Compared to manual tooth brushing, powered toothbrushes can improve plaque reduction by an average of 11 per cent in their first one to three months of use, and by 21 per cent after three months.¹⁸

This Cochrane view noted some specific outcome benefits associated with certain types of electronic toothbrush: ionic toothbrushes and brushes with a rotation oscillation action removed plaque and reduced gingivitis more effectively than manual brushes in the short and long term. Ultrasonic toothbrushes were found to have an improved effect in short-term studies, but not in a long-term study.

Recent developments include incorporating software into the brush and apps to improve brushing behaviour. An example is Oral-B GENIUS electronic toothbrushes which incorporate Position Detection Technology, combining motion sensor technology in the brush, and video recognition using the smartphone’s camera to track areas being brushed.

“Users receive instant feedback on the brushing of each zone of the mouth via the Oral-B App 4.1, including guidance on pressure applied and brushing duration.”