Is An Electric Toothbrush Right For You?
When it comes to choosing a toothbrush, your options are no longer restricted to soft versus hard bristles. Today, there is a full line of electric toothbrushes. Knowing if your smile could benefit from the extra “power” is a question that many patients have. Beyond the convenience of an electric toothbrush, is it really more effective?
The truth is, if you use your manual toothbrush properly and long enough (the recommended two minutes per session), it can be just as effective as an electric toothbrush. However, there are studies that claim electric users have less plaque and less gum disease than those that use the old-fashioned tooth brushing method. If you lack confidence when it comes to your brushing technique, you may want to consider the help of an electric toothbrush.
There is a variety of electric toothbrushes to choose from, ranging in cost and capabilities. The average electric toothbrush can perform around 30,000 to 40,000 strokes per minute! This is in comparison to the typical 300 strokes per minute that most manual users complete. In essence, an electric brush can cover a larger area of your smile, in much less time than traditional versions.
Another key benefit of electric toothbrushes is their ease of use. If you have a child or senior adult who lacks dexterity, changing to a battery powered or electric toothbrush can be a valuable switch. In addition, patients who have braces may find that an electric toothbrush is more effective in removing plaque around metal brackets and wires.
There is no question that electric toothbrushes are more expensive. However, if it provides significant benefit to your oral hygiene, the return on your investment is massive. Proper dental care at home can save you from a number of costly tooth and gum treatments in the future. If you want to know which toothbrush is best for your unique oral health needs, we are happy to help. At Cosmetic Dentistry of Hayward, educating our patients on the best ways to care for the smile at home is something we deeply value.