Electronic Toothbrushes: Time to Make the Switch?

You’ve seen them advertised on TV. You’ve heard your friends talk about them. You may have even heard the whirring in action as a friend or family member zapped the dentally dangerous germs away with an electrically powered toothbrush.

Is it time for you to make the switch? Not necessarily.

It turns out that the choice is mostly based on personal preference. The most important part of tooth brushing is that you do it correctly and thoroughly. This can be done with any type of toothbrush, manual or powered. Some people prefer powered brushes for various reasons: for example, those with medical conditions such as arthritis that make it difficult to move their hands vigorously often opt for a powered brush.

If you decide to discard your manual toothbrush in favor of a powered one, you have another choice to make: do you want a sonic toothbrush or an electric toothbrush?

Sonic toothbrushes can generate a staggering number of brush strokes per minute (30,000-40,000, compared to about 300 by hand), and their bristles run back and forth. Additionally, they often have a device that sends fluid between teeth and below the gum line in order to get rid of plaque.

Electric brushes, on the other hand, generally operate at a speed of between 3,000 and 7,500 brush strokes per minute. They typically rotate instead of moving back and forth, whether it’s the entire head rotating all of the bristles together, or each bristle spinning individually.

Whether you choose to switch to a powered toothbrush or stick with your manual one, make sure to brush twice a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste that have the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance.

An important part of maintaining good oral hygiene on top of daily brushing is to have your teeth cleaned every six months. Contact Greenspoint Dental today to schedule an appointment for your semi-annual teeth cleaning!