Brushing and flossing twice a day are the cornerstones of good dental hygiene but even if you are really diligent about caring for your teeth, you still need to visit your dentist twice a year to remove the plaque that you can’t see. Using an electric brush can help you to reach and clean in all the small spaces of your mouth. A rechargeable electric toothbrush uses vibrating, rotating sensations to remove plaque before it can turn into tartar. Let’s take a look at how an electric toothbrush can make it quicker and easier to take care of your oral health.
The Importance Of Plaque Control For Oral Health
Your mouth is full of bacteria and it is through brushing and flossing that you keep it under control. When you neglect to floss or don’t brush properly, you give the bacteria the opportunity to breed, and for your teeth to get covered in a film of plaque. When this plaque is not removed it accumulates and hardens, turning into a substance called tartar or calculus.
Having tartar build up between your teeth and above and below your gum line increases your chances of developing cavities and gum disease. It attracts more bacteria, which can start to erode your tooth enamel, leading to cavities and compromising your dental health. When the infection goes below your gum line and starts to affect your soft tissues, you are at risk of developing gum disease.
Managing your oral hygiene is vital because tooth decay is the leading cause of tooth loss. Furthermore, your dental health and general wellbeing are associated, and people who have gum disease are at greater risk of heart disease, diabetes and other health problems.
How Electric Toothbrushes Can Help?
Technology Can Help Busy People
Your technique and the length of time you spend brushing will dictate how thoroughly you can keep your mouth clean. Being in a rush or not paying full attention to your dental hygiene can have serious implications for your mouth, but an electric toothbrush may be able to compensate for those moments when your mind isn’t fully focused on brushing.
An electric toothbrush uses a combination of movement and vibration to loosen plaque and debris. While you do still need to hold electric toothbrushes at a 45-degree angle to your gum line and move the brush across your teeth, the electric toothbrush moves correctly all the time to remove plaque, even if you are only there in body and not in mind.
Electric Toothbrushes Are Ideal For Mobility-impaired People
Some people find manoeuvring a toothbrush difficult. Patients who have arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome may not be able to clean their teeth as thoroughly without the support of an electric toothbrush. It can make dental hygiene much more comfortable for people who do not have full mobility in their hands.
Electric Toothbrushes Make Dental Hygiene Fun For Kids
Teaching toddlers and young children about dental hygiene is not always fun for youngsters. An electric toothbrush can make the experience more stimulating and less stressful, as parents can create a more positive experience and not worry if their kids’ teeth are being cleaned properly. Many of the kids’ electric toothbrushes are available in fun colours, light up or may play music to keep smaller children entertained.
Electric toothbrushes also have built-in timers, so parents can relax and focus on spending quality time with their children, rather than worrying about their kids’ brushing techniques.
Electric Toothbrushes Can Protect Your Gums
If your brushing technique needs some improvement and you are putting your gums under too much strain, you will notice that your bristles start to wear down faster than every three months. If you do brush too hard, you run the risk of causing your gums to recede. If you use a manual toothbrush you might not realise this for quite some time.
An electric toothbrush uses a red light to indicate when you are using too much pressure, so you can ease off and not do damage to your gums.
Another note on ‘scrubbing”: the quality of your technique is more important than how hard you brush. What many patients do incorrectly is not moving methodically around their mouths with a toothbrush. Start at one end of your jaw, and brush each tooth individually, and in order, until you reach the other side. When you brush a tooth, make sure you clean all of the bite surfaces and floss all the way around each tooth.
Similarly, using abrasive toothpaste is also potentially damaging to your tooth enamel and your gums and should be avoided, especially with an electric toothbrush.
Electric Toothbrushes Keep Your Tongue Clean Too
You can use your electric toothbrush to clean your tongue as well. This is important as the tongue can harbour lots of bacteria that contribute to bad breath and plaque build-up. You can rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash to remove even more bacteria from your tongue and the roof of your mouth.
Even though an electric toothbrush uses battery-operated power, it needs to be charged in order to use it. Because it can make a mess it’s best to do it over the basin, as you would with a manual toothbrush, and to brush in front of the mirror.
To schedule an appointment for your dental check-up and professional clean and polish, or to find out more about the benefits of an electric toothbrush, please get in touch: (02) 8806 3799
