When you visit the dentist, they often have a great deal of advice to help you achieve your best oral health. They’ll provide tips for improving flossing techniques, suggest new toothpaste, or offer dental treatments to help your teeth feel cleaner. However, one piece of advice that you may find yourself ignoring is the suggestion of switching to an electric toothbrush.
Why should you switch to an electric toothbrush when brushing by hand is just as effective at removing tough plaque, tartar, and food particles? While you might think your standard toothbrush is doing the job, you may not be achieving your best cleaning. If you’ve been on the fence about switching to an electric toothbrush, keep reading to see why our team always recommends them to patients.
1. Improves Focus While Brushing
While you’re brushing your teeth, you may find yourself getting easily distracted by other responsibilities. As you get distracted, you may unintentionally provide a less comprehensive cleaning to your teeth. However, a study in 2015 found that participants who brushed using an electric toothbrush were more focused on brushing, providing a better overall cleaning. If you’re easily distracted while brushing, this may be the best way to turn your attention back to the cleanliness of your teeth.
2. Enhanced Cleaning
You’ve heard it over and over again. You should brush your teeth for at least two minutes to get a thorough cleaning. However, many adults only brush their teeth for about 45 seconds. While you may be able to remove some of the surface-level debris, you may be left with some of the more difficult debris and bacteria. The oscillating toothbrush head of an electric toothbrush does a better job of removing tough plaque and tartar, helping you ensure your teeth are much cleaner after brushing and preventing potential cavities.
3. They Come With Timers
As mentioned above, most adults don’t brush their teeth for more than 45 seconds. However, the American Dental Association recommends brushing for two minutes to remove plaque, tartar, bacteria, and food particles. When you transition to using an electric toothbrush, you don’t have to worry about not brushing for long enough. These devices come with timers, often vibrating or beeping every 30 seconds. This ensures each quadrant of your mouth is brushed for an adequate amount of time.
4. Pressure Sensors
When brushing manually, you may be brushing too hard, which can be detrimental to the surface of your teeth. It can wear down essential enamel, leading to increased tooth sensitivity. As electric toothbrushes become more advanced, they are equipped with pressure sensors. These sensors will turn on a light on the brush or change vibration to indicate you’re brushing too hard. These pressure sensors can save you from the long-term damage of overbrushing, like an increased risk of cavity development, changes in your tooth color, and tooth abscesses.
5. Good for Individuals with Limited Mobility
While brushing your teeth doesn’t seem physically demanding, it can be incredibly difficult for individuals with mobility limitations. People with arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome may struggle to brush their teeth without dealing with lasting pain. When you switch to an electric toothbrush, you don’t have to worry about the strain manually brushing puts on your joints and muscles, making it more comfortable to ensure your smile is clean and healthy.
6. Fun for Young Children
It can be difficult to get your child interested in brushing their teeth, especially when they have toys, pets, and siblings distracting them. But, with many brightly colored, fun electric toothbrushes on the market today, it becomes much easier to entice them. These toothbrushes are far more engaging than manual toothbrushes, making them the perfect option if your child has expressed little to no interest in developing their oral hygiene routine.
7. Improves Gum Health
Regularly stimulating your gums is a great way to ensure they are healthy. Without regular stimulation and proper oral care, you may deal with bleeding while brushing and flossing. When you switch to an electric toothbrush, it can reach your gums in difficult-to-reach places, like around your molars. This ensures they are regularly stimulated and cleaned. This stimulation can boost blood flow to your gums, supplying them with essential nutrients. If you’ve dealt with periodontal disease in the past, electric toothbrushes are essential.
8. Reduces Tooth Decay
When you use a manual toothbrush and only brush for about 30-45 seconds, you aren’t doing a proper job of removing plaque, tartar, and bacteria. This build-up can quickly go from a minor cosmetic problem to a more significant oral health problem. As plaque and tartar build up and you experience cavities and more severe tooth decay, you may need more in-depth dental cleanings. Electric toothbrushes, however, provide a more comprehensive cleaning, reducing your risk of experiencing cavities.
Pair Your Electric Toothbrush with Expert Dental Care
While an electric toothbrush is a great way to protect your teeth from decay, it performs even better when paired with an expert dental team. If you’re looking for a reliable dentist in the North Ogden area, turn to our team at Mountain View Dental for support. For over a decade, we’ve provided reliable dental care to patients across Northern Utah.
Whether you’re dealing with tooth decay or gum disease or want to invest in cosmetic dental procedures, we’re here to help you every step of the way. If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment with our team to discuss your oral health, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
