We are often asked by our Beverly Hills patients whether to use electric or regular toothbrushes. Electric toothbrushes and regular toothbrushes mark an important technological development in dental equipment. Regular toothbrushes have become the most used dental items in the world. As a Beverly Hills family dentist, we can say that the importance of toothbrushes has been so significant that large brands have begun producing different types of toothbrushes with unique characteristics. In this blog article we will focus on electric and sonic toothbrush.
Electric toothbrushes were introduced in the United States in 1960 by Squibb, which marketed their product under the brand Broxodent. Today many brands offer different options of electric toothbrushes, with particular features including compact designs, rechargeable batteries and bristles for optimal hygiene.
Let´s consider the two featured high-tech toothbrushes that exist today:
Electric toothbrushes: This type of toothbrush moves at a rate of 3,000 to 7,500 motions every minute. Electric toothbrushes do the muscle work for by moving back and forth or in a rotating fashion. This technology allows easier removal of plaque and help with the reduction of gingivitis.
Sonic Toothbrushes: This toothbrush moves at a rate of 30,000 to 40,000 strokes per minute. Their motion is similar to that of electric toothbrushes, by moving back and forth in a rotating fashion. The difference is that these toothbrushes also vibrate. Their ultimate goal is to also remove plaque en reduce gingivitis.
If you are a curious reader you will appreciate some extra details. Regular toothbrushes allow you to brush you teeth at a rate of 300 strokes every minute, if you do it properly. If you follow the two-minute-brushing recommendations you will be stroking your teeth 600 times, which is far from what you can get with the advanced technology variety. We hope you enjoyed this article from your Beverly Hills family dentist.