Electric Toothbrushes: Benefits and How to Use for Better Oral Hygiene
Taking care of your teeth is essential, and the most elementary way to do so is through brushing them. Brushing your teeth is the first step towards oral hygiene, plaque control, and teeth whitening. And to do this, you need the right toothbrush. There are two options to that: manual or electric toothbrushes.
Well, these two types of toothbrushes can remove plaque and clean your teeth. However, with the electric toothbrush, you'll have brought out the big guns, especially if it's among the best electric toothbrushes. This is because an electric toothbrush enables you to clean with more ease, clean for longer, and reach every nook and cranny. Now, with that out of the way, here are the five most asked questions about electric toothbrushes.
What type of electric toothbrush should I use?
There are several categories out there that you can choose from. What separates them is how the brush moves.
The first kind is the rotary whose head rotates in a circular motion, and its strokes range between 3000-7500 per minute. A toothbrush where the head can alternate directions is known as rotation oscillation.
The second kind is sonic, which utilizes side-to-side motion and its speed is around 10 times that of a rotary brush, that is, 31,000 brush strokes in a minute.
The third is ultrasonic, which also utilizes side-to-side motion to create vibrations, which then dislodge plaque.
The fourth one is the ionic one whose brush head does not move. It has a low electric current in the bristles that attracts plaque.
Is an electric toothbrush better than a manual toothbrush?
Yes. An electric toothbrush is way better than a manual toothbrush though both can clean teeth and remove plaque. The most common thing that sets them apart is speed. Electric ones are way faster than manual ones. For instance, when you use a manual toothbrush to brush your teeth properly, you'll be able to achieve 250-350 strokes per minute.
As such, if you brush your teeth for two minutes, chances are you won't reach all of your teeth with more than 700 strokes. This shows that electric ones are more effective when cleaning your teeth because they can deliver more strokes.
What are the benefits of an electric toothbrush?
First, an electric toothbrush is more effective at decreasing plaque and gingivitis compared to manual toothbrushes. Oscillating toothbrushes are more effective at this than vibrating toothbrushes.
Two, the bristles on the electric toothbrush rotate or vibrate, and this helps remove plaque buildup from gums and teeth. The vibration facilitates more micro-movements.
Three, when appropriately used, electric toothbrushes do not harm your enamel or gums but instead improve oral health. They are, therefore, safe for gums.
Finally, they have built-in timers that can guide you to brush your teeth in the recommended time and thus get rid of plaque from gums and teeth.
How much should I spend on an electric toothbrush?
Well, electric toothbrushes range in price. Those brushes that are disposable and battery-operated will cost about $6 to $15, while electric toothbrushes that are rechargeable range from $40 to over $150. Of course, the difference in prices is determined by the bells and whistles in them. The more features a toothbrush sports, the costlier it is.
Some of the features in electric toothbrushes include travel cases to store the toothbrush in, and built-in sensors that alert you when you are going at it hard. Other toothbrushes have in-built timers which beep every half a minute for 2 minutes to signal to you that you should move to a different part of the mouth. More advanced versions have Bluetooth technology that transmits data on your brushing tendencies to your phone.
Who would benefit from an electric toothbrush?
Electric toothbrushes are recommended because of their ease of use. However, there are particular groups of people that would benefit from them.
Children would benefit greatly from electric toothbrushes. To pique their interest, you can get them an electric toothbrush as it is more engaging to children. As they are being wowed by its features, they get to accomplish good oral health and set healthy habits.
People with braces struggle with brushing their teeth clean, especially around the metal parts. Using an electric toothbrush can help to clean in and around the metal parts effectively and get rid of plaque.
Electric toothbrushes do most of the cleaning for you. As such, they can be of great aid to people with limited mobility such as those with arthritis, developmental disabilities, and carpal tunnel.
Electric toothbrushes are way better at cleaning teeth as they deliver more strokes. They are, therefore, able to reduce plaque and gingivitis and help your teeth look and feel better. Additionally, they can be more expensive than manual toothbrushes, but the value you get for them justifies the price. If you are still not able to settle on an electric toothbrush, talk with your dentist to find one that suits you.
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