Cepillo manual o eléctrico ¿Cuál es mejor para tu salud dental?

There are numerous times when our patients ask us the question of whether it is better to use an electric toothbrush or a manual toothbrush. However, our answer is always the same: the most important thing is good oral hygiene, the means through which it is obtained, is the least.

What differentiates a manual toothbrush from an electric brush?

The main difference between electric toothbrushes and manual toothbrushes is the way in which each toothbrush should be used. On the one hand, hand toothbrushes should be used with a vertical movement, while the electric ones work by making a circular movement through a rotating head.

Thus, there is a clear advantage of the electric brushes against the brushes manuelas, and is that the first facilitate a correct brushing with less effort. In turn, over the years, electric brushes have evolved with new techniques, and make the job easier when brushing teeth.

What should I keep in mind when using an electric toothbrush?

Before starting to use an electric toothbrush you must take into account some factors. Thus, it is important that the head is interchangeable, and that this change is made frequently. In fact, using a worn-out head - like using a worn-out manual brush - will not fulfill its function.

Also important is that the brush will stop if too much pressure is exerted on the teeth or gums. In turn, if you notice some inflammation in the gums or you suffer retraction, it is advisable to avoid the electric brush until the problem is solved, as the electric brush can make it worse.

What toothbrush is best for children, manual or electric?

For younger children, the doubt of the manual or electric toothbrush has a simple answer, since parents are advised to brush the teeth of their children with a hand brush.

Once three years old, when the child has solvency to brush alone, it is a good time to get into the habit of using the hand brush. From the age of six, you can ask the child to start using an electric brush whenever he or she explains how to do it.

So, after going a little deeper into which of the two is better, it should be noted that although both have their advantages, it will always depend on the recommendations of the specialist in Dentistry and the habits of the user.