Miswak vs Electric Toothbrush: What Each Really Costs in a Year

An electric toothbrush looks expensive at the checkout, and a miswak stick looks cheap. Over a full year, the gap is smaller than either price tag suggests, and after the first year it runs the other way.

Quick answer: One person who replaces a miswak stick monthly spends about $60 a year with The Miswak Stick, or about 16 cents a day. A basic rechargeable electric toothbrush costs roughly $36 to $82 in its first year and $14 to $42 a year after that, because you only buy replacement heads. So a miswak is cheaper than a premium electric brush in year one, but from year two most electric brushes cost less to run.

Below is the full math, what the price tag leaves out, and why we recommend using a miswak alongside your toothbrush rather than instead of it.

In this article

• How much does a miswak cost per year?

• How much does an electric toothbrush cost per year?

• Is a miswak cheaper than an electric toothbrush?

• What does the price tag leave out?

• Which one cleans better?

• Should you use both?

• How can you keep the cost down?

• So which should you choose?

• FAQ and sources

How much does a miswak cost per year?

If you replace your stick once a month, as we recommend, you need 12 sticks a year. Buying our 2 Pack three at a time, so the order ships free, that comes to $59.94 a year, or about 16 cents a day.

Why monthly? The fibers wear down as you trim and chew a fresh tip, and a stick that stays in use too long collects bacteria. One 2024 study found bacteria on 84% of sticks within a month. See when to trim and replace your stick for the full routine.

How you buy makes a big difference, because US orders under $20 pay $5.99 shipping and orders over $20 ship free:

There's nothing else to buy for the miswak itself: no charger, batteries or replacement heads. You'll still want fluoride toothpaste for your regular brushing, which we cover below.

See current miswak packs →

How much does an electric toothbrush cost per year?

In the first year you pay for the handle, replacement heads and a little electricity. Most rechargeable models cost $25 to $90, and official heads cost about $3 to $10 each. The American Dental Association recommends a new head every three to four months, so plan on three or four heads a year.

The math is simple:

• Year 1 = handle + 3 heads (one usually comes in the box) + charging

• Year 2 and after = 4 heads + charging

Charging costs very little, roughly $2 a year at average US electricity rates.

Assumes heads at $3 to $10 each. Premium brushes often use heads at the top of that range or above it.

The handle doesn't last forever. Built-in batteries wear out after a few years, and then the whole handle needs replacing, which brings back the year-one cost.

Is a miswak cheaper than an electric toothbrush?

In year one, a miswak is cheaper than most mid-range and premium electric brushes and close to a basic one. From year two, it isn't: an electric toothbrush only needs new heads, and that usually costs less than a year of miswak sticks.

Over three years, a miswak costs more than an entry-level electric brush and about the same as, or less than, many premium ones.

So if price is the only thing you care about, a basic electric toothbrush wins over time. But price is only part of the decision, and for most people the real question isn't which one to pick. It's whether to add a miswak to the routine they already have.

What does the price tag leave out?

Plastic, batteries, charging and convenience. A miswak is fully biodegradable and needs no water, paste or power. An electric brush gives you a timer, often a pressure sensor, and less work for your hands.

If cutting plastic from your bathroom matters to you, see our guide to plastic-free toothbrush options.

Which one cleans better?

Neither is a clear winner on cleaning alone. A 2022 review of nine trials found a miswak cleans plaque about as well as a regular toothbrush. Separately, a Cochrane review found powered toothbrushes remove somewhat more plaque than manual ones.

In that Cochrane review, which pooled 56 trials, powered brushes cut plaque by 11% over one to three months and 21% beyond three months, compared with manual brushes. Gum inflammation fell by 6% and 11% over the same periods. The authors noted that the clinical importance of these gains is unclear.

We could not find a well-designed trial that compares a miswak directly with an electric toothbrush. So any claim that one cleans better than the other is a guess, and we won't make it.

For the full evidence on miswak, see how a miswak compares with a regular toothbrush and the research behind miswak.

Should you use both?

For most people, yes. In the same 2022 review, people who used a miswak in addition to brushing had less plaque and healthier gums than people who only brushed. That makes a miswak an added cost of about $60 a year, not a replacement for your toothbrush.

A simple routine that works:

• Morning and night: brush with your electric or regular toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.

• During the day: use your miswak after meals, before prayer, at work or while travelling, when a sink and toothpaste aren't handy.

Keep the fluoride toothpaste. A miswak contains only a trace of natural fluoride, around 1 ppm, while standard toothpaste contains about 1,450 ppm.

A toothbrush should stay your main tool if you wear braces or a retainer, if your gums have started to recede, or for young children brushing on their own. If you have any gum or dental problem, ask your dentist what's right for you before changing your routine.

How can you keep the cost down?

For a miswak, buy in bundles that clear free shipping and make each stick last its full month. For an electric brush, compare head prices before you buy the handle.

Miswak

• Buy three 2 Packs at a time. At $29.97 the order clears the $20 free-shipping line, which saves $5.99 per order.

• Trim off only the worn tip each time, so the stick lasts its full month. Our how-to guide shows how.

• Store it dry and upright with air around it. Damp storage is the most common reason a stick has to be thrown out early. See how to store a miswak so it lasts.

Electric toothbrush

• Check the price of replacement heads before you choose a handle. A cheap handle with expensive heads costs more over time.

• Buy heads in multi-packs, which usually lowers the price per head.

• Replace heads on schedule, every three to four months, rather than earlier.

So which should you choose?

If cost is your only concern, a basic electric toothbrush is the cheaper choice over time. If you want something plastic-free, portable and usable anywhere, or you use a miswak as a Sunnah before prayer, add one to your routine. For most people, using both gives the best results.

Our sticks are cut from the Salvadora persica root, individually sealed, and ship free on US orders over $20. Shop the 2 Pack or start a Family Subscription.

Sources

1. Ramli H, et al. Miswak versus toothbrush for plaque and gingivitis: systematic review and meta-analysis, 2022. PubMed 35944735

2. Yaacob M, et al. Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2014. PubMed 24934383

3. American Dental Association. Toothbrushes

4. Bacterial contamination of miswak sticks within one month, Annals of Medical Research, 2024. annalsmedres.org

5. Electric toothbrush price ranges: How Much Blog, January 2026

6. Charging cost: Jouleio electric toothbrush energy calculator

7. The Miswak Stick product pages and shipping policy, prices checked 20 October 2026