CLEVELAND -- All brushing counts, whether it's the good old-fashion or the electric kind, but dentists clearly have a preference, according to Five On Your Side Investigator Jodi Brooks.

"The new electric or power toothbrushes are much, much better and superior," said Dr. Nabil Bissada, of Case Western Reserve.

Bissada is on the advisory board of the National Toothbrush Committee funded by the tootbrush maker Oral B.

Booth asked which brush works best. Is it the one that goes around or the one that goes up and down?

An independent research group found only one type of electric toothbrush clearly does a better job cleaning.

The Oral B, with a rotational oscillation, does a better job, Booth said.

When the bristles spin in both directions, it reportedly removes 11 percent more plaque and reduces gum disease by 17 percent.

All the other electric toothbrushes, some working at a speed of 35 cycles per second, performed the same as manual brushes, however.

"I suggest an electric toothbrush. Whether it's an oscillating head, rotating head, pulsating head or ionic head, there's so many kinds," said Dr. Manish Valiathan of Case Western Reserve University Dentistry School. "I still suggest you lean towards the electric one."

Booth reported the toothbrush market is diverse and prosperous. Americans spend an estimated $1.5 billion a year on toothbrushes.

About $850 million is spent on the manual kind and $700 million on the electric versions.

The electric ones are more expensive, but really worth it, Brooks said.

"You can buy one electric toothbrush for the whole family and use different heads," Bissada said.

Brooks said the heads snap on and are sold separately.

Dr. Lisa Richards, a dental specialist in Lake County, said she uses a regular hand-held toothbrush.

"My husband uses a rotary toothbrush, my son uses a rotary toothbrush, and my daughter just brushes with a regular toothbrush," Richards said.

Toothbrush maintenance is another issue.

It's suggested that a person have two toothbrushes -- one for the morning and one for at night. It gives the toothbrush time to dry to kill bacteria.

It's also suggested that toothbrushes are cleaned in cold water instead of hot water. Hot water hardens bristles, which can cut your gums.