Which is better: an electric toothbrush or a regular one? Expert opinion

Are you worried about your teeth, decided to pay more attention to them, went to the dentist and decided that you need to take your teeth more seriously? Have you decided to get an electric toothbrush or a water flosser, but don’t know which is better? Then this article is for you. Read on - which is better: a regular or electric toothbrush, the pros and cons of using an electric toothbrush, whether a water flosser will replace a toothbrush or floss.

Irrigator and electric toothbrush. An irrigator is an electrical device for cleaning teeth from plaque. Rinses teeth with a stream of water or a specialized liquid. Water/liquid penetrates into the deepest crevices, interdental space, and all pieces of food and dirt are washed out from there.

An electric toothbrush is a device for cleaning teeth with a mechanical base. The design is based on a classic toothbrush, but additionally has a motor. It causes the bristles of the device to vibrate and rotate at a controlled speed. The first electric toothbrush was created in 1954 in Switzerland and was intended for people with hand motor disorders. Over time, the device became popular among healthy people due to its effectiveness, convenience and ease of use.

Which is better: a regular or electric toothbrush? According to surveys of dentists, the vast majority said that there is no difference between them. You can brush your teeth equally well with a regular or electric toothbrush. The popularity of electric models is due to their convenience.Firstly, they simply make it easier and faster to brush your teeth. Secondly, they have special programs for high-quality cleaning of teeth from plaque. Thirdly, they have additional functions such as a timer or sound effect.

Electric and regular toothbrushes are equally effective. Although you can highlight sonic electric brushes - they act on the gums with ultrasound, eliminating all bacteria at a depth of 6 millimeters. The electric one is simply more convenient and faster to clean teeth.

Types of electric toothbrushes:

1. Classic mechanical. The most popular models are a brush whose head is rounded and rotates from a simple motor. Sometimes there is a timer. There are no additional functions. They cost around 2-5 thousand rubles.
2. Sound. They make 500 sound vibrations per second, resulting in the formation of microbubbles that penetrate into all crevices and interdental spaces. From there they literally wash away all bacteria and plaque. The peculiarity of these models is that they are all suitable for people with sensitive teeth, as well as for children. This is due to the fact that they are gentle on the enamel. The price for the device reaches 9 thousand rubles.
3. Ultrasonic. The most effective and most expensive electric brushes. According to studies by several dentists, ultrasonic brushes are 1.5-2 times better at removing plaque from the surface of teeth. These studies indicate that they cope with this and are several times faster than conventional models. A special speaker creates high-frequency sound that human hearing cannot detect. The vibrations of this sound are even smaller than water molecules or toothbrush bristles, so they penetrate into the cracks between teeth and gums to a depth of 6 mm. Throughout this entire surface, bacteria are affected by sound.As a result, both soft and hard deposits are destroyed. A few seconds over each tooth is enough to do this. The cost of such models reaches 20 thousand rubles, the average price is 10-17 thousand.

Irrigator or toothbrush/dental floss. Are you wondering if a waterpik can replace a toothbrush? Let's answer right away - no. This is based on recommendations and research from dentists. The irrigator does a good job of cleaning dirt between teeth and gums, washing away hard deposits, washing away plaque and bacteria. But the irrigator does not wash away plaque on the main surface of the teeth. On the contrary, under the influence of a stream of water it is imprinted into the tooth. Therefore, the combined effect of a toothbrush and irrigator is recommended.

As for dental floss, an irrigator can replace it. Although it is still recommended to use it for its complex effect.

Pros and cons of using an electric toothbrush. It was previously mentioned that the quality of brushing teeth with a regular and electric brush is the same (only ultrasonic models are more effective). Therefore, the advantages of an electric brush are its convenience, simplicity and additional functions:

• Brushing your teeth with an electric toothbrush is easier (less effort required)
• It is possible to program it to perform certain movements
• Some models have a timer
• Adjustable rotation speed