Welcome to our article focusing on the electric toothbrush. They say that a smile is a window to the soul… or is it the eyes? In any case, our smile remains our trademark.
As claimed by all dentists, showing up with a beautiful smile and a dentition in order can be useful to better face our daily lives and feel more confident.
It is not only about aesthetics, however: excellent dental hygiene also guarantees us correct oral function and good health in general. In this article, we will tell you about a tool that can help you get that perfect smile that we all want: the electric toothbrush.
Here we had selected some of the best models of electric toothbrushes that are listed below.
Electric Toothbrushes Buying Guide
Dental health is an issue that affects almost everyone. We already know how essential it is to brush your teeth several times a day.
But often we don’t know how to do it well and we risk worsening the conditions of both our teeth and our gums. Below, we will try to solve the most common doubts about electric toothbrushes.
Is an Electric Toothbrush Better Than A Manual Toothbrush?
Many wonders if it is really worth investing in an electric toothbrush. Our answer is obviously yes. According to a study published in 2014 by the independent organization Cochrane.
In the first three months of use, bacterial plaque improves, on average, by 11%, and in the long term, after three months, by 21%. These data do not necessarily imply that with a manual toothbrush it is not possible to obtain good results.
Since the greater effectiveness of electric models may also depend on whether they are simpler to use. In any case, it is a fact that a high percentage of the population cannot brush their teeth properly with a traditional toothbrush.
A study by the General Pharmaceutical Council, published in 2007, concluded that 80% of the population has incorrect oral hygiene.
Thanks to its timer functions, adjustable power, movements per minute and pressure sensors, brushing your teeth well with an electric toothbrush is much easier, making it an already successful bet.
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of An Electric Toothbrush?
The use of an electric toothbrush, as we mentioned earlier, has many advantages, many of which have to do with its ease of use. However, like everything, it also has disadvantages. Here is all the information to be compared to decide if this product is right for you.
Advantages
- Eliminates more bacterial plaque than a manual toothbrush
- The effort to brush your teeth is less since the toothbrush works for you
- Less abrasive on tooth enamel
- It improves gingivitis and periodontitis
- The various heads adapt to the needs of each
Disadvantages
- The budget to spend at the beginning is greater
- Replacement heads must be purchased and a new one used every three months
- You can reuse the brush as many times as you want, but always changing the brush heads, which presupposes the production of plastic residues to be disposed of.
- You will depend on the battery, or electricity, to use it
How Does an Electric Toothbrush Work?
It really depends on the various brands: not all toothbrushes work the same way. All, however, work thanks to a motor that produces a vibration, which results in a certain movement that is channelled up to the bristles of the head.
The movements can be oscillators, rotators, buttons or various combinations of these types. Today there are also toothbrushes that incorporate sonic or ultrasonic technology, which we will explain more about later.
The bristles of this kind of brushes perform micro-oscillating movements at a very high frequency (several thousand movements per minute). At the same time, they inject liquid between the teeth with which to eliminate the bacterial plaque.
Differences Between the Standard, Sonic and Ultrasonic Toothbrushes?
To avoid confusion, we must first of all be clear that all three variants are electric toothbrushes that work thanks to the motor that moves the heads.
All three are designed to eliminate plaque as much as possible, but work differently. Currently, the price is also different: sonic and ultrasonic toothbrushes will be more expensive than standard electric toothbrushes.
- Standard electric toothbrush: It can reach 12000 movements per minute, although normally it works at about 6000. It rotates and oscillates around each tooth.
- Sonic toothbrush: This type of toothbrush has speed levels of over 30,000 movements per minute. The waves reach the oral cavity through saliva and thus eliminate bacteria, even those nested in the most hidden points of the mouth.
- Ultrasonic toothbrush: It reaches up to 192,000,000 movements per minute and exceeds the threshold of human hearing. Although the first ultrasonic toothbrush was licensed in 1992, it wasn’t until 2013 that it started to become popular on the market.
How Often Should the Heads of The Electric Toothbrush Be Replaced?
Specialists recommend changing the brush head as often as you would replace your manual toothbrush, i.e. about every three months.
There are heads, in fact, that have coloured filaments with a particular tint, which loses colour to indicate the time to replace them, that is when the colour has completely disappeared.
Of course, it’s also a matter of common sense, and in addition, the durability of the heads will also depend on the manufacturer, the hardness of the bristles and the use you make of them.
It’s not the same to use the electric toothbrush twice a day instead of just once. We recommend that you purchase several replacement heads at a time, to reduce your spending.
How to Clean an Electric Toothbrush?
Cleaning an electric toothbrush is as simple as manual cleaning. The first thing to do is to clean the bristles of the head. Since usually, the handle is not waterproof, we recommend you to separate it from the head, in order to wash it under running water.
You can clean the handle with a damp cloth once a week. Another good idea is to leave the heads to soak in the mouthwash, or in a solution of water and pads for cleaning dentures or orthodontic appliances, for some time.
As we have already explained before, simple cold water does not completely dissolve the toothpaste, therefore, at least once a week, it is appropriate to wash the heads with warm or warm water.
Better a Toothbrush with Oral Irrigator Included or Buy the Two Products Separately?
We cannot answer this question with certainty. Of course, an electric toothbrush model with an oral irrigator already included will be much more practical, and you will have everything together in one object: toothbrush, sprinkler and water compartment.
From What Age Can the Electric Toothbrush Be Used?
There is no specific age to offer children to start using an electric toothbrush. Normally, it is advisable to wait for the moment when they are able to use it, that is, generally, between seven and eight years of age.
Electric toothbrushes, especially those that have a pressure sensor, have no contraindication for the little ones. In all cases, if the child is really young, it is better if a parent or adult is present while brushing their teeth.
The ideal, given that children tend to imitate the behaviour of those around them, would be to brush their teeth together, so that he can take an example and learn to use his electric toothbrush correctly.
Purchase Criteria
You have ascertained it while reading this article: there are many types of an electric toothbrush. The performance of each model varies quite a bit and in the same way the price.
How to choose which one to buy without getting lost among all the alternatives on the market? We have no doubts: just keep in mind some specific criteria. The ones we believe to be the most important are the following:
- Heads
- Power Supply and Autonomy
- Functions
- Design
- Accessories
Heads
When choosing an electric toothbrush, it is important to pay attention to its brush heads. There is a huge variety of toothbrushes on the market that differ almost exclusively in the type of brush they have, so keep in mind that you can buy compatible brushes that best meet your specific needs.
An essential aspect is that the toothbrush you choose is compatible with various brush heads, or at least that it is easy to find the spare parts.
Otherwise, you will no longer be able to use the toothbrush when the heads included in the package are finished. Among the models in our selection, there are some of the brands that produce toothbrushes and brush heads that are easily available in various stores.
Power Supply and Autonomy
We find many models on the market powered by rechargeable batteries, normally lithium, and battery models, although less and less common. The battery forces you to depend on the power outlets, while the batteries can be purchased almost everywhere.
There are also models with thread, although today they are really rare. It is very common, in the most modern models of electric toothbrushes, which have a base for inductive charging or that can be recharged directly by electric current, or even USB.
Autonomy is another element to consider. Optimal autonomy should exceed two weeks of normal use or three times a day for about three minutes each.
Functions
Most of the electric toothbrushes that can be purchased today offer extra features that make them much more than just toothbrushes: they make them effective accessories or further facilitate their use.
Obviously, these “plus” increase the cost of the product, but it is always good to know them to make an informed decision:
- Timer: The timer warns you or stops the vibration of the toothbrush after two minutes, i.e. the ideal duration of the complete brushing of the teeth.
- Sector Alarm: This alarm sounds approximately every thirty seconds, to warn you that you need to switch to brushing another area of the mouth.
- Pressure Sensor: This function prevents you from brushing your teeth by applying excessive pressure on the gums. In this way, you will not risk bleeding or that the gums will withdraw.
- Cleaning Method: They are used to adapt the washing to the specific needs of your mouth.
- Screen: On the small screen that some models of the toothbrush are equipped with, you will be able to read the information on the chosen cleaning mode and the brushing time.
- Bluetooth and Applications: The most modern models also allow connection to a smartphone to monitor oral cleaning.
Design
The structure of the electric toothbrush must be a decisive criterion before you purchase a specific one since it affects the use you can make of the appliance.
We refer not so much too captivating colours and shapes, but more to the functionality of the handle and its ergonomics. The anti-slip versions are also not to be underestimated, as they avoid unfortunate accidents.
Also check that both the toothbrush and the charging base are solid, robust and well made. They must have a compartment for storing the heads which, in some models, can also be sterilizing. In addition, there is the possibility of fixing the device to the wall, so that it takes up less space.
Accessories
The most complete electric toothbrushes include extra accessories, such as a case to store and take it with you on the road, or spare heads.
The simplest model manages to clean the teeth perfectly, but it is still pleasant when, included in the package, we find complements that facilitate the oral hygiene process.
The more accessories a toothbrush includes, the more expensive it will be. If this is not a problem for you, our advice is to pay particular attention to the travel case, the replacement heads or the oral irrigator we mentioned earlier, which injects pressure water into the interdental spaces and cavities.
