Do U-Shaped Toothbrushes Work?
U-shaped electric toothbrushes have been getting a lot of attention on social medial platforms. Many websites are claiming that U-shaped brushes are as efficient as traditional brushing techniques. A study published in 2020 by the International Journal of Environment and Public Health demonstrated that U-shaped automatic electric toothbrushes are not effective in removing dental plaque. The study showed that brushing with a U-shaped toothbrush was similar to not brushing at all.
The design of U-shaped toothbrushes is unique and innovative. It is designed to cover both the front and back surfaces at the same time. It is intended to make brushing more efficient, allowing you to clean multiple surfaces at the same time. The issue that we see with it is that to adequately clean your teeth the toothbrush bristles need to tuck under the gums at a 45-degree angle. Also, teeth don’t always have ideal alignment (perfect arch form) so often you need to change the position of the toothbrush to reach each tooth.
In order to prevent decay and maintain healthy gums it is important that dental plaque be effectively removed. To promote optimal oral health, we encourage all of our patients to brush twice daily with a fluoridated toothpaste using either a manual toothbrush or a traditional electric toothbrush.