Brushing and flossing removes plaque from teeth and improves circulation in gums and soft tissues within the mouth. Combined with regular dental care, brushing reduces tooth decay and gum disease to ensure a high level of oral health. While getting children to brush can pose a challenge for parents, an electric toothbrush may encourage kids to brush and help them clean teeth more effectively.
Better Cleaning
According to the Vanderbilt University Psychology Department, children using an electric toothbrush remove about 41 percent more plaque than those using a manual brush. This points to a significant improvement in cleaning between manual and electric brushes, which can have a major impact on long-term dental health. Part of this difference may be attributed to the child's ability and desire to operate the brush. Vanderbilt University experts estimate that a 5-year old child only reaches 25 percent of tooth areas when brushing with a manual brush, whereas an 11-year old only reaches 50 percent of tooth area. An electric brush rotates to reach more tooth areas, and applies enough pressure to clean the surfaces of teeth as well as the areas in between.
Overcome Physical Limitations
The Massachusetts Department of Oral Health cautions that children younger than eight years old simply don't have the motor skills required for effective brushing. Children with disabilities may not have the ability to brush effectively even beyond this age. An electric brush can be used to keep teeth clean as fine motor skills develop, or as a tool for those who may never develop these skills.
Prepare Kids for Dental Visits
Many young children fear visits to the dentist and refuse to cooperate during an exam. An uncooperative patient often reduces the quality of the exam and may cause dental problems to go unnoticed. The University of Hawaii recommends using an electric toothbrush to clean children's teeth because these brushes simulate many common dental tools. An electric toothbrush helps children adjust to high levels of noise and vigorous activity within the mouth so the child will be less afraid during visits to the dentist. Because manual brushes don't produce noise or vigorous activity, they may leave children unprepared for oral exams.
Novelty Factor
The average person should brush for two to three minutes at a time, at least twice a day, according to Tufts University. Many adults do not meet this standard, much less children. An electric toothbrush may make the brushing experience more exciting for kids due to the novelty or gadget factor associated with electric brushes. Some manufacturers produce brushes that play music or feature popular cartoon characters, which also help to get kids excited about brushing.
References
- Massachusetts Department of Oral Health: Growing Healthy Smiles In The Child Care Setting
- Ohio State University College of Dentistry: Dental and Oral Health
- University of Hawaii: Tooth-Brushing and Dental Visits
- Tufts University Journal: Which is Better--A Manual or Electric Toothbrush?
- Vanderbilt University Psychology Department: To Power Or Not to Power
