If your toothbrush is looking tired (and it probably is – very few people change their brushes often enough) it’s almost certainly time for a new one.
If you’ve always used a traditional (manual) toothbrush, you might be wondering if it’s time to go electric. If you aren’t wondering, you should probably read on anyway….
Firstly, you should really avoid battery-operated toothbrushes. They are a lot cheaper than rechargeable ones but are generally less effective than either electric models or manual brushing. The batteries go flat in no time and they’re really not up to much.
I like my manual brush, should I stick with that?
The good news is that manual brushes are actually pretty good, as long as you use them properly.
A manual toothbrush combined with the correct brushing technique is the simplest and least expensive option. A good quality brush shouldn’t cost you more than £3 – £4. Look at replacing this every 3 months. Typically, manual brushes are available in a broad range of shapes and sizes with a choice of soft, medium or hard bristles. Electric toothbrushes don’t offer this variety. Choose a brush with a smaller head and medium bristles for the best results.
The electric ones do look good…. Should I ditch the manual brush now?
There is no doubt that electric brushes do a good job. If your current manual brushing technique is really good (for at least two minutes, morning and night) then you might not notice a huge difference. However, for anyone who’s brushing technique (or effort) isn’t perfect then an electric brush will almost certainly give you a better result.
Look for a brush with a small circular head which rotates in a circular motion as well as moving to and fro to give the most comprehensive clean (Hint: The Oral B brushes are very good for this). Note that electric brush heads still need to be changed every 3 months.
Which is right for me?
Another aspect to consider is your physical ability. Those people with limited arm movement or arthritis may find an electric brush to be beneficial as it does a lot of the arm work for you and the large handles are much easier to hold.
The bottom line is that brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste, combined with interdental cleaning, is key to your oral health, regardless of the type of toothbrush you use. Ask your dentist if you’re unsure – they’ll be able to advise what’s best for you.
Mike
