Electric toothbrushes have been around for a while now. However, they recently have become more popular among millennials and younger generations. Many patients are asking us if they really are worth all the hype.

Electric toothbrushes rotate and vibrate to remove plaque, like the dental instruments your dental hygienist uses during teeth cleaning. Unlike a regular toothbrush, the patient doesn’t have to move the toothbrush in circular motions while they brush. We have found electric toothbrushes to be especially helpful to our patients with limited mobility, such as carpel tunnel or arthritis. An electric toothbrush will do most of the work to brush the teeth, which is helpful and convenient.

A lot of electric toothbrushes come with built-in timers ensuring the patient is properly brushing for the recommended amount of time. This helps make teeth cleaner and your smile brighter! From a health standpoint, a recent study found electric toothbrushes decrease more gingivitis and plaque than manual toothbrushes. In fact, the study found that after 3 months plaque was reduced by 21% and gingivitis was reduced by 11%.

Overall, electric toothbrushes are great for your dental health. They are convenient and can help reduce gingivitis and plaque more than a manual toothbrush. However, most electric toothbrushes are more expensive than manual toothbrushes, so patients need to consider the financial difference between the two and decide what’s best for them.

Ready to give Ideal Image a try? Make an appointment today!