ELECTRIC BRUSHES FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN

Good Technique
Whichever toothbrush you choose, the key, say all the experts, is good technique.
Brush in small circular motions with the toothbrush angled so that you are brushing the gum as well as the tooth.
It’s particularly important to brush the area where the gum meets the tooth. Make sure you get into all the nooks and crannies. Dentists also recommend using a fluoride toothpaste.
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Brushing time
Most people don’t brush their teeth for long enough. The British Dental Association advocates that we spend a full two minutes brushing our teeth both morning and night – but on average we spend only about 40 seconds.
Many of the rechargeable brushes have a timer to check that you are spending the full two minutes or longer.
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Children
A powered toothbrush can also be an advantage if you need to clean other people’s teeth, such as children or the elderly.
The brushes on the market for children are mainly battery operated, with bright colourful designs to entice them to brush more frequently. These brushes, are not suitable for children under three, however, and parents should always supervise brushing in any child up to seven years old.
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Personal choice
Choosing a toothbrush is a matter of personal preference – some people feel more comfortable with a manual toothbrush, others with an electric one.
The Cochrane Collaboration’s report didn’t cover factors such as how light, easy to hold or manoeuvrable the brushes were, and how ‘clean’ the person’s teeth felt afterwards.
These are all very subjective issues, but important when you’re a consumer. We’ve woven these factors into our nonclinical testing.