Good oral hygiene is the cornerstone of your mouth’s health—and can lead to better health for the whole body. Any good dentist for children will tell you that brushing and flossing are essential parts of maintaining those pearly whites for years and decades to come.
An electric toothbrush might just be the tool you need to make the biggest impact.
If you’re wondering why electric toothbrushes are the way to go and how you can best care for your latest investment in your oral care, here is some great information:
Why Choose an Electric Toothbrush?
Buying a high-quality electric toothbrush is certainly an investment, but it holds a lot of benefits over a manual toothbrush. First and foremost, the motions of the bristles are great at removing plaque, even more so than you can manage with vigorous brushing. They also help minimize gingivitis.
Brushing habits tend to improve with an electric toothbrush, partly because many have timers, and it seems more fun to brush with one of these tools. If you’re struggling to get your child to brush their teeth, trying an electric toothbrush might be worthwhile. Dentistry for children means finding creative ways to encourage kids to keep up with their oral health.
Understanding Your Electric Toothbrush
Electric toothbrushes are relatively easy to understand. They’re composed of just a few parts that make cleaning them easy and non-time-consuming.
It all starts with the brush head: The actual part you put in your mouth to clean your teeth. The bristles spin and rotate to clean your teeth, but they can become worn out over time, leading to your need to replace the brush heads.
The other components of your electric toothbrush include:
- Case: This is the visible handle that keeps all of the components of your electric toothbrush safely inside.
- Motor: This is what makes your electric toothbrush head move back and forth and around as you brush. You may be able to change the bristles’ actual motion using different motor settings, depending on the toothbrush model.
- Battery: No toothbrush head can run forever on a single battery. Most of the time, this internal battery needs to be recharged often.
Essential Maintenance Steps for Your Electric Toothbrush
Once you buy your very first electric toothbrush, you need to start thinking about how you will maintain it for the long haul. Some actions you need to take are relatively simple, such as using it wet.
Regular Brush Head Replacement
Just like you would do with a manual toothbrush, you also need to replace your brush head regularly. A new brush head is usually relatively inexpensive, and it is what makes the biggest difference in your oral health and the health of any dental implants you might have.
Look for models with an electric toothbrush base that is rechargeable instead of one that needs to be discarded every few months. For the best results, you should replace your brush head every three months, even if you keep the toothbrush clean.
Proper Cleaning Post-Use
One of the best routine things you can do is rinse the brush head in hot water before and after each use. This prevents the buildup of bacterial growth between more extensive cleanings. Make sure to rinse off more than just the brush head, though. You should also wipe down your case and then leave all of the pieces to air dry.
Boiling water (or just water that can produce steam) can also kill harmful bacteria on the brush head, submerging it for as little as 30 seconds. Harsh ingredients aren’t necessary, as white vinegar in a small cup can be a great solution as well.
You may choose to dip your toothbrush in antibacterial mouthwash, a denture cleansing solution, or a hydrogen peroxide solution from time to time. Two minutes with the brush head should be plenty of time to kill off that bacterial growth. Make sure the bristles are all fully submerged in your cleaning solution.
Battery Care
Of course, you want your electric toothbrush to last as long as possible. Protecting your battery life is essential. You want to avoid charging it after every single use, instead allow the battery to drain before you plug it in again. It should charge in a matter of hours, and you don’t want to store your toothbrush on the charger.
Never leave it plugged in for more than 24 hours, as this can shorten a battery’s overall lifespan.
How To Maximize the Efficiency of Your Electric Toothbrush
You know how to change your toothbrush head every 3 months and how to store your toothbrush in an upright position. The question is: What can you do to make your toothbrush work as efficiently as possible while minimizing conditions like strep throat and other infections?
The way you hold the toothbrush may have something to do with it. As you use it, you should keep it at a 45-degree angle to the rest of your teeth to remove the most plaque and buildup.
Of course, how you store your toothbrush is just as important as how you use it. Keep it in open air where it can dry and away from sources of contamination.
This is another reason to replace your toothbrush head and clean it with some hot water and vinegar regularly. Antimicrobial ingredients are great to keep your toothbrush clean.
Look for models with a pressure sensor that can tell you when you’re brushing too hard. Instead of getting a deep clean, you might be damaging the gums, increasing sensitivity and the likelihood of developing cavities.
Conclusion
Most toothbrushes that will make the biggest impact on your dental health are electric. Once you invest in one, you must clean your toothbrush with hot water, vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide to avoid the chances of contagious disease and bacteria. Keep your toothbrush clean and in the upright position, taking care not to charge it too regularly.
This will help prolong the life of your electric toothbrush and make your mouth a clean place to be!
If you need help with how to use your toothbrush, give Fresh Dental a call. We can offer you the advice you need on toothpaste, toothbrush heads, and more!