We know a clean mouth equals reduced cavity and gingivitis risk, so what is the most effective way to achieve that clean?
Electric toothbrushes were invented in 1954 in Switzerland by Dr. Philippe Guy Woog. While they were originally intended to help patients suffering from limited motor skills or those wearing orthodontic appliances, their effectiveness was quickly noted and wide scale production began.
Electric toothbrushes make rapid, automatic bristle motions, in either back-and-forth oscilliation or rotation-oscillation. This automatic motion creates brush strokes at a rate of 31,000 per minute, versus the average 300 brush strokes per minute for a manual toothbrush. The substantial increase in brush strokes is the main reason why electric toothbrushes have repeatedly been found to be more effective at plaque removal than manual brushing. In fact, more than 54 studies have shown that, “powered toothbrushes reduce plaque and gingivitis more than manual toothbrushing in both the short and long term”.
Not only are electric toothbrushes more efficient, they have other benefits as well. One feature several electric models have is a pressure sensing indicator, alerting the user if they are applying too much force when brushing. Too much force can result in enamel or gum tissue loss. Another common feature is a countdown timer, keeping the user on track for brushing for the full recommended two minutes. A bonus features a few of the electric brushes offer is a location tracking system that links to an app on a mobile device. This utilizes Bluetooth technology and shows a virtual map of your teeth, indicating which areas have been thoroughly cleaned and which may have been missed.
We recommend electric toothbrushes to all of our patients for the benefits mentioned above but especially encourage any patients with manual dexterity problems, arthritis or in orthodontic therapy to make the switch. That’s why all this month we are offering a great “Switch to Electric” incentive! When you buy a Sonicare Toothbrush from the office, not only will you receive a $20 mail-in rebate, but we will also give you toothbrush replacements heads for a year (4 count) – a $50 value! Call or come in to take advantage of this offer!
