09.06.2026
Electric or manual? What the evidence says
The question comes up at every preventive appointment. Reviews by the Cochrane Collaboration, which pool numerous individual studies, reach a consistent result: powered toothbrushes remove somewhat more plaque and lead to somewhat less gum inflammation than manual brushes. The difference is measurable, but small.
In practice that means: the brush is not the decisive factor. What matters is the technique, the duration and above all the spaces between the teeth, which neither brush reaches.
Where a powered brush genuinely helps: with limited hand mobility, with children who have not yet mastered a clean technique, and with anyone who presses too hard – many models warn against it. Brushing too firmly is a common cause of receding gums.
Source: systematic reviews by the Cochrane Collaboration on powered versus manual toothbrushes.