The electric toothbrush has been a great addition to home oral health care. On average, our office sees better results in our patient’s gums; especially if you have gum disease.
They also can help prevent gum recession. But do you know how to use them properly?
Electric toothbrushes do a better job of cleaning when not used in the same manner as you would a traditional hand brush. They are meant to be held in one place for several seconds, moved forward a tooth or two and held again for another several seconds—or I also like to call this “walking” the toothbrush along your teeth. Make sure you are overlapping the area so that you don’t miss a tooth and pay attention that you are getting the gumline clean. Most newer brushes are equipped with a timer to tell you when to move your toothbrush along.
Another way I see patients using electric, and hand held, toothbrushes incorrectly is that they are applying too much pressure when brushing. With a hand brush I advise that you use circular motions, not sawing motions. With a hand held toothbrush, you should also not be seeing any outward fraying of the bristles, even if you use the same toothbrush for a prolonged period of time. Outwardly frayed, or flattened, bristles are a clear indication that you are brushing too hard.
With an electric toothbrush, as you are “walking” it along, you should not be applying extra force; most newer electric toothbrushes now are equipped with a feature that alerts you when you are pushing too hard. Each brand is different, but some will make a sound, extra strong vibration, light red, or even notify your mobile device through a paired app, to alert you that you are applying too much pressure.
Brushing too aggressively can lead to gum irritation, recession, and what we call erosion of the cervical surface of the tooth (the part of the tooth right at the gumline). Cervical erosions leave nerve tubules exposed and cause sensitivity, and when deep enough they need to be filled by a composite filling; if left unaddressed they can become a breeding ground for bacteria, causing cavities.
Oral B and Sonicare are both reliable brands that I suggest to patients looking to move away from a handheld brush.
We carry electric toothbrushes in office to purchase, but they are also sold at Costco for a good price, or on the respective brands’ websites. I have included links to electric brushes with pressure sensors, for reference: