The dental hygiene landscape has changed dramatically during the past few decades. More people have access to oral healthcare today than ever before. Still, it is much better to stick to the basics than to have expensive equipment take care of more serious dental issues. A great way is using better toothbrushes to ensure your dental hygiene is at its best.
Oscillating-rotating electric toothbrushes seem like the perfect solution. However, a more advanced version enhances their function even further: the sonic electric toothbrush.
What are sonic toothbrushes?
According to a Journal of Oral Hygiene & Health study, a sonic electric toothbrush emits ultrasound and sonic waves to vibrate the brush. It has a lower amplitude of motion at a higher frequency generated from a piezoelectric crystal embedded inside the hilt of the brush. The sonic waves massage the salivary glands, which increases saliva flow and assists with cleaning teeth. It gives the sonic electric toothbrush a lot of cleaning power and that iconic hum caused by its audible vibrations.
Some sonic brushes can sync with an app to track your brushing behaviour. The duo can help you spot missed areas by monitoring where and how you brush using sensors and advanced algorithms.
Difference between oscillating-rotating and sonic toothbrushes
Since powered mechanisms drive both oscillating-rotating and electric sonic brushes, you can easily misidentify one for the other. Nevertheless, many factors differentiate the two. Some of the most noteworthy ones include:
Function
An oscillating-rotating electric toothbrush relies on an electric motor to power the brushing motion. On the other hand, a sonic toothbrush is a rechargeable toothbrush that depends on an ultrasonic resonator as it vibrates to power the stroke. In simple terms, an oscillating-rotating toothbrush moves while a sonic toothbrush vibrates.
Speed
With an oscillating-rotating electric toothbrush, you can get stroke speeds in the range of 2,500 to 7,500 strokes per minute. Thanks to its high-frequency technology, those speeds can reach up to 30,000 strokes per minute with a sonic toothbrush.
Efficiency
Oscillating-rotating toothbrushes do a great job mixing water, saliva, and toothpaste to act as a cleaning agent. Sonic electric toothbrushes are made efficient by transmitting the vibrations through that mixture. It allows for removing plaque and cleaning hard-to-reach areas of the mouth.
Benefits of a sonic electric toothbrush
The introduction of sonic toothbrush technology into your life can bring you many oral hygiene benefits. A few crucial ones include-
Faster thorough brushing
The high frequency of vibrations allows sonic toothbrushes to rapidly clean your teeth, gums, and tongue. Most of them are soft bristle electric toothbrush variants, reaching widths close to 0.01 mm. Such thin strands can quickly get to the more delicate parts of your mouth to clean them thoroughly. You only need to look at Colgate Gum Care Heads to observe the gentleness of sonic toothbrushes.
Less susceptible to diseases
A healthier mouth means fewer bacteria and plaque build-ups. It can lead to better resistance against diseases such as gingivitis and halitosis. This is possible with electric toothbrushes that give you a superior brushing routine vs manual toothbrush.
It fits multiple gum types
Sonic toothbrushes allow for a variety of highly customizable modes. It makes it easier to configure your toothbrush according to specific dental needs. For example, you can choose between modes that are designed for sensitive teeth, whitening effect, super clean,etc depending on your dental goals.
Choosing the right sonic toothbrush
According to the WHO, oral diseases affect nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide. Most of them are treatable early and require better daily dental care. It is why you must be equipped with a toothbrush that provides the best oral care daily.
Choosing the right toothbrush is just as important as developing a good oral care regimen. Consider handle style (it should feel comfortable in your hand), head shape, and type of bristles. A toothbrush with a small head makes it easier to reach every spot in the mouth. And soft bristles will clean your teeth without damaging your gums or enamel.
Are you still confused regarding the correct sonic toothbrush for your dental needs? You can try out a Colgate Electric Toothbrush. It allows you to personalise your brushing experience with 33 custom combinations that you can tailor specifically to your oral requirements.
Other notable features include:
Smart coaching ensures you cover all quadrants of your mouth.
Four different modes and 10 levels of vibration to choose from, letting you boost dental hygiene and achieve superior brushing comfort. Squeaky Clean, Sparkle, and Gum Care modes have 10 levels of intensities; Night Spa has 3 levels of intensities.
Smart pressure sensors alerts you when you are brushing too hard and need to adjust your pressure.
An electric toothbrush with a timer that recognizes your brushing accomplishments. Depending on the mode, it shuts it off automatically after 2-3 minutes.
Soft and tapered tip bristles for deep, gentle cleaning. Ultra-slim 0.01 mm bristles that fit between your teeth and along the gumline.
A tongue cleaner to keep your breath fresh by removing bad breath causing bacteria. Easily accessible from the rear of the brush head.
Ergonomic and beautifully designed grip
Proper brushing technique
Whether you opt for a sonic toothbrush or not, make sure you brush correctly to provide the best care for your teeth. Use short, gentle strokes, and pay extra attention to the gum line, back teeth, crowns, fillings, and other vital areas. Clean specific sections in the following order:
The outer and inner surfaces of upper teeth, then lower teeth
Chewing surfaces
Tongue to keep your breath fresh
Once you have brushed for two minutes, do not forget to floss! Remember to change your toothbrush (or toothbrush head) every three months as recommended by dental professionals. Whichever toothbrush you prefer, make sure you schedule professional cleanings with your dental professional at least once a year.
Are there any side effects of using a sonic electric toothbrush?
As sonic toothbrushes cater to even the most sensitive teeth, there are no side effects from their use. As per clinical research, the safety assessment after six months of regular use of sonic electric toothbrushes indicated no soft tissue abnormalities. It also discovered that sonic electric toothbrushes remove three times more plaque than a manual toothbrush. They are also better at reducing gingivitis and sulcular bleeding.
Conclusion
In a world quickly becoming more populated with intelligent devices, it is about time that our hygiene products became more ingenious as well. Regular oscillating-rotating electric brushes can only ensure so much in terms of oral care. With sonic electric toothbrushes, you have not only the perfect solution for your daily dental needs but also something that helps save you considerable time and resources long-term.