Should You Switch to an Electric Toothbrush?

Summary

The Wirecutter Show

Episode: Should You Switch to an Electric Toothbrush?

Date: September 3, 2025
Hosts: Christine Cyr Clisset, Caira Blackwell, Rosie Guerin
Featured Guest: Nancy Redd (Wirecutter Senior Staff Writer, health expert, author)

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Wirecutter Show dives into the debate: Is it worth switching from a manual to an electric toothbrush? The hosts—Christine, Caira, and Rosie—welcome health journalist Nancy Redd, who has spent six years rigorously testing scores of toothbrushes for Wirecutter and writing on oral health for her book The Real Body Manual. The panel discusses oral hygiene basics, the real benefits (and limits) of electric brushes, technique tips, brand recommendations, and strategies to make toothbrushing (for adults and kids) more effective and less of a chore.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Oral Health: Why It Matters

• Oral health affects the whole body: “Teeth and oral hygiene in general are really deeply connected to your mind, overall health and self esteem. Gum hygiene can actually be directly related to dementia and heart health…a lot of this drama can be mitigated by oral health.” — Nancy Redd [05:29]
• Bacteria and infection risk: Bacteria from poor gum health can enter the bloodstream, impacting other organs [06:05].

2. Manual vs. Electric Toothbrushes

• Any brush is better than none: “As long as you're brushing, I don't care if you're brushing with a twig, a stick, a manual or electric toothbrush, as long as you're brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes, you're golden.” — Nancy Redd [07:17]
• Electric pros: Electric toothbrushes make proper brushing easier for most people, thanks to built-in timers and more consistent movement [09:29]. Manual brushes are just as effective, but people tend to under-brush with them—most only go for 45 seconds, well short of the recommended two minutes [09:29].
  • “We recommend electric toothbrushes only with a two minute timer, especially a quadrant timer…that enables you to really be thoroughly…” — Nancy Redd [09:29]
• Manual can work—but discipline is needed: If you sing "Happy Birthday" for each quadrant to time yourself, a manual brush is fine [11:11].

3. Technique is Everything

• Don’t use them the same way!
  • “Do not use a manual toothbrush in the same way that you use an electric toothbrush. If you use an electric toothbrush like you use a manual toothbrush, you're gonna have a bad time, you're gonna have some gum recession." — Nancy Redd [12:34]
  • Let the motion of the electric toothbrush do the work; don’t scrub as with a manual.
• Fun timing methods: Caira uses the Fresh Prince theme song as her brushing timer—one verse per row of teeth [12:12].

4. Product Testing & Recommendations

• Thorough testing approach: Nancy and her team test durability (drop/water tests), comfort/noise, and effectiveness. Includes feedback from kids and adult testers [07:17].
• Top picks:
  • Oral B Pro 1000 (oscillates, round and round)
  • Philips Sonicare 4100 (vibrates back and forth, “quieter, a more elegant experience”)
  • Heads are interchangeable within Sonicare products [14:16]-[16:13].
• For sensitive mouths: A kid’s toothbrush (e.g. Sonicare Design a Pet, with soft, rubberized head) can be a better fit for those needing delicate care [16:13].

5. Price vs. Performance

• Spending more equals “elegance, not function.” The $40-50 Wirecutter picks are just as effective as $200+ models; pricier ones are about looks and maybe app integration [19:05].
  • “Not only are our picks great, they are as effective as the toothbrushes that are hundreds of dollars more.” — Nancy Redd [19:17]

6. For Kids: Tips & Techniques

• Start young, but with care: Ages 3+ for electric brushes; make sure the experience isn’t painful [17:39].
• Let kids choose: Picking out their own brush can make them feel invested in brushing [25:46]-[27:58].
• Education/fear can help: “I think it's very valuable to show kids YouTube videos of cavities…Then if there's reticence, say, well, remember the video? Which would you prefer to spend two minutes now or to spend two hours at the dentist?” — Nancy Redd [26:42]
• Personalize and normalize: “This is like, like big person underwear. You got your toothbrush, you got your panties, and you're just riding off into this adult life, starting now.” — Nancy Redd [27:58]

7. Supporting Tools for Oral Hygiene

• Flossing is essential: Water flossers are great for those who struggle with string floss; “Are you all flossers?” — Nancy [21:39]
• Water flosser tips:
  • Can be messy—try using it in the shower [23:32].
  • Replace water flossers once a year in humid bathrooms to avoid mold [23:57].
• Routine order: Ideally, floss first, then brush; but, “just do it”—order matters less than actually doing it [24:28].

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On oral hygiene as self-care:
  • “Oral health is key…teeth and oral hygiene…are really deeply connected to your mind, overall health, and self-esteem.” — Nancy Redd [05:29]
• On two-minute brushing feeling longer:
  • “If you do use a manual toothbrush, the big trick is to try to sing the happy birthday song for each quadrant…But our brains are just not equipped for this. Electric toothbrushes are a godsend for people who, you know, tend to have a difficult time keeping track of time.” — Nancy Redd [11:11]
• On brands and vibes:
  • “Many people are vibrators only…there’s a vastly different experience [between Oral B and Sonicare].” — Nancy Redd [14:19]
• On price vs. value:
  • “The only thing you're going to get different with a more expensive toothbrush is beauty, elegance, and also occasionally an app.” — Nancy Redd [19:17]
• On water flossers:
  • “A water flosser essentially is, again, like a power washer for your gums and teeth.” — Nancy Redd [22:11]

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Important Timestamps

• 05:29: Nancy on why oral health matters (systemic connections)
• 07:17: How Nancy tests toothbrushes (methods & philosophy)
• 09:29: Why electric toothbrushes are helpful for most people (timers, technique)
• 11:11: Tricks to hit the two-minute mark (singing for timing)
• 12:34: Common mistakes when using electric brushes
• 14:16: Detailed Oral B vs. Sonicare comparison
• 16:13: Options for sensitive mouths
• 19:05: Discussion on expensive vs. affordable electric toothbrushes
• 21:39: Flossing & the merits of water flossers
• 23:32: Water flosser mess–use it in the shower
• 25:46: Getting kids to participate in brushing, effectiveness of “fear tactics”
• 28:17: Lightning round myths (e.g., soft bristles, brushing frequency, contagious cavities)

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Final Takeaways & Tips

• Technique > Tool: Consistent, thorough brushing (two minutes, twice a day) matters more than the type of brush.
• Electric is easier for most but not essential. Try both, see what feels best, and focus on timing and gentleness.
• Choose the “vibe” you like: Oscillating (Oral B) or vibrating (Sonicare)—pick whichever feels better in your mouth.
• Flossing is non-negotiable: Consider a water flosser if string floss isn’t happening; shower use keeps mess at bay.
• For kids: Involve them in picking brushes, educate (sometimes scare) them, and emphasize routine early.

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Hosts’ Closing Reflections

• Christine: “If I'm taking one thing away from this episode, it's that just brush for two minutes.” [30:44]
• Caira: “I think my takeaway is that I'm probably gonna try and get a water flosser again...and I'm gonna try a kid's toothbrush.” [31:03]
• Rosie: “Trying to impress upon [my toddlers]…how important [oral health] is and setting up that foundation for later in life is a gift.” [31:44]
• Nancy's encouraging sendoff: “You just love your teeth and love yourself.” [30:21]

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For more: Check the show notes for links to Nancy’s picks and technique videos.

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Transcript

[A]

Hey, hold up. This is your minute, your day to.

[B]

Play, to make, to move, to move through, to explore.

[A]

It's your body to rest, to nourish, to grow. It's your mind, you know, it's your place, your life to love, to dream, to change. It's your world to understand the New York Times. Find out [e-mail] yourworld Nancy, can you explain once and for all why two minutes when you're brushing your teeth with a manual toothbrush is the equivalent of 37 minutes in any other part of your day?

[C]

I'm Christine Cyrclassette.

[D]

I'm Kyra Blackwell.

[A]

I'm Rosie Guerin. And you're listening to the Wirecutter Show. Friends, today's topic is teeth.

[D]

Ah.

[A]

You both have really, really nice teeth.

[C]

Well, thank you. So do you.

[A]

I also want to address that. Kyra, you and I have been trolled by Christine for months now to stop using our manual toothbrushes and use an electric.

[D]

Yeah, like we're cavemen or something.

[C]

I just don't understand why you are still back in. Yeah. In the dark.

[B]

The olden times.

[C]

I, I will always. The transition from going from manual to electric. And it was like my teeth felt so much cleaner. And my dentist, multiple dentists over the years have just reinforced every time I go to visit. Oh, yeah, you're using an electric toothbrush.

[B]

Good for you.

[D]

Well, first of all, I'm paranoid that dentists are always trying to sell me.

[C]

Stuff that's a different episode.

[D]

Different episode. But I don't like going to the dentist. And they're like, you should really get an electric toothbrush. Because when I, when I switched to manual to electric the first time, I felt like I was like, I had a jackhammer in my mouth. It sucked. So I'm team manual all the way.

[A]

We're going to jump way into this topic today with Nancy Redd.

[C]

That's right. Nancy is one of our health writers at Wirecutter. She was on the show for an episode we did on Sunscreen. She knows a ton about oral health and about toothbrushes, and she spent years testing more like dozens and dozens of toothbrushes.

[D]

She's been on this beat for six years. So we're going to take a quick break, and then when we're back, Nancy will be on with us to talk about manual versus electric, proper brushing technique and the toothbrushes that she recommends. Be right back.

[A]

We're going to win.

[C]

The Wirecutter show is supported by Rocket Mortgage. Your home is an active investment, not a passive one. And with Rocket Mortgage, you can put your home equity to work right away. When you unlock your home equity, you unlock new doors for your family. Renovations, extensions, even buying your next property. Get started today with smarter tools and guidance from real mortgage experts. Find out [e-mail] Rocket Mortgage LLC. Licensed in 50 states nmlsconsumeraccess.org 3030 hi, I'm Juliette.

[D]

I'm Joelle. We're from the New York Times Games.

[B]

Team and we're here talking to fans about our games.

[D]

What's your vibe when you're playing one of our games?

[B]

It makes me feel like I'm procrastinating in a really productive way. It just screams scratches an itch in my brain. We have a routine. I'm doing long distance with my boyfriend. We'll call every night and share our screen. We do connections, the Mini and then strands, always in that order.

[D]

Do you have a favorite?

[B]

The Mini. We try and get it under 30 seconds. We rarely get it under 30, but that's always the goal. Folks will really time themselves.

[C]

But with spelling bee I give myself all day.

[D]

I play it when my kids are going to bed.

[B]

Do you guys play together?

[D]

My daughter plays. She likes playing wordle.

[B]

If you ever miss a day, there's also archives. That's so great to know. And you have it for connections as well. Lord help me, I'm just gonna be doing that all day, every day.

[D]

New York Times Games subscribers get full access to all our games and features. Subscribe [e-mail] games for a special.

[B]

Welcome back.

[D]

With us now is Nancy Red, who's a senior staff writer on the Health team and she covers everything from menstrual products to prescription glasses to toothbrushes. She's also a New York Times best selling health author and her most recent non fiction book is called the Real Body Manual. She was recently featured on our podcast covering sunscreen. So if you haven't listened to that yet, you definitely should.

[C]

Welcome to the show. Nancy hi Nancy, hi. It's so great to have you back. I've been using all of your hot tips for sunscreen since you last visited us. I've been putting even more on than I didn't I did before is more. More is more. Nancy, let's let's move beyond sunscreen. We're here to talk about oral health. We're here to talk about toothbrushes. Beyond your work at Wirecutter, you've done extensive research about health and oral health specifically for your Book the Real Body Manual. So I'd love to know what is something that people don't know about their oral health?

[B]

I think just how important it is. Oral health is key. You know, many studies show, and experts and I both agree that teeth and oral hygiene in general are really deeply connected to your mind, overall health and self esteem. You know, one tooth truth I have learned is that gum hygiene can actually be directly related to dementia and heart health. But a lot of this, yes, a lot of this drama can be mitigated by oral health.

[C]

So how is poor gum health contributing to dementia and, and poor heart health outcomes?

[B]

Well, I like to talk about it kind of like, you know that if you get a puncture wound or if you have a, a scratch on your body and there's bad bacteria that can get into it and get infected, Right. You know how sometimes you can either just have like a little red spot on your arm or you could have like a staph infection. The same thing with your mouth. Your mouth is a breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria from all kinds of sources, whether it's who you're kissing, what you're eating, even just the air you breathe, especially if you're a mouth breather. And so when a certain type of bacteria breeds and overgrows, it can really, it can get into your bloodstream. It can affect your health. It just feels good to have clean teeth and clean gums.

[A]

What a wonderful segue into discussing how you test toothbrushes, Nancy. I found I really regressed during the pandemic and started to neglect my oral health. I used to use an electric toothbrush. I went to manual. I'm considering going back to electric. So I want to know, Nancy, how do you do this toothbrush testing?

[B]

Okay, well, you're not as long as you're brushing. I don't care if you're brushing with a twig, a stick, a manual or electric toothbrush, as long as you're brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes, you're golden, you're doing great. So pat yourself on the back if you are brushing your teeth with anything. How I test toothbrushes is very simply, I brush my teeth. I've tested about 50 different toothbrushes over the past six years. I brush twice daily and I get my family in on the fun as well. And I have a bunch of long term testers and specialized testers within wirecutter, like for little kid toothbrushes. Because my kids are now teens and tweens. We have a variety of ages who are Testers like, we have a cute little tiny toothbrush that I'm excited to extrapolate upon in my next update to the guide because a lot of people with smaller little tiny mouths loved it. And it's, it's great. I love what I do and I love doing the research on what are the latest studies about toothbrushes, what experts are saying about how they use toothbrushes or anything they're seeing. I also like to replicate real life chaos with the actual toothbrushes I test to see how durable they are. I'll dunk them in water to test if they actually are waterproof. I'll do drop tests to see how sturdy they are, which is actually extremely important for the children's toothbrush guide.

[A]

I know that's right.

[B]

Oh, gosh. I also measure the approximate amount of noise each toothbrush makes when in use with a sound level meter. It's fun, it's thorough, and it means that I have had a clean bill of health at the dentist for the past six years, ever since I started.

[C]

Well, okay, so I want to ask you, you've probably been using an electric toothbrush for the last six years, right?

[D]

Here she goes.

[C]

Here I go. I'm going to get on my soapbox. I am very much team electric toothbrush. I've used one for over a decade. Kyra and Rosie recently told me that they were like on the fence. We know that they've both used them in the past, but they're not completely convinced why they should use an electric toothbrush. So I'm curious from your perspective. You know, I just want you to tell me that I'm right first of all. But you just said that like as long as you're brushing it's fine, right? You can be using whatever. But why would you suggest someone get an electric toothbrush?

[B]

Well, I like an electric toothbrush because I feel that it is a little luxury that makes a very mundane daily or twice daily experience just a bit more professional. It's, it's like using a really good nail polish remover. It just gets the job done more efficiently and with literally a polish. Now again, if used properly, manual toothbrushes are just as effective. And it's important to note, note that a good 20% of dentists that I interview actually use manual toothbrushes. Right? Yeah. I mean, so you guys are not doing poorly in regards to your teeth. The problem is laypeople tend to struggle to use manual toothbrushes properly and for long enough, meaning it's really hard. And studies have shown that without a timer, people tend to only brush their teeth for about 45 seconds, which isn't enough time to really get into all the nooks and crannies and to ensure that all of the food particles or bacteria have been erased, so to speak. So that's why we recommend electric toothbrushes only with a two minute timer, especially a quadrant timer. Because what that means is for each of the four quadrants in your teeth that you are then giving it a good 30 seconds. And that enables you to really be thoroughly.

[A]

Nancy, can you explain once and for all why two minutes when you're brushing your teeth with a manual toothbrush is the equivalent of 37 minutes in any other part of your day?

[B]

It's funny, if you do use a manual toothbrush, the big trick is to try to sing the happy birthday song for each quadrant. Happy birthday to you. That gives you something to do. But our brains are just not equipped for this. And electric toothbrushes are a godsend for people who, you know, tend to have a difficult time keeping track of time. Also people whose teeth are brushed by other people. And I know with children who might be sometimes too small, it helps to say, okay, just wait for the beep or the little vibration and then we can move to the other side. It gives you something to hold onto. Some sort of North Star to know when your service is up.

[D]

I didn't used to have an electric toothbrush. I actually switched back to a manual because my dentist was telling me that I was definitely brushing too hard. And now that I'm using a manual, I actually sing the Fresh Prince theme song twice.

[C]

That's a good variation.

[D]

I love that because it's 60 seconds so I do it for the top row and the bottom.

[A]

Does that make you want to brush your teeth?

[D]

It does at least helps me focus long enough for two min. But yeah, I just felt like the electric toothbrush was, was way too harsh on my teeth. It actually really hurt. That's why I'm loving the manual right now. But I'm hearing what you're saying and I'm wondering if I should switch back to an electric.

[B]

Well, you might have been using your electric toothbrush incorrectly and there also. We'll get more into this later. There are different types of electric toothbrushes. It just depends on your style, what type of, you know, sensitivities you have to vibrations or rotations. But most importantly, do not use a manual toothbrush in the same way that you use an electric toothbrush. If you use an electric toothbrush like you use a manual toothbrush, you're gonna have a bad time, you're gonna have some gun recession. You have to hold the toothbrush to your teeth gently and let the motor do the work as you move it around your mouth.

[D]

Oh, I was definitely doing that wrong. I think I had an Oral B, but I was definitely like still like putting elbow grease into it.

[C]

Yeah, scrubbing.

[B]

No, no, no, you don't have to put your back into it. You just have to groove. It's like a car wash. You know, you put your car in the car wash and you take it off of drive, you just park it and let the brushers brush your car. It's like your teeth like each quadrant, you just slowly move it around, up and down.

[C]

It's like less is more, less is more. And we do have a great Instagram video of this that we will link into the show Notes. That kind of walks people through the various ways to use an electric toothbrush. I want to hear about our picks. You, Nancy, you recommend the oral B Pro 1000 and the Philips Sonicare 4100. Now I am totally a Sonicare girl. I always go for the Sonicare over the Oral B. I think this is a hot debate. Can you illuminate for us the difference between these two toothbrushes specifically, but also kind of like the different vibe of each of these brands when you're, when you're using them?

[B]

The different vibe.

[C]

Because it's really a vibe.

[B]

It is a vibe. And so if, if you're not into certain vibes, it's a bad time. Now them have powerful motors, a two minute timer and affordable refills. Right. So that's why they're both the pick and they have been our long standing pick. I have tried so many times blind testing, just personal testing, all kinds of testing to overthrow these picks and it always comes back to these are solid picks. Now the main difference between the oral B Pro 1000 and the Philips Sonicare 4100 is how they move. So it's the motion of the ocean. The Oral B oscillates and the Philips Sonicare vibrates. Okay, so that means that the Oral B goes round and round and the Sonicare goes back and forth ridiculously fast. And Kyra, you said that the toothbrush you didn't like was our oscillating pick, right? The Oral B. The Oral B. Yeah, yeah. So as you hear from Christine, many people are vibrators only. Like, they only like to vibe when they're brushing their teeth. There's a Vastly different experience. It can be seen a softer experience. It can actually be a lot quieter. You might actually like the vibrating toothbrush. I myself am an oral B aficionado. I'm an oscillator.

[D]

Why do you like the Oral B, then?

[B]

I like it because even though it's louder and more perfunctory, like, it's definitely a basic experience. Like, compared to the elegant vibrations, it's louder. It's not as. As pretty, but I feel like it gets in there.

[D]

I just feel like I have a really sensitive mouth. Like, I really do try to take care of my teeth, but I feel like I need an extra soft bristle brush. And I brush my teeth manually but very gently. And I kind of am not convinced that the Oral B or the Sonicare are still going to be gentle enough for my mouth. Do you have any other suggestions for me, Nancy?

[B]

I mean, that's entirely fair. I do not have a sensitive mouth and I can't use a Sonicare because vibrating toothbrushes with a plastic hardback tend to cause a very uncomfortable sensation in my mouth when the vibration hard back knocks against my teeth during brushing. So I totally get that. When I feel like I need a more gentle toothbrush, I actually use our kid toothbrush pick, which is the Sonicare design a pet, because the kid sonic vibrating head is really small. It's soft, backed with a rubberized material that doesn't clack and clang against teeth. And it's so comfy. And I recommend that especially for people who like vibrating toothbrushes because the, the cool thing is all of the Sonicare heads fit on all of the Sonicare brushes. So if you don't want to have a sticker decorated and I don't think that matches my bathroom vibe, that's not your aura. You can just get the. The blue rubberized head. And I think that you like that. I actually love that toothbrush and it's actually. I'm going to include it likely in another good electric toothbrush in the regular guide in our next update because I find myself leaning to it a lot, even though I don't like vibrating toothbrushes personally.

[D]

Yeah, that sounds like a good compromise for me. I think I'm gonna try that.

[A]

Nancy, how young is too young for an electric toothbrush, would you say? Because I've considered that for my kids, but they're still pretty young.

[B]

Well, the toothbrushes we recommend suggest starting at age three and up. But whatever you're using, just make sure that the child is comfortable and it's not too harsh on their very delicate gums. A lot of kid toothbrushes have options for three to six and seven and up because obviously that's when by seven you've got most of your interesting, you know, and you've got a larger mouth and also more patience.

[A]

Right, right. We should also say that it is important. I know some people don't think it is, but it is important to brush kids baby teeth.

[B]

Oh, baby teeth are very important. If you do not take care of your baby teeth, you're just setting the whole scene for chaos and cavities.

[D]

So both of your top adult picks are pretty inexpensive. It's like the Oral B looks like it's $50, and the Philips looks like it goes for around 40, which is pretty cheap for something that will last a pretty long. But I have seen plenty of really fancy electric toothbrushes with like whopping price tags in the hundreds. Why would anybody spend that much more on a toothbrush?

[B]

Well, the biggest difference is elegance and not function. It's like, why would you spend more on a Ferrari when you can get a Toyota?

[C]

That's the question I always ask, why not just get the Toyota?

[B]

I think one of the fun things about my position is I can honestly say I've tried the Ferraris of toothbrushes. I have tried the Pintos of toothbrushes. I have had toothbrushes break off in my mouth, tiny little pieces that could easily choke a child or cause a health concern. And so I can thoroughly say that not only are our picks great, they are as effective as the toothbrushes that are hundreds of dollars more. I will say they are perfunctory. In particular, my beloved Oral B. I mean, it's not, it's not winning a beauty pageant anytime soon, but the only thing you're going to get different with a more expensive toothbrush is beauty, elegance, and also occasionally an app. But all you really need to care about is what are you willing to pay for a toothbrush that matches your bathroom decor. And if that's the kind of person you are, go for it. As long as you're using that thing twice a day. And it's not just a statement piece.

[C]

So what I'm hearing is that if someone is on the fence, let's say I'm in a room with people who are on the fence about getting an electric toothbrush. It's not a requirement for great oral health, just good toothbrushing. Two minutes a day is what is really crucial, but it can make it easier. And if people are Looking for a toothbrush, they should probably think about what kind of sensation they want. Do they want the oscillating oral bath V style, or do they want that sort of vibrating sonicare sensation? And that might be a good way to kind of figure out which lane to pick.

[D]

We're going to take a quick break, and then when we're back, we're going to talk with Nancy about surprising things you can do to take care of your oral health, plus her expert tips to get kids in on the tooth brushing habit. Be right back.

[C]

Welcome back, Nancy. Before the break, we got into all the dirty details of how to pick out a toothbrush. But now let's dive a little deeper. What is the one tool beyond an electric toothbrush that you think more people should know about to improve their oral health?

[B]

Well, we should all be doing the floss, not the dance, but actually flossing our teeth. And water flossers, which are basically electric toothbrushes, but for flossing, are a huge help, especially for people who just struggle to floss. I have found that households are either flossing households or not flossing households. Are you all flossers?

[C]

Yes, I'm a flosser. Yeah. I, I can't say that for the household.

[A]

We are a shoeless household and a flossing household.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

Those are non negotiables.

[B]

It's incredible the amount of gunk, what you can get out of your teeth with a good flossing. And so a water flosser essentially is like, again, like a power washer for your gums and teeth. It just basically shoots pressurized water, very strong flow of water to push out the stuff that you're supposed to get manually most of the time. A water flosser is better than nothing, I think. Nothing. Even though I'm obviously a big fan of water flossers, I use one. I use a lot because I test them. I think sometimes I still gotta get in there with my little floss picks. But if you are having a difficult time not adhering to guidelines in terms of the importance of flossing, water flossers can really help. They're fast and they just feel like they're doing something and it's not manual.

[C]

We got portable water flossers for my kids when they both got some kind of orthodontia and it was like hard to get, get stuff out of the teeth. And this is like a little portable one that you don't have to have a big bulky thing on your counter. It's battery operated and I've used it. I like it. I do find, though, that it's incredibly messy. It feels like I am just spraying the walls with it. So I've started using it in the shower. Do you have any tips for not being super messy with a water flosser again, Christine?

[B]

Like, you're brilliant. Use the shower. Use it in the shower. I think that's. That. It's a great time to use it in the shower because there's water everywhere anyway. I think that's a great solution. I use my water flosser in the shower.

[D]

I. I also used to use my portable water flosser in the shower, but my bathroom has terrible ventilation, and it got moldy and gross. Even though I cleaned it, like, really fast, I ended up throwing it away.

[B]

It makes me very sad. I. I always tell people, depending upon the user and the bathroom circumstances, like, if you have the unfortunate bathroom that gets musty and moldy, these water flossers can get really gross. So you might have to replace them, like, once a year or once every other year. But they're pretty inexpensive, so it's well worth it if you won't floss any other way.

[D]

Does it matter what order you do your oral hygiene routine? Like, floss first, then brush, then rinse, or is it just as long as you're doing it, it doesn't matter.

[B]

I'm just happy that anybody does anything right? So I'm never going to be a stickler on order because, like, if you like to floss in the shower, you know, that's, you know, I'm just happy that you're doing anything. However, experts recommend that you floss before brushing. It helps to strengthen tooth enamel. It helps to make brushing more straightforward, I guess. You get the big stuff out of the way, and then the toothbrush comes in as the little light polish. But just. Just do it. Just do it.

[D]

All right. As long as you're doing it.

[A]

Nancy, I want to talk about your tricks for getting kids to brush their teeth regularly. I brought the twins to the dentist for the first time when they were one, and I've really tried to emphasize the routine, but it is hard. It's hard to get them calmed down. I'm wrestling them to the ground, and I'm sort of hovering over them, and I'm, you know, cranking their mouths open, and I'm trying to get the back teeth, and if I let them do it themselves, then they just literally suck the toothpaste off and then hand me back the brush. It's a whole thing Sounds like me.

[D]

Trying to brush my cat's teeth.

[A]

It's not far off, I suspect.

[B]

Have you tried wrapping them in a towel like a cat? You know, first and foremost, I commend you for living with twins. I don't have advice from any other perspective than the person who's been testing toothbrushes for almost as long as my children were sentient about toothbrushing. So you have to understand, imagine growing up in a household where in your bathroom there's always like 30 toothbrush. Yeah, you get the message at a certain point. So I think it's very important to get kids to pick out their own toothbrush. First of all, also explain what's going on. Do your kids know? Do they understand the correlation between terrifying black holes in your beautiful white teeth and them going along with the toothbrushing experience?

[A]

You know, we haven't gotten there.

[C]

Yeah. Are you like, implying that you should use a little fear tactics with your kids? I'm not. I'm not opposed to that.

[B]

Oh, how about we say I believe in informed citizens encourages civic engagement. I have found at my big age, with my 14 year old and my 11 year old beginning whatever the process is with hygiene, with why is very important. Why do I need to brush my teeth? I think it's very valuable to show kids YouTube videos of cavities because half of people have a cavity before they graduate from elementary school. Okay. A lot of them are just entirely unnecessary. These are preventable problems. All they do is brush their teeth. So showing them what happens if you don't brush your teeth. And then if there's reticence, saying, well, remember the video? Which would you prefer to spend two minutes now or to spend two hours at the dentist? The number one thing you can do is take your kid to get their very own toothbrush. Let them pick out a toothbrush, even if it's not our pick. Okay, let's just get them on the bandwagon with toothbrushing by personalizing it to them, helping them understand, okay, this is part of your life now. This is like, like big person underwear. You got your toothbrush, you got your panties, and you're just riding off into this adult life, starting now.

[C]

Wow.

[D]

So exciting. We're going to end on a lightning round. True or false. Are you ready, Nancy?

[B]

I'm so ready. As you can tell, I love my toothbrushes so very much.

[A]

Yes.

[D]

You ready? True or false. You only need to brush once a day if you floss.

[B]

False. Twice a day every day keeps the dentist away. It also feels Great.

[D]

Okay. Soft bristles are better than medium or hard.

[B]

Yes, soft bristles are delightful for the most part. No one needs a hard bristle toothbrush. A nice soft bristle brush when used for two minutes. And every nook and cranny of your mouth is plenty tough enough to degrime your grin.

[D]

Cavities can be contagious.

[B]

Yes, cavities absolutely can be contagious if you are kissing on someone with mouth rot. Unfortunately, the bacteria that causes cavities can be transmitted last.

[D]

True or false. As long as you brush your teeth every day, you don't need to go to the dentist.

[B]

What you think I will say? Yeah, I mean, you talking to the girl who goes to the dentist four times a year.

[D]

Before we wrap, we always ask one final question. So, Nancy, what's the last thing you've recently bought that you really love?

[B]

Oh, I love this question. The last thing I have bought that I really love are these disposable face towelettes. It's a company called the Clean Skin Club.

[D]

Oh, yeah, I've used these. I love them.

[B]

They're so great. They are in particular for my delightful children who are entering their teen years. And bacteria is the enemy, whether it's in your mouth or on your face. And I noticed that there may or may not have been reused washcloths, towels that may or may not have been affecting the texture of their facial skin. So I basically said, here's these clean skin clothes of clean towels. If we are touching our face, just use one of these. And that changed the game in terms of skin hygiene, skin texture, and avoiding acne.

[D]

Amazing. Well, thank you so much, Nancy.

[B]

Oh, this was a pleasure. And again, anyone listening, you just love your teeth and love yourself. Thanks, Nancy.

[C]

Thanks, Nancy. Kyra, Rosie, I'd like to know what you thought about that, that conversation. Where are you now at with the manual versus electric?

[D]

Do you just want us to say that you were right?

[C]

I'm waiting, I'm waiting, I'm waiting.

[D]

Well, we were also kind of right, so we all win.

[C]

True. If I'm taking one thing away from this episode, it's that just brush for two minutes. Right. It's either use your manual for two minutes or use the electric for two minutes. And you do you. And I won't be so judgmental of my kids when they choose to use their manual toothbrush now instead of the electric.

[D]

That's right. Yeah. I think my takeaway is that I'm probably gonna try and get a water flosser again. Cause I did like it I'm just not gonna keep it in the bathroom when I'm not using it, and hopefully that'll make it last a little bit longer. And I'm gonna try a kid's toothbrush.

[A]

I think in the vein of the kids, I am gonna have to have a real serious talk with my toddlers. Oral health. And we'll see what they retain. It'll be a little like Chris Farley down by the river. They're on the couch.

[C]

Are you gonna, like, body slam your couch or something?

[D]

What is this, like, Scared Straight SNL version?

[B]

What is that?

[C]

Yeah, it's. Yeah.

[A]

But seriously, I think trying to impress upon them as much as I can how important it is and setting up that foundation for later in life is a gift.

[C]

Well, and you could always just show them scary pictures of rotten mouths.

[A]

So, you know, I think that feels like a bridge too far. If you want to find out more about Nancy's reporting, you can check out our website or our show notes. That's it for us this week. Appreciate you listening. Bye.

[C]

Bye.

[A]

The Wirecutter show is executive produced by me, Rosie Guerin, and produced by Abigail Keel. Engineering support from Matty Mazziello and Nick Pittman. Today's episode was mixed by Kathryn Anderson. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Alicia Ba Itoub and Diane Wong. Cliff Levy is Wirecutter's deputy publisher and general manager. Ben Fruman is Wirecutter's editor in chief.

[D]

I'm Kyra Blackwell.

[C]

I'm Christine Cyr Clisette.

[A]

And I'm Rosie Garrett. Thank you for listening.

[B]

But does it mean that when reruns come on, you instantly like, where's my toothbrush?

[A]

It's Pavlovian.

[D]

No, thankfully.