What Dr. Kulkarni has to say on Electronic Toothbrush?
He says, one of the most popular questions I am asked by patients is: Should I invest in an electronic toothbrush?? It will usually be followed up with: Is it worth it? At simple glance it is a simple yes or no question, but let’s take a deeper look at the toothbrush, our simple but highly important tool of oral hygiene.
When we normally think of “toothbrush” we think of the manual brush, which was invented in the late 1930’s. However, early forms of the toothbrush have been in existence since 3000 BC. The manual toothbrush truly is standing the test of time, yet in 1954, the technology boom taking place did not leave out the humble toothbrush. The electronic toothbrush was invented and started this century old debate on which is better for oral hygiene. The question is valid, which would be better? Most may just jump to think the technological advancement of the toothbrush means it is more effective and efficient than its simple manual counterpart. However, each tool holds it own, and has pros and cons that should be considered.
Manual Toothbrush
Pros:
- Thoroughly cleans teeth with proper brushing techniques. Brushing only takes 2 minutes and you can keep your teeth properly maintained with a manual toothbrush.
- Manual toothbrushes offer a variety of toothbrush styles, bristles, heads and colors to choose from. The variety offered by manual brushes, allow you to completely customize the type of brush you need. If you have a small mouth you can get a manual brush that fits the size of your mouth. Some brands even make special prints and designs to cater to children. Nevertheless, there are far more options with manual toothbrushes.
- Travel friendly! Manual toothbrushes are simple and travel well. No need to worry about chargers,and counter space. It carries a grab and go convenience.
- No batteries or charging.
- Manual toothbrushes are free when you visit your dentist, and significantly cheaper to purchase than electronic brushes.
Cons:
- Alot more work during the act of teeth brushing.
- No timing assistance. Some electric brushes have timers, manuel brushes force the user to either guess or use a timer to achieve proper brushing.
Electric Toothbrush
Pros:
- Easy to use, once it is in your mouth and at a 45 degree angle, the brush does all the work. Studies have shown that electric toothbrushes do a better job of cleaning your mouth and removing plaque and gingivitis vs a manual toothbrush.
- Children enjoy it more. Children love the ease of brushing their teeth with an electric brush, and it will clean their teeth better than they are able to as a child. Bonus! They have fun getting their mouth tickled by the brushes vibration.
- Optional built in timer. Some models of electric brushes offer built in timers. Some will notify you when two minutes has passed, some even split the two minutes and ensure equal cleaning time for each quadrant!
Cons:
- Power source, be prepared to ensure you charge your toothbrush. Some are able to be plugged into the wall and charge, others require batteries. Either way you have to remember to ensure your brush is charged.
- Electric toothbrushes are an investment. They cost significantly more than a manual toothbrush. They also will cost more throughout the time you own it. Buying new brush heads and for some models batteries, the cost can quickly add up.
- Traveling with an electric toothbrush can be a hassle. When traveling you have to make sure you have your charger or batteries with you. Which can be a hassle since people tend to forget to pack a toothbrush when packing.
- Electric toothbrushes are delicate pieces of equipment. Even a slight drop can cause the complete breakdown of your toothbrush.
So, which one is better?
In general both are effective to maintain proper oral hygiene, however, the better question is: Which one would be right for you? Invest in whichever will fit your personal lifestyle. Whether you choose an electric toothbrush or a manual toothbrush, remember that what’s most important is daily brushing and flossing, along with route visits to your dentist.