Dr. Jim Porter, DDS has put a post on this topic on our Dental Health community on google + community. (which you should join)
You can access his post here. (click the join community link on the upper right while there(
Here is my take on this topic.
I like a manual toothbrush because I believe it can be more gentle than the electrics allow. Plaque is not difficult to disrupt, it doesn't require a great deal of force. But it does require consistency.
One of the reasons I think that electric toothbrushes are believed to work better is because of the timer factor. Most people have no idea how long two minutes is and the timer really helps them to achieve that goal.
When using a manual toothbrush, many people brush for 30 seconds or less, but they may BELIEVE they have been brushing for two minutes. That's a big problem.
So to recap, this is a personal preference, but I like a manual toothbrush with a super soft brush more.
How about you, which do you use and why do you think it is better?
I'll be the first to admit that what I am about to share with you is NOT scientific at all. This is not a valid study or anything like that.
I'm only sharing with you what a customer of mine told me.
It was a few days ago. This customer ordered a part for his old Hydro Floss. He estimates that his hydro floss is about 15 years old.
He said that the Hydro Floss sat in his closet for years. He started having gum problems. His hygienist found that he had deeper than normal pockets.
He had an electric toothbrush that he hadn't been using either (just like the Hydro Floss), and he tried that. On his next office visit, he was told that his gums were not any healthier.
Then he pulled out his Hydro Floss and started to use it daily. When he went back, the hygienist told him is gums were A LOT healthier.
This is not really a surprise to me. That's because I have my own personal experience plus I have heard stories from many of the customers that I have talked to over the last several years.
Just wanted to share.
NOTE: just for the record. I have nothing against electric toothbrushes. They can be very useful and helpful. That's why we well them here at Toothy Grins Store website as well.
This is a relatively inexpensive electric toothbrush. We also have the ProClean 1000 from Oral B as well.
Anything that can help disrupt plaque on a daily basis is going to be beneficial to your dental health. It all comes down to the basics. The Basics
Plaque is the enemy. The bacteria form this themselves. It gives them a shield against oxygen. Once Shielded they can product acidic waste byproducts that are responsible for gum disease, cavities and even bad breath.
When plaque is intact, the bacteria grow fast - forming ever larger colonies that have the capability to cause harm to your dental health in the ways just mentioned.
When plaque is disrupted, the underlying bacteria is exposed to oxygen. Most of them cannot tolerate that and therefore they cannot form or maintain colonies large enough to pose a threat to your teeth and gums.
Plaque begins to reform as soon as it is disrupted. That is why the fight against plaque is a daily one. Any dental professional will likely agree, it is what you do on a daily basis that is going to make the most difference to your dental health.
When plaque is not disrupted, it can form into tartar. Tartar cannot be eliminated by normal methods and thus it forms a great shield for the bacteria. This is why dental hygienists are needed. They can remove the tartar for you that your toothbrush, dental floss and even other tools cannot.
These are the basics as understood by most today. This is what the majority subscribes too. You can also read about shrinking periodontal pockets. Advanced
Now I want to make sure that I tell you about one of the most powerful dental health prevention / promotion tools I know of. It is called the Hydro Floss.
* I speak in general terms only on this site. Specific questions
about your unique dental health situation should be addressed by your
doctor or periodontist.
