Brushing your teeth is a surefire way to improve your dental health. With a good brush, you will be able to remove dental plaque and disease-causing bacteria from your mouth.

Presently, there are two main types of toothbrushes on the market- manual and electric. Choosing between them is a challenge for many because they just can’t tell which is effective. A report from the ADA (American Dental Association) shows that a regular toothbrush and an electric toothbrush are great for removing oral plaque.

Granted, both electric and normal toothbrushes are safe and effective, but they aren’t completely the same.

In this article, we will be looking at the perks and downsides of a manual and an electric toothbrush.

Manual toothbrush

Manual toothbrushes are made from hard plastic. They have bristles for removing food remains and cleaning the teeth. Manual toothbrushes are highly sorted out because they are not expensive. Unlike an electric toothbrush that is battery powered, a manual toothbrush works without electric power. Brushing your teeth with a manual toothbrush is pretty straightforward. All you need to do is to move the bristle of the brush over your teeth. You may need to manipulate it to reach every part of your mouth.

Pros of a manual toothbrush

Below are some of the advantages of a manual toothbrush.

Availability

Manual toothbrushes are sold in almost every pharmacy and grocery store. You will also find them dollar stores and gas stations. So regardless of where you are, you will be able to get your hands on them.

Affordable

A manual toothbrush is way cheaper than an electric toothbrush. High-quality manual toothbrushes cost between $1 to $10.

Convenient

A manual toothbrush doesn’t need to be charged. You can pick them up at any time of the day and use them. So, if you are outdoors or in an area without power, you will be able to use them.

Portable

A Manual toothbrush is perfect for travelers because they are portable and will fit into any traveling bag. So regardless of where you are going, you will be able to take them with you.

Cons of a manual toothbrush

Not for certain people

People with disabilities may not be able to use a manual toothbrush properly. Elderly people with dexterity issues may also have a hard time using it.

They aren’t very effective

 A 2014 study found that a regular toothbrush isn’t as effective as an electric toothbrush, especially when it comes to removing plaque.

Difficult to reach certain areas

If you don’t know how to use a regular toothbrush properly, it will be difficult for you to clean hard-to-reach spots in your mouth.

Brushing too hard

One study found that individuals who use a manual toothbrush are more likely to brush too hard than those who use an electric toothbrush. Brushing too hard is by no means a good idea, as you may hurt your teeth and gum.

What to look out for when choosing a manual toothbrush

Manual toothbrushes are available in different sizes and designs. Before choosing among them, you should consider the following.

Size

Choose a toothbrush with a compact head that can easily slide into hard-to-reach areas in your mouth.

Bristle

Experts recommend manual toothbrushes with soft bristles, as they are less likely to injure the gums.

Electric toothbrush

The electric toothbrush was first made in 1939. Since then, they have been enhanced to clean our teeth better. The bristles of electric toothbrushes are made to rotate or vibrate. The rapid movement of the bristles helps to remove food remains and plaque in the gum and teeth.

Pros of electric toothbrush

Below are some of the benefits you will enjoy when you opt for an electric toothbrush.

Doesn’t hurt the gum

An electrical toothbrush is an excellent choice for people looking to improve their dental health without hurting their gum or teeth.

Armed with in-built timers  

To remove plaque and buildups in your teeth, you have to brush your teeth for 2 minutes. If you are using a manual toothbrush, you may not be able to tell if you crossed or didn’t cross the two minutes mark. Electric toothbrushes have inbuilt timers that will alert you after brushing your teeth for two minutes.

Can be used by everyone

Electric toothbrushes are perfect for elderly people and those with disabilities. Since they don’t require much effort to use, almost everyone will be able to get the most out of them.  

Twice as effective in removing plaque

After the review of multiple studies, experts found that an electric toothbrush is better at removing plaque than a regular toothbrush. Keep in mind that oscillating toothbrushes are somewhat better than the ones that vibrate.

Better for kids

A study conducted in 2013 found that an electric toothbrush is better at removing plaque in kids than a regular toothbrush.

Exciting features

Many high-end electric toothbrushes on the market have features that will leave most users in awe.

 Cons of electric toothbrush

Electric toothbrushes are great and have a lot of perks, but they aren’t perfect. Below are some of the downsides of electric toothbrushes.

Cost

Unlike a regular toothbrush that costs between $1 to $10, electric toothbrushes cost between $30 to $250. So, if you are on a budget, you may not be able to afford it.

Noise

Electric toothbrushes are a lot louder than their manual counterparts. In fact, many people find the noise they make offensive.

What to look out for when choosing an electric toothbrush

Before choosing an electric toothbrush, you should consider factors like power, bristle type, and the size of the toothbrush head.

3 Reasons why you should choose an electric toothbrush over a manual toothbrush

If, you have been using a manual toothbrush all your life, you may think that it is great and is doing an excellent job cleaning your teeth. But that is far from the truth.

Multiple studies have shown that manual toothbrushes aren’t very effective when it comes to removing plaque. Electric toothbrushes are way more efficient at removing food remains and plaque. Electric toothbrushes offer a host of benefits that will blow you away. Besides cleaning your mouth, here are a few other things you will enjoy when you upgrade to an electric toothbrush. Below are a few of them.

Less stress

Let’s face it, using a manual toothbrush is stressful, as it requires some elbow grease. The same cannot be said about an electric toothbrush, as it requires little effort on the part of the user. Electric toothbrushes are designed to move automatically on their own. So all you need to do is to move it over your teeth and along your gum line. Remember that most electric toothbrushes on the market don’t have complicated controls that will take you a while to master. Even without the manual that comes with them, you will be able to figure out how they work.

Perfect for kids

Electric toothbrushes aren’t designed for adults alone. Kids can use them too. So, if your little one is having a hard time figuring out how to use a manual toothbrush or they don’t brush their teeth properly when they use a manual toothbrush, you should consider buying an electric toothbrush for them.

Premium features

Electric toothbrushes are somewhat pricy because they have a host of features that will make your life easier. Many models on the market have everything from timers that beep every two minutes, indicating that you have brushed your tooth enough to pressure sensors that detect and notify you when you are applying too much force. Some models can be linked to your mobile phone. These models will remind you to replace the head when it is necessary.

Final note

Manual and electric toothbrushes are great and can help remove plaque from our mouth. Before choosing among them, you must consider factors like your budget, existing oral issues, and so on. To get the best result, you should pick an electric toothbrush, as it is more efficient.