As we know, brushing out teeth twice a day is the absolute minimum we can do to take care of our teeth. It is also the most effective way to prevent cavities, clean our mouths after every meal, and prevent bad breath- among others. This is why it is imperative that our toothbrush be the best there is. After all, it wouldn’t do to maintain our oral health in a half-assed kind of way. If we’re going to take care of our teeth, the least we can do is to do it right by choosing the right equipment.
With the right toothbrush, we could eliminate plaque-causing bacteria from our mouth. We can also clean away the sticky film that builds up on our teeth, which, when left alone, may lead to cavities, tooth decay, gum disease, and even bad breath. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), to avoid dental problems, we should brush our teeth for about two minutes every time to remove plaque and food particles from in between our teeth as well as under the gum line. But what kind of toothbrush should we use?
In this article, we have come up with the best toothbrush buying guide. If you want to know more about what equipment to buy, or if you’re using the right toothbrush, read on and find out!
Most people seem to think that one is better than the other. The truth is, manual and electric toothbrushes are both well-able to do a proper job. However, it is still best to remember that they are only the tools and that the result is still up to the hand that wields them.
If you’re wondering, you can brush your teeth properly with either. However, it is fair to point out that some researches indicated that using an electric toothbrush may clean away plaque more effectively, which helps ward off gingivitis and gum disease. In addition, it is helpful to people who have arthritis, grip problems, or other dexterity issues, preventing them from brushing their teeth thoroughly with a manual toothbrush.
On the other hand, if you want complete control of the act, you can always opt to use a manual toothbrush. It is especially effective for people who want to be thorough in their own way. An electric toothbrush could also wear away enamel when pushed too hard against your teeth, but this is also a possibility for manual brush use. The takeaway is that you should be gentle and that you should use soft bristles.
About the manual toothbrush
Manual toothbrushes are generally a lot more affordable and accessible. In fact, these kinds of toothbrushes only cost a few dollars. The best thing is that there aren’t any extra parts that are very expensive to maintain or replace. You can even sometimes get them for free from your dentist after every six-month check-up. You can also easily pick them up from a local drug store.
A manual toothbrush will give you the same result as an electric one, as long as you follow the American Dental Association’s tooth brushing recommendations. There’s nothing wrong with putting in a bit of work in cleaning your teeth, tongue, and mouth. If you wish to have total control over your dental hygiene, you should opt for a manual toothbrush instead of an electric one. All you need to factor in to pick one is the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of acceptance, the cost, and the bristle type. Bristles usually come in three main types- soft, medium and hard. Most dentists recommend soft bristles since they tend to be less harsh on your enamel. In addition, they are also easier on gums and help avoid gum recession.
About the electric toothbrush
You can choose your electric toothbrush based on their heads. If you want heads that vibrate from side to side, you can choose the sonic electric toothbrush. However, if you have the ones that rotate fast in one direction and then the other, with bristles that pulsate in and out, you can always opt for the spinning electric toothbrush.
The cost of electric toothbrushes ranges from $9 to $250. Most have rechargeable bases and use AA or AAA batteries. They also have built-in two-minute timers and “quad pacers,” which signal every 30 seconds to help remind you how much time to spend on each quadrant of your mouth. It will cost more if you want additional settings like pressure sensors, alternate brushing modes, charge-level display, or Bluetooth connectivity.
The cheap electric toothbrush models generally don’t remove plaque as well as the moderate-to-expensive models. However, almost all the available electric toothbrushes in the market perform well in terms of ease-of-use and charging and changing brush heads. The most noticeable difference was the efficacy and the noise generated.
If your dentist says you’re doing a fine job with your manual toothbrush, there is no need to switch to the electric. Only people who don’t have the dexterity to reach every surface of their teeth should definitely use it. These people include very young kids or older adults with arthritis. Lastly, replace your brush head every three or four months or whenever your bristles start to splay.
Factors to consider in buying an electric toothbrush
If you’re shopping for an electric toothbrush, you should look for the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of acceptance. In addition, you should take the size into account. Larger toothbrushes make it hard to clean the hard-to-reach areas in your mouth effectively. You should go for the round-head toothbrush or those with a head smaller than 0.5-inch by 1 inch. Make sure the handle is long enough to hold in your hand comfortably.
Furthermore, according to the ADA, we should go for a soft-bristled toothbrush since stiffer bristles cause damage by removing enamel and root surfaces. Also, try to avoid electric toothbrushes that don’t have oscillating motion. Lastly, dentists recommend that we don’t spend less than $50. Electric toothbrushes that cost less than $50 generally are of inferior quality.