and a battery rated for up to 120 days per charge. Browse electric toothbrushes and brush heads.

Replacing brush heads

The American Dental Association suggests replacing a toothbrush, or a brush head, every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. Many heads have indicator bristles that fade as a reminder. Check fit carefully: heads are made for specific handle families. Genuine Philips Sonicare click-on heads come in a four-pack, and third-party heads list the handle series they fit.

Cleaning between teeth

A toothbrush cannot reach fully between teeth, which is why daily interdental cleaning is part of the ADA's advice. Choose the tool you will actually use:

• String floss is inexpensive and reaches tight contacts.
• Floss picks are easier for one-handed use and for children; the DenTek Advanced Clean floss picks come in a six-pack of 150.
• Soft rubber picks, such as GUM Soft-Picks, slide between teeth with flexible bristles.
• Water flossers use a pulsing stream of water and are helpful around braces, bridges and implants.

For water flossers, compare tank size, pressure settings and tips. Countertop units have larger tanks; cordless models are easier to store and travel with but need refilling mid-session. The Aquasonic Aqua Flosser is cordless with five tips and three modes, and the FlossJet has a 300 mL tank and four modes. Lean over the sink and start on the lowest setting. See water flossers and floss.

Toothpaste: fluoride and how much

The ADA recommends a fluoride toothpaste for brushing. For children, the amount matters: a smear about the size of a grain of rice for children under 3, and a pea-sized amount for ages 3 to 6, with an adult helping and making sure they spit rather than swallow. A pea-sized amount is enough for most adults. The Burt's Bees fluoride toothpaste comes in a three-pack of 4.7-ounce tubes. Browse toothpaste.

Mouth rinses

Rinses fall into two groups. Cosmetic rinses freshen breath. Therapeutic rinses contain an active ingredient, such as fluoride, listed in a Drug Facts panel with directions. Mouthwash is not a substitute for brushing and flossing, and the ADA advises against it for children under 6 unless a dentist recommends it. Alcohol-free versions, such as the ACT zero-alcohol fluoride rinse, suit people who find alcohol rinses harsh. See mouthwash.

Looking after your tools

Rinse brush heads and let them air dry upright, uncovered, so they dry between uses. Do not share brushes or heads. Empty and rinse a water flosser tank after use and run vinegar through it occasionally if the maker allows, to clear mineral buildup in hard-water areas.

Before you buy: a short checklist

• Choose sonic or oscillating and check for a two-minute timer.
• Confirm brush heads fit your handle series.
• Pick an interdental tool you will use daily.
• Look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance on toothpaste and brushes.
• Use rice-grain and pea-sized amounts of toothpaste for young kids.
• Set a reminder to change heads every three to four months.

Common questions

Is an electric toothbrush better than a manual one?

Both clean well when used correctly for two minutes twice a day. Many people find electric brushes easier because of built-in timers and pressure sensors. Ask your dentist if you have specific needs.

When is it time for a new brush head?

Every three to four months, or sooner if bristles are frayed, following American Dental Association guidance. Indicator bristles that fade are a handy reminder.

Can a water flosser replace string floss?

A water flosser is one way to clean between teeth, and many people with braces or bridges find it easier. The ADA advises cleaning between teeth daily with whichever tool you will use consistently.

How much toothpaste should a child use?

A smear the size of a grain of rice for children under 3 and a pea-sized amount for ages 3 to 6, with an adult supervising so the child spits it out.

Keep browsing

Oral care is part of our Health & Household department. Our cleaning supplies checklist covers the rest of the bathroom, and shop by department lists every category.

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