Electric vs. Manual Toothbrushes: All You Must Understand
A well-rounded oral health regimen, including the consideration of Electric vs. Manual Toothbrushes, is an absolute must if you don’t want to lose natural adult teeth. Every dentist recommends daily practice of proper brushing twice a day and one-time flossing as well as annual dental check-ups by dental hygienists to ensure good oral health.
When it comes to maintaining oral hygiene with proper brushing, it’s super important to use the right toothbrush. This brings us to this blog’s topic: Electric or Manual Toothbrushes. Both of these toothbrushes can be used to clean teeth, but how do they differ?
Here you can get a complete understanding of both devices by looking at the difference between electric toothbrushes and manual toothbrushes. This can help you conclude which toothbrush is worth buying.
Electric vs. Manual Toothbrushes: Technology and Features
Manual toothbrushes are old-fashioned, yet effective toothbrushes that a large number of people still use. They are hand-held toothbrushes featuring three non-movable components- brush heads, bristles, and handles, which all come in different varieties. An ordinary manual toothbrush handle is made of hard plastic or wood and its bristles are made from soft nylon. The quiet advanced version of manual toothbrushes may have the following features:
- Textured, polished, super-soft bristles
- Criss-crossed, extra-long or multi-level bristles
- Tongue cleaners
- Gum stimulators
- Rounded bristle tips
- Angled or tapered brush head
- Cupped-design of bristle to provide teeth whitening benefits
- Comfort-designed handles with special grips.
Electric toothbrushes are powered toothbrushes that can be rechargeable or battery-operated. They provide additional cleaning benefits because of their vibratory or rotary movements.
Besides the features of manual toothbrushes, the high-tech, unique features of battery-powered toothbrushes include:
- Built-in double A battery that can be replaceable in some models
- “+/-” or “ON/OFF” button on the handle
- Split brush heads or bristles that are specially designed to pulsate along with the vibrations.
The advanced, distinct features of rechargeable electric toothbrushes include:
- Pressure sensors to signal when brushing is not gentle
- Digital reminders to replace brush head after it undergoes wear and tear
- Numerous modes of brushing especially for teeth whitening benefits, for sensitive teeth, or to massage gums
- Timers to keep track of how much time brushing is done for each quadrant of the mouth
- Oscillating-rotating or sonic technology
- Multiple brush head compatibility so users can choose kind of bristle design as per their preference
- Additional features for convenience like a bathroom counter storage unit, brush head or toothbrush holder, and travel toothbrush chargers.
Working Difference Between Electric and Manual Toothbrushes
The major difference between electric toothbrushes and manual toothbrushes is seen in their work.
A manual toothbrush is not powered by anything. Its head has a series of bristles that are moved in a circular motion with the user’s hands to brush the teeth and clean the debris from the mouth. In contrast, electric toothbrushes are power-operated. When switched on, the toothbrush starts vibrating and rotating. The user just needs to bring the toothbrush head in contact with the teeth and automatically the brush will scrub the teeth and leave a healthy mouth.
Pros and Cons of Manual and Electric Toothbrushes
Benefits of Manual Toothbrushes
- Affordable- Manual toothbrushes can be purchased at almost any pharmacy, grocery store, dental office, online store, or gas station. Thus, even if people forget to get their toothbrush on travel, they can buy it from any place around them and use it day and night.
- Accessible- Manual toothbrushes are lower priced than electric toothbrushes. Every time they are used, they work consistently to ensure effective cleaning.
Disadvantages of Manual Toothbrushes
Users are more likely to brush too hard- As the control of the manual toothbrush is in the user’s hands, the user may brush too hard. Too hard brushing can hurt the gums and teeth.
Difficult for a user to keep track of the time of brushing- Manual toothbrushes do not have a built-in timer. So, users may brush their teeth for either more or less than 2 minutes at a time.
Benefits of Electric Toothbrushes
- More effective at plaque removal- Oscillating (rotating) and vibrating toothbrushes seem to remove more plaque build-up from teeth and gums than manual toothbrushes and just vibrating toothbrushes.
- Has built-in timer- Electric toothbrushes can help users brush their teeth for 2 minutes every time.
- Easy to use with limited hand mobility- People having carpal tunnel syndrome, developmental disabilities, or arthritis can easily and effectively brush their teeth with electric toothbrushes.
- Replaceable brush heads- After 3 months of use of a manual toothbrush or even before, it needs to be replaced with a new one. In the case of an electric toothbrush, mostly the brush head needs to be replaced, not the entire toothbrush.
- Help improve oral health in people with orthodontic appliances- An electric toothbrush makes brushing easier in people having braces.
- Safe for gums- When properly used, an electric toothbrush does not harm the gums or enamel of the teeth but instead encourages overall oral health.
- Best for kids- Children go lazy about cleaning their teeth properly. If they are given electric toothbrushes, good oral cleaning and setting of healthy habits can be accomplished by them.
Disadvantages of Electric Toothbrushes
- Expensive- Electric toothbrushes’ price ranges anywhere from $15 to $250 per brush. The multiple pack of new replacement brush heads costs anywhere between $10 and $45. The cost of a single-use electric toothbrush is $5 to $8 plus the price of batteries.
- Not eco-friendly- Electric toothbrushes batteries and heads should be replaced after a reminder pops up on the digital. Manual toothbrushes can be thrown or their use may be repurposed.
- Not preferred by everyone- Users of electric toothbrushes may not be comfortable with the vibratory sensation inside the mouth. They may find electric toothbrushes messier on use due to extra saliva production.
Manual and Electric Toothbrushes: Which One is Better?
The choice of toothbrush depends upon one’s mouth condition, preferences, and budget. By weighing the pros and cons of manual and electric toothbrushes, one can decide which toothbrush to select. Still, in many terms, electric toothbrushes are far better than manual toothbrushes.
The Conclusion
To round off the difference between electric and manual toothbrushes, our experts conclude that electric toothbrushes are a much better option to choose than manual toothbrushes. That’s simply because electric toothbrushes have advanced features that make them more effective in cleaning teeth even from hard-to-reach areas of the mouth, and help achieve a healthier smile. Those who can’t afford electric toothbrushes, still have manual toothbrushes to use twice a day to brush teeth using the correct technique.
The most important thing to learn from this blog is that proper brushing of teeth either you choose Electric vs. Manual Toothbrushes is crucial for good oral and general health.
If you want to have minimal risks of having cavities or any other oral health issues, then pick up an electric toothbrush.