24 Feb Electric Toothbrush vs. Manual Toothbrush
Electric Toothbrush
vs.
Manual Toothbrush
The great debate.
Often the question is asked, “Dr. Retrum, which is better: a manual or an electric toothbrush?” We will answer that question for you below. First let’s remember the importance of overall dental hygiene regardless of the instrument.
First, remember:
Maintaining good oral hygiene should be a priority for everyone. At Integrity Dentistry we spend a lot of time emphasizing the importance for young children and adolescents and those who are battling chronic disease. However, good oral health is essential to overall health at any stage of life.
Good oral hygiene comes first.
Good oral hygiene consists of daily care (brushing and flossing), routine care (regularly scheduled check ups), and acute care (required dental procedures or surgeries). It should be noted that attention to the first two elements of hygiene (daily and routine care) significantly mitigates the need for acute care. So, while we are happy to weigh in on the manual vs. electric toothbrush debate, we want to make sure every patient at Integrity Dentistry is first practicing safe and consistent oral hygiene habits.
Pros of an Electric Toothbrush
With that out of the way, we consistently encourage our patients to consider using an electric toothbrush. An electric toothbrush is more accurate and more consistent in its delivery of cleaning. Overall, electric toothbrushes provide numerous benefits over a manual toothbrush, including:
More brush strokes per minute means a deeper, more thorough cleaning.- Easier brushing. This can ben particularly helpful for the elderly and people with dexterity issues.
- The brush does the work and can keep you brushing too hard.
- Built-in timers can make sure you are giving your teeth the time and attention they need.
- Fun for kids! Many of our patients with young children report that an electric toothbrush makes the routine more fun for their kiddos!
Philips Sonicare products at Integrity Dentistry
At Integrity Dentistry we are proud to offer Philips Sonicare products to our patients. Philips reports that brushing twice a day with a Sonicare brush can clean plaque up to seven times more effectively than a manual toothbrush. Sonicare makes 31,000 brush strokes per minute, compared with 300 brush strokes per minute with a manual brush. Their toothbrushes are easy to hold and maneuver, making it much easier to keep the hard to reach areas of your mouth clean.
Remember, good oral hygiene always comes first.
Your most important effort should not solely be in the toothbrush investment you make. Rather it should be in the time and attention you take to maintain oral health through daily hygiene habits. Brush and floss daily and come see Dr. Retrum regularly.