Question

I regularly look after my five-year-old granddaughter. As I use an electric toothbrush, she wants to clean her teeth electrically too. I wonder if this could damage her gums. F. H. in S. 

Short answer

For small children, there are special round-headed toothbrushes with a smaller head and less powerful motor and extra soft bristles. Sonic toothbrushes are also suitable. Today there are smaller brushes (head, handle) specially designed for children. It is important that the cleaning is checked on the small child and that it is followed up with a suitable, small children's toothbrush.

Today there are two types of electric toothbrushes: 1. round-head toothbrushes and 2. sonic toothbrushes (sonic brushes). 

The round-head toothbrush has a round brush head that rotates back and forth in a circular motion. The cleaning effect is good. There is a risk of damage to the gums or teeth if the brush is used incorrectly or too much pressure is applied. This is because the brushing movement is repeated much more frequently with an electric toothbrush than when brushing with a manual toothbrush. 

The sonic brushes have an elongated brush head, like conventional manual toothbrushes, which moves up and down. The wiping motion of sonic brushes generally causes less damage to the gums and teeth. These brush heads move at such a high frequency that the movement is audible to us, which is why these brushes have the term sonic in their name. The high frequency creates a cleaning effect even in the immediate vicinity of the brushes, where the bristles cannot reach at all, such as between the teeth or behind orthodontic appliances. However, these brushes are no substitute for additional, targeted hygiene in every interdental space. Professional advice and monitoring of individual cleaning would be best.

Especially for small children 

For small children, there are special round-headed toothbrushes with a smaller head and less powerful motor and extra-soft bristles. Sonic toothbrushes are also suitable. There are special children's models with a smaller head and handle. 

Inspection and post-cleaning 

It is important that you check your young child's cleaning and clean with a suitable brush. If you use your own electric toothbrush, you should not use your own brush head for your granddaughter, but a separate, smaller one. 

On trend 

Electric toothbrushes are in vogue. Not least because there is great sales interest on the part of the manufacturers. If you have problems achieving good oral hygiene with a manual toothbrush, it is worth buying an electric brush, preferably a sonic toothbrush. Scientific tests show very good results.

Author: Dr. med. dent. Jürg Eppenberger
Published in: Neue Luzerner Zeitung on November 08, 2006; revised on April 30, 2014