Things you must know about Electric Toothbrush vs. Manual Toothbrush

Brushing teeth has been a part of human life since ancient times. The tools may have changed from twigs and leaves in past to mass-produced modern toothbrushes. You can debate on the frequency of brushing teeth, but you must brush them daily. It helps to keep proper oral hygiene. It helps to remove plaque, prevent tooth decay, gum disease, bacterial infection, and bad breath.

Brushing correctly and frequently is a good practice but, choosing the right brush also matters. Right brush improves your tooth brushing experience. Both manual and electric toothbrushes have their pros and cons and suitability for you. To make your decision easy they are briefed below.

Pros of using Electric Toothbrush

1. The electric brush removes plaque in a more effective way

Many studies suggest that electric brushes are more effective in removing the plaques from your teeth. Also, they are easy to use. Vibrations and rotational movements allow for more micro-movements of toothbrushes across your teeth.

2. Electric Brush is very useful for people with disabilities

Some disabilities can affect the mobility and motor functions of the human body. In such cases, electric brushes can come handy to maintain oral hygiene.

3. Varieties of electric brushes

You can have either a rechargeable electric toothbrush or a battery-powered toothbrush. Electric brushes with replaceable heads can go longer duration. There are also single-use varieties.

4. Electric brushes with built-in timers

The electric brush comes with a built-in timer. This feature helps you brush your teeth long enough to sufficiently clean your teeth and gums. Brushing teeth for a longer duration may loosen them also cause bleeding gums. Avoid these injuries with timers in a powered brush.

5. Electric brushes can give a fun experience to kids

It is difficult to follow healthy habits. An electric brush is engaging for kids, which can make your child more interested in brushing. This in turn will make sure that your child has healthy teeth. Also, these brushes come in a wide range of colors and shapes.

Cons of Electric Brush

1. They are expensive

Electric toothbrushes are more expensive as compared to manual ones. Further powered brush with the replaceable head will need you to spend a few more bucks. This makes the electric brush costlier in the longer run. Thus, when it comes to money some of you may find sticking to manual brushing much cheaper.

2. Effectiveness varies with design

Powered toothbrushes come in different designs and with different mechanisms. According to the speed of movements, electric brushes are classified as standard power toothbrushes, sonic toothbrushes, or ultrasonic toothbrushes. As per the movement, there are Vibrational and Rotation-Oscillation Powered Toothbrushes. But many studies have questioned the efficacy of sonic and ultrasonic toothbrushes and their clinical outcomes may vary.

3. Cheaper copies of electric brush and safety issues

The commonly used material for bristle production is Nylon. But the use of cheap alternatives impacts the mechanical properties like the stiffness of the bristles. This directly affects the lifespan and cleaning efficiency of an electric toothbrush. Also, can damage your gums.

4. Accessibility

Electric brushes are yet to occupy the shells of all the local shops in your neighborhood. You may have the only option to order them online. Further electric brushes come with extra stuff like batteries, chargers, and replaceable heads. Finding their proper replacement would be sometimes hard and expensive.

Pros of Manual brush

1. Accessible and affordable.

You can find a manual toothbrush at any grocery store, pharmacy in your neighborhood. These brushes are very cheap in comparison. There are no extra accessories attached to the product. More eco-friendly options like bamboo toothbrushes are easily available.

2. Flexibility to brush

You don’t need to charge manual brushes. This allows you to brush anywhere and at any time. You don’t need to wait and worry about the charging. This flexibility also allows them easy to carry and use especially when you are traveling.

3. Easily Replaceable

In the case of manual brushes, you don’t need to worry about the proper replacement for the head. Often children bite down into their toothbrushes causing bristles to wear. Regular replacement of manual brush is easier and less expensive in longer terms.

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Cons of Manual Brush

1. Needs more effort and attention

You have to give attention to the brushing technique, pressure, speed, movements. Extreme of these measures can be harmful to your teeth. It may cause gum bleeding, tooth loosening, and wearing. Many children don’t have the patience or ability to properly brush using a manual toothbrush.

2. No built-in timer

Many studies point that people who use manual brushes are more likely to brush for a longer duration. Sometimes this may hurt your tooth. But brushing in a very short time is also not good.

3. The environmental cost of the manual toothbrush

Billions of these toothbrushes are thrown away every year. This trash often ends up in landfills, causing soil, water, and air pollution. Mass-production of manual toothbrushes is resource-intensive and also emits pollutants like CO2. Nylon, polypropylene plastic used in these ends up harming the birds and water life.

Now whether you decide to get a manual or an electric toothbrush, you must choose the brush with soft bristles. Healthy and bright teeth demand a lifetime of care. Brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes at a time.

Besides regular brushing, routine professional dental checkups are also important. You can now get a dental doctor on call at your home in Dubai. Medilife Healthcare is the respected name when it comes to getting dental care. Their healthcare experts will reach your doorsteps and consult in a calm environment at your home.

Er. Prathamesh Pawar did the research and writing of this article. He is a member of the Content writing Team of WebCof. Prathamesh did his graduation with a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering. He is working as a Software Engineer in one of the reputed IT companies in Pune, India.