by Patrick Sills

Created on: February 01, 2009   Last Updated: February 13, 2009

From the time we are toddlers and visit the dentist for the first time, he or she will stress the importance of brushing our teeth. Proper oral hygiene not only improves our appearance when we smile, but it also promotes good health, not only around the gums and teeth themselves, but also throughout our entire body. Negligent oral care can lead not only to rotten teeth, cavities, and receding gums, but infectious bacteria also has the potential to enter our bloodstreams and cause all kinds of problems. In a few cases, this can ultimately lead to death. As a result, we will all be given a toothbrush at the conclusion of our dental checkups. Ideally, they should be used after every meal.

The origins of oral hygiene date back to prehistoric times. Archaeologists have uncovered animal bones, bird feathers, tree twigs, and porcupine quills used for this purpose. It is believed that the first ancestor to the modern toothbrush, constructed with hog hairs on a bamboo stick, was invented in China during the late 15th century. As the centuries passed, improved versions of this tool were developed until finally, a U.S. patent was granted in 1857. Oddly enough, the idea of regularly brushing teeth didn't come into vogue until the Second World War! That's kind of gross if you think about it.

Today, a conventional manual toothbrush is made with nylon bristles attached to a plastic handle. Oral practitioners recommend the soft variety because it is less invasive to the gums and the enamel on the teeth themselves. The advantages to this type of toothbrush include minimal expense, portability, and the ease of frequent replacement. As a car enthusiast, discarded toothbrushes also function as excellent detailing tools, especially when removing old wax from trim pieces!

The electric toothbrush has been with us for 50 years as of this writing. In this author's opinion, they are the undisputed winner when it comes to preference. As you may recall, the dentist instructs us to brush our teeth in a vertical fashion; or up and down. Who actually does this? When using a manual toothbrush, the natural instinct is to brush horizontally because it is far easier. I would therefore suspect that 99% of people who use manual toothbrushes are doing it wrong. I know I do.

Electric toothbrushes are powered either by a wall-mounted charger (like a cell phone), or in more recent years; simple batteries. The motion of the bristles is made to rotate in the proper, vertical direction. There is often a second, smaller brush that rotates in a circular pattern. All we need to do is hold this type of toothbrush in place until we're ready to move it to a different location. There is no need to worry about forcing your arms into making unnatural brushing movements. This type of toothbrush does the work for you. The only disadvantage is the expense. A wall-mounted, rechargeable example can be priced in excess of $100. But there's a simple alternative. And what is that? For about six dollars, you can go to Wal-Mart and buy a battery-powered electric toothbrush. They are just as portable as the manual variety, and the cost will be about the same. When the bristles wear out, they can simply be replaced with new ones. The power source comes from a couple of "AA" batteries, which are quite inexpensive if you buy them in bulk. Besides, there are plenty of other things in the house that use them, anyway. Am I right?

I will likely never go back to using a manual toothbrush again, Then again, if I should happen to see a 3 for-1 deal on a set, I'll keep it in mind. Car show season is just around the corner.

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