Why use an electric toothbrush?

You go to the dentist every 6 months, you brush your teeth using a mid-priced ‘whitening’ brand name toothpaste in the morning and before you go to bed and if you remember you swish a neon green mouthwash around your mouth too. Practising the known formula for keeping a healthy smile is all well and …

You go to the dentist every 6 months, you brush your teeth using a mid-priced ‘whitening’ brand name toothpaste in the morning and before you go to bed and if you remember you swish a neon green mouthwash around your mouth too. Practising the known formula for keeping a healthy smile is all well and good but what else could you be doing to improve your oral health? Long gone are the days when an electric toothbrush was a dud Christmas gift from your aunt Edna, these plaque busting gadgets do most of the work for you so you’ll never over brush your teeth (which can cause gum problems) and leave your pearly whites clean and healthy. Still not convinced electric toothbrushes are worth the investment? Here are 5 reasons to ditch the manual and embrace the oscillations.

 

1 – They do the work for you, resulting in a full tooth cleanse and no risk of over brushing which can damage gums and make teeth sensitive. Taking good care of your teeth, mouth and gums is essential as your oral hygiene can really affect your overall health. Ever felt pain in your ear when suffering from a toothache? It’s all connected and keeping your teeth healthy and happy is easy with with the Philips Sonicare EasyClean, a Which Best Buy Award Winner 2012. With 22 million users worldwide Sonicare’s gentle and dynamic cleaning action drives fluid deep between the teeth and gum-line for that fresh from the dentist feeling in your very own bathroom.

2 – The built-in timers ensure you brush for the recommended full 2 minutes. The Philips Flexcare+ is the perfect electric toothbrush for first time users, with the clever easy-start programme which gently increases the pressure applied over the first 14 uses enabling you to fully adjust to using power as you brush. The two-minute timer is also a handy addition for newbies as well as the different methods of cleaning to keep you on your toes – powerful, clean, refresh, sensitive, massage and gum care.

3 – They clean your teeth more thoroughly whilst using less toothpaste. The suggested amount of toothpaste for a good, thorough brushing is a pea-sized amount but how many of us are guilty in lining the entire brush to get a satisfying amount of foam? With an electric toothbrush it’s almost impossible to over use toothpaste as the heads tend to be a lot smaller and with all the stroking, vibrating, scrubbing and massaging you will find you will be replacing your toothpaste a lot less. The Waterpik Complete Care is a must have for every bathroom and contains everything you need to feel like you’ve just left your hygienist.

4 – An indicator will tell you when it’s time to replace the brush head so you won’t be brushing with mounds of bacteria or bristles that are only fit for scraping the mud off your boots. 5 – Sensors adjust speed according to the area of your mouth resulting in the surfaces of your teeth receiving a slower side-to-side stroke as to not cause any damage to sensitive gums. The only toothbrush to have a platinum rating for plaque removal from the British Dental Health Foundation is the Oral-B Triumph 5000 which claims to actively change your brushing habits within just 30 days with the Smart Guide, a remote wireless display that informs you when you’re brushing too hard, how long to brush for and when to switch sides.

5 – They help to actively whiten your smile and improve gum health with technology no manual toothbrush will ever be able to match. They don’t have to cost an arm and a leg, the Colgate ProClinical C350 Max White One comes in at around £29.99 and delivers powerful multi-directional cleaning in one brushing mode. The unique spiral bristles help to remove surface stains and polish teeth perfectly for a whiter, brighter smile. Still packing a punch with interdental cleaning and Sonic Cleaning Action with a lightweight body, perfect for travelling!