The Best Brush for You - Old School or High Tech?

We’ve come a long way since the Middle Ages, when keeping your teeth clean meant gnawing on a twig of sweet wood.  There’s such a wide range of toothbrush styles available today, you may have questions about which ones are right for you or your children.

The first thing you’ll notice is the vast difference in price for various types of toothbrushes.  Powered toothbrushes can cost triple that of manual ones.  Are they worth the extra expense?  That depends on a few factors.  For adults who have excellent ingrained oral hygiene habits, a manual toothbrush should do just fine.  But if you tend to rush the job, skip flossing more than you’d like to admit, or have a health issue like arthritis that makes brushing difficult, an electric toothbrush may make it easier to keep your teeth their healthiest. 

Powered Toothbrushes and Kids

Getting your kids to brush can be a daily battle, and for some kids, a powered toothbrush not only does a better job, it makes brushing more fun.  The powered ones come in fun shapes and many kids like the way the spinning brush feels in their mouth.  For others, though, the vibration seems to bother them.  Try both a manual and a kid-friendly powered one with your child to see which he or she prefers.  Buying a toothbrush your kids will actually use without daily nagging could be worth every penny for the peace it brings a busy household. 

Advantages of Each

There are several benefits to the good, old-fashioned ordinary toothbrush.  It’s easier to replace, more simple to travel with, and of course, it costs a lot less.  But because powered brushes rotate at anywhere from 6,000 – 30,000 strokes per minute, it’s hard to beat their effectiveness in removing tarter build-up and preventing gum disease, even the relatively inexpensive models.  Some dental experts say there’s one style that does a better job than any other.  Electric brushes that rotate in one direction, and then switch directions seem to be the most effective.  These are called rotating-oscillating brushes.

Dentists say regardless of which style you choose, always buy a brush with soft bristles, and replace it at least every three months.