Should I Buy an Electric Toothbrush?

Many of our patients ask us questions like, “Should I buy an electric toothbrush?”, or “Is an electric toothbrush worth the money?”. An electric toothbrush can be an extremely valuable investment, and may save you thousands of dollars in dental costs over a lifetime. Depending on your brushing habits, your old manual toothbrush may be all you need. This article will explain how an electric toothbrush works, who should buy one, and which electric toothbrushes are best.

How Does an Electric Toothbrush Work?

An electric toothbrush uses battery power to automatically move the bristles very quickly across the surface of your teeth. Instead of manually moving the entire toothbrush to brush your teeth, you only have to hold it in place while the toothbrush does most of the work. Most electric toothbrushes have a rotating head that spins the bristles around in circles to scrub your teeth. Sonicare Electric Toothbrushes are unique because they use sound waves to make the bristles wave back and forth at up to 30,000 cycles per minute.

Which Electric Toothbrushes are Best?

We recommend Sonicare electric toothbrushes. The back-and-forth motion of their bristles is more effective for cleaning your teeth than spinning toothbrushes. The sound waves also help to break up plaque between teeth, along the gums, or in cracks and crevices that other toothbrushes cannot reach. If you don’t floss regularly, a Sonicare can be more effective at removing food as well. They are also usually more gentle on your teeth and gums than other brands of electric toothbrushes, so they are perfect for anyone with a sensitive mouth.

Smart Electric Toothbrushes

Some high-tech electric toothbrushes even link to your mobile device to give you an interactive brushing experience. For example, the Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected Toothbrush has built-in sensors to track your brushing. It connects to your mobile device via Bluetooth, and coaches you on how to improve your brushing and overall dental health. If you want to make sure you are brushing effectively, you may want to consider a smart toothbrush.

Should You Buy an Electric Toothbrush?

The most important thing when brushing your teeth is that every surface is thoroughly cleaned. This can be achieved with a manual toothbrush when using proper brushing and flossing techniques. A manual toothbrush takes much more time and effort to achieve the same level of cleaning as an electric toothbrush, but it can still get the job done well. Electric toothbrushes are especially helpful for people with lower dexterity, like children or elderly people, because they are much easier to use. If you feel you don’t have as much time for manually brushing and flossing, you may also want to invest in an electric toothbrush to speed up the process. The main drawback to electric toothbrushes is their cost and maintenance. An electric toothbrush can be a considerable investment up front. The heads also wear out over time like any toothbrush, and occasionally replacing them is a bit more expensive than manual toothbrushes.

How to Buy an Electric Toothbrush

At the Hill Dental Group, we can help you figure out if an electric toothbrush is right for you. You can also purchase one of our recommended Sonicare electric toothbrushes in our office.

To book an appointment, Call 281-376-0911 or Make an Appointment Online.