Manual toothbrush vs. Automated toothbrush?

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RussianJoo

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is the automated tooth brush any better than a manual one? I personally think they should be the same but some people swear by their Sonicare.. I haven't tried one yet. your comments are welcome. published studies are welcome even more.

thanks in advance for your replies.


sonicare-elite-e9500.jpg

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If you brush using the correct technique, both manual and electronic tooth brushes are pretty much the same. Electronic ones are recommended since they're alot easier to use for the average patient.
 
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Electric:

Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle to your gums (brush faces down toward the gums on the lower teeth and up toward the gums on the upper teeth). You should let the brush do the work. In other words you shouldn't be going back and forth vigorously with the brush. You do need to gently work your way around the front and back surfaces of each tooth and also the occlusal (chewing) surface. You should include the areas between teeth (interproximal areas) when brushing front and back. Just have the brush be in that spot and it should push the toothpaste through. A lot of the electric brushes have 2 minute timers with 30 second intervals announced so I do 30 seconds per quadrant (upper left, upper right, lower left, lower right). Don't forget the very back of the back-most teeth in your mouth. They're hard to reach and a great spot for plaque to build up.

Manual:

Modified Bass Technique. Hold the toothbrush the same way (45 degrees). Brush gently with circular motions going around the front and back surfaces of each tooth. Brush the occlusal (chewing surfaces). As you brush front and back you should be getting between the teeth in the process. Brush for 2 minutes total.
 
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Thank you. do you mind sharing the proper technique?

Or get a Braun Oral-B. The proper technique is...placing the bristle on your teeth. No worrying about gum recession or anything. With the Sonicare, the bristles tend to break and leave a gap, and you're not brushing all tooth surfaces unless you're careful.
 
a dentist i once shadowed told me that automated brushes were better only for the fact that people monitored their brushing times more (ya know that 30 sec beep or whatever on the oral Bs).
 
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