1. Take Your Time
Your goal, of course, is to get your teeth clean and to prevent the build-up of plaque. You want to remove all possible bacteria from your mouth that can damage your teeth while you sleep or during the day when you don't have time to keep them clean. Necessary to this goal is to make sure that you're spending an adequate amount of time brushing your teeth. 2 to 3 minutes is the recommended time, though most adults, when timed, routinely make it to just about 1 minute.
2. Manual or Electric: Which is Better?
According to studies, which focus on the brush's ability to reach the interproximal spaces (the small triangle of space that you can see between teeth at the gum line) and the depth of deposit removal (DDR), specific electric toothbrushes significantly out-do manual toothbrushes. In some cases, the deposit removal and access to interproximal spaces reduces what would be a 6-minute manual brushing exercise down to 2 minutes with an electric brush.
3. Get Moving
Some people think that, with an electric toothbrush, it's only a matter of holding the brush in place and letting the brush head vibrate and do its work. While it's true that an electric toothbrush doesn't require all of the manual dexterity of a plain brush, you will have a better brushing experience by moving the brush head to spots around, on top of and behind your teeth, getting to the entire surface.
4. Bleed No More
Irritation is a prime concern when brushing, so much so that people have been known to stop brushing due to the pain and inconvenience associated with the activity. In various studies, electric toothbrushes have an elevated potential for reducing irritation and bleeding along the gum line over time, when compared to manual brushes.
5. It's Worth It
Given the statistics, electric toothbrushes come out ahead on every indicator when compared to the manual toothbrushes. Perhaps the most common benefit is that they simply are easier to use: you don't get as tired, you're more likely to brush for the minimum recommended amount of time, and many electric toothbrushes have built-in timers to help you stay on track. That said, it is in your interest to buy a brush that does more than simply move the brush head up and down, or side to side. Think of a dental cleaning: often the dentist uses a device that rotates or spins. Get an electric toothbrush that provides for a variety of movement on and around the teeth, to better remove plaque and stimulate healthy gums.
