Our Troy Dentist Discusses POWER vs. MANUAL Toothbrushes

Written by Dr. Bentley on Jan 16, 2014

I can picture Tim the “Tool-man” Taylor making his grunting noises right now and trying to find a way to put a motor on his power toothbrush. That would have been a funny episode! As a Man, a Dentist and a Woodworker, the more POWER and NOISE the better right?

Well, as a Man and a Woodworker, that is not always true, but as a Dentist and on the subject of Power Toothbrushes vs. Manual Toothbrushes, it is a pretty good argument.

It really comes down to patient preference, but power toothbrushes (sometimes referred to as mechanical toothbrushes) are highly effective, and our Troy dentists often recommend them. Power toothbrushes are becoming more popular because they not only remove plaque, but they help reduce staining and disrupt more bacteria in the mouth than manual toothbrushes can. Plus, they are a lot of fun to use, especially for children.

How do you determine if a power toothbrush is right for you? Again, it is all in patient preference. In recent years, it has been proven that power toothbrushes are able to remove more bacteria than manual toothbrushes, especially in hard to reach areas. If you have great oral health, changing from manual to power isn’t really necessary. However, if you have several cavities and gum problems, changing to power could really be a benefit to your oral health. I recommend any patients with gingivitis or gum disease should always be using a power toothbrush. Most patients regardless of their oral health, who switched to a power toothbrush, like it so much that they would never go back to a manual.

Some patients have a hard time gripping and gliding manual toothbrushes. In these cases, power brushes work great. Young children and seniors can really benefit from choosing to use a power brush.

The best option is to discuss this with your Dental Hygienist at your next dental cleaning. There are many different brands and styles of power brushes on the market right now. Some are heavier than others, some are harder to clean, some are more costly, etc.

If you are interested in a power brush, please feel free to call our Troy dentists to get started!

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