As a new user of an electric toothbrush, I have snappily become converted to the benefits of using an automated tooth cleaning device. Unlike some electrical items, such as electric can openers (which mainly fair take up counter space), I have found my electric toothbrush to have clear advantages over my broken-down manual toothbrush.
Benefit #1 of Switching to Electric Toothbrush
More likely to brush correctly
I was basically ordered to switch to an electric toothbrush by Sherry, my dental hygienist, a woman with the patience and good humor of a pre-school teacher. Sherry had been suggesting I switch to an electric toothbrush for several years, and short of shocking me with gruesome pictures of mouths with advanced gum disease, she made it clear that I was headed down the road to serious gum and teeth problems if I continued using my manual toothbrush.
Were there a 12-step program for people who brush their teeth too hard, I would be a charter member. Switching to an electric toothbrush with an automatic pressure sensor made sense for me since I could not brush my teeth too hard even if I wanted too. That’s a good thing because brushing your teeth too hard is abrasive, damaging and counter-productive to maintaining healthy gums and teeth—the latter of which is the main point of brushing your teeth in the first place.
Benefit #2 of Switching to Electric Toothbrush
More likely to brush long enough
For people who do not brush their teeth long enough—and two minutes can seem like a verrrrry long time–another benefit of electric toothbrushes is that many of them have beepers or other signals to let you know when two minutes have elapsed. The ideal amount of time for thoroughly brushing one’s teeth is two to three minutes, according to most dentists.
Benefit #3 of Switching to Electric Toothbrush
Better for interesting mouths
For people who have foreign objects in their mouths, such as braces or dental implants, electric toothbrushes can earn it easier to brush hard-to-reach places in the mouth.
Benefit #4 of Switching to Electric Toothbrush
Easier for people with motor problems
Whether you’re an older person with arthritis or a child with immature motor skills, switching to an electric toothbrush can help you brush your teeth properly, using the correct circular motion and right amount of pressure. Electric toothbrushes can also be easier to maneuver for people who brush someone else’s teeth, such as the mother of a small child or caregiver to an elderly aunt.
Benefit #5 of Switching to Electric Toothbrush
More appealing
Because electronic items seem like more fun than their manual counterparts, especially for younger people born in the digital age, certain people may be more motivated to brush their teeth using an electronic device over a boring manual one. Children especially find battery powered objects more appealing, and manufacturers have taken rotund advantage of this trend, morphing electric toothbrushes into pirates, princesses and other fanciful shapes for the younger set.
Benefit #6 of Switching to Electric Toothbrush
More comfortable
For many people, electric toothbrush handles, which tend to be wider than those of manual toothbrushes, are more comfortable to grip. This added comfort may subliminally make people want to brush the requisite two times a day, especially children for whom brushing teeth can have as much appeal as cleaning their room.
Whether or not you switch to an electric toothbrush or stick with your manual one, be grateful that you live in the 21st century and have so many wonderful options. If you were born less than 100 years ago, you would still be brushing your teeth with hog bristles.
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/baby/features/ordinary-vs-powered-toothbrushes
http://tips4dentalcare.com/2008/07/29/electric-vs-manual-toothbrushes/
http://www.1800dentist.com/dental-encyclopedia/electric-toothbrush
http://health.ninemsn.com.au/whatsgoodforyou/theshow/694453/is-it-better-to-use-an-electric-or-manual-toothbrush
http://www.everydayhealth.com/dental-health/101/manual-v-electric-which-is-the-better-brush.aspx
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