How Does a Sonicare Toothbrush Work?

February 24, 2016

Filed under: Brushing,Oral Health Topics — Tags: — islandcoast @ 3:52 pm

Have you heard of the Sonicare toothbrush and thought about purchasing one for yourself, but don’t know if it’s really worth it?  I bet your are wondering if it’s really worth the money and if it gives you a better clean than other tooth brushes.
At Island Coast Dentistry we choose to stock Sonicare products because we believe in their reliability and effectiveness at removing plaque and other debris from your teeth and gums. Having the best oral hygiene starts with the best brushing and flossing habits.
During your next visit make sure to ask Dr. Skupny or the staff if you could get more information.

How a Sonicare Toothbrush Works

Its ability to excel at brushing is because of two different mechanisms in the toothbrush – mechanical scrubbing and fluid dynamics.

About Mechanical Scrubbing

This is just like other kinds of toothbrushes, as most of the ability to get rid of plaque is how its brushes can scour your teeth. How effective it is usually depends on the toothbrush head’s amplitude (how far it travels, up and down, on every stroke) and how often it happens. Usually these types of toothbrushes are really efficient at scrubbing teeth.

About Fluid Dynamics

Thought fluid dynamics is only secondary to the scrubbing, it’s truly what makes the Sonicare toothbrush special.
Fluid dynamics refers to a process in which the vibrations of the bristles of the toothbrush agitate fluids (water and saliva) around the teeth of your mouth. The vibration so intense that it’s able to get rid of the dental plaque even more than with just the bristles of the brush.
Fluid dynamics says it does the following:

  • Uses “shear forces” and “pressure waves” to agitate around the teeth and gums
  • Tiny bubbles are created by the action of the brush that are propelled forcefully against the surface of the teeth.
  • Agitates the adhesive forces’ strength which bind the microorganisms to the surfaces of teeth and gums.

“Non-contact” Tooth Brushing

What does this mean? Well, to put it simply, the forces created by fluid dynamics are sometimes strong enough to dislodge the microorganisms out of their colonies and tooth surfaces.
There are studies which show that this may happen at as far as 4 millimeters from where the bristles are actually touching your tooth. This is just more than 1/8 of an inch.
When you think about how conventional brushing works and that it doesn’t have any non-contact effect at all, it’s really something to consider.
Is non-contact brushing effective?
Even though non-contact brushing is a great option, it’s essential to remember that it is not the best option. You still need the normal type of brushing that comes when the bristles touch the tooth. It’s not going to remove all of the plaque on your teeth.
However, this non-contact brushing can help a great deal with the places that are hard to reach with a regular toothbrush, since it surrounds your teeth and touches places that you can’t get to otherwise.

Conclusion

Should you think about buying a Sonicare toothbrush? You might want to consider it, if you are concerned about whether you are getting all the plaque from your teeth, you might want to try it and see what a difference it makes.
Just remember that simply because you are using the Sonicare toothbrush, you still need to use the bristles on your teeth. The fluid dynamics are not the only thing that you need for cleaning your teeth. They are going to help, but they are not going to do all of the work.

Improve Your Smile in Naples

Naples, Florida dentist Dr. Jeffrey Skupny uses a variety of dental services and techniques to provide the very best result for your individual circumstances.
His artistic abilities and experience with dentistry along with his use of the finest materials and products combine to create a healthy, natural looking, spectacular smile. Contact our Naples dental office in Collier County area today to learn more about the dental options available to you.
Isn’t it time to look younger and feel better? If you don’t like your smile, come see Dr. Jeffrey Skupny, conveniently located in Collier County, Florida.