ExecutiveChronicles | Manual Toothbrush Vs Electronic | Looking after your teeth is essential, and your oral health should be just as important to you as your physical health. Regular trips to the dentist are one of the best ways to ensure that you’re caring for your teeth, so make sure that you choose a clinic that’s highly recommended. Try visiting the best dentist in London for a dental visit like no other. There are other ways you can take good care of your teeth, and that’s by brushing them correctly. However, you may be unsure whether you should go for a manual or an electric one. Keep reading to find out the pros and cons of each one so you can make the best decision to ensure you have perfect oral health.
What Is A Manual Toothbrush?
A manual toothbrush is probably the one that most people are used to using when brushing their teeth. It has bristles attached to the handle and requires you to manually move it back and forth over and across your teeth to clean them. This means that the pressure you apply needs to be consistent in order for it to be effective. Manual toothbrushes are typically made of plastic, but you can find more eco-friendly ones made of bamboo.
What Is An Electric Toothbrush?
An electric toothbrush is powered by a battery so that the bristles move automatically over your teeth. This oscillation means that you don’t need to move your hand back and forth, you can simply hold it on each of your teeth to get a deep clean. The bristles tend to move in a circular motion which can’t really be achieved manually, so you can get a different result when using it.
Pros Of A Manual Toothbrush
There are lots of positive aspects to a manual toothbrush. For example, they’re typically a lot cheaper than an electric one as they don’t have any costly components. They also don’t need charging, so you’ll never be stuck somewhere without being able to brush your teeth. You can simply pop it in your bag and take it anywhere with no worries. They’re also super easy to come across in shops as well. You can find manual toothbrushes in most shops, so in an emergency, you can always find one. Manual toothbrushes do a good job of cleaning your teeth when used efficiently too.
Cons Of A Manual Toothbrush
One of the biggest downsides to a manual toothbrush is that you have to rely entirely on your technique when brushing, and if you don’t do it right, you could be in for problems later on. You have to make sure that you brush hard enough, but not too hard otherwise you could damage your soft gums. You also need to ensure that you brush your teeth for the right amount of time too, Not brushing for long enough can mean that your teeth aren’t properly cleaned and over time, this could lead to dental issues. Manual toothbrushes may be more wasteful as well because the whole thing is disposed of after a couple of months. Even if you get a bamboo toothbrush, you still have to throw the whole thing away. So, if you’re wanting to maintain your oral health and be eco-friendly at the same time, you might need to take this into consideration.
Pros Of An Electric Toothbrush
Electric toothbrushes are super easy to use. You know that each time you brush your teeth, you’re getting the same clean as you did last time because the pressure and movement of the bristles won’t change. These brushes are also thought to be slightly better at removing plaque as they manage to reach hard to get areas of the mouth. A lot of electric toothbrushes also give you different speeds and options to choose from so you can tailor the cleaning experience to your teeth. Electric toothbrushes also have a timer so you can be 100% certain that you’re brushing for the required amount of time. These types of toothbrushes are also ideal for people with limited mobility as you don’t need to move your hand or arm vigorously just to clean your teeth. Normally, electric toothbrushes have replaceable heads, so you only have to throw away that one part. In the long run, this can cause less waste than a manual brush as you’re only disposing of the necessary parts. Electric toothbrushes are also said to be softer on your gums, so there’s no chance that you’ll brush too hard and damage the soft tissue. Some dentists also recommend electric brushes for those with braces as they provide a gentle, yet thorough clean.
Cons Of An Electric Toothbrush
Although electric toothbrushes have a lot of positives, there are some drawbacks. For example, if your brush uses a rechargeable battery, you might not be able to charge it everywhere. Going on holiday may mean you have to take a plug adaptor with you, which is an extra cost you might not want to spend. Similarly, the heads can sometimes be expensive as not all brands are compatible with each other. This means if you buy a top-of-the-range brush, you can expect to pay out a little more for the replacement heads too. In general, these brushes are more expensive to buy than manual brushes too and they can be limited to stores like pharmacies.
Which Is Best?
Some dentists recommend manual, and some recommend electric, it all depends on who you talk to. Both of them have their own unique benefits so it’s not a clear-cut case of one is better than the other. If you have limited mobility, a manual brush might not even be an option. But if you don’t have the money to splurge on an electric one, you may have to keep using a manual brush instead. Both of them have pros and cons, it’s just down to how you use them and the care you take of your oral health. As long as you use each brush correctly, you can be sure that you’re keeping your teeth healthy and clean.
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