Features and functionalities of electric toothbrushes

When you do not have good manual dexterity or if you find it difficult to keep to the schedule for proper oral hygiene, using an electric toothbrush instead of a manual one can be a good solution. Let’s take a look at the features of electric toothbrushes and the benefits they can bring to our oral hygiene.

One of the features that almost all new generation electric toothbrushes have in common is the presence of a timer. Thanks to a vibration, the electric toothbrush alerts the user when the arch needs to be changed and thus allows the user to dedicate the right amount of time to cleaning their teeth. Electric toothbrushes are powered by a battery, which in most cases is rechargeable through a base. Electric toothbrushes therefore consist of a rechargeable base, a handle and a removable brush head that can then be replaced with a new one or with different brushes depending on requirements (softer or softer, thicker or thinner bristles).

Compared to traditional brushes, electric toothbrushes have the disadvantage of being bulkier when travelling and have a higher cost and environmental impact as they use electricity. In terms of effectiveness in oral cleaning, however, they are much better because they generally remove 70% of plaque thanks to their special brush heads, rotating movements and the presence of a timer which, if respected, allows for much more effective cleaning.
There are three types of movement or vibration that characterise electric toothbrushes:

• Rotating or oscillating movement: simulates the movement of a traditional toothbrush
• Pulsating motion: in some electric toothbrushes this is added to the rotating motion for more effective plaque removal
• Sonic motion: very fast vibration

Other special features of electric toothbrushes

• Non-slip handle for an easy and comfortable grip
• Pressure sensor or presence of a red light to indicate to the user if they are putting too much pressure on their gums
• Coloured rings on the base of the brush head to distinguish them in the family
• Specific travel cases for electric toothbrushes i or special charging bases
• Bluetooth connectivity with specific apps that you can download to your smartphone to get new functions, statistics and monitor the improvement of your oral hygiene.
  Electric toothbrushes can be purchased in pharmacies but also on the internet in marketplaces or online shops in the health care and beauty sector. Ideally, the device should be replaced every 5 years as the battery may lose effectiveness and reduce performance over time. When buying a new electric toothbrush, it is important to throw the old one as special electronic waste.

From what age are they recommended?

For children, it is advisable to start using an electric toothbrush from the age of 6/7 years as it is important that they have first learnt to brush their teeth manually in the correct way. In the case of poor manual dexterity or in the case of orthodontic appliances, the electric toothbrush can still be a valuable ally alongside the use of a traditional toothbrush.