Design features of an electric toothbrush
The importance of dental hygiene from the early years cannot be underestimated. Part of a good dental hygiene routine is regular visits to a dental hygienist as part of your dental check-ups. Maintaining dental health will help to halt any periodontal (gum) disease, tooth decay, plaque build-up and other dental issues, ensuring you have a bright, healthy smile throughout your life.
A key part of a healthy dental routine is brushing your teeth and one of the best tools for this is an electric toothbrush.
Why use an electric toothbrush?
The use of electric toothbrushes by adults has been strong for a number of years and they are known to remove as much as twice the amount of plaque that a manual toothbrush can.
Recently, there has been a major push in encouraging children to use electric toothbrushes as there is growing evidence that 43% of children aged 8 years old are showing signs of tooth decay. Despite manufacturers producing children-oriented electric toothbrushes with a range of features to ensure brushing children’s teeth is safe, with one-in-two children (53%) actually use an electric toothbrush.
Features of an electric toothbrush
Electric toothbrushes have come a long way since they were first introduced, incorporating a range of features to ensure you are brushing your teeth in the right way.
- Size of the brush head and bristles – there are a variety of toothbrush head sizes and bristles that will accommodate sensitive teeth, for use with dental implants, dentures, crowns or bridges, can benefit the whitening of teeth and also massage your gums. Electric toothbrushes that are specifically designed for children will incorporate a smaller head and soft bristles as their mouths are small and to ensure brushing doesn’t damage their tooth enamel and gums. There are electric toothbrushes available that also include multiple brush head compatibility so that you can choose the bristles you prefer.
- Pressure sensors – built-in sensors will detect if you are brushing your teeth too hard, which is particularly important for children’s electric toothbrushes.
- Timers – built-in timers will help you track how long you are brushing your teeth, not only in the four quadrants of your mouth but overall. This is a great way to make sure children brush their teeth for the required period of time to remove plaque. Some electric toothbrushes also include tracking technology to ensure you cover every area of your mouth, in real time.
- Digital reminders – notification of when you need to replace the brush head.
- Oscillating, pulsating, rotating, cupping or sonic – technology is really driving choice in electric toothbrushes. The most common movement is oscillating or pulsating toothbrushes but there is also the choice of cupping rotating and sonic movement.
- Bluetooth connectivity – often found in the latest designs of children’s toothbrushes, it is a great way to keep track of the way they are brushing, and helps to improve it, as well as keeping track of their brushing progress. In fact, there are also apps that parents can download to mobile devices that add an interactive element. Not only do they make it more fun to brush their teeth through the use of songs, videos and other fun activities, parents can get involved, too.
- Handle and grip – they may be curved, ribbed, straight or smooth; making sure the handle is easy to grip and is comfortable in the hand, whether you’re an adult or a child, makes brushing your teeth easier and more effective.
Many of today’s toothbrushes for children come in a variety of colours and designs, often featuring their favourite cartoon or film characters. Some of these will also appear in the apps, bringing the two together to help motivate children to maintain a healthy dental hygiene.