Electric toothbrushes have become an important tool in modern oral care, providing a deeper cleaning effect than traditional manual toothbrushes, thus promoting oral health. However, electric toothbrushes are not suitable for everyone, and some people may experience some challenges in using them. As an oral health professional, I am here to give you an in-depth understanding of the use of electric toothbrushes and their applicability, and at the same time guide you on how to choose the right electric toothbrush to ensure that your oral care is both efficient and appropriate.
Several types of people must be cautious before use, if you have to use it, you have to use it under the doctor's advice, blind use is very easy to hurt teeth!
Risks of using electric toothbrushes in young children: Children, especially those under the age of four, are in the early stages of tooth replacement and their mouths are more susceptible to damage. The vibration intensity of an electric toothbrush can be too intense for this age and can easily cause damage to delicate gums.
Considerations for the use of electric toothbrushes in the elderly: Elderly people over the age of 65 often have fragile teeth, often accompanied by problems such as severe tooth wear, loose teeth, and receding gums. Using an electric toothbrush with a higher vibration frequency may exacerbate these problems.
Special warning for patients with oral diseases: For those who suffer from severe oral problems such as severe periodontitis, receding gums, loose teeth, etc., the use of electric toothbrushes requires extra care. Intense vibrations may exacerbate oral problems, so seek the advice of your dentist before using an electric toothbrush.
Recommendations for patients with sudden dental problems: People who suffer from dental problems suddenly, such as frequent bleeding or severe pain in the gums, should stop using electric toothbrushes and seek help from dental professionals in time.
Note for those who have recently undergone oral treatment**: People who have just undergone procedures such as filling, root canal** or medical whitening should avoid using electric toothbrushes immediately during the recovery period. For example, it takes one to two days for the filling material to fully cure, at which point using an electric toothbrush may cause the material to fall off.
Although most oral health professionals tend to recommend electric toothbrushes for better cleaning, there are still some doctors who have reservations. This hesitancy stems mainly from concerns about the potential negative effects of low-quality electric toothbrushes. It has been observed that more than 90% of Malaysians are not in ideal oral condition, yet many people mistakenly believe that their dental health is good due to the lack of pain warnings, thus ignoring the importance of choosing the right electric toothbrush. Consumers often blindly follow popular products on the Internet or celebrity recommendations, which is likely to buy non-professional electric toothbrushes, which can harm their teeth.
Low-quality electric toothbrushes have stiff and sharp brushes that are unstable in vibration frequency. This toothbrush can easily damage the gums and wear the enamel excessively, which may cause problems such as tooth sensitivity and bleeding gums.
Given that most Malaysians have oral health problems such as tooth decay, gingivitis or periodontitis, an inferior electric toothbrush may irritate pre-existing oral diseases and accelerate their progression.
Long-term use of an inferior electric toothbrush can also cause chronic tooth damage, which can be subtle but can lead to serious consequences such as gum recession and loose teeth.
Therefore, in order to protect oral health, it is essential to choose the right electric toothbrush. Consumers should pay attention to the quality of the product when purchasing and avoid blindly following the trend to ensure that the teeth are properly cared for.