Which Toothbrush is Most Recommended by Dentists?
“Necessity is the mother of invention.” An old proverb from an unknown source that traversed its way into today’s vocabulary. While that is certainly true to a degree, no one talks about what motivates updating an invention. Is a necessity what drives it or comfort? Think about the common toothbrush. The standard design with nylon bristles in 1938 and is a necessity according to dentists. It also hadn’t changed much in shape or purpose.
While there were a few prototypes at around the same time, the modern electric toothbrush as we know it came about in 1987. Advertising claims is that it is better than the standard toothbrush. Are they right? What is the consensus? Are there any disadvantages to either of them? Let’s find out.
What a Manual Toothbrush Can Do
Dentists from Austin Texas to Dubai, India have been studying the answer to that question for the last 20 years. In fact, this is a study that sees constant renewal. Mainly, because the experiment is easy to conduct, and the marketplace often churns out new products.
However, before we can get into comparison, we need to fully recognize the fact that there are subtypes in each category. We are all familiar with manual toothbrushes but there are a variety of different builds which can determine a difference in results. Specifically, bristles. Bristle alignment, as well as what materials are in use and their hardness, are all things that determine a good brush.
- Natural Bristles – While these are evident in earlier toothbrush designs before the creation of synthetic materials, they are rarely a thing anymore. These natural bristles are either made of boar hair, hog hair, or horse hair. They are usually attached to wood or pieces of bone and are easy to fall apart. Also, it is important to note that natural bristles are organic matter and are the most susceptible to bacterial contamination
- Synthetic Bristles – The bristles consist of nylon rubber materials and are less prone to contamination.
- Multituft- These are less of a material, and more of a technique for bristle alignment. This includes the creation of various height and cross-hatching of bristles.
The best of the manual brushes were multi-tuft according to a report by Dr. Avinash, who published an article of the subject, “Though the most desirable bristle design is questionable, multi-tuft brushes show better cleaning ability and rounded ends produce fewer lacerations.”
Another variation of the manual brush is the infusion of activated charcoal with synthetic brush heads. After experimentation, it is concluded to have stronger antibacterial properties thanks to the charcoal.
Advantages of Manual Toothbrushes According to Dentists
There has been plenty of speculation about the advantages and disadvantages of both manual and electric toothbrushes.
Things like oral cleanliness standards, age of the patient, their oral hygiene needs, and dexterity are getting taken into account. These are the list of advantages for manual toothbrushes.
- Manual toothbrushes, due to their common use and public health requirements, are often more accessible and affordable than their electric counterparts.
- They do not need accessories like batteries or electrical outlets, making it more portable and easy to use.
- These brushes are great for brushing the gums, cheek, and tongues, an area that is impossible to clean with a motor brush with a rotating head.
- They produce a decent amount of cleanliness after 2 minutes of toothbrush
Disadvantages of Manual Toothbrushes
While manual toothbrushes can mostly do the trick, that does not mean that they are without their drawbacks. A few of the disadvantages, according to dentists are:
- Manual brushes are often cheaply together. This means that the bristles of a manual are likely to fall out. Also, this type of toothbrush needs replacement more often in comparison to their electric counterparts.
- Manual toothbrushes can not clean as deeply compared to electric toothbrushes and will put patients with gingivitis or periodontitis at a disadvantage.
- These toothbrushes do not run on electricity, meaning that there is no timer to let the user know when it is time to spit.
Conclusion
There is a general consensus after studies and speculation by dentists that both brushes are perfectly fine for regular teeth cleaning. An argument can be made that electric toothbrushes are more useful for fighting more extreme dental issues, but for the most part, both of them are perfectly fine.
If you are looking for a dentist in Austin, Texas or have any questions about which toothbrush you should use, feel free to contact our website and give us a call.
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