CEBU, Philippines - A cursory look at the oral hygiene sections of stores in Cebu would reveal how popular electric toothbrushes have become.
Available in different types, these once hard-to-find oral hygiene implements are quickly taking up a lot of shelf space in retail venues today, saying something about how people are taking oral hygiene seriously these days.
But as popular as electric toothbrushes are, there are still a number of questions asked about them. Let's take up some of those questions, hopefully to give some insight to those who are wondering just what electric toothbrushes are, what their upsides and downsides are, and if they are any better than their non-electric, manual counterparts.
What is an Electric Toothbrush?
As an oral hygiene implement, an electric toothbrush is a type of toothbrush that's designed with a moving brush head powered by electricity (usually from a battery).
The most common electric toothbrush type is the rotation-oscillation type, followed by the vibrating type, then the ultrasonic type.
Rotation-oscillation electric toothbrushes usually have round-shaped brush heads that are designed to alternate clockwise and counter-clockwise rotational directions. Generally, the brush heads of rotation-oscillation electric toothbrushes are designed to be removable or replaceable, making them perfect for households and single users alike.
The first electric toothbrush is said to have been developed by Dr. Philippe-Guy Woog in Switzerland in 1954. The first generation of electric toothbrushes was reportedly aimed to help people with mobility issues - as well as orthodontics patients - effectively brush their teeth.
What are the advantages of an Electric Toothbrush?
Apart from the cleaning convenience in having motorized brush heads, most of today's electric toothbrush models highlight a range of nifty add-on functions.
Some electric toothbrush models are designed with built-in "brushing timers" - timers that are calibrated to "guide" users into how long they should at least brush their teeth.
Other advanced electric toothbrush models come with internal pressure sensors that are meant to "inform" users if they are brushing too hard or too rough.
Regarding children and electric toothbrushes made for them, parents overseas note that getting their kids to brush their teeth is easier with electric toothbrushes, since the kids are more enthusiastic in using their electric toothbrushes over the manual toothbrush variety.
Electric vs. Manual Toothbrush
Studies and researches delving into the effectiveness of electric toothbrushes reveal that their use is essentially no different from regular toothbrushes - so long as those who use manual toothbrushes properly brush their teeth.
Basically, the reason why we brush our teeth is to remove plaque, the bacteria-based biofilm that sticks to our teeth.
"Proper brushing" essentially points to the balance where one cleans the plaque off his or her teeth without pressing too hard or causing abrasive damage to the teeth and gums.
Those who have some difficulty in achieving this "balance" can benefit from the use of an electric toothbrush to effectively keep their teeth and gums plaque-free, since electric toothbrushes with set adjustments not dependent on the person to attain the "proper brushing" requirement of the manual toothbrush type.