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Electric vs. Manual Toothbrushes

Electric vs. Manual Toothbrushes

Our dentists at Scott 72 Dental Centre in Delta often recommend electric toothbrushes to help patients do a better job cleaning their teeth. Here's why electric toothbrushes have an edge over manual ones.


If you're using the correct technique, manual toothbrushes are perfectly effective for cleaning teeth.

If you and your dentist are both happy with the level of oral health and hygiene that you are achieving with your manual toothbrush, good job! You can keep doing what you’re doing.

On the other hand, if you or your dentist think your oral hygiene could do with some improvement, an electric toothbrush can offer some helpful additional benefits.

They do the brushing for you.

One of the most significant benefits of electric toothbrushes is that they take a lot less effort to use than manual ones do!

Electric toothbrushes that have heads that oscillate and rotate are the ideal choice, because these mimic the ideal circular brushing motion.

When you're brushing with one of these electric toothbrushes, all you have to worry about is guiding it gently over all the exposed surfaces of your teeth; the electric toothbrush will do the rest of the work for you!

Built in Timers

Without a watch or timer, it can be hard to tell when the recommended two minutes of brushing is up; it's longer than you think!

Most electric toothbrushes (even many basic models) come with built in timers that go off after two minutes, to let you know when you can stop brushing.

They make it easier to clean hard-to-reach places

Electric toothbrushes with small, rounded heads are the right shape and size to reach those awkward angles at the back of your mouth with ease. And the fact that you don't have to make the rotating brushing motion your arm and hand really helps, too.

Brushing too hard? An electric toothbrush may actually help with that, too.

With an electric toothbrush, you’re not making the brushing motion yourself, so it actually makes it much easier to control the motion and pressure as you brush your teeth. You just guide the brush over all your teeth, only applying light pressure, rather having to make that scrubbing motion that can result in worn down enamel and gums.

If you have questions about choosing an electric toothbrush, please feel free to contact our Delta office any time!

Looking for a dentist in North Delta or Surrey? We're accepting new patients, so contact us today!

(604) 591-6344