Electric toothbrushes clean teeth and gums much better than a manual toothbrush, according to the findings of a new study. Scientists found that people who use an electric toothbrush have healthier gums, less tooth decay and also keep their teeth for longer, compared with those who use a manual toothbrush.
In general, electric toothbrushes on their own don't damage your enamel. The problem is just if you're pushing too hard with your brush, using a toothbrush head with hard bristles, or using abrasive toothpaste. These things can wear away at your enamel faster.
Used properly, an electric toothbrush should not hurt your gums or enamel but instead promote overall oral health. Many people are guilty of brushing too hard, which can, over time, cause irreversible damage to tooth enamel and can cause receding gums, which is also irreversible.
Do you have to floss if you use an electric toothbrush? Regardless of what kind of toothbrush you use — and how good your brushing technique is — it can't replace flossing.
Using an electric toothbrush won't damage your teeth — but misusing one can lead to tooth damage, sensitivity, and gum recession.
Examining the Experts' Opinions
The American Dental Association (ADA) has stated that both electric and manual toothbrushes remove plaque and bacteria from teeth, as long as you use a proper brushing technique. In fact, they've said that the technique is more important than the tool.
You can use any fluoride toothpaste with an electric toothbrush. Whatever type of goal you have for your oral health, you can find a toothpaste to help you get there along with your electric toothbrush.
According to research published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, electric toothbrushes outperform manual brushes. In this study, over 80% of the patients who switched to an electric toothbrush had better oral hygiene after making the switch.
Most dentists will recommend a soft bristle toothbrush as it is the most comfortable and safest option. Depending on how vigorously you brush, softer bristles are easier on the gums, whereas hard bristle brushes can actually damage the gums, root surface and tooth enamel.
Effectiveness: The consensus between all the dentists we spoke to is that electric toothbrushes are more effective than manual brushes at removing plaque and keeping your teeth and gums as healthy as possible.
Clinical studies have shown that electric toothbrushes with rotation-oscillation movement are more effective at removing plaque and help to keep your mouth overall healthier vs. regular manual toothbrushes.
Because it does all the work, a powered toothbrush is better at removing plaque. It is also a better option for smokers who want to prevent staining.
In general, you should replace the head of your electric toothbrush every 12 weeks. This should be done more often than for a manual toothbrush because electric brushes often have shorter bristles. For this reason, they tend to become worn down more quickly and must be replaced sooner.
Many people prefer manual toothbrushes because they are much cheaper, which makes changing them regularly more cost effective. Also, people, especially those with small children, worry that an electric one will pinch them. Manual toothbrushes are easier for children to use.
The path that the brush should follow around your mouth is exactly the same as for a manual toothbrush (see guide here). Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle with a little pressure, and hold on each tooth for 3 to 5 seconds.
Your brush shouldn't travel across the gums. It's important to get just underneath the gum because a lot of food and bacteria get trapped there." You should always brush your tongue, or buy a tongue scraper.
While your gums won't grow back on their own, surgical treatment can be used to replace the missing tissue, and restore both your appearance and your oral health. Gum grafting involves taking soft tissue from another part of the mouth and grafting it onto your gums.
If you are suffering from receding gums, using an electric toothbrush can be a great way to help improve your gum health. They help remove plaque and bacteria from teeth and gums, which can help reverse receding gums.
No, you can't replace flossing your teeth with any type of mouthwash. Even if that mouth wash (claims) to kill 99% of bad breath causing bacteria. The reason mouthwash can't replace flossing comes down to a very simple fact: Flossing involves literally scraping the surface of the tooth to remove gunk.
Not only can an electric toothbrush damage teeth if used incorrectly, so can a manual toothbrush, for that matter. Just like so many other areas in life, “operator error” accounts for a lot of mishaps, misfortunes, and negative side effects.
Electric toothbrushes can cause oral penetrating injuries and infections in the same manner as manual toothbrushes.