Electric toothbrushes can remove up to twice as much plaque as a manual brush, so one could be seen as a good investment. The UK’s Oral Health Foundation has released its top-five design features for electric toothbrushes for children.
The most important element of a child’s toothbrush is the size of the head and the type of bristles it uses. The ideal children’s toothbrush should have a small head with soft bristles, suitable for the age of the child.
The handle of a children’s toothbrush is important because a good grip can help them clean their teeth more effectively. Some more colourful designs can also help to motivate children into brushing twice a day.
Pressure sensors let you know when you are brushing too hard. This often comes in the form of a warning light that appears on the handle when too much force is applied.
Research by the Oral Health Foundation shows that many children prefer an electric toothbrush simply because it has a popular character on it. These characters are often stickers that are applied to the toothbrush, which can be swapped whenever the child wants to.
Many children’s toothbrushes now come with two-minute timers. These are either in-built into the handle, are a clock or sand timer you can place in the bathroom, or connected by a mobile app.
There are lots of free apps for parents to download on their phones that can help make brushing fun for children. Adding this extra level of interactivity can help children with better brushing habits.