A good dental care routine includes brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing once a day, and visiting the dentist every six months for a professional dental cleaning. One of the most important tools of dental health is the toothbrush, whether it’s manual or electric.

 

With the wide array of toothbrushes available, it can be difficult deciding whether you should use a manual or electric toothbrush. Each type of brush offers unique benefits. The most important thing to consider is usage: choose a toothbrush that you will use.

 

Here are 5 reasons you may want to consider an electric toothbrush.

 

Joint Problems

If you suffer from any kind of pain in your hands or arms, an electric toothbrush may help reduce pain.

 

With a manual toothbrush, you do all of the work. However, with an electric toothbrush, you simply move the toothbrush across your teeth and let the electric head do the brushing.

 

 

Timer

Many models of electric toothbrushes have timers that alert you when you’ve brushed your teeth for 2 minutes (the recommended time for each brushing session).

 

The Academy of General Dentistry estimates that the average person brushes their teeth for only 45 to 70 seconds each session. A timer can help you brush your teeth for the full 2 minutes.

 

Some electric toothbrushes even offer 30-second timers, telling you when to start brushing the next quadrant of your mouth.

 

Fun for Kids

There are electric toothbrushes available specifically for children. If your child doesn’t like brushing their teeth, you may want to consider getting them an electric toothbrush.

 

An electric toothbrush provides many benefits for children:

• Ensures they brush their teeth
• Some brushes connect to interactive apps
• Teaches them to brush for 2 minutes
• Provides brushes with appealing designs and characters

 

 

Effective and Safe Clean

In the analysis of 56 studies conducted in 2014, Consumer Reports found that an electric toothbrush may have a slight advantage over manual toothbrushes in reducing dental plaque and gingivitis.

 

However, a majority of experts explain that toothbrush usage, not the type of toothbrush, is the issue. The most important factor to consider when selecting a toothbrush is whether you will use it. If your toothbrush is uncomfortable or challenging to use, you may be inclined to brush your teeth less often.

 

An electric toothbrush provides an effective clean and the smaller heads can provide a thorough clean for each tooth.

 

If you tend to apply too much pressure with a manual toothbrush, you can damage your gums and cause them to recede. An electric toothbrush may be a safer alternative, requiring you to only move the toothbrush gently across your teeth.

 

Less Work

An electric toothbrush can prove to be more effective because it requires less work than a manual toothbrush. When following the manufacturer’s instructions, the toothbrush does the work for you using the oscillating head.

 

Remember that the most important thing about your toothbrush is that you use it twice a day for two minutes each session.

 

For more information or to schedule a dental appointment, contact Greenspoint Dental in Houston, Texas. We are dedicated to providing you and your loved ones with the best dental care.