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How to Use an Electric Toothbrush?

by Cassie Gong | August 17, 2023

Have you ever learned the correct method of using an electric toothbrush or how you should brush your teeth using that kind of a toothbrush?

Electric toothbrushes are mostly better than manual toothbrushes if they are used correctly. However, if your technique involving brushing your teeth is poor, no toothbrush will be beneficial for you to use.

What are the pros and cons of an electric toothbrush?

Pros

It is easy to use.
It is more efficient in removing plaque than a manual toothbrush.
It helps in the reduction of staining.

Cons

It isn’t cost-effective.
It requires a shaver socket, an adapter, or an electric socket to charge.

The brush will brush itself, and all you need is fluoridated toothpaste with it. However, to ensure the effectiveness of brushing your teeth, you need to use toothpaste with fluoride.

How to use an electric toothbrush?

The method of using an sonic electric toothbrush requires the same path used for a manual toothbrush.

You must hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle with a bit of pressure and hold it for three to five seconds per tooth.

The starting point will be the buccal surface of the back upper teeth on the right and brush to the labial surface until you reach the buccal surface of the left side of your teeth. After this, brush the lingual surface of your molars left to right.

Move the toothbrush towards the lower jaw and follow the same process starting from the right side of your teeth. Then the left side and the outside surface of your teeth like you followed for the upper teeth.

Lastly, you must brush the occlusal surfaces of the teeth, also known as the biting surface, with a very minute or no pressure.

You don’t have to rinse your mouth, and you can spit out the toothpaste. If you want to brush your tongue, which is recommended, you can start from the back of the tongue and move towards the tip.

Most electric toothbrushes have a two-minute timer, which is enough to brush all your teeth properly. However, it is okay if you take longer and need more time to brush your teeth. Furthermore, most electric toothbrushes also have a red-light indicator to tell you if you’re brushing your teeth vigorously or applying too much pressure. Make sure you pay attention to that.

How to use an electric toothbrush properly?

Electric toothbrushes come with a built-in two-minute timer that can help you ensure you are spending enough time brushing your teeth. Some of them also consist of timers that give you an alert every thirty seconds. This lets you know that you should move to the next quadrant of your teeth or the next section of your mouth.

When brushing your teeth, you can divide your mouth into four sections like the following.

The back surfaces of your teeth
The front surfaces of your teeth
The occlusal surfaces of your teeth and the lingual surfaces of your teeth
The tongue and palate

When using a smart toothbrush, you don’t have to press the toothbrush very hard or brush rigorously. You must guide the brush gently along the surfaces while scrubbing them. Some electric toothbrushes have pressure sensors that will alert you when you brush too hard.

You should brush one tooth surface at a time, depending on the size of your toothbrush. To ensure thoroughness, brush one surface at a time and take your time.

Do you brush your teeth differently with an electric toothbrush?

The method of using an electric toothbrush is different from manual brushes. You’re not supposed to brush back and forth and tilt the brush upright while cleaning the inner surfaces.

The most common error people make while brushing their teeth with an electric toothbrush is that they move their brush around a lot. They only brush the bottom teeth a little bit and move towards the biting surfaces, followed by the front teeth. This is a very ineffective method and not very efficient either. You should brush your teeth using a proper method and don’t brush one surface less than the other. Ensure that all the surfaces are getting the same time while brushing.

Floss your teeth after brushing because the fluoride does not penetrate the surfaces between your teeth to remove plaque. It will be more efficient and easier if you use a water flosser. Not brushing in between the teeth will not ensure the required protection. Furthermore, don’t even rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth because the ingredients in the toothpaste help take care of your mouth. Rinsing your mouth means you are eliminating all the essential ingredients.

Don’t apply too much pressure while scrubbing your teeth, and use a medium or soft bristle toothbrush. Always use fluoridated toothpaste and change your brush regularly. In the case of an electric toothbrush, change the brush head regularly.

You should also avoid using battery-powered ones because they usually die after every three weeks and do not even deliver the required power. Always make sure that you are brushing your teeth for at least two minutes.

Some FAQs about using electric toothbrush

Do you brush back and forth with electric toothbrush?

You must place the toothbrush outside each tooth for a few seconds. You don’t have to press hard or use the toothbrush back and forth like regular manual toothbrushes. The smart electric toothbrush does the job for you, and as mentioned earlier, some brands even alert you about the pressure.