If you want to avoid future gum disease and, potentially, the loss of your teeth, it’s important to choose the right tools to clean and remove plaque from your tooth surfaces and gum line. Electric tootthbrushes with “rotation oscillation” have been shown to reduce plaque deposits more effectively than a manual toothbrush. What is rotation oscillation? It simply means the head of the toothbrush alternately rotates in one direction and then the other. Since the electric toothbrush seems to have the advantage over a manual one, it’ll be important to know how to choose the best electric toothbrush for your needs.
Why do you need an electric toothbrush?
You’ve probably heard your dentist say it’s important to brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes to remove all of the plaque. Unfortunately, most people don’t heed their dentist’s advice which means you’re leaving plaque behind. This is where an electric toothbrush can give you an advantage. The head of an electric toothbrush can deliver close to 50,000 strokes per minute during a cleaning which is going to be far more effective than the average 300 strokes per minute generally achieved with a manual toothbrush. Pretty big difference, huh? In addition, most electric toothbrushes have a timing device that will cut the toothbrush off when you’ve brushed the appropriate amount of time. You don’t need to worry about timing your brushing. The best electric toothbrushes also have sensors which reduce the power when they sense you’re brushing too hard. Unless you’re pretty disciplined and meticulous with brushing your teeth, the electric toothbrush is probably going to do a better job than you can do manually.
Will an electric toothbrush harm your teeth?
Surprisingly, it’s been shown you apply more damaging pressure to your teeth and gums through manual brushing than when you use an electric toothbrush. If you do have gums that are temperature or pressure sensitive, you may want to choose a model that has pressure sensors which stop the toothbrush if too much force is applied to the gums. The best electric toothbrushes, such as the Oral-B Professsinalcare 8850 DLX have this feature.
Who would benefit most from an electric toothbrush?
The best candidate for an electric toothbrush is someone who lacks the discipline or knowlege to brush their teeth effectively manually. Another good candidate is a child who probably does a less than acceptable job of brushing and who would probably find using an electric toothbrush to be “fun”. No more begging your child to brush his teeth!
What features should you look for in an electric toothbursh and how much should you pay?
As already mentioned, the higher end models have sensors that let you know when you’re brushing too hard. These models can be quite expensive, running over $100. A simple basic, battery operated toothbrush with minimal features such as the Crest Spinbrush Pro will cost you under $10.00. Of course, there are lots of models in between. Look for one that has heads that are changeable and rechargeable batteries. You should also consider the cost of replacing the brush head which will probably need to be replaced every 6 months. Also, look for a model that has a built in timer to ensure you’re brushing for the full two minutes.
When you’re ready to make your purchase, do a little comparison shopping and make sure you’re getting a good price on the best electric toothbrush available in your price range. It’s a great investment when you consider the cost of dental care these days!
