At our office, we take pride in being able to offer high quality orthodontic care to patients of all ages. Whether you’re interested in Invisalign in Tinley Park or are looking for an Orland Park orthodontist for your child, we can meet all your family’s orthodontic needs. 

When you have braces on your teeth, food particles and bacteria can easily become wedged in and around the nooks and crannies making up your braces. This is why it’s so important to brush and floss your teeth well while in orthodontic treatment. When it comes to the type of toothbrush you can use, you have two main choices: Electric or regular. Here are the pros and cons of both types of toothbrushes so you can decide which type is best for you. 

Electric Toothbrushes 

Electric toothbrushes come with many options designed to make brushing your teeth easy. 

Advantages:

• Convenient 
• Easy to use 
• Better at plaque removal 
• Offer more features like timers & pressure sensors
• Ideal for people with arthritis or problems with manual dexterity​
• Potential for less toothbrush abrasion as an electric toothbrush handles all the brushing motions

Disadvantages 

• More costly than regular toothbrushes
• More prone to breakage as an electric toothbrush can break when dropped​
• Must buy replacement brush heads

Regular Toothbrushes 

Regular toothbrushes can be purchased at any grocery or drug store and come in a variety of types and sizes with different bristle options to choose from. 

Advantages

• Cost less than electric toothbrushes 
• Ideal for traveling as there are no accessories to take along like a charging dock, replacement brush heads and batteries
• Makes it easy to clean your tongue ​
• Great for kids because it’s easy to teach children how to effectively brush their teeth with a regular toothbrush

Disadvantages

• Must be replaced often 
• No built-in timer 
• Not as effective at removing plaque 

Contact Your Orland Park Orthodontist For More Information

Regardless if you decide to use a regular or electric toothbrush, just be sure that you brush your teeth well at least times each day. Ideally, we recommend that you should brush after each meal and at bedtime to ensure that no food is stuck in your brackets and wires. You also should floss your teeth once per day, preferably at bedtime to keep cavity-causing plaque at bay. If you have further questions about which toothbrush is best for you, contact us today. To schedule an appointment with our expert team, give us a call or fill out our easy online form!