Confession: since I was a kid, I've had a terrible fear of the dentist. Though I always had kind, patient doctors, the mere idea of sitting in the chair, letting them dig through my mouth was enough to send me into full-on panic mode. I grew brave enough to make — and meet — appointments without my parents once I became an adult, but the anxiety always crept in. It didn't help that after doing seven months of Accutane, I found myself with a dozen cavities and needing a few root canals, thanks to extreme dry mouth. After spending far too much money (since insurance covers next-to-nothing) on dental work, I was excited for a year abroad when I wouldn't have to worry about my pearly whites. That is, until six months later, and an infection under one of those root canals spread, and I had to have a tooth pulled...in Thailand. An army of friends supported me (and one faithful friend held my hand for three hours) but the experience made my dentophobia deepen.

When it was finally time to head back to the states, I developed another nagging toothache. It was near another root canal tooth and I was convinced I'd have to have another one pulled. While the experience in Thailand was a bit traumatic, it was also incredibly cheap at $500, while rates in the U.S. start at around $1,500.

So, imagine my surprise — and delight! — when the solution to my soreness wasn't a procedure...but rather, a $70 toothbrush. Bargain, much?

My dentist explained that my tooth was fine, but I had the beginning of gingivitis because I wasn't brushing my teeth hard enough. Though I made sure to scrub away morning and night, and floss every other day, I wasn't giving enough TLC to my gums or, likely, spending enough time during my twice-daily routine. In fact, he said I needed a powerful toothbrush with hard bristles to get the job done.

This is a widespread belief, according to many dentists. Marc Lazare, DDS, MAGD says that an electric toothbrush has many advantages that a manual one does not. Not only do they generate more brush strokes per second, making it more effective, but they have the ability to clean behind the back teeth and will alert you if you're pushing too hard on your teeth. In other words: it takes a lot of the guesswork and human error out of the equation, allowing you to brush correctly and without stress.

The first week I brushed with a mighty powerful electric toothbrush, my gums bled, which is about as fun as it sounds. Though it was painful for those initial seven days, the bleeding stopped and the pain went away, and now I love how clean my mouth feels after each brushing. Most importantly, my gums and teeth are in much better health than they were before. Now, I'd never go back.

If you want to see the difference yourself, consider these top-rated electric toothbrushes.

Image via Imaxtree

If you want the crème de la crème of electronic toothbrushes, this is your best bet. It claims to provide up to seven times healthier gums in just two weeks of use and comes with a timer. This is important since it'll tell you when you've hit the recommended two minutes of brushing. If you'd like it to match your aesthetic, it comes in five different colors including the ever-trendy rose gold.

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Available in black, white and (for a limited time) rose gold, this super-sleek and compact brush packs a lot of oomph. It not only works to make your teeth brighter, but it fights against all surface stains and decay with charcoal-infused bristles and other cool features. When you buy it, you'll subscribe yourself to a $6 replacement head subscription, which is inexpensive compared to other brands.

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Unlike most electric toothbrushes with rotating bristles, this one pulsates. This is said to be more hygienic than competitors and can reach different areas. Considering the brush is well over $100, it also helps that you only need to replace the head once a year — and only charge it once every six months. Win-win!

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Though many electric toothbrushes have harder bristles, this option features softer ones. If you're a bit sensitive — or you aren't trying to rid gum disease — this could be a better solution for you. It features a two-and-a-half-minute timer that helps you overachieve your daily brushing routine. One charge will last you three weeks — making it perfect for those who forget to plug in.

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