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Toothbrush Test Shows Price Doesn't Ensure Best Results

POSTED: 1:52 pm EDT May 13, 2008
UPDATED: 4:25 pm EDT May 14, 2008

Shoppers spend anywhere between $2 to more than $150 on a toothbrush. So does spending more give you a brighter smile?

Dentist Brad Brittan helped NewsChannel5 with an unscientific toothbrush test.

Brittan used red dye to help show how much plaque is in the mouths of the testers and how much stuck to their teeth.

Then, the three testers each used five different brushes: A Colgate Manual brush, which cost $1.49, the Crest Spinbrush for $6.89, the Interplak Opticlean for $14.99, the Oral-B Triumph for $129.99, and the Sonicare 900 Series, which cost $169.99.

The testers brushed for one minute, then Brittan counted the plaque that was left over.

Here are the results:
  • Interplak - 35 percent removed
  • Colgate manual brush - 64 percent removed
  • Oral B - 73 percent removed
  • Sonicare - 79 percent removed
  • Crest Spinbrush - 90 percent removed

Brittan said he wasn't shocked by the results. Brittan tells patients a manual toothbrush will get the job done if you use it right, but that the best bet for a consistent tooth cleaning is the electric option.

"Hands down, I would say use an electric toothbrush. You don't have to go all the way to the top of the line because it depends on each person, but we see terrific results with all electric toothbrush usage," said Brittan.

In fact, Brittan said despite the results of this test, spending $100 on a toothbrush is probably the best dental investment a patient can make.



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