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  • Writer's pictureGreater Houston Pediatric Dentistry

Advantages and Disadvantages of Electric Toothbrushes for Kids

It's not easy to get kids to brush their teeth. While there are a lot of tips and tricks that encourage teeth brushing, even the most savvy parents can have difficulty making it in everyday habit for their children. It's one of the reasons why electric toothbrushes were created for kids. In addition to promoting good dental hygiene, they can sometimes make the process of brushing teeth a bit more fun. This is especially true if the toothbrush is decorated with vibrant colors and cartoon characters. In fact, some electric toothbrushes for kids light up and play music.

electric toothbrush and manual toothbrush

It's clear that there are reasons why buying an electric toothbrush for your kid might be a good idea, but are there any reasons why you shouldn't? Let’s look at both the advantages and disadvantages.

ADVANTAGES OF ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSHES

When considering the advantages of an electric toothbrush for kids, the priority is dental hygiene. The fact that this type of toothbrush can get your kid excited about brushing their teeth is reason enough to make the investment. There's a good chance that your kid will want to brush his teeth even before you mention it. This is because the way they’re designed appeals to kids. There are very few things with in life with flashing lights, cartoon characters and music that don't appeal to kids. Quite frankly, it's a brilliant idea that has helped many families. It has made the job of teaching kids how to develop good dental habits a lot easier than it would be otherwise. There is also a more practical reason why using an electric toothbrush for kids is a good idea. It's because they have a tendency to make kids feel more comfortable when going to the dentist. As you either know or can probably imagine, the dentist office tends to be a place where most people don't like to go, whether young or old. This is partly because of dental equipment that looks and sounds frightening. It's something that can start to feel overwhelming, especially to a kid that cannot process everything they’re seeing. What's interesting about a kid using an electric toothbrush is that it prepares them to experience similar sounds when going to the dentist. As a result, the experience won't feel so overwhelming and in some ways it will seem normal.

DISADVANTAGES OF ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSHES

While there are clearly a lot of benefits associated with using an electric toothbrush, it's worth noting that there are some areas that might be considered a disadvantage. Generally, a regular toothbrush is likely to provide a more thorough cleaning than an electric toothbrush. This is especially the case with kids that don’t know how to properly manipulate an electric toothbrush. In some cases, it can be more difficult for their little hands to handle and follow proper teeth brushing technique. On the other hand, there are some instances when this type of toothbrush might be too aggressive for kids. It's worth noting that some kids might not like the feeling of an electric toothbrush. All of the vibrating and buzzing sounds might be too much for them to handle and cause a little bit of fear. In some instances, they really are not afraid of an electric toothbrush, they simply don't want to brush their teeth, regardless of the toothbrush. Whether or not an electric toothbrush is right for your kid is a personal decision that will need to be made. Either way, you'll need to find a method for promoting good dental hygiene because it will make a difference in the long run. If you have questions, we will be happy to offer guidance.

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