The age-old debate is coming to the surface again because many electric toothbrushes on the markets today do much more than vibrate. But, are electric toothbrushes better for the whole family or a question of personal preference? Let’s consider the merits of the issue, below.
The Paramount Importance of Good Oral Health
Oral hygiene is one of the most important and somewhat neglected areas of health in the United States. Nearly half of all American adults over the age of 30 are suffering from some form of periodontitis (gum disease). This is a direct result of poor oral hygiene: a failure to floss, brush, and care for teeth properly.
Periodontitis is an oral health disease that deteriorates the bones and gums as it progresses. It starts off with gingivitis, a condition where the gums become inflamed from pockets of plaque building up near the gumline. Eventually, if left untreated, periodontitis will lead to tooth and bone loss. It may be difficult to repair the damage or even too late once it has reached this stage even if you elect for our oral surgery and cosmetic dentistry Saskatoon treatment options. Smokers, the elderly, and patients taking medications that dry out their mouths are the most susceptible.
At the Acadia Dental Clinic Saskatoon, the Saskatoon dentists see gingivitis and advanced stages of periodontitis frequently. When you schedule a dental checkup, the Saskatoon dentists can clean plaque and assess the degree of periodontitis you may be suffering.
The Pros and Cons of Electric Toothbrushes
The battery-powered electric toothbrushes of the bygone era did little more than vibrate. Nowadays, electric toothbrushes have eccentric bristles that rotate and scrub. They are engineered with soft bristles that won’t damage teeth and more ergonomic than ever.
Electric toothbrushes are shown to improve the oral health of individuals who have poor oral health. It may not make a difference if you are skilled with a manual toothbrush. One common reason that an electric toothbrush may be more effective is due to the timer. An electric toothbrush reinforces the need to take tooth-brushing seriously. It will time the recommended brushing intervals and make brushing more fun.
The downside of an electric toothbrush is the cost for well-engineered models. After investing in the electric brush unit, replacement heads also come with a cost. You may have to special order them on top of it all. The other notable problem is that they can be messy. You probably don’t want to get risk dribbling toothpaste on your nicest shirt or dress before a big event by using an electric toothbrush.
The Pros and Cons of Manual Toothbrushes
When you choose to use a traditional toothbrush, the onus is on you to choose the right style. The Acadia Dental Clinic Saskatoon will provide you with a manual brush at your hygiene appointment. A helpful recommendation may be that people brush with an angled brush endowed with multiple levels of varying soft bristles. A flat toothbrush probably won’t provide the same kind of coverage.
If you know how to brush in a small circular motion that mimics the rotation of an electric brush’s bristles, you will remove plaque better and prevent cavities and periodontitis from setting in. Or back and forth at an angle towards the gums followed by a gentle whisk away from the gums. If you are the type of person who does the short and sweet routine, you will probably leave a lot of the biofilm in your mouth.
In either case, you will want to brush each side of the teeth in short 20 second sets for about 2 minutes altogether. This means that you brush the front, the inside, the outside, the back, and the chewing surfaces for 20 seconds each set. In addition, you will want to brush your tongue, cheeks, gums, and the roof of your mouth to remove any biofilm that can form tartar.
The biofilm is a mix of saliva and bacterial colonies that will leach minerals from your saliva to form buildup along your gum line called tartar. You can avoid oral surgery. Simply search for “dentistry Saskatoon”. If you come in annually for a dental checkup, thoroughly brush twice a day, and floss at least once a day, you will never have to worry about periodontitis.
What Do Kids Dentists Suggest?
When it comes to oral health in kids, kids dentists and Acadia Dental recommend that you use whatever the child feels most comfortable using. Whatever it takes to get the job done. If you are dealing with younger children, you may need to brush their teeth yourself after they try as an additional safeguard of their oral health.
