Electric or manual toothbrush: which cleans your braces better?

Category: Braces · 1 July 2019

Many people ask us whether electric toothbrushes really clean better. We’re happy to recommend them, but there are a few facts you should consider before buying one. A look at manual work vs. technology.

Electric toothbrush: rotating or (ultra)sonic?

Not all electric toothbrushes are the same. We distinguish between three different types of electric toothbrush:

Would you like to brush with:

rotating-oscillating technology (round-head brushes)
sonic technology
or ultrasound?

The first group, round-head brushes, have a round brush head that rotates rapidly, alternating to the left and right. The brush is driven by an electric motor. This brushing technique is considered reliable. However, you have to press the brush against the tooth. This can damage the tooth enamel, and the brush head wears out comparatively quickly.

With sonic toothbrushes, the brush head doesn’t rotate but vibrates – powered by sound waves at around 30,000 vibrations per minute. The brush head resembles that of a conventional manual toothbrush. You need to apply less pressure, which is gentler on your tooth enamel. The cleaning effect is also slightly better, and you can reach the spaces between your teeth more easily.

Ultrasonic toothbrushes look like normal sonic toothbrushes, but they produce many times more vibrations at a higher sound frequency. This gives the toothbrush an antibacterial effect: the brush cleans not only at the macro level but at the micro level too. Ultrasonic toothbrushes make bubbles in special toothpaste burst. Handling them takes a little getting used to, as you place the brush on the teeth for ten seconds at a time, cleaning each tooth individually.

Now that’s been cleared up: what are the facts about brushing?

Fact 1: In the same brushing time, electric toothbrushes remove more plaque than a manual toothbrush.

However, that doesn’t mean you have to switch.

With a manual toothbrush you can achieve the same performance and a clean result. However, it requires a little more effort and longer brushing on your part.

Tip: Children’s teeth in particular benefit from an electric toothbrush. What a child lacks in skill and motivation, an electric toothbrush makes up for. It’s also easier for you to clean your children’s teeth with an electric toothbrush.

Fact 2: For smokers and people who want to remove tooth discolouration, an electric toothbrush is a good choice.

The downside of an electric toothbrush is that you have to replace the heads just as often as you would a manual toothbrush.

This means that brushing electrically costs more: replacing all the heads every four to six weeks can really add up for a family.

When buying an electric toothbrush, pay particular attention to the size of the brush head. The smaller the radius of the rotations and vibrations, the more precisely the brush head cleans. Incidentally, the same principle also applies to manual toothbrushes.

Conclusion:

There are no reliable scientific studies, and each type of toothbrush has its advantages.

The only thing that’s certain is this: if you brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, you protect them against tooth decay.

The longer you brush, the more plaque you remove.

Important: always clean your teeth on the inside and outside. Work systematically and thoroughly through every area of your mouth – then it makes no difference whether you brush manually or electrically.

You might also be interested in:

Back to Tips & Tricks

Electric or manual toothbrush: which cleans your braces better?

Electric toothbrush: rotating or (ultra)sonic?

Now that’s been cleared up: what are the facts about brushing?

Conclusion:

You might also be interested in:

Smile your way to happiness – with our braces

Book your free appointment now!