Have you ever been on the dental aisle at the drugstore and been completely overwhelmed?? I know I have, and I’m a dentist!! There are so many options when it comes to dental products, toothbrushes especially. Let’s talk about manual toothbrushes vs. electric toothbrushes. Depending on your toothbrushing technique, you may be a perfect candidate for an electric toothbrush. Using a manual toothbrush is good, but it’s all about your brushing technique.
To do an adequate job, you should be using small, circular motions with your toothbrush head at a 45-degree angle to your tooth, allowing the bristles to stimulate your gums as well as remove the plaque build-up from your teeth. And you should be brushing for a full 2 minutes.
To be honest, what we notice most with patients that use a manual toothbrush is they just are not doing a good enough job to keep their teeth and gums healthy. In these cases, we usually recommend the Sonicare electric toothbrush. The Sonicare will do most of the work for you.
You will still need to hold the toothbrush head at a 45-degree angle to your tooth, towards your gums, but you will not have to move the toothbrush at all, as the motor is already doing that for you. It also has a built-in timer for 2 minutes, pausing every 30 seconds to signal you to move to the next area of your mouth.
Most patients also tend to brush too hard or use a hard-bristled toothbrush, thinking this is getting their teeth cleaner. Actually, this could be doing damage to your tooth enamel and gums, causing gum recession. The Sonicare has a soft- bristled toothbrush and has a built-in pressure sensor to let you know if you are brushing too hard. We have seen patients that switch from a manual toothbrush to an electric toothbrush have significant improvement in their oral health. And don’t forget, whether you are using a manual toothbrush or an electric toothbrush, always change your toothbrush out every 3 months for optimal results. If you have any questions about the Sonicare or the recommended toothbrushing technique, please feel free to ask one of the hygienists during you next hygiene visit.
Happy Brushing,
The Sweet Tooth Squad