Toothbrush Wars
By Dr. Linda Niessen -- Baylor College of Dentistry
Monday, February 03, 2003
STORY: TOOTHBRUSH WARS
SCRIPT # 498 SHOOT: 1/31/03
AIRDATE: Monday, Feb. 3, 2003
DHC #17
By DR. LINDA NIESSEN / Baylor College of Dentistry
A toothbrush war has broken out - and it plots the twists versus the shakes.
One power brush has a shaking motion, while another one twists around. So which one do you think does a better job of cleaning your teeth?
A recent study conducted in Great Britain gave the edge to the brush that twists! Researchers found that a twisting motion removes up to 17 percent more plaque than manual brushing.
The same study found that the brushes that shake, such as the Sonicare, have no advantage. The people who make the toothbrush are mounting a defense.
The study was conducted by the Cochrane Oral Health Group, an international nonprofit organization that compiles and reviews data from healthcare studies. The group looked at 29 clinical trials, and according to the findings, only the rotational oscillation toothbrushes proved more effective than manual brushing.
Dallas dentist Dr. Mary Swift explained the twisting-motion technology of the Oral B and Crest Spin brushes.
“Because it has a smaller head, you’re cleaning a single tooth at a time," Swift said. "You’re taking your time all the way around the mouth, hitting each tooth with the smaller head.”
At the annual Southwest Dental Conference and trade show in Dallas, battle lines are drawn. And losing could be costly: power brushes account for more than $400 million in annual sales in the U.S. That’s almost half of the total market for toothbrushes.
The most important message in this battle of brushes? Find one that you personally enjoy using. That way, you’ll use it more often and more effectively.
Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.
