But some dental experts say it takes the average adult three minutes to thoroughly remove the bacteria and debris from all the tooth surfaces. Today we have a wide range of choices in toothbrushes. There are angled brushes, multi-leveled bristles, and brushes with narrower heads. Then there are the electric brushes. Some electric brushes rotate back and forth while others rotate in a circular motion.
Ultrasonic toothbrushes use ultrasonic sound waves to vibrate the brush's bristles.
They also have a built-in timer to tell you when it's time to move to another section of the mouth or stop brushing. However, people with limited range of motion may do better with an electric toothbrush. Recent research suggests ultrasonic toothbrushes may be better than manual or other electric toothbrushes, but the devices are expensive. These products should carry the American Dental Association Seal of Approval. You may also want to use a new toothbrush if you're getting over a cold or infectious illness.