We live in a generation where virtually everything is going smart, smartphones, smartwatches, smart games (VR, Virtual Reality Games), smart TVs.
I mean, life generally is becoming increasingly easy and fun by the day. Guess what I came across just the other day? Smart toothbrushes, wow!!
When you see someone, the first noticeable thing is usually their smile. This gives you an insight into the kind of person they are, wouldn’t you want to work on giving people that awesome first impression about you?
We take a lot of food and drinks into our mouths on a daily basis causing stains and plaques if left unattended. It’s a necessity however to give our dental hygiene the attention it deserves in order to look attractive and lead charming lives. This is where toothbrushes and electric toothbrushes (an upgrade on the former) come into play. Electric toothbrushes are highly recommended and easily available for everyone to purchase.
Electric toothbrushes are not as prevalent as manual ones, I’ve since been convinced about them and I want to tell you everything I’ve found out about them! According to the American Dental Association (ADA), tooth brushing basically requires a brush that you use suitably and for two minutes in the morning and at night.
An electric toothbrush is made of plastic, never metal, and a lot of questions have been raised on how the plastic charger and the plastic toothbrush connect to charge without any wires and ports.
Your toothbrush comes in contact with water pretty much every time and no one would want water to get into wires and face the risk of malfunction or electrocution, that is why electric toothbrushes are made with plastic.
How then do they charge, they charge using the principle of induction, just exactly what magnetic wireless chargers use (the principle has been thoroughly explained there).
An electric toothbrush kit usually contains a toothbrush, a charging pad, and one or more replaceable head brushes depending on the manufacturer. Electric toothbrushes come in various forms, sonic, ultrasonic, rechargeables and battery-operated. You can also clean the handle of your toothbrush with a damp piece of cloth to remove stains and dirt, quite easily!
It is also equipped with pressure sensors, so it does not brush too hard and injure you.
“According to the American Dental Association (ADA), tooth brushing basically requires a brush that you use suitably and for two minutes in the morning and at night.”
Are Electric Toothbrushes Worth It?
Well you should know that an electric toothbrush costs almost 10 times more than a manual toothbrush, replacing the head comes at the cost of a manual toothbrush.
It’ll make the most sense getting one if you think:
- Manual brushing is too laborious.
- You can’t meet the stipulated two minutes.
- You tend to brush in a distorted pattern.
We’ll be treating a few FAQs to help you determine if an electric toothbrush is worth your money:
- Can I use an electric toothbrush with braces?
Yes, although it’s most important for orthodontic patients that find it hard to use a manual toothbrush.
- Can I replace my toothbrush head?
Yes definitely, it’s advisable you replace it every 2-3 months, brittles on an electric toothbrush turn white from blue as a sign that it’s time to get another brush head, amazing, isn’t it?
- Can I go on a plane with my electric toothbrush?
According to the Transportation Security Administration of America (TSA) it is okay to carry your electric toothbrush on a plane, as long as it’s in a carry-on bag.
- How long can I use an electric toothbrush?
For as long as it still works, all you have to do is replace the toothbrush head every 2-3 months. This, in the long run, leads to effective waste reduction.
Getting the perfect Electric toothbrush
Are you looking to purchase your first electric toothbrush or do you want to change your current electric toothbrush, you’ve come to the right place. We’re here to put you through what to look out for while purchasing an electric toothbrush and what electric toothbrushes we recommend.
After putting in hours of research, here are our top 10 electric toothbrushes for you to start with:
Possessing six speed modes, you can determine the intensity of how you want your teeth to be brushed.
Do you fancy an automated two-minute timer? Or the soothing feeling of assisted brushing with the perfect toothbrush? This product was made especially for you! This is why the Oral-B Pro 100 is amongst our top picks, coupled with having the widest range of replaceable toothbrush heads. Meanwhile, a replaceable Oral-B brush head costs about $50 or less as at the time of writing this article, while a generic brush head costs $1 or less. Heads up! You may find the Oral-B Pro 100 louder than other toothbrushes.
With a sleek design, it is one of the most travel-friendly toothbrushes, giving care to your mouth on the go, wherever you seem to find yourself.
This is the toothbrush for starters, this will definitely get them hooked.
Amazing feature, allows you to connect with the Philips Sonicare app which shows you how long you’ve used your brush head and orders a new one when it’s time to change it, it also shows you how effectively you’ve been brushing.
Others include:
- Aquasonic Black Series Ultra Whitening Toothbrush
- Oral-B Smart Series
- Fairywill Electric Toothbrush
- Co. by Colgate the Co. Rechargeable Toothbrush
- Spotlight Oral Care
Pros and Cons of using an electric toothbrush
While we definitely support you getting an electric toothbrush, it is still important we discuss its benefits and drawbacks.
Pros
Effectiveness
An electric toothbrush removes dental plaque better than manual brushes proving to be more efficient in interdental cleaning. This study and this 2017 preview prove that powered brushes may get rid of a larger amount of dental plaques than manual brushes when used over a period of time. This is because they possess brittles that go further between your teeth, and rotary heads that spin and move back and forth.
In short, using an electric toothbrush will help you clean hard-to-reach spots more effectively.
Aesthetics
Electric Toothbrushes are well designed and constructed, compared with manual toothbrushes. Its aesthetic quality gives your bathroom or sink a prettier look.
The perfect choice for people whose mobility is hampered
People with disabilities (developmental) or health conditions (stroke, arthritis, parkinson’s) that don’t give them the liberty to move their limbs freely or perform strenuous tasks.
Increased focus
Since your toothbrush is doing all the brushing for you, you have more time to think about what your day is going to be like or what to wear the next day to work whichever the case may be. As shown in this study, electric toothbrushes make you more focused than when you’re concentrating on brushing your teeth yourself whilst trying to prevent any damage.
Orthodontic appliances
After getting an orthodontic appliance like braces, the level of dental plaque in your teeth fairly remains the same, brushing however might turn out to be an uphill task in some cases. A study has shown how electric toothbrushes can make brushing easier for people with braces.
Gum-friendly
Electric toothbrushes are gentle on the gum except if you’re rough while brushing, they also prevent gingivitis (gum disease).
Cons
Costliness
Electric toothbrushes are way more expensive than manual ones, ranging from about $50-$200 while toothbrush heads cost between $1-$10 depending on their manufacturer.
Risk
For individuals that love to brush their teeth till they feel a tingling sensation in their mouth as a sign of assurance that they’re doing it right, aside from the fact that they’re wrong and mislead, an electric toothbrush can lead to bone damage, receding gum and a chance of infection.
Waste
Electric toothbrushes do not really constitute plastic waste unlike manual toothbrushes that have to be disposed of every 2-3 months, but after constant usage for a period of time, they generate battery waste.
Final Verdict
Overall, electric toothbrushes are not hazardous. They are a massive upgrade on the manual toothbrush, proving to be way more efficient, faster, and easy to use. Do you love the feeling of being assisted to brush your teeth or you’re rooting for an automated two-minute timer that helps you save time, you may find getting an electric toothbrush the best option. In any case, electric toothbrushes provide you with improved dental care.
