We feel privileged to have been invited to participate in an expert roundup on the relative merits of manual and electric toothbrushes for oral hygiene.
We believe that the question “which is better, electric or manual brushes?” is a bit too specific and leaves out some crucial factors. Let’s take this a step further and give it the consideration it merits.
There are a number of tooth-brushing-related issues that could be addressed when we think about the reasons why brushing is so crucial, such as:
What is the most effective way to lessen the biofilm, or plaque, that is linked to dental decay? For this application, is manual or electric brushing more beneficial?
- Which brush type or brand works best if electric is better?
- Which brand, style, or brushing method works best (and why) if following the manual is the best course of action?
- Where is the study that demonstrates this advantage?
- What is the relative efficacy of manual versus electric brushing in lowering plaque, according to clinicians?
- Did the clinicians take the patient’s diet into account when they discovered the plaque in the patient’s mouth, given that the foods we regularly eat can affect the plaque?
- What about brushing to prevent gum disease? Is it better to use an electric brush or a manual brush?
We can all easily add more pertinent questions to this list, I’m sure.
To be completely clear, we are not dentists or doctors. Being self-taught, we draw from both our own life experiences and our expertise building a global brand that guides people toward better oral health.)
Now that we have all of this discussed, let’s move on to the most crucial factor to take into account when deciding between electric and manual brushing:
It matters more how you brush than what you use.
To put it another way, it is somewhat significant to think about the brushing instrument you use. But paying attention to how you brush is even more crucial if your objective is to improve your oral health.
When brushing, how much conscious attention are you giving it?
We believe that our level of awareness and focus during brushing is far more important than whether we use an electric brush, manual brush, miswak, or another type of brush.
After all, depending on how we use it, any instrument we put in our mouths can either be beneficial or detrimental. Are we brushing mindfully and gently, or are we scrubbing away hastily and mindlessly to “get it done” before hurrying out the door?
The skill and attention we put into using a tool determines its usefulness.
One of the most valuable things we possess is our attention. We have discovered that choosing to focus on a single task at a time allows us to get the most out of an activity.
Our attempts to support our mouths (and bodies, too) fall under this category as well.
We can navigate the path to better oral health more skillfully if we brush with conscious awareness. As you can see, regular, gentle, and thoughtful brushing helps to break up “thug bugs,” lessen plaque buildup, and gently stimulate gum tissue.
However, we risk developing receding gums and diminished tooth enamel over time if we approach the twice-daily brushing habit with the same unconsciously forceful method that we employed when we first learned how to brush our teeth as toddlers.
Indeed, frequent rough, unconscious brushing is a common cause of enamel etching and gum recession.
Therefore, we must first pay closer attention to how we brush before deciding which tools to use.
Developing the practice of brushing mindfully, thoroughly, and gently is the aim here. It is imperative that we resist the urge to take a mental vacation while cleaning.
Please read our articles “How to Brush Your Teeth To Reduce Gum Disease” and “How to Avoid 3 Common Tooth Brushing Mistakes That Can Damage Your Teeth and Gums” for a more thorough look at brushing techniques.
Step of action:
Anyone can use this exercise to increase awareness of their oral hygiene regimen. It’s very easy: use your mouth to go on a date!
In other words, take a seat comfortably and experiment with cleaning your teeth gently without any time constraints. Who said that two minutes was the ideal amount of time to brush your teeth, anyway?
In addition, “How long should I brush my teeth?” is a frequently asked question.
Brush your teeth gently until you can run your tongue over every surface and not find any plaque.
A bit more assistance will be needed in some areas than others. You may need to pause a few times, feel around with your tongue, and then repeat the process until you detect no more plaque.
It can be especially difficult in the spaces behind the lower front teeth and the back molars. For additional information on removing plaque from lower front teeth, see this article.
Don’t forget to approach the task with conscious awareness.
We aren’t working hard to finish it as soon as possible because doing so over time can result in problems like receding gums.
We’re going slowly, brushing a little at a time, feeling for more plaque, and brushing a little more where necessary.
For the first time, we advise using a moistened brush instead of paste so that your tongue can truly feel what’s happening.
Here is an exercise that we believe is the first step to dental self-empowerment if you want to improve your oral health. For anyone looking to significantly improve their oral health, this easy exercise is incredibly beneficial.
Finishing up…
Take note of your brushing technique the next time. Are you scrubbing your teeth mindlessly or are you cleaning them gently but thoroughly?