View Actual Patients

Electric Toothbrushes Up the Wattage of Your Pearly Whites!

Here's the latest word when it comes to toothbrushes: Go for power! Whether run by battery or electricity, these auto-brushes come in a wide variety: Some pulse. Some rotate. Some pulse and rotate. And some vibrate at "sonic" speed.

No matter the version--dentists and dental hygienists tout the effectiveness of an electric-powered toothbrush. And get the one with a small round head. Brushes with large heads don't easily reach into small areas--like the backs of rear molars.

"You need to get bristles--which mimic the curved shape of the gum tissue around each tooth--to run right along that arcing line," says Soosan Mehrani, our hygienist at the Washington Center for Dentistry. "And the mechanical action works as an exercise machine for your gums, keeping them pink, tight--just like they should be!"

And so it's no surprise that dental professionals observe that motorized models are less technique-sensitive. "How often are we tired before bed and fail to give our all to proper brushing," Soosan says. "This often leads to food building up in certain areas, causing inflammation and problems."

So the answer is an electric model that pulses and rotates in a consistent way--no matter how tired we are. We get a solid, competent brushing every time, even in the back of the back of our mouth. And our smile stays healthy the electric way! And may the force be with you!

Be well...judi