Traditional versus Electric Toothbrush

Should I switch to an electric brush? Does my child need a spin brush? Will it make his or her teeth cleaner?

Nowadays, there’s a huge range of toothbrushes available from ones that play your child’s favorite song, light up, or time his or her brushing. Some are manual, some battery-powered, and others can be recharged.

At Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry, we love all options! What works so well about these electric brushes is that they often motivate the patient. They can also help time the patient so that they get their full two minutes of brushing in.  So, if your child is more eager to brush with the one that spins and lights up, then we recommend that one! We know that kids rarely get excited about brushing so any little motivator is a positive in our book. In terms of actually getting the teeth clean, both a traditional and electric brush can do the same job.

Things to watch out for with these are that children need to be monitored. Small children should not be left to brush by themselves. They do not have the dexterity to effectively get their teeth clean. In addition, they can cause injuries to themselves and their delicate gum tissue.  Always make sure that they are using a soft brush. All kids should be brushing with a soft-bristled brush. Hard-bristled brushes can cause damage to the soft tissues and teeth.

As always, Dr. Lindhorst and Dr. Jadav recommend brushing two times a day for two minutes each time!

Dr. Jadav

Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry