With so many toothbrush options available on the market, a common question many people have is whether or not it is better for your oral health to use an electric toothbrush instead of a manual toothbrush.
What Are The Pros and Cons of a Manual Toothbrush?
A manual toothbrush will get your teeth clean enough as long as you use the right technique. You should brush your teeth for two minutes, but with a manual toothbrush, you have to keep up with that time on your own. A manual toothbrush does not require you to charge it or replace batteries from time to time. Since it does not need energy, you can use it without fear of the power running low. Additionally, it is very inexpensive. In fact, many dentists give their patients a free toothbrush at the end of each visit.
You have to replace your toothbrush every three months, but it does not cost a lot to do so. If you are traveling, you can easily take it with you without getting a charger or extra batteries. You should just get a case for it to keep it clean. One of the best pros of using a manual toothbrush, for many people, is there are so many to choose from. There are smaller ones for people with smaller mouths, soft bristles for people with sensitive teeth, and many colors including prints for children.
How Does an Electric Toothbrush Better Those Benefits?
With an electric toothbrush, you do not have work nearly as hard to get your mouth and teeth clean. It does a lot of the work for you, as long as you purchase a quality electric toothbrush. It is so easy to use, and you just have to move it across your teeth to get a good cleaning in. Another great benefit is that it has a timer built in. You no longer have to time yourself while brushing or guess if you have brushed long enough. An electric toothbrush will stop once you have hit the two-minute mark, so there are no guessing games. Overall, it is much easier to use an electric toothbrush, and if you do not use the proper technique with a manual brush, you get a much better clean with a lot less effort.
What Are Some of the Cons?
Some negative components go along with an electric toothbrush, however. One of the biggest ones that keep people from making the switch is the cost associated with it. Not only is buying the electric toothbrush expensive, but you also have to purchase new brush heads every three months which are more expensive than manual toothbrushes. If your electric toothbrush is battery powered, you also have to buy replacement batteries every time your batteries are dead. A lot of money goes into getting and maintaining an electric toothbrush. You also have to charge your toothbrush if you have one that is rechargeable. This takes time, and you may not know you need to do it until it dies on you mid-brush. It is a lot harder to travel with an electric toothbrush as well since you have to bring more with you and it can be bulky. While breaking a toothbrush does not cross your mind with a manual one, you do have to be more careful with an electric one.
In the end, the choice is yours. There are benefits to using both kinds of toothbrushes, as long as you use the proper technique. Both types allow you to get a good cleaning. You may want to talk to your dentist about it to see if they can help you make the best decision.
