Oral hygiene is part of your overall health, well-being and beauty. Brushing and flossing protect you from dental cavities, gum diseases, among other problems linked to poor oral hygiene. The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth at least two times a day with fluoride toothpaste for not less than two minutes to maintain oral hygiene.
Both electric and manual toothbrushes work suitably well and may vary on preference and budget. However, there exist some distinguishing features between the two. Have a keen look at the differences between an electric and manual toothbrush to better make your choice.
Electric Toothbrush
An electric toothbrush uses power-enabled batteries to create a vibration effect while brushing your teeth. Electric Toothbrush enables you to eliminate more plaque from your teeth compared to the manual toothbrush. There are two types of electric toothbrushes; rotating and sonic. Sonic Toothbrush vibrates much faster while brushing compared to the Rotating electric Toothbrush.
Features of an Electric Toothbrush
Timer: You should clean your teeth for two minutes; an electric toothbrush has a timer that enables you to clean until two minutes are over.
Pressure sensor: If the pressure applied while brushing is too much, the electric Toothbrush can sense.
Fast vibrating bristles: The bristles vibrate very fast to improve your brushing process.
Adjustable power levels: The power used by the gadget is adjustable.
Rotating oscillating head: The Toothbrush uses a back and forth rotating motion that reaches all the corners of your mouth.
Pros Of an Electric Toothbrush
1. Easy to hold and use
2. Guides you on the areas you need to brush hence removing more plaque
3. Used to clean the tongue as well
Cons of an Electric Toothbrush
1. Costly -The price of an electric toothbrush ranges from $20- $200. You are also required to replace brush heads every three months.
2. Not suitable while traveling -The extra gadgets involved take more space.
Manual Toothbrush
As the name suggests, a manual toothbrush has you controlling the whole process. Since it is not electric powered, you have to do the cleaning by hand -and the end result will be dependent on how well you did the cleaning.
Features of a Manual Toothbrush
A handle: A good Manual toothbrush should have a comfortable handle to allow you a good grip while brushing your teeth
Bristles: A good manual Toothbrush should have soft bristles that will not hurt your gum while brushing.
Pros Of a Manual Toothbrush
1. Enables you to control the pressure applied while brushing your teeth.
2. Cheap to acquire compared to an Electric Toothbrush.
3. It is convenient to carry while traveling.
Cons Of a Manual Toothbrush
1. They have no timers.
2. Requires you to apply more effort to clean the teeth.
Conclusion.
Whereas both Electric and manual toothbrushes can clean teeth well, you may prefer one over the other depending on your taste and preference. Choose the one that works perfectly for you. If you are unsure which works best for your requirements we would recommend consulting with a cosmetic dentist to evaluate your needs.
