Electric toothbrushes: Who should use them?

The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor II Nguyen Khanh Nam - Doctor of Dental - Jaw - Facial - Department of General Surgery - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.

Brushing teeth is considered a fundamental habit in building a good oral health for each person. Brushing with a regular toothbrush or an electric toothbrush each has its benefits, and an electric toothbrush may be right for certain people.

Historically, daily brushing with a regular toothbrush has been a very effective way to keep teeth healthy and clean. However, electric toothbrushes can be a great alternative to regular toothbrushes, especially for children, people with disabilities, the elderly, and people with health-related problems. Arthritis , or other medical conditions make it difficult for them to brush their teeth.
The movement of electric toothbrush bristles can help remove plaque or food from teeth, thereby improving gum health. More specifically, thanks to the vibration and rotation of the electric toothbrush bristles, the plaque that forms on the tooth surface and gums will be removed from it, helping to clean the teeth more thoroughly.
Many studies have shown that electric toothbrushes can improve dental plaque and gingivitis more effectively than conventional toothbrushes. After about 3 months of use, dental plaque decreased by 21% and gingivitis also decreased by 11% as observed in these studies. Besides, if the brush has a rotating function, it will be able to work better than the brush with only vibration function.
In many electric toothbrushes, there is also a timer built in, ensuring that the brushing time is long enough to effectively remove dental plaque.
For people who are using orthodontic appliances, electric toothbrushes have a very effective effect on cleaning teeth, typically with braces.
Using an electric toothbrush also keeps the gums safer because if used correctly, it not only does not hurt the gums but also helps to promote better oral health.

Not all children enjoy brushing their teeth every day, so an electric toothbrush can help them get better involved in a healthy oral cleaning routine.
For children's electric toothbrushes, many doctors recommend choosing a brush with soft bristles, the size of the brush head is suitable for the age and teeth of the child. Parents should also support and have supervision in the process of children using electric toothbrushes, especially spitting out and brushing their teeth as well as not swallowing them.
In addition, besides choosing a brush with soft bristles, the right size, the electric toothbrush should be the type with the brush head rotating in one direction and then the other direction, ie the brush head has oscillations. Rotate to be good for cleaning teeth. Some other functions that can be considered additional options such as vibration and rotation level, timer, battery use or charger...
And whether using a manual toothbrush or a toothbrush When using electricity, building a habit of brushing and flossing is always a priority to have healthy and clean teeth.

Today, there is a lot of interest in electric toothbrushes and many parents also tend to choose electric toothbrushes for children. However, this is just a means to clean teeth, having a daily brushing routine, flossing as well as having a proper diet are still important factors determining health. our teeth.