Are Electric Toothbrushes Better?
Are electric toothbrushes better than manual ones? The truth is, when topped with fluoride toothpaste to harden the surfaces of your teeth and protect against cavities, either electric or manual toothbrushes can help keep your mouth as clean as possible. It really just depends on your situation.
Research will typically tell you electric toothbrushes have a slight edge, but it’s honestly not that huge.
Electric toothbrushes generally use vibration, rotation (going around in a circle), or oscillation (moving back and forth) to get the job done. They also tend to have larger handles than manual toothbrushes. These aspects make electric toothbrushes good options for people with dexterity issues due to conditions like arthritis and osteoporosis, or just aging in general. Since the bristles on electric toothbrushes can sometimes be thinner and pointier clusters, they can deliver the kind of targeted cleaning that can aid someone with braces or dental restorations. It may even just be that the vibrations intrigue an easily distracted kid, helping them spend the recommended two minutes brushing their teeth. Some electric toothbrushes actually have timers, which can be a great way to make sure you’re spending enough time on your teeth and gums. Electric toothbrushes can also help if you brush your teeth and gums too hard, which can lead to gum recession that causes sensitivity while eating and drinking. Since electric toothbrushes do a lot of the work to remove plaque, putting too much pressure on your gums becomes less of an issue. Some even have pressure sensors that freeze the toothbrush’s motion if you’re pressing too hard.
No matter what kind of toothbrush you use, you should shop with a few guidelines in mind. Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles, whether manual or electric. Anything harder can damage your gums and even form little notches in your teeth.
During your twice-daily, two-minute brushings, dentists suggest holding your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against your teeth and gum line, moving back and forth in short strokes, then tilting vertically and making up and down strokes on the insides of your teeth, too. (If you’re using an electric toothbrush, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.) Beyond that, buy a new toothbrush every three to four months (or swap out the head of your electric toothbrush as instructed). If the bristles are frayed, they’re not going to be able to get into the little crevices around each of your teeth and get the job done and you won’t be as efficient in plaque removal. The bottom line is that you don’t automatically need an electric toothbrush for great oral health, but it can help in certain situations. People have individual needs and abilities and skills. If an electric
toothbrush helps them stay healthy and avoid having additional decay, it can wind up being a good investment. Sometimes it really makes a difference in people who are struggling to stay healthy. Refer this site for more info: http://www.appletondental.ca/services/family-dentistry/