Dental health is of paramount importance to my entire family. Before the inception of electric toothbrushes, I remember buying packs of 6 manual toothbrushes every two months to ensure everyone in our family had a couple of them.
The entry of electric toothbrushes changing everything. I’m among customers who love trying out new items, so I went ahead and purchased several of them. They work perfectly fine, but one of the problems is the noise. Everyone would know you are brushing your teeth, and it gets worse if you are doing it early in the morning when everyone else in the house is asleep.
The noise was a nuisance to everyone, so I decided to search the web for tips on making an electric toothbrush quiet. Most of them didn’t work on my toothbrush, so I opted to adjust the recommended ways.
Here is my guide on how to reduce the noise from an electric toothbrush.
Step 1: Where is the noise coming from?
Different toothbrushes have varying electrical connections and systems. The first step to eliminating the noise is pinpointing the exact source of the noise. I started by checking if the head is fitted well and upbeat. Ideally, it should be tightly secured to the body – it should not move when you turn on the toothbrush.
Attaching the wrong head could also be the reason why your toothbrush is noisy. Ensure that you purchase the right one and avoid the cheap alternatives as they won’t fit well and compromise your dental health. Dentists recommend changing the toothbrush head every three months to prevent the accumulation of germs known to cause gum infections.
Most models have a motor, gear, and cam that facilitates the head-spinning movement/oscillation. The average oscillation of most models I have used is a speed of 26 spins per second. The head oscillations cause vibration and noise as the bristles come into contact with the teeth.
If the noise is from the body, there is very little you can do to resolve the problem. It is a sign that the toothbrush has outlived its time and should be replaced with a new one.
Some models run on removable batteries. The vibration of the batteries could be the source of the noise you hear when brushing your teeth. My first electric toothbrush runs on batteries. I managed to successfully curb the noise by accessing the battery casing, making sure that the cap was tightly screwed, and ensuring that the contact points were in the right position.
Also, make sure that the toothbrush is fully charged to reduce the noise. After several experiments, I can confidently report that a fully charged electric toothbrush is quitter than one with low power.
Step 2: Reduce the Vibrations by Wrapping the Electric Toothbrush
This is one of the easiest, cheapest, and quickest ways of reducing the amount of noise that your electric toothbrush makes. I tried to wrap it with a woolen cloth that would absorb the vibrations, thereby making it operation quieter.
Unfortunately, I soon realised this was a short-term solution since the underlying problem was not fixed. Cover it with a dense material with soundproofing properties such as a blanket, sweater, washcloth, or hand towel.
However, you need to;
- Desist from making fabric casing permanent as it will result in secondary problems. For example, you will not be able to fit in the rechargeable head brush quickly, and the material can harbour germs and bacteria.
- Ensure that the fabric you use to wrap the toothbrush is clean as it will be coming into contact with your teeth and gums. If it’s dirty, it can lead to gum infections and other severe conditions that will cost you thousands of dollars to treat.
- The area between the body and toothbrush head is one of the primary sources of noise from experience. If you can, cover this section with the fabric instead of the entire arm.
I used a microfiber cleaning cloth since its dense and easy to clean after use. A washcloth is also a good alternative.
Step 3: Upgrade to a Quieter Brush
Advancement in technology has made it possible for companies to manufacture electric toothbrushes that are quieter and more efficient. Eventually, I had to ditch the old ones and purchase new ones from Amazon.
Like other household appliances, you need to consider several factors to get the best and value for money. Here is an overview of the primary aspects you should put into consideration when purchasing an electric toothbrush.
- Size of the head: Different brushes have varying head sizes. The best has a length of one inch and a width of half an inch. This makes it possible to clean all sections of the teeth and easily move back and forth.
- Type of bristles: Bristles are either hard, medium, or soft. I prefer electric toothbrushes with soft nylon bristles as they are gentler on the gums and make the brushing process a breeze, especially to my young daughter, who is only four years old. If some of the teeth are already decayed, the hard bristles will worsen the problem.
- Straight vs. Round Bristles: I prefer the straight bristles as they are safer and cover the entire tooth. Most of the toothbrushes with round bristles can damage the gums as the bristles are often sharp and jagged.
- ADA Approval: Make sure that the toothbrush brand is ADA approved.
Conclusion
There you have it; these are the tips that helped me to make my electric toothbrushes quieter and more functional. As you shop, consider the ratings and feedback posted by other customers to know if it’s worth buying. Cheers to better dental health.
