4 Benefits of Brushing with an Electric Toothbrush

If you aren’t currently brushing with an electric toothbrush, we highly recommend that you give it a try. Electric toothbrushes (sometimes referred to as power brushes) have a number of benefits and many patients report that once they start using an  electric brush they never want to switch back to a manual brush! Even though power brushes are typically more expensive and must be recharged, we believe that the benefits of power toothbrushes far outweigh the negatives.

1. Electric Toothbrushes Are More Effective

A typical adult can complete about 300 strokes per minute when using a manual brush. An electric toothbrush, on the other hand, will typically rotate anywhere from 7,500 to 30,000 strokes per minute! This allows you to remove much more plaque during each brushing, keeping your teeth cleaner overall.

Electric toothbrushes are also more effective because they have a built in timer, which makes sure you are brushing for the right amount of time every time! In fact, many electric brushes even signal when it’s time to change quadrants of your mouth. Unless you use a stopwatch or timer while brushing manually, it can be difficult to determine exactly how long you have been brushing your teeth and how long you need to spend on each section of your mouth.

2. Electric Toothbrushes Apply the Correct Amount of Pressure

Often  people struggle with knowing how hard or how soft to brush their teeth. If they brush too hard they may begin to experience gum recession and stress on their enamel. If they brush too softly they may not be thoroughly cleaning their teeth, leading to plaque buildup and tooth decay.  Electric toothbrushes help prevent these problems because they do all the work for you!

When using an electric toothbrush, all you have to do is hold the brush at a 45 degree angle and turn it on. There is no need to worry about how hard or how soft you are brushing because the toothbrush is programmed to take care of it for you.

3. Electric Toothbrushes Are Easier For Children and Seniors

Sometimes children, seniors, or people who have arthritis in their hands may have difficultly brushing properly. Either they may not be applying the correct amount of force or they may find it painful to brush their teeth. Electric toothbrushes do a great job of helping people who may have these difficulties by making the brushing process easier for them. Since all they have to do is guide the brush around their mouth, they do not need to worry about straining their hands or wrists.

4. Electric Toothbrushes Are Better For the Environment

Although power brushes require electricity to use, they may still be a better environmental choice than their manual counterparts. Depending on the electric toothbrush head that you use, it takes about 25 replacement heads to equal the plastic in just one manual brush. Additionally, the majority of manual brushes are not recyclable whereas many replacement toothbrush heads can be recycled. If being green is important to you, then power brushes may be right up your alley.

Conclusion

As dentists, we favor electric toothbrushes simply because they make it easier for our patients to keep their teeth as clean as possible. It’s important to note that they are not necessarily better than manual brushes because ultimately their success depends on how they are used. Regardless of whether you choose a power brush or a manual brush, always make sure that you are brushing twice a day for 2 minutes each time. Following this routine, in addition to flossing and the regular use of mouthwash, will help you maintain great oral hygiene in between your regular dental checkups.