Brushing hard hairs can damage the gums, agrees David Leder, an associate professor at Tufts University School of Dentistry.
Advantages of the classic brush:
– It is portable – you can also carry it in a purse.
– It is cheap and sold everywhere.
– No battery, no need for power.
The disadvantages of classic toothbrushes are:
– It can hardly reach certain areas. However, if used properly, a classic brush can be just as effective as an electric one. But, in this story, dental floss is key – no tooth cleaning technique is complete without it.
– It is less effective – a review from 2014 showed that a classic toothbrush is less effective in removing plaque and preventing gingivitis, both in the long term and in the short term, compared to electric, but the authors warn that greater standardization of experiments is needed.
– It creates an excess of plastic waste – experts say that toothbrushes should be changed every three months or when the hairs start to wear out, which creates plastic waste.
– They can be more abrasive than electric toothbrushes – if you brush excessively with a hand toothbrush or use hard brushes, it is difficult to tell when you have overdone it. Unlike many electric toothbrushes, there is no warning alarm if you press too hard.
– It is not an ideal choice for some people – experts say that people with disabilities and the elderly may have difficulty brushing properly with a hand-held toothbrush due to coordination problems.
Electric brush
Studies show that, when it comes to maintaining oral hygiene, electric brushes have certain advantages over classic brushes. However, it is worth considering the shortcomings.
Advantages of electric brushes:
– More effective in reducing plaque and gingivitis than a classic toothbrush – a large German study from 2019 showed that those who used electric toothbrushes had better general oral health, including less gum disease and tooth loss than those who used classic brushes.
– Better for gum health – the results of the 2017 examination indicated that these patients may have better gum health, including less inflammation and less bleeding if they use an electric toothbrush instead of the classic one, but more long-term research is needed.
– They are better for children and the elderly – a small study from 2013 showed that an electric brush is more efficient in removing deposits than a hand brush in children aged 8 to 17. Also, they are good for older people because vibrations make them easier to use without strong hand movements, especially for people with problems such as arthritis.
– They have accessories, the ability to connect to a smartphone, timers and sensors, which help you brush for a specific time and not to press too hard.
– Waste reduction – although you need to change the head of the electric brush every few months, just like with the classic brush, as Leader says, it is approximately one quarter of the length of the classic brush, so using electric brushes creates less waste.
Disadvantages of electric brushes:
– Costs – electric toothbrushes, just like their spare parts, are significantly more expensive than classic toothbrushes.
– They are loud, which may bother some.
– May cause tissue damage in the mouth if used with excessive force.
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