The Benefits of Owning an Electric Toothbrush

Switching up your nightly oral care routine is probably not on the top of your mind. Often, those bedtime rituals feel almost sacred, so familiar and comfortable that you could never imagine changing them. Maybe you’ve thought electric toothbrushes are a gimmick, but the fact is that personal results and research have proven them to be a highly effective improvement on the old-fashioned manual toothbrush.

For those concerned about the long-term health of your teeth and gums, read on to find out why it's time to take the plunge and buy an electric toothbrush.

Dentists and hygienists know that electric toothbrushes are more effective at removing plaque and reducing the risk of gingivitis. In fact, studies have shown that just three months of use can reduce plaque by twenty-one percent and decrease the presence and effects of gingivitis.See Disclosure ¹ If that’s your oral care priority, consider oscillating (rotating) brushes that perform better in this department than ones that simply vibrate.

Additionally, electric toothbrushes that use sonic technology interrupt the growth of bacteria beneath the gumline where most toothbrushes can’t penetrate. This can prevent the bacteria from colonizing, creating plaque and contributing to gum disease in those hard-to-reach places.

Electric toothbrushes can also help people with limited dexterity brush more effectively. Arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or other health conditions can make it difficult to control a brush and reach the back teeth. However, an electric toothbrush makes the job easy by doing the work for you.

Remember, to get the most out of your toothbrush, you’ll want to keep replacement heads on hand for timely maintenance. Many electric toothbrush brands feature colored bristles that indicate when it’s time to swap out brush heads.

One of the unexpected benefits of using an electric toothbrush is that it can help you focus on what you’re doing. It’s hard to zone out when you have something electric buzzing over your teeth. Even better, some electric brushes have automatic timers to ensure that you brush your teeth for the recommended amount of time, which is around two minutes.

Kids can find electric toothbrushes fun as well. Parents can appreciate anything that encourages kids to brush their teeth. Moreover, it’s important to adopt a healthy personal care regimen at an early age.

No oral care routine is complete without proper flossing, and, unfortunately, flossing can be incredibly tedious. If your teeth are close together or you have orthodontic appliances like braces, flossing is even more difficult. In fact, flossing can be cumbersome enough that many people bypass it at bedtime, even though many dentists stress that it can be more important than brushing.

Fortunately, you can choose a water flosser to get debris and plaque out from between your teeth and within your gums. Keep in mind that a water flosser is not a one-to-one replacement for regular floss. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses but using the water version is a huge improvement over not flossing at all. Also, if you have early signs of gingivitis or other gum issues, it’s a good idea to use both regular floss and a water flosser each day.

These days, teeth whitening systems are commonly in use for those who want to brighten their smile. While your priority should always be on maintaining the health of your teeth, it’s nice to lift the stains off of them as well. Yellow teeth can be perfectly healthy, but they clash noticeably with a white mustache or bright red lipstick. Additionally, whitening your teeth makes a big difference in how others react to your smile. Whitening your teeth is especially crucial if you frequently enjoy coffee, wine or tea, all which stain teeth quite noticeably over time. Many brides- and grooms-to-be book appointments with their dentist to ensure their grin gleams on their big day, which is why a whitening kit would be a thoughtful wedding shower gift idea.

Whether you’re just making the switch to an electric toothbrush, or you want to include a few more improvements to make your oral care routine more thorough, you’ll undoubtedly be pleased with both short-term and long-term results.