Uses of the Electric Toothbrush
The electric toothbrush supplies important motion to clean the teeth and gum line. However, its most important function is to create circular motion whereby food particles lodged under the "ledge" of the gums can be swept out. Gums do slightly "droop" around each tooth at the gum line. Only circular motion of a toothbrush dislodges the particles properly, whether an electric or manual brush is used. Teeth must be flossed before using a manual or electric brush to do a proper job.
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Responsible Use of the Electric Toothbrush
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It's easy to misuse the electric toothbrush. When an individual is tired or in a hurry, he or she can become tempted to casually use it, allowing it to spin and kind of do its own work. This is dangerous to the teeth and gums. An electric toothbrush must be carefully guided. To brush properly, one must tip the brush at a slight angle to get under the gum line, but it's important not to press hard. While tooth enamel is hard, it is irreplaceable. Electric toothbrushes using sonic vibrations are excellent for removing plaque, so no hard pressing is needed.
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Use the Toothbrush for the Tongue
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The electric toothbrush is great for brushing food particles and odor from the flat surface of the tongue. Many adults have bad breath because they do not clean the tongue properly. By adding toothpaste and working the electric brush in tiny sweeping motions on the front and back of the tongue, the user will experience a cleaner mouth and better breath. Various bacteria, which cause tooth decay, hide in the tongue and on the teeth and gums.
Clean Biting Surfaces with the Toothbrush
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Children, especially, tend to skip cleaning the biting surfaces of the teeth. An electric toothbrush will dislodge food particles and the initial debris hiding on the biting surfaces that can work into crevices and cause plaque buildup. Brushing slowly and carefully for about two minutes with the electric toothbrush helps prevent cavities in small crevices of the teeth.
Clean Properly to Protect Tooth Enamel
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While tooth enamel is hard, it can be permanently removed by brushing too hard with any type of toothbrush. Users should place plenty of toothpaste on the bristles of an electric toothbrush to ensure food particles are being taken away gently. All tooth surfaces should be cleaned by gentle, repeated motion that dislodges food debris but does not compromise the enamel. Those using an electric toothbrush should not get distracted during the process of cleaning; it takes focus and awareness to use an electric toothbrush properly to protect both teeth and gum tissue.
Don't Use an Electric Toothbrush on the Gums
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Users should not use an electric toothbrush for the gum surfaces. Dentists confirm that brushing the gum surfaces is a great way to stimulate blood supply to the teeth. However, the electric toothbrush is too harsh for the tissues of the gums. Users should gently brush the gums with a manual toothbrush once every other day. A rotating motion of the manual- toothbrush bristles above the area where teeth and gums meet is a good way to help stimulate gum repair through natural-cell turnover.
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