You may know that the toothbrushing technique is a little bit different from braces. So. you might be wondering, “Is a manual or electric toothbrush better for braces?”
Both manual and electric toothbrushes can remove food debris and plaque with braces on teeth. But, the electric toothbrush is easier to use with braces. Besides, this device can clean teeth and braces more thoroughly than a manual toothbrush as it has special technologies. However, a manual toothbrush is much cheaper and also very effective if you know how to use it with braces.
From this article, you will know all the differences between manual and electric toothbrushes and which toothbrush you should get to get the maximum benefits.
Differences between a manual or electric toothbrush
Here are the differences between manual and electric toothbrushes:
Cost
A manual toothbrush is much more affordable than an electric toothbrush. Everyone has a manual toothbrush.
So, we don’t need to talk about its price especially. It may cost you from $1 to $3. On the other hand, electric toothbrushes are expensive.
The price of an electric toothbrush can range anywhere from $15 to $250. Moreover, you have to pay from $5 to $50 to replace the brush head.
Replacing
Replacing a manual toothbrush is so much easier if you don’t have to be worried about the cost, availability, or any other thing. But, it’s a little bit different in the case of an electric toothbrush.
Though you only have to replace the brush head, you have to pay more than a manual toothbrush and be aware of the types of the head so that it matches your device.
Availability
In terms of availability manual toothbrushes is the winner. There is nowhere on earth where you won’t get a manual toothbrush.
But, you may not get a specific electric toothbrush near you. But, the good thing is you can buy it online and it’s getting more and more popular and available nowadays.
Power source
Electric toothbrushes need a power source while you don’t do anything like that for the manual toothbrush.
Some electric toothbrushes are rechargeable while some are battery-powered. You can get whatever you like. Both of them have advantages and disadvantages.
Traveling
You can carry a manual toothbrush anywhere easily. Even if you forget to take it with you on a trip, you can buy or get a manual toothbrush from there.
But, you can’t do it with the electric toothbrush. As it needs a power source, you may not carry it anywhere.
However, you can go with a battery-powered toothbrush if you travel a lot or carry a backup manual toothbrush with you.
Deeper cleaning
Many studies show that electric toothbrushes provide deeper cleaning than manual toothbrushes, especially when you wear braces.
The electric toothbrush can get into those hard-to-reach areas that can’t be possible by a manual toothbrush with braces.
While wearing braces, there are too many rough and irregular surfaces in your mouth. So, it’s hard to clean all the surfaces perfectly. But, how can an electric toothbrush do the job?
This brush can flow the fluid between teeth and braces nicely because of its technology. Besides, the movement of the brush head and vibration helps in deeper cleaning.
On the other hand, you can’t do these things with a regular toothbrush.
Effective plaque removal
An electric toothbrush has many functions by which it can remove plaque and food debris more effectively than a manual toothbrush. Rotation movement, vibration, and water flowing function help loosen the plaque and remove it completely.
Cleaning braces and under the wires
While wearing braces, you face so much difficulty to remove food particles and plaque from between teeth and braces and under the wires.
An electric toothbrush has special technology that can serve the purpose. On the other hand, a regular toothbrush may not do that nicely.
Protection for braces and gums
While wearing braces, you always have to be careful to prevent any damage to the braces and their attachments.
An electric toothbrush has a sensor that gives you a signal when you brush your teeth and braces forcefully.
So, you can stop brushing and prevent damage to the gums and braces. Sadly, you don’t get this feature with a regular toothbrush. So, you have to control yourself from hurting the braces and gums.
Brushing Timers
You need to brush your teeth at least for 2 minutes. Brushing too long can hurt your teeth, gums, and braces whereas brushing for less than 2 minutes doesn’t clean your teeth effectively.
But, many people, especially kids, don’t maintain this. However, while wearing braces, you must give enough time to clean your teeth thoroughly.
An electric toothbrush comes with a special feature, called a brushing timer. It alerts you after 2 minutes.
With the help of this signal, you can know when to stop bruising. It also gives you a signal so that you give enough time to brush each quadrant of your mouth.
But, you don’t get this feature with a manual toothbrush which is a big disadvantage.
Using difficulty
An electric toothbrush is much easier to use than a regular toothbrush. But, it’s an electric device with many features.
On the other hand, a manual toothbrush has nothing like it, and you are used to it from childhood. So, you may wonder how?
Actually, when you learn to use the electric toothbrush, you can know the difference. With the electric toothbrush, you only have to guide the brush head along the surface where you want to clean.
You don’t need to put any pressure or produce special movement with your hand like a regular toothbrush. The device does the work on its own.
But, in the beginning, you may think manual toothbrushing is easier as you aren’t familiar with the eclectic toothbrush.
Some people also don’t like the electric one as it creates more movement of saliva in your mouth and gets messy sometimes.
For kids and the disabled
A manual toothbrush may be hard to use for children and a person who’s disabled or has a problem with hands.
Even though they do brush their teeth on their own, they may not clean their teeth and braces thoroughly.
The electric toothbrush helps kids and disabled persons to clean their teeth easily and effectively without causing any problems for them.
Moreover, kids like to brush with an electric toothbrush, because it’s like playing a game with them.
So, they have fun while brushing. Therefore, children have less chance of having tooth decay or plaque with it.
But, while using a manual toothbrush, you have to observe them carefully as they may not clean teeth and braces nicely or hurt the brackets and wires.
Desire to use
Not only kids, everyone likes the experience with electric toothbrushes more than regular toothbrushes.
So, those who take a break from brushing their teeth twice a day sometimes also use the electric toothbrush regularly and don’t skip the cleaning routine.
Overall improvement of oral hygiene
Manual toothbrushes do not have various cleaning functions (timers, sensors, movement) and some people may not like to use them regularly.
But, an electric toothbrush improves overall oral hygiene and prevents tooth decay and staining while wearing braces, because of its function and people get more focused during use.
Enhance oral health
Both regular and electric toothbrushes can improve oral health by eliminating food debris and plaques.
But, with braces on teeth, electric toothbrushes can be more helpful in maintaining oral hygiene properly and boost oral health, because they clean difficult-to-reach areas like under braces wires, guide while brushing, and increases the desire for cleaning mouth in children as well as adults.
Risk of being broken or damaged
A manual toothbrush can never be broken or damaged by almost any means. But, an electric toothbrush is susceptible to damage just like other electronic devices.
It is likely to break if it falls out of hand or is hit by something worse.
Variation of functions and setting
Electric toothbrushes provide different cleaning modes and brush settings. This device allows you to choose a certain cleaning mode.
Suppose, if you have tooth sensitivity you can choose a specific cleaning mode and if you want to clean your tongue you can prefer another cleaning mode.
You can also control the movement of the brush head using various brush settings. This helps you to decide whether rotation takes place in only one direction or a different direction.
But, you don’t have any of these options if you brush your teeth with a regular toothbrush.
Chance of faulty toothbrushing
Many people don’t learn the proper way of brushing teeth with braces. Some make many mistakes while brushing.
That’s why they end up having broken braces or developing excessive plaque and dental problems.
But, you are less likely to make such mistakes with an electric toothbrush, as it has various functions and technology like sensors, times, or brush settings.
Varieties
There are two types of electric toothbrushes available in the market such as Rechargeable and Battery-powered toothbrushes.
Rechargeable varieties require recharging the device to run it while battery-powered varieties run on a battery.
Battery power toothbrushes are less expensive than rechargeable ones. But, rechargeable varieties have more facilities.
The brushes of electric toothbrushes are of different types. You can pick which is suitable for you, You have to replace the brush head after 3-4 months.
On the other hand, manual toothbrushes don’t have this kind of technology. However, they are of different varieties as well.
You get different types of manual toothbrushes based on the types of bristle and brush head. Brush heads can be round or square.
You have to choose whether you need a soft, medium, or hard bristle toothbrush. It’s always better to use a soft bristle toothbrush, especially with braces.
Besides, bristle patterns can be wavy, tapered, crisscross, or v trim. There are various types of handles as well.
You have to choose the criteria and pick only one toothbrush. You can’t replace any part, instead, you have to buy a new manual toothbrush after some time.
Using method
While using a manual toothbrush with braces, you have to do all the work manually. You need to use a 45-degree angle towards the gum line so that it can clean plaque and debris completely.
But, many people don’t follow it regularly. Besides, manual toothbrushes require different movements for different surfaces of teeth. You also have to pay special attention to braces and under the wires.
On the other hand, using the electric toothbrush method is so simple. You only have to turn the device on and place the toothbrush where you want to clean it.
However, you have to follow the right procedure to use it as well. Learn how to use an electric toothbrush with braces.
No matter which toothbrush you buy, you need to brush 2-3 times a day and floss at least once a day.
Manual or Electric toothbrush: Which one should you get?
Both manual and electric toothbrushes can do their work nicely with braces on teeth. However, an electric toothbrush is more effective to remove plaque and food debris with braces and is easier to use as well.
Some studies also show that an electric toothbrush can do a better job for braces wearers and improve oral health than a regular toothbrush. So, most orthodontists recommend using it while wearing braces.
But, the only problem is the price. If you can afford it, you must buy it. Also, keep in mind that this device guides you to brush your teeth properly and routinely and makes the cleaning much easier as well.
Besides, braces treatment requires you to spread a good amount of money and time. You are doing this to get a beautiful smile.
But, braces can make oral health worse and lead to many dental problems like gum diseases, tooth staining, and dental caries if you don’t maintain proper oral hygiene.
So, to prevent this from happening and spread more money later, you should get an electric toothbrush.
If you are thinking about portability, you can also have a manual toothbrush. Use it when you can’t carry the electric tooth.
Takeaways
An electric toothbrush is better in terms of ease of use, removing plaque, deeper cleaning, and safety with braces, while a manual toothbrush is better in terms of price, portability, and availability.
You should get an electric toothbrush to reduce the risk of gum and dental diseases and get the best result after the end of orthodontic treatment.
