The Benefits Of Brushing With An Electric Toothbrush
Electric Toothbrushes Provide Many Benefits
While a manual toothbrush can get the job done if used properly, an electric toothbrush provides benefits that go beyond simply scrubbing your teeth.
They clean teeth more thoroughly. When we brush by hand, we average about 300 strokes per minute. Electric toothbrushes can average thousands or even tens of thousands of strokes per minute depending on what technology they employ.
They’re easier for those with dexterity issues. Certain conditions–such as arthritis, limited mobility, or involuntary tremors–can make brushing with a manual toothbrush difficult. The larger handles of electric toothbrushes can be easier to hold, while the powered toothbrush head does all the cleaning for you.
They help ensure you’re brushing properly. Many electric toothbrushes feature built-in timers and pressure sensors. These features help ensure you’re not too brushing too hard and that you brush for a full two minutes.
They clean hard to reach spots around braces. Some electric toothbrushes even have special attachments made specifically for cleaning around brackets and orthodontic appliances.
Why We Recommend An Electric Toothbrush To Our Patients
We went to our dental hygienists, and asked the question: In your opinion, what are the benefits of using an electric toothbrush?
Denise gave an electric toothbrush the thumbs up! She has been using an electric toothbrush personally for 25 years. "One of the best advantages in my opinion is if you push down too hard while brushing, the toothbrush will 'kick back' or some have a light that will go on letting you know to lighten up on your pressure. This also helps prevent recession of the gums." Denise also adds, "you should replace the brush heads every 2.5 to 3 months. If the bristles are flaring out, they are not brushing where they need to be." Quite often you can purchase multi packs of brush heads which are less expensive than single brush heads.
Donna tells us, "the brush is only as good as how you use it. Some people do well with a manual toothbrush, but many do not. The biggest selling point in my opinion is the timer, which is built in to the handle. The timer has you brush for two minutes, and breaks it down to 30 seconds for each quarter of your mouth usually sending a pulse motion letting you know to move to another section to clean. People with electric toothbrushes will brush for two minutes, whereas manually they will brush as little as 15-30 seconds total. The electric brush gives a better chance of a thorough cleaning." Donna does also point out the cost of an electric toothbrush is a larger investment than a manual brush, but quite often you can find them on sale in pharmacies, department stores, and especially bulk stores (BJ's, Sam's Club, Costco).
Allison adds to the conversation telling us in her opinion the electric toothbrush is easier to use. "A manual toothbrush is actually used no different in effect, but the manual toothbrush is more technique sensitive, whereas the electric toothbrush does a lot of the job for you. The electric toothbrush eliminates the guesswork out of how hard you may be brushing, and I personally recommend it over a manual brush in cases where the patient has a hard time controlling plaque buildup on their teeth."
Check out the video below to see how to properly use an electric toothbrush.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkdgyXHEboE
We Love Brightening Our Patients Smiles!
Electric toothbrushes aren’t just fancy gadgets—they can provide a host of significant benefits for your oral health. If you have questions about how an electric toothbrush can improve your brushing routine, call and make an appointment today! We love helping our patients achieve happy, healthy smiles.
Thank you for being part of the PGD family!!!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
