Brushing and flossing twice a day is the cornerstone of every good dental hygiene routine, but when it comes to brushes, what’s better: electric or manual toothbrushes? Electric toothbrushes can make light work of a really important job, but do they really take care of your oral health better? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of electric vs manual toothbrush.
The Importance Of Thorough Plaque Control
Brushing and flossing is an important step in keeping the plaque in your mouth under control. Throughout the day and night, your teeth and soft tissues are covered in a thin, sticky film called plaque.
It can accumulate between the teeth and below the gum line, and if you don’t remove it properly with your toothbrush, it calcifies and turns into a very hard substance called tartar that only your dentist can remove with special instruments.
The most effective way to manage oral health is to brush and floss each surface of each tooth, for at least two minutes, twice a day, which sounds simple enough. But if your technique isn’t correct, and plaque is left to accumulate on your teeth it becomes acidic, and that’s when dental decay starts to become a problem.
Will an electric toothbrush do a better job than the usual manual toothbrushes?
The Pros And Cons Of Electric Vs Manual Toothbrush
The Benefits Of Electric Toothbrushes
Electric toothbrushes have rotating heads that move in circles, lots of times in a second. This allows the bristles to remove the maximum amount of plaque for the duration that they are in contact with your teeth. But they also have other benefits.
Less Effort Is Required From You
Probably the greatest benefit to using an electric brush is the ability to get better results with less effort. You can stand in front of your bathroom mirror for the same period of time, exert less effort and even concentration, and still do a good job at cleaning your teeth.
Using electric toothbrushes may be beneficial for accessing the small areas at the back of your mouth that may otherwise be difficult to brush manually.
Patients who suffer from gum disease may benefit from using an electric brush, as well as patients who have restorations such as dental implants, crowns and dental bridges.
Keep Orthodontic Braces Clean
Trying to clean orthodontic braces with a manual toothbrush is a challenge. You need to get around the brackets and wires to clean the surfaces of your teeth, and you need to clean the brackets and wires too.
Using an electric toothbrush makes this process so much easier, and removes the risk of not doing a good job with manual toothbrushes.
Time Your Dental Care Routine Better
A lot of electric brushes have built-in timers that are set for two minutes so you know how long to brush for. When you’re using a manual toothbrush you’re unlikely to time yourself and may not be brushing for long enough to remove plaque.
Electric Toothbrushes Work Well For People With Limited Mobility
If you experience any condition that affects your ability to use your hands effectively, an electric toothbrush may benefit your lifestyle. Patients who have Parkinson’s disease, carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis may find it uncomfortable to manoeuvre an electric toothbrush around their mouth.
If you use an electric toothbrush you just need to hold it to your teeth, at the correct angle, and the toothbrush movements will take care of plaque control.
Electric Toothbrushes Make Brushing Fun For Kids
Teaching a young child to brush his or her teeth is a serious matter with serious consequences if it isn’t done correctly. By using electric toothbrushes parents can have peace of mind that their children’s dental hygiene is being taken care of, and focus on spending quality time with their children.
The Cons Of Electric Toothbrushes
You Need A Power Source
Electric brushes need to be charged, so you are reliant on batteries or a charger.
Cost
Convenience does have a cost and buying an electric toothbrush does cost more than buying manual toothbrushes.
An electric toothbrush does last for a long time, however, whereas manual toothbrushes need to be replaced every two to three months, so you will recoup your cost over time.
You only need to replace an electric toothbrush head, and not the entire toothbrush.
Electric Vs Manual Toothbrush: What’s Best For You?
Ultimately the question of whether manual or electric toothbrushes are best for you comes down to personal preference. If tooth decay has been a problem in the past for you, it certainly is worth trying an electric toothbrush to see if there is an improvement. If you want to have a cleaner mouth and allow dental technology to take care of your dental care, try an electric toothbrush.
Dental Hygiene Tips For Better Brushing
Brush your teeth twice a day: when you wake up in the morning and before you go to bed at night.
Choose a soft-bristled brush and don’t brush too hard, as you can erode your gums over time. If you are replacing your toothbrush or toothbrush head more frequently than every two to three months because of bristle wear, it could be a sign that you’re brushing too hard.
Don’t forget to floss. It doesn’t matter if you floss before or after brushing, as long as you do it. Using an electric brush does not compensate for not flossing.
Don’t forget to brush your tongue twice a day. Bacteria can grow on your tongue and need to be brushed off every time you brush your teeth.
For a more personal answer to the question of whether an electric vs manual toothbrush is best for you, please contact us for a convenient appointment: (02) 9159 6237.