Apart from an occasional visit to the dentist, prioritising regular brushing preferably with an electric toothbrush is important in oral health.
What makes an electric toothbrush an excellent choice?
Research carried out in 2014 showed that an electric toothbrush removes plaque and reduces gingival inflammation more than manual toothbrushes. Thus placing the electric toothbrush above its manual counterpart.
Features of Electric Toothbrush
The Electric toothbrush consists of several parts and outstanding features that set it high above the manual toothbrush and they include:
Main Features
Outer Case: This is the portion that holds all the other components together. Its major function is to protect the inner workings of the brush, such as the battery and circuit board, and keep them safe from water.
Motor: This is the engine house of the electric toothbrush. Once activated (with the power button), it replicates the brushing motion onto the brush head as seen in the manual toothbrush.
Battery: This powers the electric toothbrush and makes brushing possible with it.
Power drawn from the battery makes the electric motor inside the brush spin, which in turn cleans your teeth. Most electric toothbrushes use rechargeable batteries while others use disposable batteries.
Circuit Board: The circuit board houses switches that direct the motor on how to move. This is made possible by tiny memory chips on the inside circuit.
Circuit boards indicate battery life or cleaning mode.
LED lights: LED lights are attached to the circuit board and are only activated when necessary. For instance when you turn on the toothbrush or when you put an unhealthy amount of pressure on your teeth.
Additional Features
Pressure Sensor: This is one unique feature that every electric toothbrush should but may not possess. Its main function is to keep track of your oral health during brushing. When inappropriate pressure is being applied to the teeth, the pressure sensor is activated by a glow of the LED light which goes off when pressure is released.
Replaceable Brush Head: Every electric toothbrush comes with a removable brush head. The reason is simple, just like the manual toothbrushes, the bristles on the head become worn out and may not clean your mouth and teeth effectively. Hence, there is a need to change to a new brush head.
Bluetooth: Some electrical toothbrushes come with Bluetooth connectivity which allows for easy transmission of data such as how long you have been brushing and the amount of pressure being applied on your teeth from your electric toothbrush to another Bluetooth device, such as a smartphone.
Why choose an Electric toothbrush over a manual one?
- An excellent plaque remover. This is due to the vibrating and rotating motion of the bristles.
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Built for deep cleaning. The vibration also allows for more micro-movements every time you move your toothbrush across your teeth.
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The best choice for individuals with limited mobility. For example individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis and developmental disabilities.
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Time-saving. The timer built into the toothbrush prevents unnecessary time brushing. And the best part, your teeth, gum and mouth is sufficiently cleaned.
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More economical to maintain. Unlike the manual toothbrush where you have to buy a new one at intervals, with the electric toothbrush, you only need to replace the head and not the entire toothbrush.
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Proven to improve the brushing experience of its users and potentially how well you clean your teeth.
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An electric toothbrush makes brushing easy for people with orthodontic appliances like braces and also improves their oral health.
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It can be a lot of fun for children especially those that are not interested in brushing their teeth and hate the rigorous manual brushing process.
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Safety – To avoid injuries to the gum during the manual brushing process, an electric toothbrush is the best bet.
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For all-around oral health and protection. Using an electric toothbrush regularly improves your overall oral health by fighting bacteria, and reducing bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease.
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Convenience: Electric toothbrushes are very convenient to use and can be easily incorporated into your daily routine. With their smaller heads, they can easily cover all places inside your mouth.
Ultimately, the advantages of the electric toothbrush outweigh those of the manual toothbrush. However, it may not be easily accessible and affordable. Also not everyone may appreciate the vibrating movement of the electric toothbrush.
