In the 19th century, the first electric toothbrush was introduced. As years gone by, the design and brushhead movements have been constantly changing. Companies claim that electric toothbrushes are more efficient than manual toothbrushes. In this literature review, the importance of the different brushhead movements, brushing time and brushing force and their impact on microbiology and gingival recession is pointed out. Furthermore, the efficiency of electric toothbrushes is evaluated through the available scientific evidence.