If you care about your teeth, then you likely try to follow the oral care suggestions that are brought up by your dentist. These suggestions probably include brushing your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes. Your dentist probably does not tell you which type of toothpaste or toothbrush to use though. Well, if you want the best looking, healthiest, and cleanest teeth, then you should invest in an electronic toothbrush. Keep reading to learn about why an electronic toothbrush is better for you than a regular one.
Prevents Gingivitis
Most people know that gingivitis is caused by bacteria. Specifically, bacteria spend a great deal of time hanging out near the gum line where you leave the most plaque behind. Bacteria eat plaque and any other sugars or carbohydrates you leave around the teeth. When bacteria are provided with a good deal of food, they multiply and they also release byproducts in the form of acidic fluids. The acids infect the gums and cause gingivitis.
You can prevent gingivitis by brushing your teeth well, but some people brush too hard and they scrape the gums. This may mean that the mouth is free of plaque and bacterial activity has been reduced. The scraped gums provide a direct opening into the soft tissues in the mouth though, and this can cause gingivitis to form by providing direct tissue access to the bacteria that are left behind.
Electronic toothbrushes prevent you from scraping and cutting the gums, because pressure is not required to activate the toothbrush. The bristles then gently slide against the gums instead of cutting into the tissues. Also, some electronic toothbrushes even have pressure sensors that stop the brush from moving if you force the head against the teeth and gums. This directly prevents you from damaging the tissues.
Increased Movement
Most people brush their teeth from side to side, or they listen to their dentists and scrub the teeth in a circular fashion. The physical scrubbing motion of the toothbrush is what releases the plaque and food from the teeth. Abrasive agents in toothpaste also assist with debris removal. When you brush with a regular toothbrush though, you are likely to place little pressure on certain parts of the mouth. Minimal strokes also prevent some of the plaque from releasing from the teeth, and this can lead to the formation of tartar and cavities.
Electronic toothbrushes prevent you from missing an area of the mouth, because they usually produce about 12,000 to 48,000 revolutions a minute. This means that several hundred brush strokes will most likely come into contact with areas of the mouth you only touch for a few seconds. This is more than enough to release plaque.
Also, depending on the head of the brush, you will be removing plaque from several different directions at once. Brushes with rotating-oscillating heads provide the most movement.
Reduced Enamel Damage
Another advantage of an electronic toothbrush over a regular one is the fact that you are less likely to scratch your dental enamel. Dental enamel that sits on the outside of your teeth is extremely hard, but it can be scratched across the surface. The hard bristles on your toothbrush and abrasive agents in your toothpaste can both cause damage. Damaged tooth enamel can accumulate debris and stains, and it can become sensitive to hot and cold temperatures.
Fortunately, electronic toothbrushes work so well to remove plaque. This means you do not need hard bristled heads and toothpastes with silica or alumina abrasives to clean the teeth. In fact, most electronic brushes come with soft bristle heads already attached. You cannot use too much toothpaste either, because the rotating brush will spin big globs of paste away as soon as it is turned on.
Your dentist will inform you of the best ways to keep your teeth healthy. You may be confused about the type of toothbrush to use though. Electronic toothbrushes are your best option, and the information above tells you why. To learn more about this topic, bring it up at your next dental appointment.
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