Was my father right in saying electric toothbrushes remove tooth enamel?
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Aster (
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April 8th, 2016
He was a true skeptic and I’ve taken after him. I had been using an electric toothbrush for a few years and was developing toothaches. One jab woke me up. I just switched to a super soft bristle brush, like a baby toothbrush but larger, and all the pain is gone. What are your experiences with electric toothbrushes and do you think they’re a con job to benefit the dental industry?
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18 Answers
No more so, I’m guessing, than extremely aggressive brushing with a regular toothpaste. My dentist recommends soft toothbrushes but okays my using my electtric if I use a soft tip—which I do. Also, my electric has a built-in timer.
As with @Pachy, my dentist also recommends a soft brush and a non-abrasive toothpaste, and not over-brushing. Vigorous, continued brushing “of the teeth” with a hard-bristled brush and an abrasive toothpaste – like a lot of “whitening” toothpastes – will cause thinning and removal of enamel.
Your toothbrush should actually be known as a “gumbrush”, because that’s what you need to be brushing and cleaning. Saliva and very light brushing (and flossing!) will clean the surfaces of your teeth adequately. It’s those gums you need to look after.
The Water-Pik™ also helps a lot.
No moreso than a regular toothbrush.
Every dentist I have known harped on the need for an electric/electronic toothbrush.
I have one that times the quadrants and I like it a lot. No problems but for the expense.
@ibstubro you’re sounding like my father. He said dentists want your enamel to wear off so they’ll decay faster. It does take a few years.
Yes; I know she’s a dentist.
I switched a week ago. So wonderful to not have toothaches anymore.
Then you might want to visit a dentist, @Aster.
The vibration from the electric toothbrush might have exposed an underlying problem with a tooth that has yet to outwardly manifest.
A “jab” in your tooth probably shouldn’t be ignored.
I agree. One tooth has probably another fractured root. The last fractured root is costing me two thousand dollars for an implant. This is between a dental surgeon and my regular dentist.
@Aster: 2k for an implant is a bargain. Those are prices that they were charging around here 20 years ago.
My implant is $1,000.
Prices are declining.
@ibstubro: I wish that were the case around here. Here, a crown is more than $1000. Ijust had a new one made around Thanksgiving. That does not include the implant. My last implant was about 16 years ago and that was 4500 for surgery, implant and crown.
I was quoted $600 for post, $400 for tooth.
@ibstubro: Wow! I guess it’s my area, which is a very expensive one. Luckily the wages are commensurate.
@jca where do you live? Highway robbery!
About an hour from New York City.
I was thinking up north or back east. It is expensive up there!
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