We brush our teeth morning and night for one reason, to get rid of any plaque and bacteria left over on our teeth from food and drink. This is to help prevent gum disease and tooth decay.
So, which method do we choose to get the best results… The trusty old manual tooth brush, or the new and improved electric toothbrush?
Studies have proven that the electric toothbrush is in fact better at removing plaque and debris from your teeth than a manual toothbrush. But this isn’t to say that everyone needs to be using an electric toothbrush, in fact some of us here at Coomera Dental Centre are using manual toothbrushes. After years of using a manual toothbrush, you learn the perfect techniques. So there is no need to start over when what you have been doing has been working perfectly fine for you over the years.
Using a manual toothbrush is generally a good way to be brushing your teeth, as long as the bristles are soft and you have good technique. If you don’t like to, or you are unable to use a manual toothbrush, an electric toothbrush is the perfect alternative. There are many people who would benefit from using an electric toothbrush, such as young kids, older adults, and people with disabilities or arthritis. The electric toothbrush head movements aid in the process of removing plaque and bacteria, making brushing much easier. This results in healthier gums and teeth.
There are a few reasons the electric toothbrush has been found to be better, this is mainly down to the fact that the head of the toothbrush rotates loosening the plaque and doing most of the work for us. This means we don’t need as good technique as we do with manual brushing. With manual brushing, a lot of people tend to really scrub their teeth, scrubbing away their gums and the enamel of their teeth causing sensitivity-a lot of electric toothbrushes these days have an auto stop when there is too much pressure being applied while brushing.
If you are concerned about your brushing techniques, or are considering changing your toothbrush, have a chat with our friendly dentist at Coomera Dental Centre about which option would be best for you.