In a world where a gleaming white smile is around every corner, we have all become more aware of our teeth. And their health. Sure, everyone loves the idea of beautiful white smile. But taking good care of your mouth, teeth and gums is a worthy goal in and of itself. Good oral and dental hygiene can help prevent bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease—and can help you keep your teeth as you get older. And to many of us, that is just as important as the shade of white are teeth appear to be. There have been many advances in oral care in the past few years. Many of which are aimed at the aesthetics of your teeth. But we wanted to take a look at how to improve the overall health of your teeth – do electric toothbrush get your teeth cleaner?
Yes and No. Most people rely on the sample toothbrush they get from their dentist at the bi-annual dental check up. Or they pick up a cheap option at their local grocery store. Most people think all toothbrushes are basically the same but they aren’t. If you are going to use a regular toothbrush make sure it has soften bristles. But if you want to up your game, perhaps its time to invest in an electric toothbrush? Electric brushes can help ensure you get your mouth as clean as possible—reducing cavity risks and the likelihood of gingivitis. The advantage to theses brushes is that they do a lot of the work for you. They have built in timers, as well as a pressure indicator light to let you know when you’re brushing too hard and possibly damaging your gums. Many even come along with apps to help you monitor your dental health at home.
We tried two of the leaders in the pack (one from Philips and one from Oral B) and this is what we found:
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart Electric Toothbrush
DiamondClean is one of the slickest designed toothbrushes we have ever seen. It’s a beauty. Beyond it’s clean, modern design, it is a very straightforward electric toothbrush. A 2-minute timer – just like your dentist told you – is built-in to the DiamondClean, causing it to pulse every 30-second indicating when you should move to a new quadrant of your mouth. Of course, that’s assuming you’ve selected “clean”, which is just one of four cleaning options. You can also choose from “White”, “Gum Health” or “Deep Clean”. This device comes with an app for your smartphone to help you track where you have missed. And what areas of your mouth need more attention. It also includes a built in sensor to warn you when you are applying to much pressure. The DiamondClean helps remove 10x more plaque and promises healthier gums. It took us a few brushings to adjust to the hum of the toothbrush but then were were hooked. But in the end, it left our teeth feeling clean and fresh. It is a bit pricey at $200+ but it is worth it in the end.
Oral B 3000 Electric Toothbrush with Bluetooth
The Oral B 3000 Electric Toothbrush is the brands latest and greatest within the Oral B electric toothbrush range. The 3000 delivers more power and better brushing than its predecessors. This toothbrush works with a cross-action type bristle to clean your teeth and remove plaque. Moreover, just like the DiamondClean it has a built in timer for a 2-minute ideal brush. The 3000 pauses every 30 seconds to allow you to go to a new quadrant of your teeth and continue to brush. Finally, it will give 3 pulses when your time is up. The time is a great way to make sure you are brushing properly. The Oral B 3000 has 3 cleaning modes: Standard Clean, Sensitive, and Gum Care. Lastly, it includes a pressure sensor to warn you when you are brushing too hard. Finally, Oral-B’s Bluetooth technology connects to your electric toothbrush to the Oral-B App for personalized brushing routines and daily monitoring. The Oral B 3000 will set you back $99.
In the end, make sure you read the manual on whichever electric toothbrush you end up buying. Each one has different tips and tricks. Remember, the key to proper brushing is using your toothbrush to its full advantages.
