![\"woman](\"https:\/\/www.smiledaytona.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/ThinkstockPhotos-76765623-300x200.jpg\")
<\/a>Lately it seems like there\u2019s nothing that hasn\u2019t been touched by advancements in technology. Friendships are facilitated by social networks, and you can now even avoid a trip to the grocery store by ordering online in Port Orange. I don\u2019t want to sound like a luddite — I love my smart phone as much as anyone else — but sometimes it seems like things are moving a little too fast.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s one thing that hasn\u2019t changed much over the past few decades, though, and that\u2019s the way we clean our teeth. There are two options, manual and electric toothbrushes, and one really is just as good as the other — it\u2019s all in the way they\u2019re used. Let\u2019s take a look and see what the differences are, exactly.
\n<\/p>\n
One of the biggest advantages of electric toothbrushes is that they usually come with a built-in timer to ensure you\u2019re getting a full two minutes, every time you brush. Some even indicate when you should switch quadrants, so that your whole mouth is getting a thorough clean.<\/p>\n
Electric toothbrushes also fight the common human condition: laziness. Most of us cut corners when we\u2019re doing daily chores like brushing our teeth — but your electronic toothbrush gets into the hard-to-reach places without your even realizing it.<\/p>\n
Manual, or \u201cordinary\u201d toothbrushes, are just what they sound like — ones that don\u2019t have a battery or removable head. These are what you find in the drugstore for about $5, and while they may seem like they wouldn\u2019t do a great job brushing, the truth is that, when used properly, they\u2019re just as good as an electric toothbrush. The key is knowing how to use them.<\/p>\n
To make sure you\u2019re getting an equally good brush with your manual toothbrush, watch the angle at which you\u2019re brushing. It should be 45 degrees, so that you can roll the brush from the top of the gum down the tooth. And make sure you\u2019re brushing softly, in small circles rather than hard brushing from side to side — that can lead to scrapes and gum recession, two factors in gum disease.<\/p>\n
The biggest mistake people make in using manual brushes is not putting in the proper time — but that\u2019s easy to fix with a stopwatch or the timer on your phone. Brush for two minutes, twice a day, focusing on each quadrant of your mouth for 30 seconds, and you\u2019ll be getting the same excellent clean as anyone else.<\/p>\n