We’re not saying that your old, manual toothbrush is totally obsolete. But with an electric brush, your teeth are left cleaner, your gums become healthier and your mouth just feels more fresh, like you’ve just stepped out of the dentist after a pro deep clean. Ultimately, an electric toothbrush lets you practice better brushing habits than its more traditional counterpart.
So, is it time for an upgrade? For some, the cost of going electric is often a turn off; however, electric toothbrushes are much improved and more accessible than ever before.
Our take? Given the distinct benefits of electric toothbrushes, adding one to your oral healthcare routine is an excellent investment and could really benefit your overall health. Read on for our recommendation!
They Prevent You from Brushing Too Hard
Are you battling receding gums? Does your mouth feel overly sensitive? You’ve probably been hard on your teeth and gums. You don’t realize it, but simple mistakes like brushing for three minutes and at a 90-degree angle to the gums could be causing you discomfort. Your old toothbrush may have the softest of bristles, but it can easily fall short if not wielded properly.
Luckily, an electric toothbrush can help you keep too much pressure off your teeth. Its soft bristles are easy on the gums (but tough on plaque!) and some are even designed with a ‘Gentle’ mode that cleans deep without wear and tear along your gum line.
They Cut Down on Plaque
Studies show that sonic-powered electric toothbrushes are ~20% more effective in reducing plaque buildup—and they slow down the progression of gingivitis, which will prevent tooth loss in the future. But how do they achieve this?
First, electric brushes utilize spinning motion or sonic vibrations whose action removes plaque and reduces gum disease more effectively than manual brushes that rely on hand motion. Also, the latest in electric toothbrush technology features micro-vibrating bristles installed on a round brush head to give each tooth a powerful clean. These additional capabilities also help electric toothbrushes cut down on plaque:
- Setting your mode. Electric toothbrushes come with an array of modes specialized for gum-massaging action, whitening benefits, tongue cleaning, or sensitive teeth—which help you brush for the desired oral care you’re looking to achieve.
- Cover every area. Some electric brushes feature app-enabled support that guides every brushing action for a more complete clean—you won’t leave any area of your mouth untouched.
Some electric toothbrushes deliver over 30,000 movements per minute unlike their manual counterparts that rarely exceed 600 movements per minute.
They Encourage You to Brush for the Recommended Two Minutes
Dental professionals recommend that you should spend at least two minutes brushing your teeth for a thorough clean. With a manual toothbrush, you’ll rarely achieve a 2-minute brush—unless you’re timing yourself. Electric toothbrushes, however, spare you the tediuum with their built-in timers. Some come equipped with timers that ensure you’re spending enough time in each section of your mouth so you won’t exceed the recommended brushing time. You will feel a slight pause every 30 seconds, prompting you to move to the next section. After 2 minutes, they’ll automatically shut off!
They Enable Better Brushing Habits
Proper brushing habits go beyond brushing your teeth daily—there are a few other intricacies that can make a world of difference for your oral health. Electric toothbrushes boast an array of attributes that help improve your brushing habits, including:
- Built-in timers ensure you don’t exceed the recommended 2 minutes of brushing.
- Reminders to brush all quadrants equally ensure that you spend 30 seconds on each of the four sections of the mouth—you won’t overdo any of them.
- Reminders to change brush heads help you maintain the right toothbrush life—you’re not supposed to use the same toothbrush for more than three months!
They’re Good for Your Gums
Hands down, electric toothbrushes are one of the best tools for maintaining healthy gums. First, most are designed with incredibly soft bristles—all you’re required to do is guide the brush along the gum and tooth surface. You can also set your brush to the gum care mode—which is designed to gently massage and stimulate the gums.
They’re Greener and Cause Less Waste
Electric toothbrushes are an excellent option if you’re looking to minimize waste—unlike manual toothbrushes that you must throw away to get a new replacement. Most electric toothbrushes allow for multiple heads, so you only have to replace the toothbrush head when its service life is over. This is generally less wasteful than throwing away a full toothbrush.
Our Recommendation: The Brüush Electric Toothbrush
So, which toothbrush do we recommend? The Brüush Electric Toothbrush.
Many electric toothbrush are expensive—but Brüush clocks in under $100 (and looks great). What’s more? Brüush offers a high-quality electric toothbrush that uses an industry-leading sonic technology developed alongside dentists. It’s also great value, coming in an array of colours, and a toothbrush kit that includes three brush heads, a travel case, and sleek charger.
What’s more? The Brüush Electric Toothbrush offers a built-in 2-minute timer, 6 unique cleaning modes, a 4-week battery life, and extra-soft bristles.
Ultimately, whether you use an electric toothbrush or not, it’s important to follow a good oral healthcare routine. Given the clear benefits of electric toothbrushes, however, having one is an excellent investment that can benefit your overall health. Findings from the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, found that electric toothbrushes resulted in a 22% reduction in receding gums and 18% less tooth decay over an 11-year period.
