Using an electric toothbrush benefits your oral health in myriad ways. One of the most significant benefits of an electric toothbrush is its ability to remove plaque effectively. Plaque is a primary contributor to tooth loss, and keeping it under control is one of your best defences against dental decay. In this article, we will explore how a powered toothbrush can charge your dental care routine.
Understanding The Dynamics Of How An Electric Toothbrush Works
Electric toothbrushes use battery power to vibrate and rotate the brush bristles. With a manual toothbrush, this action is done by your hands and is subject to your performance at the time.
Electric toothbrushes vibrate and rotate consistently, ensuring more effective plaque removal. Electric toothbrushes rotate at a speed of 2500 to 7500 rotations per minute, giving you more cleaning power with every brush stroke. Sonic toothbrushes take it even further, rotating at up to 30 000 strokes a minute.
Various studies have been carried out on adults and children, to evaluate the efficacy of manual vs electric toothbrushes.
The outcomes indicate that using an electric toothbrush can improve levels of plaque removal, boost gum health, and reduce dental decay. With oral diseases affecting 3.5-billion people globally, an electric toothbrush is a useful investment.
The Benefits Of Electric Toothbrush For Oral Health
It’s Quicker And Easier To Use
Dentists generally agree that anything that makes oral hygiene easier for patients is a good idea. Using an electric toothbrush makes light work of a potentially laborious task.
Some people have limited mobility and flexibility in their hands. People who have conditions like arthritis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and Parkinson’s disease may find it difficult or painful to hold a manual toothbrush and manoeuvre it around their teeth. Using an electric toothbrush makes the process of maintaining oral health much easier and more comfortable.
Keep Up With Best Practices
Everyone should brush twice a day, for at least two minutes. But when you’re in a hurry or a little distracted, you may not be paying attention to the time. Electric toothbrushes have built-in timers that let you know how long you’ve been brushing.
Be Gentle On Your Gums
Plaque can accumulate at the base of your teeth, above and below your gum line. In order to remove it effectively, you need to brush at a 45-degree angle to your gums. Brushing too hard can damage your gums, or even wear down your dental enamel. Electric toothbrushes have built-in pressure sensors that alert you if you’re brushing too hard.
When you use a manual toothbrush, the only way you’ll know if you’re applying too much pressure is if your bristles wear down too fast – and sometimes that’s too late.
Clean Orthodontic Braces More Effectively
Keeping braces clean is no easy task with a manual toothbrush. And, oral health is even more important when you wear them because you have so many more surface areas to keep clean and free of plaque. Only a small part of the tooth is visible, and getting to it is complicated by the presence of brackets and wires.
Using powered bristles will ensure that all surfaces of your teeth, as well as the brackets and wires of your orthodontics, are thoroughly cleaned.
Benefits Of Electric Toothbrush For Dental Restorations
Fortunately, dental implants, dental bridges, and crowns cannot decay because they are made from synthetic materials. It is possible, however, for plaque to accumulate around them, causing inflammation and infection of the surrounding tissues. Using an electric toothbrush will ensure that you manage plaque around dental restorations, benefitting your oral health.
Make Oral Health Fun For Kids
Bathing, washing hair, and brushing teeth can be tedious activities for young children. But it’s really important for toddlers and children to learn how to take care of their teeth from a young age. Introducing an electric toothbrush gives parents peace of mind that their kids’ dental hygiene is adequate, without the pressure they might feel using a manual toothbrush.
Young hands and fingers are not fully formed, and fine motor skills can be a challenge. Electric toothbrushes for children can compensate for this, ensuring that plaque is removed on a daily basis. Some children’s electric toothbrushes have lights or play music, to make the experience more fun and interactive.
Sonic Toothbrushes Improve Oral Health
Sonic toothbrushes do a great job at mixing saliva, water, and toothpaste optimally to give you a better clean with every brush.
The Benefits Of Electric Toothbrush For Your Lifestyle
Not all electric toothbrushes are created equal. They have plenty of adjustable features to customise the experience for you. You can set the pressure level and choose the speed of the rotations. You can select the right head for your needs, whether you are cleaning your orthodontic braces, your tongue, or sensitive gums.
How To Use Electric Toothbrushes For Optimal Dental Hygiene
- Always use a soft-bristled brush, as this is gentler on your gums and dental enamel. Make sure you choose the right-sized toothbrush for your mouth, whether electric or manual.
- Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gum line when brushing. This ensures optimal plaque removal.
- Make sure you brush all surfaces of your teeth: the back, front and biting surfaces all need to be cleaned.
- Don’t forget to floss at least once per day. It doesn’t matter if you floss before or after brushing.
- Electric toothbrush heads need to be replaced every three months. You should inspect the head regularly for signs of wear or damage. If the head is worn down, it won’t clean your teeth as effectively.
To learn more about the benefits of an electric toothbrush for your oral hygiene, it’s always best to speak to a professional. Please contact us for a convenient appointment: (02) 8806 3799
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Electric toothbrushes win the head-to-head against manual in record-breaking new study
https://www.dentalhealth.org/news/electric-toothbrushes-win-the-head-to-head-against-manual-in-record-breaking-new-study
What Are Sonic Electric Toothbrushes, and Why Are They Essential?
https://www.colgate.com/en-ph/oral-health/selecting-dental-products/what-are-sonic-electric-toothbrushes-and-why-are-they-essential
Oral Health
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/oral-health
