Electric toothbrushes are always a common Christmas gift. They make a great stocking filler and these days they’re relatively inexpensive to buy.
If, like many of us, you received a new electric toothbrush over the holiday season, you may be wondering what their advantages are over a traditional toothbrush.
Or maybe you’re considering making the switch to an electric brush, but you’re just not sure if it’s worth the added cost.
In today’s blog post, our experts here at Kherani Dental at Aspen are going to compare the modern electric toothbrush to the traditional old toothbrushes we all know. We’ll talk about some of the key differences between the two, the advantages of using one over the other and also discuss some important things to keep in mind when you’re using your new electric toothbrush that will help you maintain your healthy smile.
The Advantages Of An Electric Toothbrush
Let’s start by talking about some of the benefits of an electric toothbrush.
Electric Toothbrushes Are Easy To Use
Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of an electric toothbrush over a manual one is felt by those with arthritis or otherwise restricted movement.
For people who struggle to maintain brushing movements for any length of time, brushing your teeth with a traditional manual brush can be a problem. This often leads to your teeth being neglected or your brushing time being cut short due to joint or muscle pain. In short, it’s a slippery slope towards dental decay.
Electric toothbrushes provide invaluable relief for those of us affected by limiting conditions such as arthritis by significantly reducing the need for movement and dexterity in the brushing hand.
The mechanical movement of the brush head does most of the hard work for you and means that your teeth can still get the brush and attention they need in order to maintain great oral health no matter what your age or movement ability.
Electric Toothbrushes Make You A Better Brusher
Another advantage of an electric toothbrush is that it can help you to better understand your brushing routine and identify areas where you could improve – giving you a roadmap to a healthier smile.
Some newer technology electric toothbrushes come complete with a smartphone app that can record, track and report on your brushing habits in eye-opening detail. You may not realize it when you are using a traditional manual toothbrush, but the pressure you apply when brushing is often different in different areas of your mouth. So too, is the amount of time you spend brushing each side of your mouth or area of your teeth. Key things like these can make a significant difference to the health of your teeth, so understanding your brushing habits in more detail can be a great way to improve your dental hygiene.
Key information such as areas of the mouth where brushing time is low or brush pressure is too high are gathered and recorded in the app for you to see.
The 2 Minute Minimum Brushing Time
The last major advantage of an electric toothbrush over a manual one is that it helps you to keep to a good minimum standard or brush time. Most dentists – including us – recommend at least 2 minutes of brushing time twice per day in order to maintain the best possible dental hygiene.
While 2 minutes doesn’t sound like much, you would be surprised how many people fail to achieve even that. Try it yourself next time you brush your teeth. Set a timer, start brushing, and see where you naturally end. If it’s under 2 minutes, chances are you’re not brushing properly.
Electric toothbrushes can be set with a timer, which will help you to start achieving consistent 2-minute brushing time every time.
The Disadvantages Of An Electric Toothbrush
As with most technology, many of the disadvantages of the electric toothbrush also stem from its advantages.
Electric Toothbrushes Make You Lazy
Electric toothbrushes are so easy that users can sometimes become lazy and forget that they still need to pay attention to the areas they’re covering when brushing. Whilst the motor on the electric toothbrush handles a lot of the movement for you, you do still need to make sure the brush reaches every part of the mouth for a long enough time to do its job.
The Hidden Costs Of Electric Toothbrushes
Replacement heads for your electric toothbrush are usually more expensive than buying a new traditional, manual brush.
This isn’t helped by the fact that replacement heads are only usually available in multi-packs, and often the manufacturers of the brush will all have their own unique attachments, making it difficult to buy cheaper non-branded replacement heads.
Another cost factor that often gets overlooked is the cost of the batteries that power the brush. Some electric toothbrushes come with rechargeable built-in batteries, so you can plug them straight into the mains in your bathroom to recharge. However, not all electric toothbrushes are created equal, and some brushes still rely on disposable single-use batteries, which require replacing when they run out. We suggest using rechargeable external batteries to reduce cost and waste.
Electric Toothbrushes Are Less Convenient For Travel
If you travel overseas on a regular basis, you may want to think twice before making the switch to an electric brush.
As with any electrical device, power requirements differ from country to country.
This means that you’ll need to think about an extra inconvenience of adapters and converters if you want to charge your electric toothbrush while you’re overseas.
There are a few battery-operated or USB chargeable options on the market, so these might work better for you if you travel a lot.
Is An Electric Toothbrush Better Than A Manual One?
So, to come back to the title of today’s blog post – is an electric toothbrush better or worse than a manual one?
The answer to that question honestly depends on the person who’s using it.
Electric toothbrushes are certainly much easier and more convenient, but users should make sure they still pay the necessary attention to their brushing routine.
If you have any additional questions, our team at Kherani Dental at Aspen is ready to assist you at your next appointment, please call us at (403) 263-0055.
