Do you use one and if not, can I ask why?

[oatmilkicedchai]

I am interested in the rough proportion of people in the UK who use an electric toothbrush - no idea why - its just something I pondered upon whilst brushing my teeth. I use an electric, but haven't always - started around 3 years ago, and haven't looked back since. My teeth feel so much cleaner, and its easier too.

I cannot really see why someone wouldn't use one, outside from the expense, which I do understand would be prohibitive for many.

AIBU to ask: do you use an electric toothbrush, and if you don't then what is the reason for that?

Same.

Manual brushing is completely fine and does the job well enough, if you're brushing properly.

The last thing I need is more plastic stuff.

I have one & I do use it sometimes, but I prefer a manual toothbrush tbh. Sometimes o use the electric then my manual I think it's because I line to brush my gums & tongue & not withbthe electric!!

We’ve used electric toothbrushes for years and years, wouldn’t go back to manual if you paid me! They’re so much easier to use than manual brushes as they do all the work for you, plus it will vibrate to let me know when the 2 minute brushing time is up. I also used a water flosser, wouldn’t be without that now, either.

Shocked/surprised some people are only just making the switch now, I've been using them for 20 years...

I've been using one for donkeys, I've gone through only 2 of them in 15 years so I'm sure I've saved money on them vs disposable toothbrushes!

I have a bamboo toothbrush subscription so I just get sent a new one when I’m meant to change my brush. Zero hassle versus charging the fucker and sourcing non-plastic heads and a place to put it – they’re huge and ugly and all the toothbrush mugs I’ve ever encountered are tiny.

I've used one since childhood and only stopped recently due to long covid. I found the vibrations too fatiguing in my hand and arm and was beginning to dread brushing, especially at night.

Me too. It literally sets my teeth on edge.

I don't use them. According to my dentist I have a very clean mouth. I'd hate to know what everyone else has is their mouth 🤢

I don't see the dentist regularly as I have good teeth. After one 12 year gap, I got a discount on cleaning as they were so good. Had to go then as one of my teeth had cracked due to being a very deep filling 20 yrs earlier and it had self destructed (apparently common). I've only ever had two fillings, so down to one now.

I can recommend the tung gel and brush off Amazon, made a huge difference to mine

No, use a bamboo one so most of it can be recycled.
Dentist told me years ago that you don't need one.
Youngest DS has one, though, and loves it.

I do. I have poor manual skills, so I do a much better job with an electric toothbrush (strongly recommended to me by dentist.) If I were more dexterous, I might have chosen to save my money.

I've have a rechargeable Oral B one for about 15 years. I love it - a manual toothbrush just doesn't feel clean anymore.

And now I've lost the charger. Sometimes I find the charger, but can't find the brush. And sometimes I find both and not the brush heads. And then I find the brush heads but... you get the idea. Basically I'm bloody useless

This sounds like me, every day, doing everything 😂

No, just because I've never got around to buying one.

I've had 3 electric ones, they eventually wore flat to the point they wouldn't go fast enough to clean any better than a manual, we are talking the latest expensive model each time so not a cheap thing. Was always a pain charging them (there was lots of us using it not just me). I also found the heads grew mold fast within the 3 months of having it so that was off putting. We have normal at the moment but I will probably fork out on one again I did say to my husband the other day I might go back to electric.

Well go fucking you! Saving the world one fucking bamboo TB at a time!

@Fupoffyagrasshole (great username) Holland and Barrett sell an electric bamboo unit and brush heads, link here.

I should add, the base is only bamboo look (I did think fitting the electrics into bamboo was impressive 🤣), but the disposable heads are bamboo!

Yes, since I was a teen. I'm early 40s now. Just better, dentist agrees. And I'm lazy. I will sometimes take a manual one for a weekend away etc.

Dentist told me it would be a lot better for me. It has been. Gums have stopped bleeding since using

Why are you trying to make people feel guilty for not using one? Your post comes across as extremely judgemental.

Too ADD to use one. No charging point in the bathroom. Battery runs out. Have no time to find where the charger is because I'm usually running late. Then forget to put it on charge. Then, when I do put it on charge, I forget I did and then have no time to find the brush because I'm usually running late. Also, I don't feel like I have the same control while using it. And my hand feels weird holding it but not brushing with it.

Not sure why, but I always felt the plaque came back faster when I’d used one, perhaps because I can really get into the edges better with a standard toothbrush. Last time I went to the dentist, having missed a couple of years due to moving and covid, I was told my teeth were so clean that it would be fine to go two years before my next visit, so I guess I’m doing okay.

I think i'm a hard brusher, and to put on the pressure that feels "right" hurts with an electric brush. It never feels afterwards that a thorough job has been done, even with its handy buzzes to let me know 30 seconds for each quadrant is up etc. Manuals just feel cleaner, and you can properly rinse it without worrying you'll fry the electrics.

I use a battery powered one - it’s barely any bigger than a bog-standard, old school one, and doesn’t need to be charged, etc.

Used one for years.