I will refer to the electric toothbrush that is very popular in recent years. Anyway, I recommend reading the article on “How to select a manual brush” to wisely decide what is right for each of you. There is great publicity in the market and this outbreak produces much confusion and disagreement as there are no protocols on what we require of an electric toothbrush. As I mentioned about to the hand brush here also we have three identical parts that we should refer to: 1) Handle 2) Brush head 3) Brush fibers. However, in the electric toothbrush we have other very important parameters and there is no consensus about how it should be: rotational speed, effort and moment of torsion in rotation, vibrations, these mechanical parameters are very important that determine the effectiveness or harm they cause us.
1) Handle 2) The brush head here we do not have much choice because the handle in its length and width adjusts the size of the brush head and are designed proportionally and ergonomically quite well. But it is very important that the size of the head with the fibers should not be larger than the size of a tooth because the electric brush is designed to brush one tooth at a time.
3) Brush fibers. This parameter is also very important as in a manual brush, but we cannot check the quality of the fibers and shape, which must be rounded edge and should be soft not to damage the gums. This can only be examined under a microscope so we as clients and professionals have to revalidate ourselves from what companies or researchers say. Like, I mentioned above should be soft fibers and rounded tips. The research that reviewed a decade ago these fibers unfortunately gave most of the companies no pass qualification, we can only rely on the leading companies in this field where the quality of the product is indisputable.
About to the mechanical parameters that currently do not exist any protocol or agreement on the speed, torsion, what rotation or movement should make the head of the brush. about the speed, there are from 8000 to 48000 and even more revolutions per minute and the difference is more than 6 times and no one has determined what is correct. And companies do not publish such mechanical parameters of their products. And we were left with the only option we could know or demand when buying the brush, what kind of movement makes the brush head. Preferably rotational movements and vibrations combined with pumped in and out are recommended.
So, we will rely on what investigators have examined or discovered
The non-profit organization called Cochrane conducted a report examining all studies published from 1964 to 2011, a total of 51 studies. And it published its conclusion in June 2014. In order to come to a conclusion that will help patients and professionals to make a wisdom decision when buying these products. The studies cover not less than seven different technologies of electric toothbrushes, when the index of the test was just the movement of the brush head. the review determined that the vibration and rotation technology used by the Oral-B company’s electric toothbrushes is the only one that consistently reduces plaque and gingivitis and efficiency is higher compared to hand brushes, short and long term after one month to 3 months there was a decrease in plaque index of 11% after approximately 3 months 21%
This means that most of the existing electric toothbrush on the market have no advantage over the hand brush only the Oral-B electric brush has shown an advantage, this also includes a stop or speed decrease sensor to avoid excess pressure on the teeth and gums. This is a quality that can be checked in the palm of your own hand. If this option did not exist we would brush at tens of thousands of revolutions per minute that would eventually damage both the teeth and the gums. So, if we have decided to buy the electric brush it is also recommendable that you have a button to regulate the speed, because not everyone can tolerate or adapt at a single speed, it is like listening to music at fixed volume without the possibility to regulate it.
But the story does not end there because brushing with an electric brush is very different from the hand brush
So here are some tips on how to brush with an electric brush
Size: The brush head should match the size of the mouth and the size of the teeth to brush one tooth at a time
- No leaps: the brush should reach all parts of the mouth. Place the fiber at the junction of the teeth with the gums and it is important to go through all areas of the mouth – including inner and outer teeth, and chewing surfaces.
- Angled: The patient places the brush at a 45 degree angle with the tooth, with the brush parallel to the floor.
- Each tooth and the respect it deserves – each tooth should be brushed separately and not several teeth at a time.
- No pressure – no need to use force. A strong pressure on the brushes with a pressure sensor will decrease the functioning of the fibers and cause an annoying buzzing. In this case, make sure the hand holds the outer edge of the handle and not near the top of the brush and loosen the handle. In such a situation, the fibers will rotate again. For those who are unable to release grip pressure, you should know that some of the brushes have different rotation speed.
It is important to note that some patients do not easily get used to brushing with an electric brush. One of the reasons is the buzzing noise, which can annoy and be untolerable to some of the patients. Other causes: inflamed gums due to several reasons, such as drug response; Diabetes; Pregnancy that the electric brush causes pain
Work slowly around the tooth and contact the fibers in the area adjacent to the gums, and the teeth without extreme pressure that causes pain.
Important point the electric brush is not recommended below the age of 8 years. There is no motor skill yet, and do not forget that this is a period when the teeth erupt and are changed and the electric brush can hurt and cause pain.
In summary, what I choose when I’ll go to buy an electric brush
Size = Brush head and fibers should fit the size of one tooth because one tooth is brushed every time
Speed Deceleration = rotates slowly or stops when a large pressure is done on the surface of the tooth
Speed = preferably at least 2 speeds so we can choose which one is right for us.
Movement = Turn and vibrate with pumped inside and outside
The quality of the fibers = rounded at the edge and smooth
So, the recommendation that includes all these parameters and the recommendation of the scientific revision is the electric brush of Oral-B / Brown. And these models cost more than $ 100. And they are called professional care Oral-B 3000/6000
