The Advantages of an Electric Toothbrush

Whether you choose to use an electric toothbrush or a manual toothbrush for your daily oral hygiene is really just a matter of personal choice. Both types of toothbrush will yield healthy results if you are brushing at least twice daily, for at least two minutes and taking care to do a good job.  Make sure you are also following your brushing routine with flossing at least once a day.

Even though your manual toothbrush is adequate, you may be curious about what an electric toothbrush can do for you. With a price tag of anywhere from $20 to $100 or more, you probably want to know what the advantages could be from spending that much money on a toothbrush.

These days, you can find electric toothbrushes just about anywhere including your local drug store and your grocery store. There are many different kinds of electric toothbrushes including those that rotate, pulsate, oscillate and more. Some come with toothpaste dispensers and timers. No matter what type of electric toothbrush you choose, they all have some advantages in common.  Following are some reasons why you may want to shell out the extra cash for an electric toothbrush.

• Electric toothbrushes last longer and they are rechargeable so you don’t have to worry about always having the batteries replaced.
• Most electric toothbrushes have a timer that turns the toothbrush off when you have brushed long enough.
• An electric toothbrush uses just the right amount of pressure so there is less chance that you will damage your gums by brushing too hard.
• Electric toothbrushes are great for people with arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome as the toothbrush can do most of the work for you.
• Electric toothbrushes are great for children. They get children excited about brushing and do most of the work for children who are still not skilled when it comes to brushing well.

There are some down sides to using an electric toothbrush. The cost is the most obvious one. There is also periodic battery replacement and the fact that electric toothbrushes usually have bristles that are too hard for people with tooth sensitivity or other dental problems.

Ultimately, the decision to use an electric or manual toothbrush is a personal one. If you follow a healthy dental care routine daily, your teeth and gums will be in great shape. Ask your dentist for a toothbrush recommendation if you are still not sure which way to go.