| Are
electric toothbrushes really valuable tools? Can electric
toothbrushes really clean your teeth more effectively than
a manual toothbrush?
The answer to this question depends on the context in which
it is asked. From a historic point of view, one existing before
some of the modern designs of electric toothbrushes had been
developed, the answer (based on the dental research of that
time) would have been: Yes, electric toothbrushes can clean
dental plaque from the surface of a person's teeth better
than a manual toothbrush, but not necessarily.
The qualifying point for this answer lies
in the fact that (if a person is using one of the more primitive
designs of electric toothbrushes) a person could achieve superior
dental plaque removal with an electric toothbrush, but not
if when brushing manually the person would:
* Brush using a proper brushing technique.
* Brush for an adequate length of time.
All that is required from the user is the
ability to move the brush around to various locations in their
mouth (an activity that takes very little dexterity). Since
the skill level that is needed to brush properly with an electric
brush is minimal all a person must do is focus on brushing
long enough.
In comparison manual tooth brushing does
require a bit of manual dexterity, and also some diligence,
both of which are often in short supply.
So, in those cases where the skills needed
for manual brushing are deficient a good electric toothbrush
will probably clean more thoroughly than brushing by hand.
Certainly if a person has a set idea or habit about how long
they will brush they will probably get more cleaning accomplished,
given the same duration of brushing, when using an electric
toothbrush rather than a manual one.
How long should a person brush?
Many humans simply aren't self-disciplined
enough to brush properly when they use a manual toothbrush.
As a general rule, most people should brush their teeth at
least twice a day with each brushing period encompassing at
least two to three minutes. The fact of the matter is that
most of us fail to routinely meet these guidelines.
Actually, the statement that most people aren't self-disciplined
enough to brush properly when they use a manual toothbrush
is probably a little bit harsh. Research has found that there
can be a major discrepancy between the amount of time that
a person actually does brush, as compared to the amount of
time that they perceive they have brushed.
Brushing
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Hygiene|
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natural way to healthy teeth and gums|Toothpaste
& Whiteners |