Should I get my child an electric toothbrush?
Electric toothbrushes are getting more and more popular for both adults and children. Many parents ask us whether their child should use one. In this blog post, we’d like to offer a guide to help answer some of the questions you may have.
So, does your child really need to use an electric toothbrush?
In order to properly answer this question, we have to ask you a few more questions.
1. How old is your child?
At the moment, there aren’t a great deal of good quality electric toothbrushes for young children. Most powered brushes are only for 3 years and older. It’s best to use a manual brush only for kids younger than 3. If you are going to use a powered brush, make sure you are the only one brushing, as kids may damage their gums if they aren’t able to control the brush properly. Take a read of our recommendations on electric brushes by age below.
2. How much are you willing to spend on an electric toothbrush?
Powered and electric brushes are much more expensive than manual brushes. If you are buying a powered brush, you may need to buy a new brush everytime the brush head needs replacing. Then there is also the cost of replacement batteries when they run out. Manual brushes still work out cheaper.
3. Do you think it will help your child brush more and show more interest in looking after their teeth?
If your child has good brushing habits and is motivated, continue with a manual brush. If you struggle getting your kids to brush regularly and for the correct amount of time, a powered or electric brush might just help. If it means your child is brushing for longer and more regularly, this should positively affect their dental health. It may just be worth the investment.
Our electric toothbrush recommendations by age: (taking into account price, value for money and reliability)
0-2 years – The suggested age guide for powered brushes is 3 years and older. We recommend sticking with a manual age appropriate brush for kids in this age range. Take a read of our blog post Looking after children’s teeth for some practical tips.
3+ years – Oral B Stages Power brushes 3+. These are affordable battery-powered toothbrushes. The only downside is you can’t buy replacement heads, so you will need to buy a new brush when the brush head is exhausted. If you are happy to spend the money, the Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush HX6311/07 is a great 3+ year brush which is rechargeable, has 2 different brush head sizes, has musical tones and interchangeable stickers.
5+ years – Oral B Stages Power brushes 5+. Again, battery operated, but with this range, you can buy replacement brush heads, so you don’t to replace the whole brush. If you’re willing to spend big, the Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush HX6321/03 is a pretty amazing brush. It has Bluetooth connectivity and its own in-built app to motivate kids to brush their teeth as best they can.
12+ years – Kids can now use adult electric brushes. We can’t go past the Oral B Vitality range in terms of price and value for money.
