Choosing the right toothbrush is very important. The toothbrush is the central weapon in the fight against gum disease, tooth decay and bad breath. If you’re considering using an electric toothbrush, it’s worth considering the benefits, the advantages and disadvantages over a manual brush.
You should use a toothbrush twice per day to clean your teeth. Generally speaking an electric toothbrush will adequately remove plaque from the teeth effectively. However, using good brushing technique and enough time spent on cleaning the teeth, a manual brush could be as effective.
Will a manual toothbrush clean just as well?
When brushing with a manual toothbrush, it requires more effort, concentration and diligence to achieve the same results as an electric toothbrush can easily.
The consistent brushing action of an electric toothbrush can help to remove stains from the teeth. Stains caused by coffee and smoking (two things you should quit if you want great teeth) are the trickiest to remove, and an electric toothbrush will do this with much greater effectiveness than a manual toothbrush.
Electric Toothbrush or Manual Toothbrush?
An electric brush helps to remove plaque bacteria from the teeth without the same type of pressure that occurs often from a manual toothbrush. An electric toothbrush can do the same job but with the minimum of pressure. This is important to avoid damaging the gum tissue. Hard manual scrubbing of the gums can result in gums receding. Gum tissue that has receded does not regenerate, so you could be severely damaging your dental health by scrubbing too hard with a manual brush. Brushing too hard can also remove enamel from the tooth that further reduces your overall dental health.
Light pressure from an electric brush can effectively clean the teeth and keep the gums healthy with much less effort. This can offer particularly good dental care for elderly people and people with arthritis or other conditions that might prevent an individual from vigorously cleaning their teeth with a manual brush.
Research by dental scientists in the United Kingdom has revealed that certain types of electric toothbrush are much more beneficial than manual toothbrushes. To get the most out of your electric brush, experts suggest that you use a brush that offers rotation-oscillation, this is a circular brushing head that spins back and forth in short, quick bursts.
These days, you can pick up an electric toothbrush for relatively little. However, selecting a good electric toothbrush is very important and the cheapest solution may not be the best. It’s very important to do some research before you buy a good toothbrush; selecting one with a tongue scraper is a good idea too.
Manual toothbrushes are reasonably inexpensive, highly portable and easily replaced. Conversely, a good electric toothbrush can be expensive to replace. They do often come with a built-in timer that tells you when to stop brushing, but they also require recharging.
Remember whether it’s a manual or electric toothbrush, it’s how you use it that counts!
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Tags: clean teeth, cleaning, electric toothbrush, manual toothbrush
[...] you can ask you dental hygienist at your next visit. Always use a good sturdy brush (see “Why Should I Use an Electric Toothbrush“) with your toothpaste and regularly buy a new brush if the bristles become worn and [...]