Which is Better? Manual vs. Electric Toothbrush

Posted by EmergencyDental on March 20th, 2013

An old fashioned, manual toothbrush has shown itself to be the ideal brushing tool, but has faced a lot of stiff competition from the electric toothbrushover the years. Since both of them have been designed to enhance good oral hygiene, it all boils down to a matter of preference. Removal of plaque, gum stimulation and prevention of gum disease and tooth decay are some of the functions of a tooth brush, be it electric or otherwise.

The evolution of the technology and the design of electric toothbrush models has brought with it the ability to remove more plaque, most especially in difficult to reach areas. Brushing your teeth is not a complicated procedure and when using a manual toothbrush it is advisable that you hold it at an angle of 45 degrees to your teeth beginning with the gum line. Use circular motions, moving the brush perpendicularly on each tooth.

The perfect toothbrush should be able to reach your teeth at the back. The electric toothbrush’s head is advantageously small as compared to that of the manual toothbrush allowing the user to easily reach the really awkward angles that are at the back of the mouth.

The brushing technique solely depends on the model with some cleaning by vibrating, oscillating-rotating, implementing sonic technology. It is important to read the manual to ensure that you are using the electric toothbrush properly, avoid causing damage to your gums and to prevent the erosion of your tooth enamel.

Some electric toothbrushes have built in timers that beep or vibrate abruptly once you have finished brushing with other models signaling when you are done cleaning quadrants of your mouth within a cycle that lasts about three minutes.

The manual toothbrush’s design is very simple since it has the perfect length and shape whereas electric toothbrushes are relatively heavier due to the batteries, but could be of assistance to those lacking manual dexterity.

Manual toothbrushes are the most cost friendly choice with the price ranging from as low as $2 up to $8, whereas electric toothbrushes range from $20 for the cheapest one up to $200 for the most expensive one in the market.

Dentists recommend that you should brush your teeth for a maximum of three minutes and that brushing any longer than that does not mean that you are cleaning your teeth any better, but only eroding your tooth enamel. Toothbrushes with hard and stiff bristle may injure your fragile gums resulting in swelling and infection.

Our specialists offer 24 hour emergency dental care, providing personalized treatment and an ultimate high-quality service. For more information, reach us by visiting www.emergency-dental-london.co.uk or for gentle and healthy talks, call us on 02038 245 264.

Dental emergencies are an unfortunate fact of life, and rarely occur during regular office hours. Emergency dentist London providing an affordable, quality service if you are in pain or require urgent dental treatment.