A guide to Electric Toothbrushes

If you visit your local pharmacy or supermarket, you’ll find that there are usually a plethora of electric toothbrushes on display. There are toothbrushes that claim to be ‘ultra-sonic’, toothbrushes with brushes that move in different directions, from side to side, clockwise, anti-clockwise or which oscillate. The question is, are they any good?

Some electric toothbrushes can be very expensive. So if you are a customer, how do you know that you are getting value for money? How do you know that you are choosing the most appropriate kind of brush? And can you be sure that it is actually doing your teeth any more good than an everyday, run-of-the-mill, hand-powered toothbrush?

The most recent research was produced in collaboration between the Universities of Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester and Sheffield. This research concluded that, despite the wide variety of electric toothbrushes currently on the market, there was only one type which consistently produced better results than its hand-powered rival.

The most successful brush was the rotation-oscillation brush. The rotation-oscillation brush has a round head which spins back and forth in short bursts, rather than simply continuing in the same motion at the same pace.

So do we now conclude that electric toothbrushes are waste of our time? As with all research, you have to be careful about the conclusions you choose to draw. While electric toothbrushes may not necessarily be better than a traditional toothbrush, it is certainly no worse. Plus, for a lot of people, the electric toothbrush is also a lot easier and a lot more fun to use.

In spite of this sort of research, many people still prefer to use and electronic toothbrush and continue to buy them. One aspect of this is that we all love gadgets. From our mobile phones to our electric toothbrushes, from our i-pods to our flatscreen TVs, everyone loves a gadget.

Of course, like all gadgets, electric toothbrushes vary widely in price. A top of the range brand can comfortably cost over £100. However, you do not necessarily need to spend that much. But as long as you know the amount you want to spend, you can find good deals on electric toothbrushes. And like lots of the other gadgets in our lives, while they may start out as a luxury purchase they quickly become your preferred choice.

On a more serious note, many people use electronic toothbrushes because they find them easier. They can be very helpful for disabled people or people with restricted movement. People with arthritis can also find electric toothbrushes very useful, as they do not need to grip them too tightly or brush too hard. Similarly, carers who brush the teeth of people in their care can find electric toothbrushes much easier to use than a traditional toothbrush.

The most important aspect of using an electric toothbrush is to remember that there are no short cuts. An electric toothbrush may mean that it is less effort to clean your teeth, but that does not mean that you should take less care. Your electric toothbrush may look good and feel great, but it will not do the job for you!

It is vital that you maintain a good routine and an effective programme of oral hygiene. Whether you use an electric toothbrush or a conventional one, you should brush your teeth for twice each day. An electric toothbrush will not make brushing your teeth any faster either; try to spend at least two to three minutes cleaning your teeth so that every surface is covered and cleaned.

An electric toothbrush should make it easier for you to reach your back teeth and to ensure that they are cleaned effectively. It simply takes patience and care. You should also continue with other areas of your oral health routine, such as flossing and using mouthwash.

Using an electric toothbrush can make life easier for many people and many people enjoy the experience. But it is important to remember that an electronic toothbrush is no substitute for looking after your teeth – it’s another tool that can help you do so.

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A guide to Electric Toothbrushes

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