We asked our team of experts “Why should I use an electric toothbrush?” and here is what each of them had to say:
From our Dentist –
Every day in my dental practice I do get the question, “should I use an electric toothbrush?” and I say that depends. We all agree that how you brush is more important than what type of toothbrush you brush with. So, it is definitely possible to brush and clean your teeth very effectively with a manual toothbrush, and if you are happy with these results, and your hygienist and dentist both agree, then there is probably no need to switch to electric.
But, if you and your clinician feel that your teeth have room to improve, any number of an electric toothbrush’s many features can make it easier to remove even more plaque, inter proximal debris and promote healthy gum tissue. The main benefit of the vibrating or oscillating actions of the electric toothbrush is that it cleans your teeth much more thoroughly — it helps remove and eliminate plaque and bacteria better than a manual toothbrush due to the increased number of strokes and from the cavitation that it provides.
When using a manual toothbrush, many people also think that brushing their teeth harder is better because it will remove more gunk. This, however is untrue and can damage your teeth. Because by brushing harder, you can actually scrape away some of the enamel of the tooth, making your teeth weaker, gums more irritated and more susceptible to cavities and staining. Some of the mid-to-higher end electric toothbrushes now come with some form of a warning system when you brush too hard to be make sure you are using the correct pressure”
From our Hygienist –
“It might surprise you that the vast majority of people simply brush wrong. Most people either don’t know or haven’t been taught well enough to know that there is a right way, but it’s true.
When using a traditional, regular handled toothbrush, the bristles of the manual toothbrush need to be angled slightly toward the gum line in order to reach the pockets around the tooth structure and the gums. Angling the bristles this way you remove the food, bacteria and plaque from the interproximal (geek speak for the nooks and crannies between the teeth and gums) space between the teeth that traps it the best. When asked ‘should I use an electric toothbrush?’ I tell people, the sonic and oscillating movements of the bristles back and forth in one area for a few seconds will remove that debris, plaque and bacteria the very best.
With manual brushes, most people make hard, wide brushing strokes across the front of the teeth and they really miss these very important areas. In my opinion, this is the number one reason why the electric toothbrushes are a much better option for my patients as a whole. They oscillate and vibrate, creating cavitation and tiny little movements that allow the bristles to slide and reach into those spaces and then really successfully do their job.”
From our “Regular Guy” –
“In the rushed and hurried craziness of a busy morning, with the daily duties like waking the kids, walking the dog and getting breakfast going, it is easy to do just a quick brush in order to get out the door and start your day.
My hygienist recently told me that research shows it is best to brush for about 2 minutes! With a normal toothbrush, I have no idea how long I brush. Did I brush all the surfaces of that tooth for four seconds? I don’t know! Many of the electric toothbrushes operate for 2 minutes, giving a beep or pause as a tiny signal when it is time to move to the next section or quadrant of your mouth. This way, I always know that I am brushing for the proper length of time.
It also helps me teach my children how long they should brush…Now I say ‘Kids, don’t stop until the toothbrush is done.’ Overall, I believe that electric toothbrushes take all of the science out of properly brushing and make it simple for anyone to brush the right way.
I personally had a much better checkup after changing to an electric toothbrush and got a thumbs up from both my dentist and hygienist!”
