You’ve heard since you were a child that brushing your teeth twice a day is the most important task to maintain healthy teeth and gums. However, you’ll get the best result when you combine a regular oral hygiene habit with proper brushing techniques and the best tools. That means that the toothbrush you choose matters. A question we hear often is “Is an electric toothbrush actually better than a manual toothbrush?” Let’s explore both toothbrush options.
Electric Toothbrush and Manual Toothbrush Comparison
Using An Electric Toothbrush
People who use electric toothbrushes often can’t understand why anyone would want to use anything else. To be fair, a powered toothbrush does offer many benefits:
- User-friendly. The brushing technique isn’t quite as important with electric toothbrushes. The brush does much of the work. As long as you’ve got the angle right, your teeth will get fairly clean.
- Studies suggest that electric toothbrushes do a better job of removing plaque than manual brushes.
- Orthodontic-friendly. Electric toothbrushes generally do a better job of navigating around braces and other orthodontic appliances.
- Electric toothbrushes are typically easy to grip. Plus, they’re designed to brush your teeth for you. This makes an electric toothbrush an ideal tool for people with limited mobility or individuals who can benefit from extra assistance. People with arthritis or injuries that make gripping difficult will certainly appreciate the ease of using an electric toothbrush because of the larger handle.
- Electric toothbrushes can include features that make brushing more fun. Did you know they are timed and vibrate per quadrant?
- Electric toothbrushes are available in countless styles and price points. You can choose models with different shaped heads or features like timers or sanitizers. The level of complexity and the price point is up to you.
- With electric toothbrushes, you only need to replace the head every three months. This creates less waste, making it a more environmentally friendly product.
Please note, there are different levels of powered toothbrushes also. Do not expect the $25 brush powered by AA batteries to have the same cleaning power as the $100 rechargeable brushes.
Using a Manual Toothbrush
How do manual toothbrushes compare? Traditionalists can present arguments in favor of a manual toothbrush because they are:
- Manual toothbrushes are on store shelves everywhere. If you’re traveling and forget your toothbrush, you’ll be able to find a manual replacement almost anywhere. Even if it’s not the same brand you use at home, you’ll find something comparable for short-term use.
- Manual toothbrushes are inexpensive. You can snag one or more for a few dollars.
- Electric toothbrushes take up a fair amount of space on your bathroom counter and require an electrical outlet for charging. Manual toothbrushes are simple. They require hardly any space at all.
Both options have varied benefits. But hands down, an electric toothbrush actually is better than a manual toothbrush at removing plaque and keeping teeth healthy. However, the type of toothbrush you use is largely a matter of personal choice. Knowing the perfect technique won’t do you any good if you don’t brush your teeth. Likewise, buying the perfect toothbrush is useless if it gathers dust on your bathroom counter. Ultimately, the best toothbrush is the one that you’ll use to brush your teeth effectively twice a day.
If you want to maintain healthy teeth and a happy smile, top-notch tooth brushing is a must. Of course, seeing your dentist for regular checkups is also important. Contact Wekiva Dental to schedule a consultation for general and cosmetic dentistry services. We look forward to seeing you.