Electric Toothbrush Vs Manual Toothbrush

When it comes to cleaning your teeth, the first gadget that comes to your mind is the old manual toothbrush. This was true until the 1990’s, when the traditional toothbrush was incorporated with electric power, adding functionality and effectiveness to this humble personal care gadget. With so much variety and options in toothbrushes and now with even more electric options, sometimes it can be confusing on exactly what is the right purchase.

Let’s look at the pros and cons of both, manual and electric toothbrushes.

Electric Toothbrush

An electric toothbrush as the name says is going to be power. The toothbrush unit has all the basic parts of any other electric appliance. It has an on/off switch, an electric circuit, cam and gear, motor and most importantly the brush head, which is detachable. The electric toothbrush head moves back and forth on an average 7000 times a minute and ensures better oral hygiene. Typically the electric toothbrush runs on power from rechargeable batteries and uses various techniques like oscillation, ultrasonic and sonic vibrations to help clean your teeth..

Pros

• Easy operation: The electric toothbrush is easy to use, you just have to keep the toothbrush at a suitable angle and all the brushing action is done by the motor-mechanism of the brush.
• Better results: Plaque is considered the root of all the dental problems. Studies also report that the electric toothbrushes are more effective in removing plaque and gingivitis as compared to normal toothbrush.
• Brings more fun: I won’t be wrong if I say it is a struggle to get the children brush their teeth on correctly. Believe me, the case is different with an electric toothbrush. They find these high-tech gadgets as fun and love the tickling effect it creates on teeth and inspire them to brush the teeth daily. As a parent, you will find this most amazing.
• Saves time: The electric toothbrush functions at ten times the speed of manual toothbrush and there is internal timer which automatically switches off the toothbrush operation.

Cons

• Needs Charging: The electric toothbrush needs frequent charging and if you are using batteries, they need to be replaced from time to time.
• Higher Cost: Since electric toothbrushes carry numerous features and are technically more advanced, they are costlier than their manual counterparts.
• Sensitivity: A powered toothbrush needs special care and are more prone to breakdowns as compared to a manual toothbrush.

 

Manual Toothbrush

These are the basic or standard toothbrush which are to be manually operated to clean your teeth. They are made up of a plastic handle with rubberized grips and nylon bristles arranged in different patterns. The manual toothbrush comes with many other functionalities like tongue cleaning pads, gum stimulators etc.

 

Pros

• Available in multiple variants: The manual toothbrush is available in different colors and styles. You have the option to choose the toothbrush, according to your dental conditions like the soft brush for sensitive teeth or different head sizes as per your preference.
• Cost-effective. In absence of electrical circuits or motor mechanisms, the manual toothbrushes are pocket friendly.
• Easy to carry: The manual toothbrushes are lighter in weight as compared to electrical ones and preferred to carry while travelling.

 

Cons

• Time Consuming: With manual toothbrush, you have to put more efforts in cleaning your teeth.
• No Timers: There are no timers in manual toothbrushes and hence you may take lesser or more time for brushing than the optimum time needed.
• No Reminders: Unlike electric toothbrush, where you can set reminders to inform you about the brush-change, you have to manually check the brush bristles for needed replacement.

 

Final Words

Some studies have stated that an electric toothbrush is way more effective at cleaning your teeth as compared to a manual toothbrush, and that is probably mostly accurate, but it is still advisable to check with your dentist before going for a powered toothbrush.  Some dental experts also believe that whether you opt for electric or manual toothbrush, it is the correct brushing technique that matters the most, when it comes to fight plaque or gum diseases.