May the Power Be With You!

    WASHINGTON, DC, April 18, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- By Judith Sloan -- 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 subscribe 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 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."

Research says it all:
• Recent studies point out that electric toothbrushes are superior when it comes to removing plaque.
• The review showed that more plaque was dislodged with the electric in two minutes than a manual toothbrush in six minutes.
• This is a considerable advantage, since the average person brushes less than a minute, when at least two to three minutes are optimal.
• And to that end--many electric models now come with timer features to help insure sessions last long enough to do an adequate job.

So the answer for optimal oral health 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. May you stay healthy the electric way! May the force be with you!

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