The American Dental Association celebrates National Children’s Dental Health Month in February. NIU students aren’t children, but as generally new adults – sandwiched between academic responsibilities and social obligations – we’re a bit infamous for forgetting the necessity of some good childhood habits.
Most of us would like to claim that we brush our teeth regularly – and hopefully, we can, but doing a chore and doing it well are different considerations.
Besides, nothing makes a grown adult feel quite like a child being scolded than reminders to brush more from their dental physician.
How do you brush, NIU?
USE AN ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH
Everytime you eat, the bacteria in your mouth feast as well. In their delight, they create layers of plaque that coat your teeth in a not-so-fun mossy feeling, and over time, they thank you for the meal by exuding acid that decays your teeth.
But no matter how disturbing, that’s an easy fact to forget.
After a hard long day of classes or a long shift at work, when all you want is to eat about a quart of ice cream and pass out, tiny necessities like brushing your teeth seem much less necessary. An electric toothbrush can pick up your slack.
Research has confirmed electric toothbrushes clean our teeth with greater efficiency, removing around 70% more plaque on select tooth surfaces, according to a 2020 study published in the International Dental Journal.
Many people also find electric toothbrushes easier to use.
Electric toothbrushes require less mobility in general, making them a great option for those with limited mobility. And no matter who we are, we’re usually much more inclined to finish a chore, or simply to do it well, if it requires less energy.
Why not decrease the work of a task you do so much?
The American Dental Association recommends we brush our teeth twice a day for about two minutes. If you really hit that mark every day with no exceptions – which, if so, a sincere hat tip to you – you’re spending about four minutes every day brushing your teeth.
Multiply that by 365 days and you’re spending approximately 1,460 minutes a year brushing your teeth, or just over 24 hours.
That’s as much as one full day doing something not really fun at all. But you have to do it, so treat yourself, make a one-time purchase and cut down the labor.
Many electric toothbrushes also have timers to tell you how long you’ve been brushing or sensors to warn you if you’re brushing too hard.
Whether you pay attention to those aids is up to you, but at least the technology is there. A manual toothbrush gives you every opportunity to convince you and your weary wrist that it’s been five minutes of consistent, effective brushing after thirty seconds of not-so-effective swiping.
So just remember, a root canal costs a lot more than an electric toothbrush. Worth the investment?
USE A MANUAL TOOTHBRUSH
Brushing one’s teeth is an important daily ritual ingrained in us since childhood. Before this task can be done, people need to decide whether they wish to use an electric toothbrush or a manual toothbrush, which is powered only by the user’s hand.
The most obvious advantage manual toothbrushes have over electric is their upfront cost; manual toothbrushes usually cost less than $10 and are sold in many stores and gas stations, while electric toothbrushes are generally sold at $50 or more. A manual toothbrush is also easily replaced, since many gas stations stock manual toothbrushes for those on the road.
Electric toothbrushes are generally promoted as a better long term investment, since manual toothbrushes need to be replaced every few months. However, electric toothbrush heads also need to be replaced at the same frequency, and replacement heads cost about as much as a manual toothbrush. The handle will need to be replaced eventually too.
Additionally, manual toothbrushes are more portable, as they are smaller and lighter than their electric counterparts and do not need a charger. Not requiring electricity also means manual toothbrushes are always ready for use.
Admittedly, electric toothbrushes are generally easier to use, but this can be a problem too. The efficiency of electric toothbrushes can breed complacency, encouraging users to neglect proper brushing technique and duration.
This can become even more problematic if one becomes dependent on electric toothbrushes to do all the work. An electric toothbrush might not always be available, but regular brushing will always be necessary, so knowing how to manage without technological aid is important.
The environmental impact of toothbrushes is another important point in this comparison. The waste produced by constant replacing of manual toothbrushes and electric toothbrush head produces vast amounts of waste.
More sustainable versions of both types of toothbrushes are available, but manual toothbrushes are superior in this regard. No matter how sustainable the materials of an electric toothbrush are, they will always need batteries, and batteries can leak toxic chemicals into the environment.
Like most technological innovations, electric toothbrushes make a common task easier. However, they are ultimately more expensive, less reliable, and less environmentally friendly than manual toothbrushes.
