When your children are very young, you'll need to take care of their oral hygiene by yourself. When they're old enough to start brushing their own teeth, you should pick up an electric toothbrush instead of providing a manual. There are plenty of electric toothbrushes made for children, and they offer a whole host of benefits. Here are just five reasons why your kids should be using one.

1. Superior Performance

First and foremost, electric toothbrushes are far more effective at removing plaque than manual toothbrushes. Those whirring bristles move fast and in the perfect way to keep teeth clean. They're particularly good at getting to the back teeth, where it's traditionally tough to properly move a manual toothbrush. That alone should be enough to convince you to make the switch, but it's far from the sole benefit.

2. Easier to Handle

People who suffer from limited mobility in their hands are often advised to use an electric rather than manual toothbrush. Your child probably doesn't have any such issue, but younger kids don't tend to be as dexterous as adults, which makes handling a toothbrush tougher. Electric toothbrushes are a lot easier for kids to use since they only need to move them around the mouth.

3. Keeps the Time Right

Most adults know they should brush their teeth for around 2 minutes, keeping to approximately 30 seconds for each quadrant. However, it can be harder to instil this lesson in children. They often fail to brush their teeth for as long as they should—even if they do, they may pay more attention to some areas than others. Electric toothbrushes prevent timing issues with inbuilt timing mechanisms. Most will change pitch slightly every 30 seconds to tell the user it's time to move on.   

4. Saves from Overbrushing

Plenty of people brush their teeth too hard, and children can be especially vigorous. That might not seem like a problem, but plaque can actually be removed through relatively light brushing. If you brush too hard, you're going to remove tooth enamel. Most electric toothbrushes have inbuilt pressure sensors that light up when the user is pressing down too hard, so your child won't brush too hard. Instead, they'll develop lifelong good habits.

5. Makes Brushing More Fun 

Finally, using an electric toothbrush instead of a manual is simply more fun. They are available in plenty of interesting designs and are a lot easier to use, plus they seem like more of a grown-up device. If brushing seems just a little more fun, your kids won't need as much persuading.

Contact family dentists in your area for additional advice.