If you're here, it's because you're looking for the electric toothbrush of your dreams. You probably know that they offer twice the brushing efficiency of a manual toothbrush. Their main advantage is that they are easy to use. In addition, they remove plaque much more easily and prevent caries. Good efficiency and comfort are their main advantages. They are intended for a wide and varied public. The model of electric toothbrush to choose depends partly on the age of the user. However, it depends much more on the features that the user is looking for according to their needs.
Here is a guide to help you understand which electric toothbrush is best suited to your needs based on your main selection criteria.
What are the benefits of switching to an electric toothbrush?
The electric toothbrush has many advantages :
1) Tooth brushing without feeling any pain
In general, dental hypersensitivity causes significant pain or daily discomfort. It can be related to several factors:
- Increased consumption of cold foods
- Increased consumption of hot foods
- Eating sweet or acidic foods
- Poor tooth brushing with an unsuitable toothbrush
Using an electric toothbrush allows you to brush your teeth gently. Indeed, the vast majority of electric toothbrushes are equipped with pressure sensors that signal when the user presses too hard when brushing his teeth. This will prevent aggressive rubbing that damages the enamel and causes tooth pain. It is therefore important to have a toothbrush like this one that offers a good lightness of brushing.
2) A design that is both ergonomic and aesthetic
The electric toothbrush is mostly ergonomic. It has the capacity to adapt perfectly to your hand to allow you to reach the corners of your mouth without difficulty. This criterion is very important because a suitable shape and material will allow you to brush your teeth well. In addition, electric toothbrushes always have an aesthetic design that makes you want to brush your teeth. Indeed, brushing your teeth can often be experienced as a chore. Therefore, having a toothbrush that you like will give you more motivation for the two minutes of brushing required.
3) Less dental plaque than a manual toothbrush
It removes more plaque than a manual toothbrush. A manual toothbrush makes it difficult to clean properly between the teeth. This makes it much easier for plaque to build up, which leads to tartar, cavities and the majority of dental problems and oral diseases. On the other hand, the electric toothbrush often has a round brush which allows to clean the interdental spaces efficiently. In addition, its pulsations loosen plaque. The oscillations and rotations of the toothbrush remove it.
4) Much easier access to hard-to-reach areas
The shape of the electric toothbrush heads and its length allow you to reach hard-to-reach areas. The ability to reach these areas is also due to the rotating movements of its head. The shape of the brush head, which is often round, makes it much easier to reach all the surfaces of the tooth, the gum line and the interstices. The electric toothbrush therefore allows for a good in-depth brushing of the teeth.
5) Much more precise brushing action
The electric toothbrush makes brushing your teeth much easier by allowing you to make a complete gesture that is not possible to reproduce with a manual toothbrush. In fact, it allows you to have a good brushing technique by having a certain agility to carry out the back and forth and rotation gestures necessary for the complete hygiene of the teeth and the gum line. You will therefore be able to demonstrate rigour but also gentleness and dexterity in order to achieve a good brushing performance of your teeth.
6) Improved oral hygiene
Good oral hygiene is an essential element in the fight against tooth decay because it limits the accumulation and duration of action of the bacteria responsible. The presence of these bacteria is directly related to the persistence in the oral cavity of food residues, especially sugars, represented essentially by dental plaque. The electric toothbrush therefore prevents the formation of dental plaque and protects the gums and teeth.
7) A reduction in the risk of tooth loosening
Tooth decay is often caused by brushing too nervously, which affects the firmness of the gums. It can also be linked to periodontal disease such as gingivitis or periodontitis. Brushing to protect the gums from loosening is not the same as brushing to prevent caries.
Here is the brushing technique you should use to reduce the risk of tooth loosening:
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush
- Apply a dose of toothpaste with an applicator
- Place it against the outer surfaces of your teeth
- Brush with a rolling motion from the gum to the tooth
The most practical and effective electric toothbrush to meet these criteria is undoubtedly the Y-Brush electric toothbrush. Indeed, it allows to brush all the teeth and their faces at the same time. It also simplifies brushing because it has filaments with a good inclination, which makes it possible to automate the brushing process. Moreover, it is flexible, which gives it the capacity to adapt to all types of jaws.
Which electric toothbrush to choose according to your criteria?
1)Electric toothbrushes for sensitive gums
The sonic electric toothbrush
The sonic electric toothbrush is a toothbrush that is particularly suitable for people with sensitive gums. It cleans your teeth thanks to the rapid vibration of the bristles. The bristles of the brush allow a very fast brushing rhythm. In fact, they perform up to 40,000 vibrations per minute. It is also important to know that a sonic toothbrush vibrates at least 75 times faster than a manual toothbrush.
The main features of the electric sonic toothbrush are :
- a deep cleaning: it eliminates the food detritus stuck in the teeth
- sonic technology: less aggressive than the oscillo-rotating ones and "in fashion" with all the big brands such as OralB, My variations, Sonicare...
- several vibration modes and brushing times: automation of the gesture and duration): the vibration mode chosen depends on the dental sensitivity of each person or the brushing need
The Y-Brush is an electric toothbrush for sensitive gums that you can use with your eyes closed. The bristles are angled at 45° to the sides of the toothbrush, so that your gums and gum line can be brushed gently. Moreover, the filaments have a good inclination which allows a perfect automation of the gesture.
2) Electric toothbrushes for better scaling
The oscillating electric toothbrush
The oscillo-rotating toothbrush is a toothbrush which allows a better scaling. It is equipped with an oscillating brush that rotates at high speed. The brush emits impulses. The brushing movements change according to the speed of rotation. If the speed is high, the brushing movements will be much greater. If you make a large number of brushing movements, you will remove more plaque. In addition, the round brush head allows you to brush all around your teeth.
The main features of the oscillating-rotating toothbrush are :
- It makes circular movements while alternating the direction of rotation
- It is used with care: it is sometimes a little traumatic for the gums and involves gum recession
- It is equipped with a pressure sensor that allows you to control your brushing pressure
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On the other hand, you can rather opt for a non-oscillating toothbrush such as Y Brush if you have specific oral needs at the gum level.
3) Electric toothbrushes with a timer
The ultrasonic electric toothbrush
The ultrasonic electric toothbrush is a toothbrush that works with a timer. The timer alerts the user when you have reached the two minute brushing time. It also emits an audible, light or vibrating warning when it is time to change the corner of the mouth. This allows you to brush thoroughly so that you don't miss any corners of the mouth. This is a prerequisite for avoiding cavities and other oral problems.
Here are the main characteristics of the electric ultrasonic toothbrush:
- It generally operates with a frequency of 1.6 MHz, which corresponds to 96,000,000 pulses, or 192,000,000 movements per minute
- The ultrasound passes through the bristles of the brush and "foams" the toothpaste, allowing you to brush your teeth effectively.
- It has a rechargeable battery in the handle and a charger
You can use a Y-Brush toothbrush. It will save you time with the help of ultrasonic motors as they provide vibrations and with the help of filaments on the brush. It has three modes of sonic vibrations depending on your preferences or dental sensitivity: soft, normal or intensive.
Which electric toothbrush should I choose according to my dental problem?
1) The electric toothbrush adapted to periodontitis
The oscillating electric toothbrush
The most suitable electric toothbrush for periodontitis is the oscillating electric toothbrush. Periodontitis is an inflammation of the tissues that support the teeth: the "periodontium". These tissues include the gums, supporting fibres and the bone in which the teeth are anchored. It is a bacterial disease, which most often occurs when the immune system is weakened. It usually starts with an inflammation of the gum (gingivitis) which gradually spreads to the bone tissue, forming infected "pockets" between the gum and the tooth. The main function of the electric sonic toothbrush is to facilitate access to areas that are difficult to clean with a wide brush. It cleans in both directions to loosen plaque. However, it is not effective enough to remove plaque.
If you are not satisfied, you can try the Y-Brush. This is not an oscillating toothbrush. However, the length and fineness of the nylon filaments of the Y-Brush allow it to reach the interdental spaces, the gum line and the gums. The bristles of this toothbrush are soft and rounded at the end. They do not damage the gums or tooth enamel. It is therefore effective in removing plaque and protecting the gums.
2) The electric toothbrush with dental appliance
The sonic electric toothbrush
The most suitable electric toothbrush when wearing braces is the sonic electric toothbrush. No matter what type of braces you wear, it is difficult to exert enough pressure to keep your teeth properly aligned. With a sonic electric toothbrush, however, electric brushing is not a problem if you have braces. The only drawback is that the brush head of the toothbrush will wear out a little faster. It is therefore particularly important to choose a toothbrush with an interchangeable brush head because you will not have to change your toothbrush. In addition, these toothbrushes have the advantage of being changed only every 6 months. In addition, it is important to have a good brushing technique so that the use of the dental appliance has an effect.
Here is the technique for brushing with braces :
- Place the brush over your braces and brush in a circular motion several times
- Floss between the hollows of your teeth to remove plaque
- Brush all other surfaces as well as the tongue and palate
The main advantage of the Y-Brush toothbrush is that it does not damage your braces. It has fine, extra soft bristles that will brush everywhere, even under the braces. It can be used with several types of braces such as braces, retainer wire or orthodontic splints.
3) The electric toothbrush to fight tooth decay
The ultrasonic toothbrush
The most suitable electric toothbrush to fight tooth decay is the ultrasonic toothbrush. It removes more plaque and better prevents dental infections. All you have to do is make small movements with the brush against your teeth to achieve effective brushing. You should not press too hard to avoid damaging the tooth enamel or gums. Its micro-cleaning effectively removes stains or discolouration caused by smoking or coffee, which can lead to tooth decay. It stops gum bleeding. However, it is only effective for dental caries. For other oral diseases, it is important to use a sonic toothbrush first. It should be noted that it is a toothbrush that makes noise. It is therefore important to isolate yourself when using it.
One of the best toothbrushes for fighting tooth decay is the Y-Brush. It removes 15% more plaque than a traditional toothbrush. It also offers the option of an intensive cycle that will better clean the dirt between the teeth.
What are the prices of the different electric toothbrushes?
1) The cheapest electric toothbrush
The cheapest electric toothbrush is the Oral-B Vitality 100 Cross Action. It costs 15 euros. This toothbrush has only one brushing mode. It is an ideal electric toothbrush for a thorough daily cleaning. The design of the brush allows each tooth to be surrounded by bristles positioned at a 16 degree angle.
2) The mid-range electric toothbrush
The most recommended mid-range electric toothbrush is the Philips Sonicare HX6222/55. It costs 45 euros. It is designed for people who want to make a gradual transition from manual to electric toothbrushes. It is simple, practical and has a progressive mode for brushing teeth.
3) The top of the range electric toothbrush
The top of the range electric toothbrush is the Y-Brush. It costs 99.99 euros. It is an electric toothbrush that features sonic vibrations capable of brushing your teeth effectively in just 10 seconds. It is recommended by dentists and clinically validated. In addition, it comes in two sizes: S or M. It is also a flexible brush to fit snugly in your mouth and to accommodate the right-to-left movement when brushing your teeth.
We hope this guide will help you find the right toothbrush for your needs based on all the possible selection criteria. If you choose a brand of electric toothbrush that matches one of your criteria, you are likely to find your ideal toothbrush.
