Traditional Or Electric Toothbrush?

Suter Brook Dental Group

May 23, 2013

Did you know that it was in the 1960s when electric toothbrushes were first introduced to the market? And yet despite that, a lot of people still chose traditional toothbrushes because the original electric toothbrushes were ineffective and caused a lot of mechanical troubles (imagine your toothbrush not starting in the morning!)

Fast forward to the 1990s, when a new breed of electric toothbrushes came out on the market, and these toothbrushes had more features and far more reliability. These were oscillating-rotating and counter-rotational electric toothbrushes which suited the needs of a lot of people, including the elderly and those with arthritis.

The modern generation is gifted with more options today than ever before. If you’re having trouble figuring out which kind of toothbrush you should choose, here’s a highlight of some of the factors that affect the kind of toothbrush the people choose to use:

  • Affordability — though electric toothbrushes can be found for under $30, manual toothbrushes are definitely the more affordable option.
  • Fear of technology – it may seem strange, but some people have a fear of technology and prefer to keep things as simple as possible.
  • Dexterity – younger children may be better off with manual toothbrushes, and indeed, there are very few electric toothbrushes geared for children. A great alternative are the ‘tunes’ toothbrushes, which play a song for the  2 minutes required to brush your teeth.

There are pros and cons to both manual and electric toothbrushes. If you’re not sure which kind of toothbrush is the right kind for you, contact Suter Brook Dental Group and we’ll be happy to help you make the right decision for your oral health.