Can a rotating electric toothbrush damage teeth?

The switch from manual toothbrushes to electric ones was to get more from oral care. Rotating electric toothbrushes are also electric toothbrushes. But unlike the basic manual toothbrush, they operate by rotating. This toothbrush type has been popular as far back as the 1990s. Unlike sonic toothbrushes that use sonic vibrations in cleaning the teeth, they use the rotating motion. The motion of rotation is a circular one. The motion can either move back and forth or in one nonstop motion.

The rotating electric toothbrushes are widely recommended because of how effective they remove plaque. Studies have been able to identify their excellent ability in removing plaques. This attribute is enhanced by the rotating ability of the rotating electric toothbrushes. They give up to 8000 strokes every minute. They also have the excellent ability to improve dental health generally. But when misused, the rotating electric toothbrushes could cause continuous damage to the teeth. The toothbrush head is usually small, and the bristle is arranged circularly.

Like manual toothbrushes, rotating electric toothbrushes are also mild on the teeth. They do not have a significantly bad or damaging effect. The brush is often equipped with pressure sensors that tell you when too much pressure. The brush has the ability to ensure you do not apply too much pressure. This is because applying too much pressure could harm your teeth. There is no evidence indicating that the rotating electric toothbrushes could damage the teeth when handled correctly. Oral injuries, such as herpes, Bacterial and fungi infections, could be the fate of your teeth. This can only occur when the rotating electric toothbrushes are wrongly used. The wrong usage can be a simple as not changing the toothbrush head when due. The stipulated usage period is 12 to 16 weeks, after which a change is due.

There are numerous ways electric toothbrushes can be misused. People are capable of trying several unrecommended dental practices. All in a way to get creative or to achieve better oral care. Oftentimes, how electric toothbrushes can damage your teeth are quite common.

Ways in which the rotating electric toothbrush could damage the teeth 

1. Applying excess pressure while brushing: Pressing hard on the teeth while brushing doesn’t guarantee a cleaner, whiter and healthier teeth. In fact, this is a common misconception that quite a number of people have subscribed to. Applying excess pressure could leave you with damaged teeth and eventually cause so much discomfort. Tooth abrasion is a common dental problem. It is caused when excess pressure is applied to the teeth while brushing. Tooth abrasion is the gradual erosion of the outer layer of the enamel over a long period. Damaged enamel is a very bad situation. This could leave you prone to a high risk of gum recession, dental sensitivity, and sore gum tissues. 
2. Using an overdue electric toothbrush head: Prolong usage of an electric toothbrush head could wear and tear the brush bristles. When the toothbrush head is used for a long time, the bristles become hard. Scrubbing the teeth with a hardened toothbrush bristle could lead to oral injuries. Common oral injuries associated with worn-out bristles are; Cuts to the gum, sores to the cheeks and tongue. Open sores and cuts could lead to other infections, such as Herpes and Gingivostomatitis.
3. Brushing with the rotating electric toothbrushes for long: The American Dental Association (ADA) advises each person to brush for at most two minutes, twice a day. Spending too much time while scrubbing your teeth could slowly erode the outer layer of the enamel. On the other hand, spending lesser time is seen as an ineffective practice of good oral hygiene. The truth is that brushing for too long can wear out the enamel. At the same time, brushing for less than 2 minutes with an electric toothbrush won’t remove plaques efficiently. In order to avoid gum recession, cut spending too much time while scrubbing your enamel.
4. Sharing electric toothbrushes: Some electric toothbrushes are designed to self-sterilize. They are packed with ultraviolet lights (UV) to enhance self-sterilization. Some People, especially family relations, and couples might be tempted to share one electric toothbrush. They sometimes do this because of their love for such a relative. Unfortunately, oral infections and diseases are passed on through this process. The ultraviolet rays are capable of killing viruses and bacteria. Although, it depends on the type of ultraviolet light installed in the electric toothbrush. Industrial-sized ultraviolet lamps are known to kill viruses effectively. But they might not be the same for those installed in toothbrushes. The UV is capable of killing 99.9% of micro-organisms. Unfortunately, it takes just 0.1% of the remaining viruses and bacteria to cause mild to severe infections. 

After explaining the potential harm to the teeth when the electric toothbrushes are misused. It is important to ensure you do not engage in those harmful practices. Every rotating electric toothbrush has an appropriate way to use them. Always ensure to stick with the stipulated guidelines and do not overbrush your teeth. Remember that applying pressure is unnecessary when using a rotating electric toothbrush. The stipulated two minutes of brushing time are more than enough to give you good oral hygiene.

In conclusion, there is no definite proof that rotating electric toothbrushes will damage your teeth. But whenever electric toothbrushes are not used properly, damage to the teeth can occur. This damage could be mild or severe to either the teeth, gum, or enamel. In fact, the rotating electric toothbrushes provide adequate oral care when used appropriately. The additional advanced technological features, such as a timer, all work to ensure there is no damage to your teeth.