Brushing your teeth is an important part of your life. Not only does this impact your dental hygiene, but you should spend about a year of your life cleaning your mouth if you brush the recommended amount (two minutes, twice a day!)
Since you are spending so much of your lifetime brushing, it only makes sense to pick the right tool for the job! Let’s explore the pros and cons of the manual and electric toothbrush so you can decide which one works best for you.
Electric Toothbrush
Pros
Traditional Braces: If you have wire braces, cleaning your teeth is a battle on a regular basis. With an electric brush, you may find a vibrating head helps loosen food in hard to reach places.
Easy to Use: Electric brushes come with tons of bells and whistles that make brushing fun and easy! As long as you are holding the brush at a 45-degree angle to your gums, you can let the electric brush do most of the work.
No More Plaque: According to a study published in 2015, electric toothbrushes remove 21% more plaque than manual brushes due to their oscillating features.
Cons
Costly: Electric brushes vary in price but generally go for about $20-$200 dollars. This doesn’t include the brush heads, which you should replace every 3-4 months.
Delicate: Electric brushes are small little machines that should be treated with care. If not, they could be damaged!
Bulky: Traveling with an electric brush isn’t so easy. They take up more space and require batteries or a charger.
Manual Brush
Pros
Cheap: Most manual brushes cost less than $10 dollars! Plus, your dentist will always give you a new one with each visit.
Same Results: If you are using the right brushing technique, you will see the same results with a manual brush as you would an electric brush.
Transportable: Manual toothbrushes are travel-friendly! Simply slip it into your backpack or purse and you are ready to go.
Cons
Timing: Most electric brushes come with a built-in timer that lets you know when you have been cleaning for 2 minutes. With a manual brush, you will have to rely on a clock.
Lots of Options: Toothbrush aisles can be overwhelming, and it may take you a while to pick out your brush each time you are in need of a replacement.
More Work: Manual brushes don’t vibrate or offer oscillating features, which means more work for your hand.
The Choice is Yours
Now that you know the pros and cons of each, hopefully, you can choose the right brush for you! Remember, as long as you are brushing twice a day for two minutes and using the proper technique, either brush will keep your mouth feeling fresh! Looking for brush recommendations? Contact us today.