Electric Toothbrushes
The toothbrush is a vital dental tool. Keeping your teeth clean helps prevent cavities, gum disease and other problems that can lead to costly treatments or even tooth loss. The best way to keep your teeth healthy is through regular brushing and flossing and maintaining a good diet.
Many dentists now recommend their patients use an electric toothbrush. But do they really work better than traditional ones? The answer is complicated. Both types of brushes can remove plaque and help you avoid gingivitis, but an electric toothbrush may have a few extra benefits over a manual one.
The main benefit of an electric toothbrush is that it can remove more plaque than a manual one. It does so by making more strokes per minute than a traditional toothbrush. It also can have different brushing modes that do different things to your teeth. For example, some electric toothbrushes have a vibrating mode that can help remineralize your teeth. Other models have a whitening mode that can make your teeth whiter.
Do Dentists Really Recommend Electric Toothbrushes?
Another benefit of an electric toothbrush is that it can ensure you brush for a full two minutes. Most people don’t brush their teeth for that long, so an electric toothbrush can help you reach your daily brushing goals. It can also have a timer that goes off every 30 seconds to let you know it’s time to move on to a new section of your mouth.
In addition, some electric toothbrushes have a mode that vibrates your gums to stimulate them and improve gum health. The vibrations can help reduce gum inflammation and swelling, as well as increase blood flow to the gums. This can reduce gum disease and other problems associated with unhealthy gums, such as bad breath.
While the vibrations can help promote better oral health, they can also be irritating for some people. Those who have sensitive teeth and gums can usually find an electric toothbrush with a lower vibration setting or one that has been specially designed for them. There are also models that feature a soft bristle to help them clean their teeth.
An electric toothbrush can also be a helpful tool for those who have trouble moving their hands and arms. It can make it easier to get all areas of their mouth, including the backs of their teeth and the areas behind their braces where food tends to hide. This can be especially beneficial for those who wear orthodontic braces.
The only downside of an electric toothbrush is that it can encourage you to brush too hard. Most people think that brushing harder means they are getting a more thorough cleaning, but it can wear away your enamel and hurt your gums. Some electric toothbrushes can have sensors that will alert you if you are brushing too hard.
In general, most dentists recommend using an electric toothbrush, but the decision is ultimately yours. A few extra features on a toothbrush can make it more useful, but in the end, your oral health depends on how often you brush, what type of toothbrush you use and how regularly you visit your dentist for routine checks and cleanings.