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As you age, dental care becomes an important part of your overall health and electric toothbrushes can help you get the job done with a lot less work. Practicing good oral hygiene is important for your overall health, regardless of your age. However, due to a variety of issues related to advanced age, seniors may find it even more difficult to keep up with a daily oral care routine.
Mental and physical conditions, like arthritis, can make regular brushing and flossing of teeth more challenging than it normally is. As such, it is important for caregivers to find ways of ensuring that seniors keep their oral hygiene in check.
Using an electric toothbrush can significantly simplify the task of brushing teeth. In fact, according to research findings, electric toothbrushes can remove a significantly higher percentage of plaque than regular manual toothbrushes.
For a list of some of the best electric toothbrushes for seniors, as well as some practical tips on how to make brushing of teeth easier for ageing adults, read on below.
What Features Are Important For Electric Toothbrushes For Seniors & Elderly?
Soft Bristles - When shopping around, you will find products with different types of bristles. For seniors with overly soft teeth and gums, soft bristles are a must. These bristles are gentle on gums that are prone to bleeding due to a medical condition or medication.
Ergonomic Handle - If your elderly loved one has weak, painful or arthritic hands, using a regular toothbrush might be challenging. In such cases, it is best to get a product that comes with an ergonomic handle. By eliminating or minimizing any discomfort associated with the handling of and use of toothbrushes, seniors are more likely to brush their teeth on a regular basis.
Buttons Vs Switches - Big responsive buttons are a great alternative to switches when it comes to electric toothbrushes. Large buttons make the work of activating and deactivating the toothbrush, as well as cycling through different settings, a breeze – especially for seniors with arthritic hands.
Ease Of Use - While all electric toothbrushes are designed for the most convenient use, some are easier to use than others. When shopping around, it is recommended that you look for something that is generally easy to use. The best product should have simple controls that are not confusing to the user.
Maintenance - To ensure the best oral hygiene, it is essential that you properly clean and maintain your electric toothbrush. While some products come with a convenient self cleaning and drying feature, others require the user to follow detailed cleaning processes every now and then to keep them clean and hygienic. Furthermore, replacing the brush heads on the best electric toothbrush should be easy and effortless.
What Are The Best Electric Toothbrushes For Seniors & Elderly?
WORKS IN 30 SECONDS! The SymplBrush
Bristles: Soft, Angled Whole Mouth Brush System Ergonomic Handle: Yes Buttons: Single Button Operation Ease of Use: Easy, Works in 30 Seconds Maintenance: Change Bristles Every 3 Months Brush your teeth too softly and you won’t be able to clear out all the plaque; apply too much pressure and you run the risk of hurting your gums! Fortunately, you can avoid both scenarios and get the best cleaning results each time with the SymplBrush. This unique looking electric toothbrush is designed to give users a new and improved oral hygiene experience.
The SymplBrush electric toothbrush set includes a SymplPaste tube, 2 different sizes of their patented cradle and bristles and a hand piece.
If your elderly loved one has been struggling when it comes to using traditional toothbrushes to clean their teeth, perhaps it’s time to move on to something new. The SymplBrush combines 20 pairs worth of traditional brushes of nylon bristles in a patented design that promises to clean all your teeth without missing anything. For easy and comfortable handling and use, this product comes with an ergonomic handle.
Pros:
Comes with 2 patented flexible nylon cradles that fit any mouth
Comprehensive teeth cleaning results in just 30 seconds
Users can use both manual and electric mode
Long lasting battery that can go for between 60 and 90 days on a single charge
Cons:
Cleaning the cradle and bristles requires more work
Does not come with a carrying case
FULL COVERAGE BRISTLES Triple Bristle Original Sonic Toothbrush
Bristles: Soft, Angled Triple Brush System
Ergonomic Handle: Yes
Buttons: Single Button Operation
Ease of Use: Easy, Charging Dock
Maintenance: Change Head Every 3-4 Months
If you are looking for an electric toothbrush that is made to meet the specific needs of older users, then the Triple Bristle Max is definitely worth considering. The design and features of this product are inspired by feedback collected from users! The toothbrush which comes with a one of a kind triple sided brush is capable of leaving you with a clean and sparkling smile.
A great product for seniors, including those suffering from arthritis, this toothbrush comes with a new ergonomic handle that is lightweight and easy to hold. Its soft charcoal infused nylon bristles are designed to be gentle on gums as well as sensitive teeth. In addition to properly cleaning natural teeth, this product can also be used on veneers, braces, crowns and implants.
Pros:
Tongue cleaner included
Holds charge for up to a month
Waterproof construction
Comes with a 2 minute smart timer
Four cleaning modes to ensure the best teeth cleaning results
Cons:
Extra replacement heads not included
BEST ERGONOMIC HANDLE TAO Clean Umma Diamond Sonic Toothbrush
Bristles: Soft Ergonomic Handle: Yes Buttons: Single Button Operation Ease of Use: Easy, Charging & Cleaning Dock Maintenance: Change Head Every 3 Months The TAO Clean Sonic Toothbrush is designed to help users upgrade their daily oral routine. On top of cleaning your teeth effectively, this product also comes with an advanced docking station that cleans the toothbrush when not in use.
The package includes a hygienically sealed toothbrush head, handle, docking station, power cable and charger. For the cleanest teeth, the TAO Clean Sonic uses 40,000 brush strokes every minute. To make sure of that you brush your teeth for no less than 2 minutes – as recommended by dentists – this product comes with a 2 minute timer. To remind the user to move to another spot after every 30 seconds, the toothbrush comes with an automatic pause feature.
The product’s lightweight design and ergonomic handle make for easy handling by seniors, including those with weak or arthritic hands.
Pros:
Compact patented docking station that cleans, charges and dries your toothbrush when not in use
Dual speed settings – Sensitive Clean And Super Clean
2-year manufacturer warranty cover
Simple cleaning and maintenance thanks to the UV-C self cleaning feature
Cons:
Some users have reported quality issues when it comes to the construction and durability of this product.
PORTABLE ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH hum by Colgate Smart Battery Toothbrush Kit
Bristles: Soft, Sonic Brush System Ergonomic Handle: Yes Buttons: Single Button Operation Ease of Use: Easy Maintenance: Change Batteries Every 75 Days, Change Head Every 3 Months If you have been looking for the perfect electric toothbrush that comes with smart capabilities, then this is definitely your best option. This smart electric toothbrush helps you keep your teeth clean, while using you smartphone to manage and monitor your oral hygiene. Designed to ensure utmost portability, this product is powered by 2 AAA batteries. The hum by Colgate case contains 2 electric toothbrush heads, one handle, a carrying case and 2 AAA batteries.
This product makes the task of maintaining your oral health as simple and effortless as possible. Thanks to its smart capabilities, users can connect it to their smartphone and use it to manage their oral hygiene while earning points and rewards. You can even get Amazon Alexa to order you a new brush head automatically through the Smart Reordering feature. This way, you will always have a fresh new brush head whenever you need it.
To ensure comfortable handling by users who may be suffering from pain or discomfort in their hand or finger joints, this product comes with an ergonomic handle. If your elderly loved one loves to travel, you will be happy to know that this product is designed to be highly travel friendly. It is powered by 2 AAA batteries which can be easily bought just about anywhere. Furthermore, a carrying case makes travelling with this product much easier.
Pros:
Enjoy a cleaner mouth with this product’s connected smart features
Highly portable
Comes with an extra brush head
Battery powered product that eliminates the need for a power cord
Comes with 2 powerful sonic vibration modes as well as a 2 minute timer
Cons:
AAA batteries must be replaced when depleted
Setting up the smart features make initial use a bit more complicated
BEST RATED Oral Care Club by Dr Jim Ellis
Bristles: Soft, Angled Triple Brush System Ergonomic Handle: Yes Buttons: Two Button Operation Ease of Use: Easy, Charging Dock Maintenance: Change Head Every 3 Months Designed to remove up to 5 times more plaque than manual toothbrushes, the electronic toothbrush from Dr. Jim Ellis offers the most thorough cleaning you can possibly achieve at home. This product comes with angled bristles that oscillate 40,000 times per minute.
To provide the most effective teeth cleaning experience at home, this product comes with three speed settings that massage, oscillate and pulsate. The 2 minute automatic timer, as well as 30 second quadrant timer, will help ensure that your elderly loved one does not forget to brush any part of their mouth for the recommended duration.
This product also comes with a large and ergonomic handle that facilitates easy and comfortable handling by seniors, including those suffering from arthritic hands.
Pros:
Comes with 2 bonus electric toothbrush heads
3 speed settings
2 year manufacturer guarantee
Affordable price
Cons:
Doesn’t come with a self cleaning feature
Tips For Making Toothbrushes Easier To Use For Older Adults To make it easier for seniors to use toothbrushes you can:
Try switching to an electric toothbrush for effortless brushing of teeth.
For users with arthritic, weak or painful hands or joints, try to enlarge the handle by wrapping tape or a bandage or sponge around it. Alternatively, you can push the handle through a foam or rubber ball.
Look for specially designed toothbrushes and toothpaste dispensers.
Conclusion Regular and effective brushing of teeth plays an important part in safeguarding your oral health. Due to a number of physical and mental factors, ageing adults may find it harder to keep up with a strict oral hygiene routine. Fortunately, electric toothbrushes not only make the task of brushing teeth easier and effortless, by automating the bristle strokes, but also come with a variety of useful additional features. With the above information in mind, you should be able to pick out an electric toothbrush that meets the exact needs of your elderly loved one; and with it, ensure that they stick to a healthy oral hygiene routine.