Dentists agree that brushing for two minutes at a time at least twice a day is a crucial part of a proper oral hygiene regimen. Manual toothbrushes were the only option available for a very long time, but recent decades have seen the electric toothbrush explode onto the dental health scene. While manual and electric toothbrushes are both effective at preventing tooth decay and gum disease, electric toothbrushes carry a few advantages that can give you a more powerful clean. Here’s a brief comparison of how manual and electric toothbrushes perform.
What Are the Advantages of a Manual Toothbrush?
Manual toothbrushes have faithfully and effectively helped preserve the dental health of billions of people for generations. Properly using a manual toothbrush will help keep your teeth in great shape for decades, and these old-fashioned plaque-removing devices have a few advantages, including:
- Cost: A good manual toothbrush is reasonably inexpensive, making it wonderful for people who are traveling or stuck somewhere and need a good round of oral hygiene.
- Easy to Maintain: Manual toothbrushes require only thorough rinsing for maintenance, and they don’t need batteries to work properly. However, they must be replaced regularly.
- Disposable: Since manual toothbrushes are so inexpensive, many people don’t think much about buying one to use once and throw away. This can be great for travelers.
What Are the Benefits of Using an Electric Toothbrush?
Electric toothbrushes, on the other hand, offer a modern at-home dental cleaning solution that can deliver superior results. They are usually powered by batteries and are often rechargeable, making them reliable for daily use. They often have multiple speed settings and replaceable heads that are designed to oscillate during brushing. This helps many patients to brush their teeth more gently than they would with a manual toothbrush. A few more advantages of electric toothbrushes include:
- Cleaner teeth: Studies have shown that electric toothbrushes can be up to 17% better at removing plaque than manual toothbrushes. They also deliver a deeper clean for your smile.
- Ease of use: Using an electric toothbrush doesn’t require the same repeated motions of the arm as manual toothbrushes, making them great for children and elderly users.
- Fancy features: Many electric toothbrushes come with special features like built-in timers and pressure sensors. Some even sync up with your smartphone to give you detailed data and oral hygiene tips.
- Non-disposable: While you’ll still have to replace the head of your electric toothbrush regularly, these pieces contain much less material than the manual toothbrush you’d have to throw away. This makes for much less waste.
If you’re looking for a better way to clean your teeth and gums, an electric toothbrush may be the right tool for the job. Consulting with your dentist can determine which dental hygiene appliances might work best for you.
About the Practice
Care 32 Dental of Fort Worth provides patients with excellent dental health services in Fort Worth, TX. Led by Drs. Krunal and Heliben Desai, the staff tends to each patient’s needs with compassion and personalized care. Areas of expertise include general, cosmetic, restorative, and emergency dentistry. To learn more about choosing the right toothbrush, contact the office online or dial (817) 741-1300.