Tooth Picks: How to Buy the Right Brush

A healthy mouth and gums are fundamental to a healthy bod. Poor oral hygiene can lead to gum disease and bacterial buildup in the mouth as well as in the bloodstream. Studies suggest that periodontal bacteria can interfere with proper organ function and even lead to heart disease and stroke. Not exactly the kind of killer smile you had in mind, is it? So how do you keep those gums fleshy pink and those teeth sparkling white? Here's what four pros recommend for getting the gunk out and delaying decay.

Catrise Austin, DDS, New York City
"I currently use and recommend the Sonicare Elite," says Dr. Austin. "It's the Bentley of toothbrushes. Sonic brushes are much more effective in removing plaque because of the power and motion of the brush. It feels like the dental hygienist is cleaning your teeth every day!"

Peter Rinaldi, DDS, New York City and Beverly Hills
"Any of the pulsating/oscillating [Braun Oral B] or sonic toothbrushes [Sonicare] is better than using conventional toothbrushes," says Dr. Rinaldi. Why? Manual scrubbing produces about 300 brush strokes per minute. Pulsating/oscillating toothbrushes reach between 3,000 and 7,500 strokes, and vibrating toothbrushes produce 40,000. "The more brush strokes, the more plaque and debris that are potentially removed."

Samuel L. Yankell, professor, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
Dr. Yankell, who has been studying toothbrushes for nearly 30 years, has seen manual products go from flat-profile, straight-handle designs to an array of bristle patterns and angled heads. "The designs are much more appealing now, and this has translated into efficacy when they're used properly," he says. But mechanical brushes, with their boost in power, seem to have gained an upper hand in removing plaque and keeping gingivitis at bay. "In published short-term studies, power toothbrushes are more effective than a manual toothbrush when used for the same amount of time and under the same conditions (for example, using the same brushing motion). The longer a person brushes, the more effective the product will be."

Kimberly Harms, DDS, spokesperson for the American Dental Association
Manual toothbrushes can be just as effective as powered toothbrushes, according to the American Dental Association. "What matters," says Harms, "is that you brush long enough to clean every surface [the ADA doesn't recommend a set time] and that you replace your toothbrush every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles become frayed." Frayed bristles may harm gums and don't clean as well. Toothbrushes with the American Dental Association's Seal of Acceptance must meet ADA standards for safety and effectiveness. Personally, Harms prefers a manual toothbrush, "just because I find it easier. I brush a lot during the day and it's convenient to have a toothbrush at home and one at the office." It's really a matter of preference. Her husband, a dentist in the same practice, uses a powered one.

Four super tooth picks:
1. Sonicare Elite 7500 ($139). Features two speeds and a two-minute timer.
2. Oral B Professional Care 8000 ($119) and Oral B Sonic Complete ($99). Both feature speed control and newly designed bristles for better cleaning.
3. Crest SpinBrush. The new Crest SpinBrush Pro Whitening is a bargain at only $7.99. In drugstores nationwide.
4. Radius Intelligent. A manual toothbrush with a timer and 5,000 bristles, as opposed to the 2,000 to 2,500 in the average toothbrush. Available at Whole Foods, Duane Reade and Wild Oats.