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You’re standing in the toothbrush aisle of a convenience store. Multiple brands, colors, styles, pressure options, and more are staring at you, all enticing you to choose them. How do you know which one is going to be best for you, which one will help you achieve the best oral hygiene, and which one offers the best value? At Mapleridge Children and Adult Dentistry, we want our patients to feel confident in their oral health. As a leading Liverpool, NY dentist, Dr. Charu Saini, put together a list of the pros and cons to purchasing a manual toothbrush versus a powered toothbrush to help you make the right choice for your teeth and gums.

Weighing The Pros And Cons

If you are looking to purchase a new toothbrush but are conflicted on which type to buy, it may help to take a look at the pros and cons of both.

Electric Toothbrush:

Pros

• Electric toothbrushes are easy to use and require little to no effort when brushing.
• Electric toothbrushes have a built in timer so you never have to guess or time yourself to ensure that you are brushing for the accurate amount of time.
• Electric toothbrushes are more fun to use! People, especially children, often want to find the most efficient, and most fun, ways to do dull tasks. Electric toothbrushes make brushing teeth fun because they require minimal effort, they tickle your teeth, and they tell you when you’re done!

Cons

• You will have to remember to charge or replace the batteries in your electric toothbrush.
• Electric toothbrushes are more expensive to purchase than manual toothbrushes.
• Electric toothbrushes are more difficult to travel with as they are usually bigger and bulkier than manual toothbrushes, and you have to bring the charger or extra batteries along with you too.
• If dropped or fallen, electric toothbrushes can break and damage fairly easily.

Manual Toothbrush:

Pros

• Manual toothbrushes come in multiple styles, colors, and bristles for you to choose from.
• As they are smaller and don’t require a charger like electric toothbrushes do, manual toothbrushes are easy to travel with.
• Manual toothbrushes are generally inexpensive and often come free with a trip to the dentist.
• When done properly, manual toothbrushes can thoroughly clean your teeth.

Cons

• Manual toothbrushes require more work than electric toothbrushes.
• Manual toothbrushes require you to guess or set a timer to determine how long you have to brush.

Although there have been studies to determine which toothbrush is more effective for your oral health, there are pros and cons to each. Electric toothbrush companies generally brag that they will clean your teeth more effectively than a manual toothbrush. However, it all lies in the effort you are willing to exert to brush your teeth properly. If done correctly and for the accurate amount of time, a manual toothbrush can be just as effective as an electric one in taking care of your teeth and gums.

Visit Our Advanced Dentistry In Liverpool, NY

If you are still having trouble deciding which type of toothbrush is best for you, or to learn more about brushing and flossing properly, give our Liverpool NY dentist office a call. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Saini and our skilled team, contact us today! We look forward to working with you through your journey to pristine oral health!