Premier Family Dental wants to see your entire family keep their mouths healthy. The foundation to a healthy mouth is your oral hygiene, which all starts with brushing your teeth. When choosing a toothbrush, you have many, many options, including manual toothbrushes and electric toothbrushes, but which is really better? Dr. Rick Cofer, Jr. is here to give you the facts about manual and electric toothbrushes.
Manual vs. Electric Toothbrush
According to Statista, over 83 percent of households still use manual toothbrushes when compared to the 14 percent using electric toothbrushes. While more people may prefer manual toothbrushes, the research organization Cochrane evaluated 56 studies in 2014 and discovered that electric toothbrushes may actually be better.
According to the results, electric toothbrushes can reduce plaque by as much as 21 percent more. Not to mention, they found cases of gingivitis to decrease by as much as 11 percent after only three months of use. According to their results, rotating oscillating toothbrushes worked the best by reducing plaque by 7 percent and gingivitis by 17 percent. However, they also reported that manual toothbrushes can be just as effective at electric toothbrushes with proper brushing.
Choosing a Toothbrush
The effectiveness of your toothbrush really depends on your brushing technique. With the sole purpose of a toothbrush it’s plaque removing capabilities, all toothbrushes will get the job done as long as you’re brushing correctly with the right type of toothbrush. You need a toothbrush that fits into your mouth correctly to allow you to reach the teeth in the back. This is why some prefer electric toothbrushes due to the head size being smaller to reach harder angles.
Depending on the type of toothbrush you use, you’ll clean your teeth differently. Using a manual toothbrush, hold the brush at a 45-degree angle to your teeth. Beginning at the gum line, you’ll brush your teeth in a circular motion while brushing each tooth from bottom to top.
Brushing with an electric toothbrush will depend on the type of brush you’re using, such as an oscillating-rotating or one with sonic technology. No matter the type you choose, you need to be careful to prevent damaging your gums and enamel. There is such a thing as brushing too much, which often happens with electric toothbrushes. According to the Canadian Dental Association, it’s advised you brush your teeth for two to three minutes.
Family Dentist in Waco
Other important factors to consider when choosing a toothbrush is its ease of use and cost compared to other toothbrushes because you need to replace your toothbrush often. After you’ve found a great toothbrush, continue to care for your oral health at home. But, don’t forget to visit your dentist regularly for checkups and cleaning.
At Premier Family Dental, we are your family dentist in Waco for all preventative dental care and dental our-services. For more than 20 years, we’ve delivered exceptional dental care to families just like yours. We take the time to get to know our patients to provide the best dental care.