Is an Electric Toothbrush better than a Manual one?
According to some studies, when compared with Manual Toothbrushes, Electric Toothbrushes reduced dental plaque 21 % more and gingivitis (inflammation of gum) 11 % more after three months of use.
There are Pros and Cons for both Manual and Electric Toothbrush.
Pros of Manual Toothbrush:
- Thoroughly clean teeth with Proper Teeth Brushing Technique could achieve Good Oral Hygiene even with a manual toothbrush.
- Various Designs of Manual Toothbrushes (different styles, bristles, heads & colours) are available to choose from.
- Soft bristles for Sensitive Gums.
- Smaller Toothbrush Head for a Smaller Mouth.
- Toothbrushes specifically designed for children.
- No batteries or charging.
- Inexpensive.
Cons of Manual Toothbrush:
- More work.
- No timing. Manual toothbrushes require you to guess how long your brushing session will last.
Pros of Electric Toothbrush
- Easy to use. With a powered toothbrush, you just have to place the toothbrush at a 45° angle and let the toothbrush do all the work.
- Less work for better results. Studies have shown that electric toothbrushes do a better job of cleaning your mouth and removing plaque & gum diseases.
- More fun to use for children. If a child never brushes their teeth because they don’t want to, try having them use an electric toothbrush. It’s less work, it tickles their teeth, and the timer will let them know they’re all done! It’s a lot easier and more fun.
- Built in timer. Electric toothbrushes use a built in timer that stops the toothbrush once two minutes are up.
- Electric Toothbrush makes Tooth Brushing easier for people with dexterity problem such as Arthritis or Parkinson’s disease.
Cons of Electric Toothbrush
- Charging or Replacing batteries.
- More expensive than manual toothbrush.
How to Brush Your Teeth Correctly By Using Electric Toothbrush?
There have been a few studies that prove electric toothbrushes remove more plaque compared to manual toothbrushes and are better at fighting gum disease. Despite the studies, your oral health will remain healthy (despite which type of toothbrush you use) as long as you consistently take care of your teeth.
Article written by,
Dr. Wong Kee Cheong (Tommy)
Dental Surgeon
BDS (AIMST), MBA (SEGi), YCDP