Electric Toothbrushes vs Manual Ones
Good oral health starts with brushing your teeth. According to dentists, both manual and electric toothbrushes are effective in cleaning and removing oral plaque, but the latter comes with a few added advantages. Let’s check them out below.
1. Remove Plaque More Effectively
According to various studies conducted by oral health specialists, electric toothbrushes can reduce plaque with up to 21 percent more than a manual toothbrush. Consequently, the use of such a device also decreases the risk of gingivitis and other gum diseases by 11 percent.
Oscillating toothbrushes seem to perform better than the vibrating ones; further good dental practices, such as using dental floss regularly, can also help prevent most oral diseases.
2. Help Eliminate Bad Breath
There are two major causes of bad breath. Plaque and oral cavities. By removing more plaque than manual toothbrushes, the electric kind can help you fight this annoying issue.
Using bad breath toothpastes together with your electric toothbrush is a winning combination, especially if the cause is plaque. If the bad breath persists, you might want to pay your dentist a visit and check out for any cavities.
3. Better For People With Reduced Mobility
Electric toothbrushes don’t only help you have cleaner teeth and better oral health. They come in help to people with reduced mobility.
Think of carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, developmental disabilities, and other conditions that can cause joint pain and inflammation in hands. Holding and using a manual toothbrush properly is near impossible in these cases.
However, you won’t have to do much if you’re using an electric toothbrush. Thanks to its oscillatory movement, it’s easier to hold and use.
4. Built-In Timer
Perhaps you’re well aware of the golden 2-minute rule when it comes to brushing your teeth. But be honest for a moment. How many times did you actually set up a timer and monitored the minutes spent brushing your teeth?
If your answer is never or sporadically, know that an electric toothbrush can help. These devices come with built-in timers that’ll let you know how much time you still have to brush the same spot to remove all plaque and food remains.
5. It Can Boost Focus While Brushing
Thanks to the built-in timer, oscillatory movement, and even the sound of the brush, electric toothbrushes can improve focus while brushing.
According to some experts, this improved focus might even be the reason why electric toothbrushes are more effective than the manual ones. Indeed, you might unconsciously spend more time brushing your teeth properly when using a powered toothbrush.
6. Great For People With Orthodontic Appliances
Brushing your teeth if you’re wearing orthodontic appliances can be a nightmare. Cleaning around braces, for example, is quite hard. And plaque tends to accumulate around these spots.
While those who already maintained good oral health before the braces might not notice substantial changes, if you had difficulties in maintaining your oral cavity clean, then the electric toothbrush can surely help reduce plaque while you’re wearing orthodontic appliances.
7. Various Cleaning Modes
Another nice thing about electric toothbrushes is that they come with various cleaning modes. For instance, the oscillating movement is great for warding off plaque. If you want to whiten your teeth, just use a teeth whitening toothpaste and set your toothbrush on vibration.
Most electric toothbrush brands propose at least three cleaning modes, and the most performing ones will give you an array of options.
Not only each mode is specific for an oral issue, but switching between modes can also be fun and increase your overall improvement.
8. Better For The Environments
Electric toothbrushes are made from plastic, just like the manual kind. So, how can they be better for the environment?
The secret is a reduced waste. Most powered toothbrushes come with a reusable base and a replaceable head. When the time comes to change your toothbrush, you’ll only have to replace the head, not the whole thing.
There is definitely less plastic in an electric toothbrush head than into a full manual toothbrush. Fair enough, though, if you opt for a sustainable manual toothbrush, such as one made from bamboo, the manual kind wins this battle.
9. More Engaging For Kids
Just as it can be more engaging for adults, electric toothbrushes are also fun for kids. If you find it hard to convince your youngsters of oral health importance, kids electric toothbrushes can be your best ally.
Because children are fascinated by everything that can move on its own, an electric toothbrush can convince them to adopt healthy habits from a very young age.
10. Safer For Your Gums
While brushing your teeth is essential for maintaining good oral health, how you brush them can truly make a difference. Many people fail to brush their teeth properly, applying too much pressure on the toothbrush.
This can lead to gum injuries and a wealth of associated issues. But an electric toothbrush can help you prevent most of them.
In fact, when using a powered toothbrush, you don’t have to apply any kind of pressure. The toothbrush will remove plaque and food bits with its vibrating and oscillatory movements. The result is often cleaner teeth, healthier gums, and better overall oral health.
Wrapping It All Up
According to specialists, there is little difference between electric and manual toothbrushes for people who already have good oral hygiene habits. If your oral health is rather scarce, though, if you have difficulties in holding and using a toothbrush, or if you find it hard to brush your teeth properly, an electric toothbrush can help.
Regardless of which kind you choose, remember than oral hygiene issues can cause more than bad breath and lost teeth. Cavities can also cause heart disease, strokes, and other health problems, so paying attention to your oral health is paramount.
