Are you thinking about getting an electric toothbrush for your child? Maybe you’re looking for ways to get your child excited about brushing their teeth. If you’re thinking about getting one or more electric toothbrushes, it’s a good idea to factor the advantages and disadvantages into your decision.
Advantages
A Colorful, Exciting Brush
Today, kids have a wide variety of electric toothbrushes available to them. They can choose one featuring a favorite cartoon or video game character. Many of these electric toothbrushes have a design with lots of bright colors. This includes the bristles! Some of these brushes have flashing lights and play catchy tunes. Just seeing a brush with a beloved character on it can get a kid excited about brushing their teeth! For most parents of young kids, that’s the goal.
Improving the Experience at the Dentist’s Office
Most electric toothbrushes make a bit of noise such as a soft whirring sound. Giving your child an electric toothbrush to use can get him or her accustomed to these sounds. So, when it comes time for a checkup or cleaning, your child is going to be familiar with some of the noises made by the teeth cleaning tools used by their dentist. This can lower your child’s stress level as well as yours. Naturally, you want your child to be as comfortable as possible while visiting the dentist.
Being Environmentally Friendly
If your child has an electric toothbrush, he or she is likely to use it for years. Many electric toothbrushes have replacement bristles available when the originals become worn out. This means your child won’t be throwing out a plastic toothbrush every couple of months to replace it with a new one. Getting an electric toothbrush and caring for it in the proper way can be an environmentally friendly option for a family.
Disadvantages
Not Learning Proper Brushing Technique
Children don’t need to learn brushing techniques when they use an electric toothbrush. Using one takes no more effort than putting it into your mouth and moving it across your teeth. However, proper brushing technique involves moving a toothbrush in different directions and making the motions to thoroughly clean both the front and back of each tooth along with the tongue. If your child uses an electric toothbrush, there’s no opportunity to learn and practice proper brushing technique.
Put Off by the Lights and Noises
Some kids don’t like the lights and noises made by some electric toothbrushes. So, trying to introduce one to a young child can possibly put them off of brushing their teeth. Some electric toothbrushes make more noises and have more flashing lights than others, so it makes sense to do some research if this aspect is a concern for you.
Maintenance
An electric toothbrush needs to be recharged so it will work as it’s supposed to for the next brushing. This means you or your child will have to remember to put it in the charger before leaving for work or school.
In addition, sometimes an electric toothbrush and its charger can take up a lot of space on a bathroom vanity. This may be a bigger deal to a family with a bathroom that has limited counter space already.
Lastly, both traditional and electric toothbrushes have advantages and disadvantages. Regardless of which toothbrush you choose, it’s a good idea to monitor your child’s brushing routine to make sure he or she is being thorough.