Once you try an electric toothbrush, there’s no going back—your teeth will feel so clean, you’ll wonder how you went so many years without one. We know there’s no shortage of household gadgets and gizmos out there, but this is truly one that lives up to the hype. If you’re not convinced yet, here are three benefits that make electric toothbrushes worth the upgrade.
Electric Toothbrushes Enable Better Brushing Habits
Sure, electric toothbrushes do a lot of the work for you with their moving bristles, but they’re under-appreciated for the ways in which they teach you to be a better brusher. Depending on the price point you’re looking at, some of these features include:
- Reminders to brush equally on all sides of the mouth. Most brushes divide the mouth into quadrants (upper right, lower right, upper left, and lower left)—after 30 seconds, the brush vibrates to remind you to brush the next section.
- Built-in timers because while most people think they’re brushing for two minutes, it rarely happens unless you’re timing yourself.
- Pressure sensors to alert you when you’re brushing too hard, which can cause gum recession.
- Reminders to change your brush head every three months.
Electric Toothbrushes Leave Your Teeth Cleaner
It’s not just anecdotal and it’s not just dentists saying it—there’s academic research out there confirming that electric brushes do a better job when it comes to removing plaque from the surfaces of teeth. Studies in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dentistry, the Journal of the International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry, and the Journal of Clinical Dentistry all attest to the effectiveness of these brushes when compared to traditional manual toothbrushes.
Anyone who uses an electric toothbrush can confirm that this is true. You’ll have that smooth, fresh-from-the-dentist feeling you get after a dental cleaning every single time you brush when you have an electric toothbrush at home. No matter how well you brush with a manual toothbrush, it just doesn’t have the same kind of rotation oscillation and vibration needed to loosen plaque like an electric toothbrush does.
Electric Toothbrushes Offer an Array of Settings for Different Needs
A budget electric toothbrush might just have an on and off switch, but spend a little bit more and there are settings to address a wide range of oral health needs including:
- Whitening
- Sensitive teeth
- Gum care
- Deep cleaning
- Tongue cleaning
These days, you can even get an electric toothbrush that connects to an app on your phone to help you monitor your brushing habits. Of course, you don’t need all of these fancy features—the biggest advantage an electric toothbrush has over a manual brush is the vibration and oscillation, which you can achieve with even the most basic models.
Let’s Talk Toothbrushes
Are you in the market for a new brush? Feel free to ask us for electric toothbrush recommendations during your next dental visit. We’ve got a lot more to say on the topic! Contact us today at 570-287-2500 to make an appointment.