Electric Or Manual Toothbrush?

[anthro-nerd]

I've always used a manual toothbrush, and my teeth are fine - no fillings at 27 and strong enamel - I'm very lucky.

But at the Dentist yesterday I was told I've been brushing too hard needed to invest in an electric toothbrush.

So today I invested in an oral B electric toothbrush, £25 (down from £50) but I'm yet to be convinced! Who uses a manual toothbrush, and who uses an electric?

[bhg481]

We went electric many years ago because the adverts claimed they were better at keeping plaque down - they were right. Neither my wife nor I require regular descaling now.
I think the other argument is that electric are better for your gums in that they massage them; an article in the Daily Mail the other week claimed that over-zealous brushing with a manual brush could cause the gums to recede.
As spath said, just moving the brush across your teeth and gums is the recommended way to remove plaque and help prevent gum disease.
By the way, unlike spath, we always take ours on holiday.
It reminds me of the old joke about the man who went to the dentist for a checkup. The dentist said his teeth were fine but his gums would have to come out.

[anthro-nerd]

bhg I ma an over zealous brusher and the gums on the top side of either side of my teeth are beginning to receed! Scary stuff! And I require regular descaling too, every 6 months.

Your comment has been every encouraging!

[hc4361]

I use both. Electric twice a day for teeth and gums and a soft manual for tongue, cheeks, roof of mouth and so on.

[hc4361]

Invest in an electric water jet flosser, too. Fabulous thing, really cut down my plaque and far more effective than traditional floss.

[Prudie]

Since first getting an electric about 10 years ago I'd never use a manual again (except on holiday abroad). Apart from teeth it has lots of other good uses such as cleaning jewellery and massaging puffy morning eyes when used flat against the face :-0

[bhg481]

anthro-nerd - I was talking to a long-time friend of mine a while ago and he was showing me his receding gums and wondering what was causing it. He said he used a manual toothbrush and, knowing his nature, he will be very aggressive with it. I haven't seen him since the Daily Mail article but I shall certainly be telling him about it when I do.

[gingejbee]

Electric for many years.... dentists can usually tell which you use from the condition of gums and amount of plaque.
Don't forget that you use very little pressure with an electric...just move from tooth to tooth.

[Old_Geezer]

Sonic at home, standard manual one when away.

[Theland]

I use an old petrol driven one.

[tonyav]

Don't you find that the rope pull starter gets caught in your choppers though,Theland.

[Theland]

I use that bit to floss.

[woofgang]

Electric, one of the sonic kind for many years now. It has definitely improved my dental hygiene.

[Theland]

I wanted an electric one for Mrs T but sadly they do them in 240volts

[Theland]

Don't do them

[RobNorth]

Definitely electric. Less plaque, less scrubbing away of gums and better cleaning of molars.

[snowshoe1]

I MYSELF USE AN ELECTRIC TOOTH BRUSH. IT DOES A MUCH BETTER JOB THAN A MANUAL TOOTH BRUSH.USING A MANUAL YOU CANNOT CLEAN YOUR TEETH AS WELL AS AN ELECTRIC. IT ROTAS SO MUCH FASTER THAN A MANUAL, SO YOU GET A BETTER CLEAN.

[jno]

Neither my wife nor I require regular descaling now.

don't often get Ma and Pa Kettle posting on here :-)

[Baldric]

Electric for last 10 or so years.

[JohnLJones]

It is ok to use a manual toothbrush if it works for you. However electric toothbrushes are more efficient when it comes to cleaning and puts a lot of manual work at ease.

Most of the people are not brushing whole 2 minutes and also don't know if they are hard on their gums or not until it starts bleeding. That's where the electric toothbrush comes in. It offers so many features that can help you improve your oral health.