If you have gum disease, early intervention is key. Dental cleanings are beneficial, but the at-home work you do each day ultimately affects the state of your oral health. Daily brushing and flossing are essential to lifelong dental wellness. When it comes to gum disease, electric toothbrushes may have advantages over manual ones, such as improved plaque removal and a built-in timer.
Why Electric Toothbrushes Can Help Gum Disease
Gum disease is caused by chronic inflammation and irritation of the tissue surrounding the gum pockets. It is often caused by poor dental hygiene, which is not only limited to infrequent or absent brushing. Instead, it could be caused by not brushing your teeth properly, not brushing as long as you need to each time you do, and not flossing.
Electric toothbrushes work just as well as manual ones, but they have some advantages. For one, the built-in timer helps ensure you are always brushing for at least 2 minutes at a time. Without a timer, the average person brushes for only 45 to 70 seconds per day.
Another major advantage of electric toothbrushes is their rotation speed. An electric toothbrush rotates thousands of times per minute, while a manual brusher can typically only reach a maximum of 300 rotations per minute.
This does not inherently mean that manual toothbrushes are unable to remove plaque and prevent gum disease. They did so for decades before electric toothbrushes arrived on the scene. However, because some people struggle to brush effectively with a manual brush, an electric toothbrush can be more beneficial in thoroughly removing plaque from their teeth and crevices between them.
The Best Way to Prevent Gum Disease? Brush and Floss
Nothing can substitute good oral hygiene. By improving your at-home dental routine, you can fight off gum disease, prevent future infections, and keep your teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime.
If you do find yourself struggling with tender or swollen gums, bleeding, or any other dental symptom, we can help. Soft Touch Dentistry specializes in laser dentistry, and we offer emergency care.
Please contact us today to schedule an appointment. Our lead dentist, Dr. Nazila Bidabadi, is highly experienced and has spent decades both treating patients and training the next generation of dentists as a clinical instructor at the Harvard University School of Dentistry.
If you have questions, please call our office in Brighton, MA (617-782-9250) or Newton, MA (617-332-8146). We look forward to speaking with you!
