Which Is Best? A Manual Or Electric Toothbrush?

As dentists in Battersea one of the most common questions we get asked is what is the best toothbrush to use. While many people assume that the modern day electric toothbrush must surely be better than a manual toothbrush, in reality the most important aspect of brushing the teeth is that it is carried out thoroughly for a period of two minutes, at least once a day, whatever type of toothbrush is being used.

Having said that if you’re still trying to decide between the two, then here’s a few things to consider which might help in your decision.

Benefits of a manual toothbrush

Manual toothbrushes offer more variety such as a small, medium, or large head and soft, medium, or hard bristles. If for instance you’re an adult with a small mouth, then it could be a challenge to find an electric tooth brush with a really small head, unless it’s got Star Wars or My Little Pony images all over it.

Manual toothbrushes have more flexible bristles than electric toothbrushes which means it’s far easier to move them around your mouth and bend the bristles back in order to remove particles of food from stubborn back teeth.

• It’s easy to brush the inside of your cheeks and your tongues using a manual toothbrush when doing your regular two minute brush. Although some electric toothbrushes do come with tongue cleaners, the majority of circular headed electric toothbrushes struggle when it comes to giving your tongue a thorough clean.
• A manual toothbrush is far easier to travel with. Simply pop it in your bag and away you go. It’s easy to make the mistake of thinking that your electric toothbrush is charged only to arrive at your destination and find that it’s as dead as a dodo. Minus your charger, you’ve no alternative but to use the hotel complimentary toothbrush or pop to the local chemist to buy a manual toothbrush.

Benefits of an electric toothbrushes

• Many electric toothbrushes include a timer making it easy to know when your two minutes are up. Unless you look carefully at your watch or have a timer in the bathroom, you can easily think you may have completed your two minute routine, and this can impact on your ability to carry out a proper clean, as recommended by your Battersea dentist.
• Knowing which electric toothbrush to choose isn’t always straightforward but with this type of product, it’s fair to say that you do get what you pay for. We’d recommend that you spend your money on a reputable brand rather than choosing a cheaper brand which probably doesn’t offer any real benefits.
• Electric toothbrushes are invaluable for people who suffer from arthritis or painful conditions which restrict their movements, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Since the head of the electric toothbrush rotates doing all the work for you, it eliminates the need for the user to apply constant pressure or movement of their hands and wrists, which makes dental care that much easier to deal with.

Whichever type of toothbrush you use, it’s important to visit your dentist in Battersea for six monthly check-ups. Any problems detected early on can mean less treatment and less expense. If you haven’t been to the dentist for a while, why not book an appointment with Glow Dental by

calling 020 7223 7096. Dr. Hooman Sanaty and the team aren’t here to judge, but are friendly and understanding, and only too pleased to help you achieve a healthy smile.