Manual vs. Electric Toothbrushes

Both manual and electric toothbrushes can effectively clean your teeth. Here, our Manitoba dentists discuss ways that electric toothbrushes can be beneficial to your oral health.

A regular manual toothbrush is a great tool for cleaning your teeth, provided that you are thorough and use the proper brushing technique.

Good tooth-brushing technique includes:

• Place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums.
• Gently move the brush in a circular motion across the teeth.
• Brushing the outer surfaces, the inner surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.

If you brush properly, as outlined above, and both you and your dentist are satisfied with the state of your oral health, then you’re doing great! There’s no need for any additional tools (other than floss, of course). 

If you struggle to brush all of your teeth sufficiently with a manual toothbrush, or you or your dentist feel your oral hygiene routine could use a boost, you may find an electric toothbrush useful! 

How can an electric toothbrush help?

Electric toothbrushes that have small, round, rotating heads mimic the ideal brushing motion. Avoid electric toothbrushes that make a sawing motion if you can.

Electric toothbrushes can make brushing easier because you hardly have to do any work! Simply apply your toothpaste to your electric toothbrush, place it up against your teeth, and turn it on. Then all you have to do is guide it gently around your mouth and over the surfaces of your teeth. 

You don’t need to perform the brushing motion yourself, and this makes it much easier to clean the backs of your front teeth (which can be awkward with a manual toothbrush), and the small round head makes cleaning your back molars and other tight or hard-to-reach areas a little easier, too.

And because the head spins so quickly, electric toothbrushes can do a great job of removing surface stains from your teeth. Some electric toothbrushes even have timers so that you know when your full two minutes are up!

Overall, an electric toothbrush can help you brush more thoroughly, and may even make brushing feel like less of a chore.

Concerned you're brushing too hard?

Some people hesitate to try an electric toothbrush because they are concerned it would not be gentle on the enamel of their teeth, or their gums.

However, many electric toothbrush users find that it actually helps them brush more gently, because they don’t have to make the scrubbing motion themselves. Scrubbing tends to make you want to apply pressure, and this is a non-issue with an electric toothbrush, as it performs the motion for you.

If you are very concerned about brushing too hard, many electric toothbrush brands sell heads with soft bristles for sensitive teeth and gums.

If you are wondering if an electric toothbrush may be a good choice for you, please contact our office today to book an appointment with one of our Manitoba dentists.