Participants told CR that Burst and Quip’s purchasing processes were enjoyable-using words like “easy,” “straightforward,” and “simple”-and that they were excited to receive their new toothbrushes. “We compared the consumers’ experience with popular toothbrush subscription services to see what drives them to subscribe and what motivates them to continue using the toothbrush and the service,” says Dana Keester, a test project leader in CR’s consumer experience and usability research department.įor the most part, users liked the services they were subscribed to. Finally, the researchers generated an overall usability score, based on participants’ agreement with 10 statements, including “I like to use this toothbrush and subscription service frequently” and “I find the toothbrush and subscription service unnecessarily complex.”
If you use a manual toothbrush properly, you can clean your teeth the way you need to.”ĬR’s tests of electric toothbrushes included expert evaluations by dental hygienists on how well each brush worked. “If using an electric toothbrush will inspire you to brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes-because they do have timers on them-so be it!” says Alice Boghosian, DDS, a clinical instructor at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry and a spokesperson for the ADA.
However, dental experts say the most important thing for your dental health is not the type of brush you use but how you use it. Many models-including Quip and Burst-have a built-in timer that buzzes to let you know when it’s time to move to another section of your mouth and will turn off automatically after 2 minutes of brushing. Yet according to the American Dental Association, most people don’t brush their teeth for long enough, averaging about 45 seconds a session, and many press too hard while brushing, which can damage gums and tooth enamel over time.ĭepending on the model you select, an electric toothbrush can help you brush long enough and correctly. One of the most important things you can do to keep your teeth and gums healthy is to brush your teeth twice a day for at least 2 minutes at a time.