Manual toothbrushes are no longer the norm. More and more people are switching to electric toothbrushes for their oral health. Are they making the right choice? Should you get an electric toothbrush or continue to use a manual toothbrush?
Here's a guide to which toothbrush you should use, depending on your needs.
The two types of toothbrushes
The electric toothbrush
This type of toothbrush uses electrical energy supplied by a rechargeable battery. The brush head swings quickly from side to side or in a circular motion. It reduces the effort of brushing your teeth, unlike a manual toothbrush. In this sense, it improves tooth brushing. It is often combined with a hydropulper which includes a pulsating water jet. It removes plaque and food debris from between the teeth and under the gums. This toothbrush has many advantages:
Here are the main advantages of the electric toothbrush:
- It removes more plaque than a manual toothbrushIt
- has a wider handle that is much easier to hold in the hand
- It has a light or vibrating system that alerts you when an area is perfectly brushed
- It prevents you from pressing too hard to get a good brushing result
- It allows you to apply the same pressure on the left and right side of the mouth
The Y-Brush is an electric toothbrush that should please you. It removes 15% more plaque than a traditional toothbrush.
The manual toothbrush
This type of toothbrush is used only by holding the handle. This model consists of a plastic handle with a brush tip. It is up to you to make the movements to brush your teeth and gums. It is perfectly affordable because of its ease of use but also because of its financial cost. It allows you to make at least 600 movements per minute and can be enough to ensure a good brushing of your teeth. The only condition is to have an effective technique but also to apply the recommendations of your dentist.
The main advantages of the manual toothbrush are :
- It is particularly economical as it costs on average between 3 and 5 euros
- It is easily transportable to all places of daily life
- It is ideal for people who have good brushing techniques and can control the pressure they put on their teeth
- They are often made of environmentally friendly materials that take care of the environment
- They easily penetrate the interdental spaces without damaging the teeth and gums
The equipment to use for brushing teeth with an electric or manual toothbrush
Good tooth brushing for good oral hygiene requires the right equipment.
Here is a list of the equipment to use to brush your teeth:
- Dental floss: this helps to remove plaque and prevent inflammation.
- Dental brushes: they allow you to clean between the teeth in areas that the manual or electric toothbrush cannot reach.
- Mouthwash: this is used immediately after each toothbrush. It has antiseptic, purifying, anti-aphthalmic and cavity-protecting properties.
- The dental plaque detector: It will allow you to see the insufficiently brushed areas of the mouth.
- The tongue scraper: it allows you to brush your tongue to eliminate a maximum of bacteria.
Above all, you should also choose an enriched organic toothpaste that contains only the amount of fluoride needed to protect your teeth against cavities.
Above all, you should also choose an enriched organic toothpaste that contains only the necessary amount of fluoride to protect your teeth against cavities.
Different tooth brushing depending on the toothbrush used
The electric toothbrush
It replaces the manual brushing gesture by allowing small rotations. The principle of operation is simple: the brush must be placed on the molars so that it does the work of brushing. It is important to keep the toothbrush in contact with the tooth to move it. The toothbrush should be moved very slowly from tooth to tooth on the inner and outer sides and above. Also, do not forget to run the brush over the tongue for a few seconds to remove bacteria. In order for the cleaning to be successful, it is important not to exert too much pressure on the toothbrush. You can therefore make light rotations on the teeth and gums. You should rinse your toothbrush regularly. In addition, it is important to change it at least every 3 to 6 months depending on the wear of the bristles.
Manual toothbrushes
If you use a manual toothbrush, it is important to start with the outer and inner surfaces. Then brush at a 45-degree angle in small half-tooth wide strokes against the gum line. Then you can move on to the chewing surfaces. Once you have reached the inner surfaces of your front teeth, you can tilt the brush vertically and make gentle up and down strokes with the brush tip. You should always brush your teeth gently along the gum line. In addition, you should brush your tongue with a back-to-front sweeping motion to remove food debris and bacteria from your teeth. In addition, it is also important to remember to brush your cheeks. It is also important to change your manual toothbrush at least every 6 months.
The electric toothbrush, very effective, but...
Users do not always agree on which toothbrush is best. Only 10% of them prefer electric brushing. Half believe that manual brushing is still effective in ensuring good oral hygiene.
However, studies have shown that the new electric toothbrushes are more effective than manual brushing over a similar time period. Thanks to a rotating head, an electric toothbrush is able to remove a greater amount of plaque in a single brushing.
The smaller brush head is said to be better able to reach interdental spaces and hard-to-reach areas while limiting gum damage and bleeding. Technologies such as the dental hydropulper reinforce this effectiveness. The electric toothbrush therefore seems to be the best option for good dental hygiene.
However, electric brushing is not perfect. Many users botch brushing thinking that the round-headed product does everything for them. This leads to a recurring failure to respect the brushing time, which limits the beneficial effects on the tooth enamel and gums.
The manual toothbrush requires agility
The manual toothbrush has a high efficiency rate, provided you know how to brush your teeth. It requires the application of good gestures on a daily basis. It is also important to find a model with a small brushing head and soft bristles.
The small brush head of the toothbrush allows for effective cleaning and is a good way to prevent plaque. Toothbrushes made of natural materials such as wood and bamboo have soft bristles. On the other hand, they harbour a lot of bacteria.
When all these conditions are met, the grip of a manual toothbrush provides better control. This will ensure that brushing is effective and teeth remain healthy. Using dental floss, interdental brushes and a tongue scraper will further improve the results.
All of this requires technique. Holding the handle and moving back and forth is not enough. You have to know how to handle the hand brush in a circular motion. Unfortunately, some people will not know how to use a manual toothbrush properly. Others lack agility, such as young children and people with disabilities.
It's all about the technology
Regardless of the technology chosen, good toothbrushing is all about the right technique. This includes adhering to a brushing time of two to three minutes, brushing two to three times a day after meals and applying the right amount of pressure.
Good, gentle tooth brushing habits will have a greater influence on the outcome. Poor brushing will always encourage tooth decay and tartar even if you use the most sophisticated toothbrush on the market.
We hope this guide has helped you find the right toothbrush for your needs.
