electric toothbrush features

If you have decided to go ahead and buy an electric toothbrush, either sonic or high-end rotary, you will find that you will have a number of options to choose from. Some of these options will vary by way of the design type of the toothbrush (i.e., sonic, rotary, or pulsating rotary) while other features will vary according to the manufacturer and what they feel is important to offer.

Listed below are some of the options we have observed as available on electric toothbrushes. No doubt you will find some of these to be of great benefit and then others of much less importance to your specific situation, but we list them all in an attempt to be thorough and complete.

Electric toothbrush timers.

As you know from reading our pages about tooth brushing, one of the main reasons people don't brush effectively is because they do not brush long enough. So to help to alleviate this problem many electric toothbrush manufacturers have incorporated timers (with either audible or tactile signals) into their products so to give their users an idea of how long to brush. The most common variations on the idea of brush timers are as follows:

Brushing duration timers.

These timers are intended to provide a guideline for users related to the total amount of time they should brush. Usually these timers signal two minute intervals.

Quadrant timers.

A dentist will often refer to the mouth as composed of four "quadrants" (i.e., the upper left teeth, the lower right teeth, etc... ). Some electric toothbrush manufacturers incorporate timers into their brushes that signal intervals indicating how long you should brush each single quadrant of your mouth. Usually these timers trigger every 30-seconds.

Electric toothbrush power settings.

Some electric toothbrush designs allow for an option that sets the power of the brushing action of the brush to either a "high" or "low" level. In most cases the effectiveness of the brush will be greatest when it is set to its higher setting. The lower power setting is usually suggested for those who have just started to use their electric toothbrush and find that their oral tissues aren't healthy enough to tolerate the vigorous brushing action of the toothbrush when it is set on its highest setting.

Options related to electric toothbrush brush heads.

Electric toothbrush pressure sensors.

Previously in our text we discussed the typical amount of force people use when brushing their teeth, both with an electric toothbrush and a manual one. Our interpretation of the research was that excessive brushing pressure is usually not a problem when electric toothbrushes are used.

A few electric toothbrush manufacturers have incorporated pressure sensors into the design of their brushes as a safety feature. The idea is that if the brush user applies too much force the brush will automatically stall or stop. If you find that brushing with excessive force has been a problem for you in the past this may be a feature that is important for your situation.

The recharging apparatus for the electric toothbrush.

Most electric toothbrushes are cordless devices that utilize rechargeable batteries as their power source. Some manufacturers have incorporated indicator gauges into the design of their toothbrushes so to help you evaluate the degree to which the battery's charge has been depleted, so you'll know when to recharge it.

The design of the toothbrush's recharging base may possess features that are important to you. Possibly it is compact so it packs well for traveling. At the other extreme, possibly the base is large and can be used to store a number of brush heads such as those used by other family members.

Does the electric toothbrush have a money-back guarantee trial period?

Some toothbrush manufacturers and/or vendors offer a trial period during which you can use and evaluate their electric toothbrush. This may be an important option to those who have never used an electric toothbrush before and are hesitant to go to the expense of buying one, for fear of not using it. As you have heard before, "buyers beware." Make sure you have thoroughly evaluated the conditions of the offer so there are no surprises if you do decide to take advantage of it.

Electric toothbrush warranties.

Don't overlook the fact that electric toothbrushes are both electronic and mechanical in nature and even the best products can fail, sometimes long before their expected lifetime has been reached. Make sure you purchase your electric toothbrush from a manufacturer and/or vendor who you feel is reliable and available to you if you find you do need to exercise the conditions of your warranty.