How to Use an Electric Toothbrush

You need to brush your teeth regularly to keep those pearly whites pearly, and your breath sweet as a fresh sprig of mint. You're familiar with the old manual toothbrush, but you just got an electric toothbrush, and may be wondering how best to use it. This article will show you how!

Steps

1. Charge it up. Without juice, your electric toothbrush is just a big manual toothbrush. Keep it cradled in its charger, or be sure to change the batteries when you notice it's losing its power. When it is losing its power, you should hear the sound it makes start to sound a little bit different to you. Store the charger close enough to the sink so it is easy to reach, but far enough away that you won't accidentally knock it into the sink and get electrocuted.
   
2. Keep your brush in good shape. Your electric toothbrush should have soft nylon bristles for the most effective brushing. These bristles will most likely wear out over a couple months of regular use and become much less efficient, so be sure to replace the brush when you notice the inevitable wear and tear.
   
   • Replacing your brush regularly is not just good for brushing, it's good for hygiene as well. Research has shown that a toothbrush is home to thousands of microbes—mostly harmless, but occasionally replacing the brush is an effective way to eliminate potential problems.^[1]
3. Wet your toothbrush before putting on the toothpaste. Once you have fully wet it down, use a pea-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste^[2] onto the brush. Applying too much toothpaste will cause over sudsing, tempting you to spit and finish too early.^[3]
   
4. Divide your mouth into four different quadrants: top, left and right, and bottom, left and right. Start on one of the top quadrants, at the gum line, with the brush at a 45-degree angle pointed up towards your gums.^[4]
   
   • Apply gentle pressure, and work the brush in small circles covering a couple of teeth at a time. The action of your electric toothbrush will do a thorough job of cleaning.
5. Brush thoroughly. Spend at least 30 seconds in each quadrant, brushing the outside of your teeth, inside of your teeth, between each tooth, and all chewing surfaces. You want to spend two to three minutes brushing overall.
   
   • Pressing too hard can damage your gums or wear down your enamel over time. In addition, brushing immediately after eating acidic foods or juices like orange juice or sodas can erode enamel. It's best to wait 30 to 60 minutes after eating anything before brushing.
6. Brush your tongue. It will scrub away bacteria that can cause bad breath. Don't brush too aggressively or you could damage the tissue of your tongue.
   
7. Rinse your mouth. Should you choose to do so, take a sip of water, swish it around in your mouth, then spit.
   
   • Note that there is some debate on whether or not this is recommended. While some feel that it reduces the efficacy of the topical fluoride treatment, others wish to ensure that no fluoride is ingested. There are also those who just don't like having toothpaste in their mouths! If you're at a high risk of getting cavities, it may be beneficial not to rinse, or rinse with just a small amount of water—effectively creating a fluoride mouthwash.^[5]
   • Other studies have shown that rinsing after brushing has no significant impact on the effectiveness of brushing with a fluoride toothpaste.^[6]
8. Rinse your toothbrush. Remove the brush from the handle, and hold it under running water for a few seconds. Set it upright in its holder to dry.
   
9. Finish with a fluoride-based mouthwash. (Optional) Take a small sip of mouthwash, swish it in your mouth for about 30 seconds, and spit it out. Be careful not to swallow any.
   
10. Return the handle to the charger or base. Keeping it charged means that your toothbrush will always be ready for you, whenever you need to use it.
    
    • If the unit already fully charged, unplug the charger so you don't waste electricity.

Tips

• Make sure that when brushing, you brush every part of every one of your teeth. This will ensure that you have cleaned your teeth enough.
• Don't forget to floss after you finish up with brushing your teeth. Flossing should be done at least once a day.
• Brush your teeth a minimum of twice a day, or after every meal.
• Electric toothbrushes deliver 3,000-7,500 strokes per minute; sonic toothbrushes, up to 40,000 strokes! By contrast, brushing by hand, properly, amounts to about 600 strokes a minute. Still, studies have shown that proper, diligent brushing with a manual toothbrush is just as effective as the powered versions. The key is regular, effective brushing habits!^[7]

Warnings

• Don't press the brush too hard against your teeth.
• Don't get electrocuted.

Related wikiHows

• How to Brush Teeth Without Toothpaste
• How to Brush Your Teeth With Braces On
• How to Brush Your Teeth Without a Toothbrush
• How to Brush Your Teeth With Your Finger
• How to Whiten Teeth With Baking Soda

Sources and Citations

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