Is it better to use an electric or manual toothbrush?

Reporter Michael Slater brushes up to answer the question that's been gnawing away at us since the invention of the electric toothbrush. Is it really worth the money?

Why should we brush? There's a good reason for all this fussing over the state of our teeth. Fact is we've got over 600 species of bacteria running around in our mouths — it's always warm and wet in there so it's the perfect breeding ground for nasties.

These bacteria can build up on teeth, becoming plaque. And that plaque can produce tooth decay and also gingivitis, which is gum disease, and peritonitis, which is bone disease. So there are three good reasons to brush well.

Sarah Neizert, who works at a dental surgery in Sydney's Castle Hill, uses professional gear to clean her patients' teeth, but to find out what we should be using at home we will conduct an experiment between manual and electric toothbrushes.

Michael is joined by five dental students (who better to test toothbrushes than a bunch of tooth doctors in the making?) Three will be using electric while the other three test the manual brushes.

But before they fight the funk, they fill their mouths with gunk — lots of carbohydrates to feed the bacteria. Also, no one's cleaned their teeth for a full 24 hours.

Next up is a cup each of disclosing solution. After 24 hours of not brushing your teeth, this hot pink solution should leave quite a lot of red on your teeth as it works to stain the bacteria in the mouth.

One last thing to do before we start brushing: Sarah takes a photo of the stained teeth so the results can be compared after brushing.

The winning team will be the one with the whitest teeth, after two minutes of brushing.

First, the electric toothbrushers. The hot pink teeth have turned to white. It is now a plaque-free zone.

How about the old fashioned manual brushers?

The transformation in their teeth is just as impressive. The hot pink has become a dazzling white, for every team member.

So the bottom line is it doesn't matter a bit what kind of toothbrush you use!

All the research shows that manual and electric toothbrushes work the same if used correctly.

But don't throw out the electric toothbrush just yet, there's still a place for it. Studies have shown that electric toothbrushes with small rotating heads are better at manoeuvring around your teeth and gums, especially the sides of the teeth and those 'hard to get to' places, creating a better clean.

Many people also find them easier to use (and think they work better because they're electric).

>So what about our dentist Sarah, which kind of toothbrush does she use?

"I actually use a manual toothbrush. I just prefer it because I feel as if I have better control of what I'm doing and I take my time brushing my teeth so I feel it works well."

In terms of toothbrush technique, it's actually not that important whether you use a circular or a back and forth motion.

"Take your time, don't rush it, brush every surface of every tooth properly, by that I mean touching every surface and making sure that you get rid of the plaque there. And floss. Don't forget to floss every day, because that gets rids of the plaque between your teeth which the toothbrush just can't get to," says Sarah.

Something else to take into consideration is toothbrush abrasion (TBA). Some people using manual brushes scrub hard. This is bad as it exposes the softer dentine and the roots of your teeth. Some electric toothbrushes have built-in pressure sensors that detect when you are brushing too hard. To combat this with a manual toothbrush, use one with soft bristles.

Dentists also emphasise that tongue brushing is important to dental health, as the tongue is a breeding ground for bacteria. In many cases, you now get a tongue-scrubbing pack when you buy an electric toothbrush.

Brushing notes

• Brushing the gum line is important.

• Concentrate on one tooth at a time.

• Two minutes is an acceptable brushing time.

• Don't press too hard.

• Toothbrushes have been around since people chewed on a smashed stick to remove food particles.

• Humans only get one replacement set of teeth when our baby teeth fall out. Elephants on the other hand get six and crocodiles get 40 sets over their lifetime.

• If you are out of toothpaste, a mixture of baking soda and salt will do very well. That's a pretty extreme solution but if you're desperate, it does work.

• Soft bristles are the way to go because hard bristles wear away the gums, causing them to recede, and they can also wear away the enamel on your teeth.