A consistent debate when it comes to dental hygiene is if an electric toothbrush is better to clean the teeth compared to a manual toothbrush. But Dr. Cooper says it’s not necessarily about using a manual or electric toothbrush, but instead the technique the person uses when they’re brushing their teeth. “Both are equally effective and thorough in cleaning your teeth if used correctly,” Dr. Cooper says, “and that's angling the brush at a 45 degree angle or so … and sliding back and forth beneath your gums.” Proper toothbrush technique is twice per day for about two minutes, making sure to hit the “occlusal surfaces, or the top surfaces, of the teeth” as well as the back sides of the teeth, she adds.