Benefits of Electric Toothbrushes
Having an electric toothbrush can offer several benefits for helping to keep your teeth clean. They also offer more control as you have to move the toothbrush around your mouth manually. This is a positive aspect for people who have sensitive areas in their mouth or are uncomfortable with vibrating sensations on their teeth. As an added bonus, many electric toothbrushes now come with timed cleaning programs that alert you when to change sides of your mouth to ensure that you brush long enough.
If your brushing technique could use a little help, an electric toothbrush with a timer would be a great option for you. These timers are generally in 30 second segments because the intention is to have you brush each side of your mouth, top and bottom, for thirty seconds each. This gives you a total brush time of two minutes and ensures that you pay equal and adequate attention to your entire mouth. Some electric toothbrushes have timers that last only 30 seconds and others have full two minute timers that alert you when 30 seconds have passed and it’s time to switch sides of your mouth. Which one you choose is up to personal preference and how much monitoring you would like.
If you are looking for an electric toothbrush for your child, choose one that is designed specifically for children. These are smaller so that little hands can manage them easier, and come in colors and designs to make brushing more fun. Be sure to choose a toothbrush that has very soft bristles to avoid damaging their gums or tooth enamel.
Studies have shown that rotating-oscillating electric toothbrush heads, the type that quickly spin in a circle, require slightly less movement by the operator to gain a decent clean. This do not mean that the toothbrush will do all the work for you, but rather it refers to the fact that, with 360 degree turns, the toothbrush head does more concentrated cleaning compared to heads that only move side to side. Therefore, rotating-oscillation electric toothbrushes do not need to be moved side to side to gain a great brush, as you would do with one that has a head that moves side to side. They just need to be moved around the mouth to ensure all areas are being targeted.
Some electric toothbrushes have a pressure sensitivity feature that alerts you when you are pressing the toothbrush too hard against your teeth. This is great for those who brush aggressively or for older children who are learning to brush their teeth on their own. This feature not only saves your toothbrush heads, but it also protects your gums and tooth enamel from being damaged.