The Cultured Girl

I once thought electric toothbrushes were ridiculous. I figured I was perfectly capable of brushing my own teeth, without the help of some electrified gadget. Then, I got a Sonicare. Once I got used to the bizarre sensation—something like resting my chin on a jackhammer—I realized that the benefit of an electric toothbrush is actully how gentle it is on your gums. The voracious toothbrushers among you are probably brushing too hard and getting admonished by your dentist. But trust me: Get a Sonicare or other comparable model, and all that talk about dangerous gum recession (or, worse, that awful gum-grafting surgery) will cease.

As with noise-reducing headphones, electric toothbrushes are one of those purchases where it pays to pay more. You can get a top-of-the-line Sonicare on Amazon for just over $100. Braun Oral B also has several high-end models that sell for around $75 and are also quite good. The best part is, if you live with a partner, you can split the cost and just get a pair of interchangeable heads.