What’s the Best Toothbrush? A Comparison of the 3 Most Popular Options: Electric vs Manual vs U-Shape
Are you possibly compromising your dental health with your current toothbrush choice?
Post by: Melissa Hines
We did an in-depth review to determine the best type of toothbrush.
In our review, we compared a manual toothbrush vs an electric toothbrush vs a u-shape toothbrush.
Here’s a summary of our results:
Toothbrush technology has come a long way in the past few years.
Not long ago, everyone used a manual toothbrush—because that was the only type of toothbrush available.
But today, we have options. And while a manual toothbrush is still technically sufficient to clean your teeth, the new styles of toothbrushes are superior in many ways.
So in this article, we’re going to compare the pros and cons of the 3 most popular styles of toothbrushes:
1. Manual toothbrush
2. Electric toothbrush
3. U-shape toothbrush
Since not everyone is familiar with a u-shape toothbrush, we’ll be using a specific example here: AutoBrush, which is one of the best-selling, most advanced, and highest rated u-shape toothbrushes on the market.
First up, we’ll start with a quick overview of each type of toothbrush.
Pros & Cons of a Manual Toothbrush
This is the old, classic style of toothbrush that has been around for decades now.
Manual toothbrushes are simple and cheap. There’s nothing to plug in, nothing to charge.
But they do have some serious downsides.
For one thing, while manual toothbrushes might seem easy to use (just rub the bristles over your teeth), they’re surprisingly difficult to handle correctly.
In order to clean your teeth effectively, you need to use the proper technique and clean every single part of your teeth (which can be difficult, especially way in the back).
You also need to be careful not to brush too hard, which is a common mistake. Brushing too hard can potentially lead to a receding gum line and erosion of tooth enamel over time.
In short, a manual toothbrush is better than nothing—but (spoiler alert) it’s NOT the best option for cleaning your teeth.
Pros & Cons of an Electric Toothbrush
There are 2 main kinds of electric toothbrushes:
- Vibrating toothbrushes (the whole brush shakes)
- Oscillating toothbrushes (the bristles move side-to-side)
There’s a big difference here: oscillating electric toothbrushes are far more effective than vibrating brushes.
We do NOT recommend vibrating electric toothbrushes, and the rest of this article will address oscillating electric brushes ONLY.
With that out of the way, what are the pros and cons of an oscillating electric toothbrush?
Well, they’re easier to use than manual toothbrushes. Rather than having to use physical strength and dexterity to clean your teeth, you only have to move the brush around all your teeth—the oscillating bristles do the actual cleaning part for you.
Electric toothbrushes are widely considered more effective than manual toothbrushes at removing plaque and tartar.
They’re also more expensive—at least, initially. Once you’ve purchased the initial brush handle, all you have to do is buy new brush heads every 3 months, which is only slightly more expensive than buying new manual brushes.
Electric toothbrushes are also, you know, electric. Which means they have to be plugged in and charged. However, every electric toothbrush comes with its own charging station, most of which are very easy to use.
Pros & Cons of U-shape Toothbrushes Like AutoBrush
Out of all the toothbrushes covered in this article, this is the style that you are most likely to be unfamiliar with. So let’s start by answering a simple question:
What is an u-shape toothbrush (like the AutoBrush)?
AutoBrush looks a little like a mouth guard with a handle. Basically, you insert the mouth guard over your teeth, turn it on, and wiggle it side to side.
AutoBrush uses ultrasonic technology and the ADA-approved “BASS Technique” to brush all your teeth at once.
It’s easy to understand when you see it, so here’s a quick video of the AutoBrush in action:
AutoBrush® Kids Review + How-To by Kendra Alley & Sons
As you can see, this type of brush is quite a bit different from manual and electric toothbrushes (both of which are very similar in design).
So what are some of the pros and cons of a brush like AutoBrush?
Like an electric toothbrush, it involves a higher up-front cost. It also needs to be kept charged.
But the brushing experience itself is far faster, easier, and more convenient. All you have to do is insert it in your mouth and move it back and forth for 30 seconds while it brushes for you.
There’s no “technique” involved; you don’t have to carefully move a brush from tooth to tooth, you don’t have to reach way back to clean your molars, and you don’t have to worry about brushing too hard. Since the AutoBrush is u-shaped, it takes care of all that stuff for you.
AutoBrush also includes features you can’t get in any other type of toothbrush—features like built-in whitening, dental-grade LED lights and kid-friendly touches such as animal shapes & music.
We were actually quite impressed with the effectiveness and value of these added features. We’ll talk about them in detail in just a moment.
Results: What’s the Best Toothbrush?
After weighing the pros and cons of each type of toothbrush, we created this table that summarizes the results for each different type of toothbrush.
As you can see, we found the AutoBrush to be superior to both manual toothbrushes and electric toothbrushes in almost every respect. In fact, there were only 2 areas where the AutoBrush didn’t come out on top.
Let’s quickly walk through each item in this list to make it clear exactly how we came up with those scores.
Teeth Cleaning Power: Winner—AutoBrush
A clinical study is a type of research that is conducted in a controlled environment to test the safety and efficacy of a product, and in this scenario a toothbrush. The results of these studies can provide important information about the effectiveness of the product, which can help you make informed decisions about your oral hygiene routine.
SALUS research conducted a clinical study in which AutoBrush users were measured against a control group of manual toothbrush users. Twenty-two children, ranging between the ages of 5 to 8 years old, were randomized to receive each treatment and completed the study. Before brushing their teeth with the AutoBrush, the children were asked to watch AutoBrush’s Introductory How-To video included below. No further instruction was given.
The results are outstanding.
SALUS research found the AutoBrush to be “statistically superior to ADA manual toothbrushes”. AutoBrush users were 27 times better at removing plaque from the whole mouth compared to manual toothbrush users. The reduction for whole mouth for the manual toothbrush was only 1.9%. The AutoBrush toothbrush also significantly reduced plaque in the other test endpoints as shown in the graph above.
After a quick google search for “u-shaped toothbrushes”, you’ll find several knockoffs that claim to be AutoBrush.
Do not be fooled!
Many of available u-shaped toothbrushes out there use silicone bristles that do NOT effectively clean teeth.
In fact, studies show that using these types of mouthpiece toothbrushes are just as effective as not brushing your teeth at all.
So while their cheaper price tag may be tempting, they are ultimately a waste of money.
If you'd like to read the entire AutoBrush clinical study, click here.
Affordability: Winner—Manual Toothbrushes
Clearly, manual toothbrushes are far less complex and cheaper than electric or u-shape toothbrushes, making them the winner in the “affordability” category.
But when you take a closer look, you start to see that the cost differences aren’t as great as they might appear.
This is because while electric and u-shape toothbrushes both involve a higher up-front investment, their ongoing costs are much more manageable. After you buy the initial toothbrush, your only expense moving forward will be to replace the brush heads. Since the cost of the brush heads is fairly comparable to the cost of a new manual toothbrush (which also must be replaced every 3 months), the long-term cost of these brushes is much more affordable than many people realize.
We also wanted to recognize the fact that the AutoBrush comes with built-in whitening, which eliminates the need to purchase whitening strips or other third-party whitening solutions down the road.
Brushing Speed: Winner— AutoBrush
Electric toothbrushes get a slight nod over manual toothbrushes due to their built-in timers that tell you how long to brush each section of your mouth.
However, because AutoBrush cleans all your teeth at once and does not require any technique to achieve effective cleaning, it makes for a significantly faster brushing experience than any other brush type on the market.
AutoBrush cleans all your teeth in just 30 seconds.
Ease of Use: Winner—AutoBrush
Because electric toothbrushes do much of the work for you, we found them to be easier to use than manual toothbrushes.
However, we still found AutoBrush to be significantly easier to use than either of the other toothbrush types.
All you have to do when using AutoBrush is insert the brush head over your teeth and gently move the handle back and forth for 30 seconds. It involves no real technique or dexterity; anyone can use AutoBrush with ease.
Build-in Whitening and Built-in Dental LED Lights: Winner— AutoBrush
We’ve lumped the next 2 categories together for a simple reason: AutoBrush does include these advanced oral hygiene features, while manual and electric toothbrushes do not.
These are significant features, so don’t underestimate them!
The built-in whitening lightens your teeth by an average of 6 shades with NO hypersensitivity or pain (unlike those painful whitening strips). Similar wireless whitening products sell for $199 (and all they do is whitening).
The build-in Dental LED light has 3 settings:
1. The Blue LED Light kills the bad bacteria that causes gum disease & bad breath.
2. The Red LED Light promotes healthy gums & reduces inflammation.
3. You can also use both the Red and Blue LED lights simultaneously, effectively creating a Purple LED Light that delivers both benefits at the same time.
And since the light turns on while brushing, it takes no extra time or effort to get the benefit of better breath and healthier gums. To us, that’s a huge win.
Promotes Gum Health: Winner—AutoBrush
People often think of brushing as something we do for our teeth…but the health and cleanliness of your gums are every bit as important.
So why did we rate the brushes the way we did?
Studies have shown that people who use electric toothbrushes tend to have healthier gums than those who use a manual toothbrush, so we scored electric toothbrushes above manual toothbrushes in this category.
And we gave AutoBrush an even better score for two reasons:
1. Because of the included Red LED Light, and
2. Because AutoBrush is gentler on gums.
With manual and electric toothbrushes, it’s possible to brush too hard and cause gum erosion over time. But AutoBrush is designed to brush from the proper angle in a way that is far gentler, making it a great choice for maintaining healthy gums.
Kid-Friendly: Winner—AutoBrush
Last but not least: which toothbrush is the best choice for kids?
Manual toothbrushes get an awful score here because most kids lack the physical dexterity and the mental discipline to brush for a full 2 minutes with the proper technique required.
Electric toothbrushes get a better score because they make it a little easier for kids to clean their teeth effectively. However, even with electric toothbrushes, it can be very difficult for kids to brush those hard-to-reach spots in the rear of their mouths.
AutoBrush solves that problem by brushing your teeth for you, which means anyone can use it—even kids. It encourages healthy brushing habits and gives your kid a greater sense of independence.
Plus, AutoBrush comes in a kids’ model with animal shapes and fun dance music that helps transform teeth brushing time from a hated chore to a fun little dance party! A quick read through their reviews will reveal hundreds of parents who were shocked to discover that with AutoBrush, their kids actually WANT to brush their teeth!
Final Recommendation: Should you try AutoBrush?
By now you’ve seen our ratings for each toothbrush type, so you probably won’t be surprised to find that we HIGHLY recommend the AutoBrush for both adults and kids.
In the end, it has 3 significant advantages over manual and electric toothbrushes:
1. It’s much faster and easier to use, which will make your morning and night routines a little bit more enjoyable.
2. It has impressive features you can’t get anywhere else, like built-in whitening and dental-grade LED lights that help maintain your oral hygiene and gum health.
3. Kids love it. If you’re a parent, trust us: the AutoBrush will absolutely transform your bedtime routine in the best possible way.
We say: GO FOR IT.
Try AutoBrush.
It’s a little more expensive up-front than a manual brush, but the brush heads are reasonably priced and it includes an advanced whitening solution. Overall, we found the additional cost to be well worth it—and far more enjoyable and effective than even a normal electric toothbrush.
It's no wonder why dentists recommend it to their patients:
Dr. Mikaeya Kalantari, Pediatric Dentist
"This is a really great toothbrush to get your kids on the routine of oral care. It makes it fun! It makes it exciting! The angle of the bristles and the more powerful vibrations are really really going to go far into getting the teeth clean."
Dr. Clara D. Griffey, DDS
“If you have such a struggle getting them (your kids) brushing in the first place, this is a really great option. The music is what got my kids excited about it and love it!"
Kelly Hancock, RDH
“The AutoBrush for Kids really takes the chore out of brushing. I think this is great for all children because it makes brushing super fun. It's a great motivator. It can also be really good for those with special needs or sensory issues."
Dr. Mikaeya Kalantari, Pediatric Dentist
"This is a really great toothbrush to get your kids on the routine of oral care. It makes it fun! It makes it exciting! The angle of the bristles and the more powerful vibrations are really really going to go far into getting the teeth clean."
Dr. Clara D. Griffey, DDS
“If you have such a struggle getting them (your kids) brushing in the first place, this is a really great option. The music is what got my kids excited about it and love it!"
Kelly Hancock, RDH
“The AutoBrush for Kids really takes the chore out of brushing. I think this is great for all children because it makes brushing super fun. It's a great motivator. It can also be really good for those with special needs or sensory issues."
Discover AutoBrush Oral Probiotics Now
What Others Are Saying
And it's not just me; I've seen quite a few parents sharing their positive experiences. It seems like AutoBrush is slowly becoming a household favorite, helping to foster a healthy environment in our children's mouths.
I wanted to share this little find with you all. It's always great to share something that could be a small step towards happier, healthier smiles, right?
When you sum it up like this, we think it becomes pretty obvious that AutoBrush is the best u-shape toothbrush on the market by a wide margin.
If this comparison piques your curiosity, you can learn more about the AutoBrush and purchase one for yourself on their website.
Prior to the auto brush, we would bribe our 4 year old to brush her teeth. She used to scream and throw fits when it was time to brush her teeth. Now, she wakes up and immediately brushes her teeth without hesitation. Not only does she love it, but it is cleaning her teeth better than her previous mechanical toothbrush. Love this product!
Tori M. from Connecticut
Abby is my 6 year old daughter who was born with Cerebral Palsy. CP affects all aspects of Abby's Life. I have implemented tools like AutoBrush for Kids to increase her independence! We got our first toothbrush in September of 2021 and the 1st week we got it my daughter started brushing her teeth 4 times a day all by herself & completely independently, which is such a win for us as parents.
Julie F. from Florida
AutoBrush is really helping me instill good dental hygiene habits in my kids! It is also dentist approve which is a huge relief. We have tried a few other kinds of 360 toothbrushes from other companies and they kept breaking or losing the charge until they eventually just died. We decided to just spend the money on the big name and you can tell right away that the quality blows everyone else out of the water.
Timorie S. from Texas
We've tried all versions of autobrush and this is the best. I've been following this brand for a long time since I first heard about them a few years ago. Saw the ups and downs and positive and negative reviews and I've been waiting for a brush head with nylon bristles. Now they have one and it's been worth the wait! I whip this thing around in my mouth for thirty seconds and I get that nice clean feeling on my teeth.
David B. from New York
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