Manual Vs. Electric Toothbrushes
It is no secret that proper oral care is crucial to your overall health, wellbeing, and confidence. Unfortunately, many people battle dental issues ranging from halitosis to tooth decay due to poor oral hygiene practices.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), oral diseases affect about 3.5 billion people globally. Dentists recommend brushing twice daily as part of your dental care routine for optimum results. You can brush with a manual or electric toothbrush, each with its pros and cons worth considering to make the best choice for you.
Manual Toothbrushes
Manual toothbrushes are by far the most popular and oldest of the two toothbrush types. Unlike their electric counterparts, manual toothbrushes have no bells, whistles, and battery slots. These toothbrushes require your input for teeth cleaning. However, dentists generally believe they are equally effective in cleaning teeth and preventing conditions like gingivitis and tooth decay.
Some manual toothbrush benefits include:
- Accessible - You can buy manual toothbrushes from almost every pharmacy, grocery store, or gas station. As such, they are easy to replace and convenient for travelling.
- Affordable – These toothbrushes are also cost-effective with a maximum price cap of about £3, as there aren't any fancy extra parts. Since they don't require charging, you save money on chargers and batteries.
- Speed Control - You are in control of the brushing speed and motion when you use a manual toothbrush so you can adjust pressure around painful and sensitive areas more comfortably.
- Customisable - These toothbrushes come in almost limitless variations, with many having tongue cleaners. In terms of grip, angles, bristle stiffness, length, colour, etc., they provide more options.
Manual toothbrush cons:
- A study found that using manual toothbrushes predisposes you to harder brushing, leading to enamel decay.
- It is harder to know if you are fulfilling the required brushing time for each session, as there is no built-in timer to guide you.
- With manual brushing, your input determines your output, so you must use the proper brushing techniques at each session.
- It can be challenging to handle for people with disabilities and dexterity issues.
Electric Toothbrushes
Electric toothbrushes are the more fun and technological brushing option, used by a reported 20-25% of people. While they remain in manual toothbrushes' shadow, they are popular for a few good reasons listed here.
The benefits include:
- Easier brushing - An electric toothbrush reduces your manual input into the brushing process, making it more convenient for you. As such, it is ideal for people with disabilities and illnesses like arthritis.
- Deeper cleaning - Electric toothbrushes' bristles typically reach areas like crevices between teeth and areas closest to gums that manual toothbrushes fail to access. Consequently, a 2014 study ranked electric toothbrushes as slightly better at plaque removal and combating gingivitis.
- Better stain removal - You get rid of stains from coffee, tea, etc., due to the scouring power of electric toothbrushes.
- Timers - You are aware of how long you brush.
- More engaging for children, who are notoriously averse towards oral care.
Electric Toothbrush Cons:
- These toothbrushes are expensive, typically costing between £15 - £250 per toothbrush. However, you can grab our new Sonisk Pulse toothbrush for only £12.99.
- Finding the right replacement heads may not be convenient, as not all supermarkets or chemists stock them.
- Bulkier to carry around when travelling. With Sonisk, our lightweight electric toothbrush is perfect for using at home or on the go!
- Less durable than manual brushes.
- Require electricity or batteries to operate.
- Regular maintenance is necessary.
No matter which one you choose, ensure you are fulfilling the requirement for maintaining proper oral hygiene. At Sonisk, we design products to suit modern life. Our electric toothrush is travel-sized, lightweight and they look fantastic too! They even feature Antimicrobial Protection to stop the growth of microbes on the surface of the toothbrush. To shop, click here.