Dr Philippe-Guy Woog first invented the electric toothbrush in the 1954 in Switzerland. It was hailed as a remarkable innovation in the field of dental care. Dentists at that time claimed that it was not just effective in eliminating plaque but also decreased the chance of gingivitis – an inflammation of the gums that can lead to tooth loss. However, now people have started realising that the electric toothbrush is far from perfect.
A study in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology says that it is impossible for the average person to realise if they are applying too much pressure when using electric brushes, reports the Daily Mail. There have even been cases where patients had ended up with permanently damaged teeth enamel and gum recession from electric toothbrush use. In fact, more and more dentists are now recommending their patients to go back to the old-fashioned manual toothbrushes.
The safest way to clean one’s teeth requires putting as little pressure as possible on the teeth and to move the brush in small circular movements at a slight angle, according to Bussink.
