In our busy general dental office,  we are asked this question many times a day.  Our other dentist,  hygienists and I all offer the same answer:  Buy what you like to use, what works  and what you will want to continue to use. 

Here is our favorite:     Oral-B Professional Care Smart Series  (Formerly Oral B Triumph)

Why? It's got a small round head.  It works.  Ours have not broken over the last years. It's charger is small.  It works and does not have the annoying vibration.  I've used the less expensive Oral B electric brushes.  They seem just as good but lack the electronic settings and the little battery strength meter.

The other big player:  Sonicare.  This series of brushes will get your teeth clean.  They are not my favorites and here's why:  My own experience is that my Sonicares had an annoying way of rolling on surfaces if laid flat.  For me, this meant that a couple Sonicare brushes rolled off the counter, hit the floor and broke.  I also did not like the 'ultrasonic' vibration in my hand.  Some people are not bothered by the vibration and I have spoken to many people who have not broken their brush. 

Some of the newest brushes do have some bells and whistles that seem silly to me, like the light sterilization feature and excess bulk.

These are advertised to kill viruses and bacteria on the brush heads.  But this feature makes no sense to me.  First of all, the bacteria on the brush should be your own and you've already got that!  Secondly,  if you are worried about this or feel like you need assurance, just dip the brush in dilute liquid bleach. The light is a gimmick , in my opinion.

There are also non-rechargeable and very inexpensive AA battery operated brushes in the tooth care aisle of the drug stores.  These probably work better than a manual toothbrush for many people.  They may interest kids in brushing more than a hand brush.  Problems include short battery life and, with many, a brush action that goes only one way.  They may lack a timer.

The cause of periodontal disease and decay is the bacteria that grows in plaque.  Removing the plaque is the goal.  Find the brush that does this for you. This means finding a brush you like to use and using it routinely. You can buy disclosing tablets that allow you to dye the plaque.  If you want to see if your brushing is effective, chew a disclosing tablet, brush and then chew another tablet.  Look for the plaque you missed.

Plaque that accumulates between teeth is not removed by any toothbrush.  For this you will need dental floss.  If you cannot floss, you may want to try a new product by Gum  Butler GUM Soft Picks.  These are tiny brushes thin enough to be used like a toothpick.  Many of my patients have seen their gum health improve immensely after discovering these magic little cleaners.  You can use them anywhere with one hand.  They do bend easily and need to be replaced frequently.  I just buy them by the case on the Internet (Amazon.com, Drugstore.com, etc.) 

Learn More About Periodontal Disease and Decay at DentalSmarts.com