Select a Toothbrush
More and more patients today ask about electric toothbrushes. Many dental professionals also recommend electric toothbrushes for their patients. One of the main reasons is to reduce damage to the teeth caused by brushing with excessive pressure. Toothbrush abrasion, as it is commonly known, is trauma-induced recession of the gums that leads to exposure of the root surface of the tooth. This can lead to severe sensitivity. An electric toothbrush can help prevent toothbrush abrasion by eliminating poor brushing technique. An electric toothbrush is also recommended for patients with poor manual dexterity.
Key Points
As we mentioned before, the two most popular brands of electric toothbrushes are Oral-B and Sonicare. Having tried them both, I would like to discuss the major things I like and dislike about each. This will strictly be a comparison between the two brands.
Oral-B Electric Toothbrush:
The head of an Oral-B toothbrush is round and rotates in a circular motion, clockwise and counterclockwise. Dental plaque is removed mechanically, just like with a manual toothbrush. They are well designed, look sharp, have a good battery life, and, if used properly, do a great job eliminating plaque. The only disadvantage is that they are a bit noisy. Overall, it is a quality product that I would recommend to everyone.
Sonicare Electric Toothbrush:
The head of a Sonicare toothbrush is rectangular and oscillates back and forth at a very fast rate. Plaque is removed through the motion of the brush as well as the sonic wave created by the brush. These toothbrushes are also well made. They function just as well as the Oral-B, and if used properly, they do a great job with plaque removal. The only disadvantage I encountered was that after using it for about two years, the battery failed. There is no way to replace the battery, which means that a new unit has to be purchased. I am trying out the new ones to see if there is improvement in that category.
Philips Sonicare Toothbrush
There is no review on this other than to mention it as an option for you to do your own research on.
In summary, no matter which brand you choose, you will be happy with the result. If you were never educated on proper brushing technique, the electric toothbrush will help you keep things simple and eliminate plaque in the process.
