Three electric toothbrushes put to the test

Thu Feb 28, 2008 11:47AM EST

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I'm fanatical about dental hygiene, and one of the few places technology really collides with this area (that is, the mouth) is in the realm of electric toothbrushes.

I put three of the highest of high-end electric toothbrushes to the test over the last two months. Here are my thoughts, but please remember, this is just the opinion of one man and one mouth.

Philips Sonicare FlexCare RS930 with sanitizer - Sonicare is one of the best known lines of electric toothbrushes, and it's come a long way since its earliest days. The brush head vibrates back and forth rapidly but in a narrow range, using sonic technology to help get gunk off of teeth. It's a very light and maneuverable brush, and after your 2-minute cleaning cycle, your mouth really does feel clean. (Obviously I have no scientific and quantitative measure to determine exactly how clean each of these brushes got my teeth.)

Like the other two brushes, the FlexCare includes a built-in timer. This one pauses at 30-second intervals to let you know when to move to a new quadrant of your mouth. While the FlexCare is a capable brush, it's the sanitizer that seals the deal. This is a small unit attached to the charging base that blasts ultraviolet light onto the brush heads to kill bacteria on them. I wish you didn't have to disassemble the brush to use the sanitizer and it was easier to tell if the UV light was actually on, but otherwise I was impressed with the device. Bonus: The FlexCare is the only brush in this roundup that uses a lithium-ion battery instead of Ni-MH. Price tag: $169

Ultreo - The new kid on the block. Unlike all other brushes, Ultreo really uses ultrasound to clean teeth, and you can see the difference by just looking at the brush head. In the center of the bristles, there's a bare, orange pad. According to Ultreo, this pad actually cleans your teeth even if the brush isn't touching them. Of course, the bristles don't hurt either.

Overall, I liked the Ultreo fairly well. It's light and comfortable, and the charging base is incredibly inconspicuous. It was extremely gentle compare to other brushes, which might be why my teeth just didn't seem quite as clean after several weeks of testing. Unlike the other brushes, the Ultreo doesn't offer any additional operation modes (like a "sensitive" setting), and the charging indicator was very difficult to read. It's perfectly capable, but I preferred the FlexCare in the end. Price tag: $169

Oral-B Triumph with SmartGuide ProfessionalCare 9900 - I've used a Triumph (sans SmartGuide) in the past, so I have tons of tooth-on experience with this model. The Triumph offers a round brush head that rotates back and forth (not around and around) in a tight range. It provides good cleaning and is easy to maneuver in your mouth.

But the Oral-B brush is loud and vibrates a lot. It feels like someone's going to work in your mouth with a small jackhammer. That said, the results are good - teeth end up nice and clean - but using it is not exactly pleasant.

The 9900 includes a small monitor that you can put in your bathroom so you can time your brushing for the recommended two minutes. The timer didn't do a whole lot for me, but I did appreciate having a waterproof clock next to the sink.

Still, I wouldn't mind the Triumph if it wasn't for one big problem - the charging base collects all manner of white toothpaste residue and gunk, which gets all over the bottom of your toothbrush and the countertop and creates a huge mess. One bright spot: You can find the Triumph with the SmartGuide for a mere $100 if you shop around. Price tag: Less than $100

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Comments on Three electric toothbrushes put to the test

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  • 27 Posted by robinlk@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    White residue, toothpaste gunk? Aren't you rinsing off the brush when you're done? I'm a dental hygienist, and my experience with electric toothbrushes is that they clean better for most people because it does the work for you and won't cause damage to the tooth like manual toothbrushing, because you can't apply as much pressure to cause abrasion. But, please, whatever you do, whatever you use, brush your gums, or you'll miss the majority of the plaque. I work with a periodontist, and we prefer the round head brushes(Triumph or lesser model ones,like Vitality) to the sonic type. Baking soda/hydrogen peroxide is what people used before there was commercial toothpastes, and is effective in plaque removal. It basically comes down to plaque removal, whatever way you want to do it(manual or electric,toothpaste or not), you could even get it off with a stick, if done properly. So concentrate on your technique, and brush your gums, and yes, you do need to floss, don't even try to get out of that one.

  • 28 Posted by cometfan001 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    I got a sonicare a couple years ago for Christmas and i really like it. 2 minute timer is a great feature. And yes, my teeth feel cleaner than before. Getting a lot of dental work done this year...so hopefully it will upstand the test of a "new mouth"

  • 29 Posted by skier8@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    I've had sonciare and oral b and really liked them both. I did actually have gum regrowth in some areas of recession usihng the oral b 0whcih was a real bonus. I clean the oral b bse by putting a little hydrogen peroxide ont he base and the toothbru----- self a couple of times a week, which makes me feel better about gettng rid of the "bugs". They also make a nice small version that works well for tavel.

  • 30 Posted by hkc94501 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have an Oral-B/Braun. Wouldn't trade it for the world. Sonicare may be better by some measures but the replacement brushes cost $12.50 to $15 each. Oral-B you can get 6 for about $15 at costco.

  • 31 Posted by jamesevansfamily@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have been a dental hygienist for 24 years and recommend the sonicare brush. I still have their first model (which still works) and also have an elite as well. I bought one for my parents and my day care provider as gifts. They are a great brush and the company stands behind them. I have seen great results over the years and have tried the oral b models without the same results. I would like to try the Ultreo to see how it compares. No matter what you use nothing eliminates the need for professional cleanings. It just makes them way easier for you and me.

  • 32 Posted by dwbmw@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    The reason sonicare people rave about how clean their teeth are is because the inferior bristles that are just chopped off by machines are actually scratching your teeth. They are taking off microscopic pieces of enamel. OralB brushes are rounded individually and will only take off plaque. OralB's are superior cleaners, especially the ones with heads that go spin and pulsate.

  • 33 Posted by areidbretell@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    My husband and I have been using a sonicare for years. We were also concerned about keeping the brushes clean so we started using hydrogen peroxide while brushing and for cleaning after. This works great!

  • 34 Posted by rosubryb@verizon.net on Sat Mar 1, 2008 1:07PM EST Report Abuse

    I have been using an electric toothbrush for several years and found it better than a regular toothbrush. My dentist even compliments me on my clean teeth. Plus, it gives you that clean feeling you get after having you teeth cleaned by the hygienist.

  • 35 Posted by lpbianco on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    I love love love my sonicare. I used to wear out brushes in a week trying to get the same clean I get from my sonicare, even though I floss and did the whole routine. Oh, and Justin... hyd. peroxide and baking soda are a bit too abrasive for everyday use. Heads up!

  • 36 Posted by imcalgal@pacbell.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have used the sonic care for quite a few years now. I started because my gums started to bleed even when brushing thoroughly with a toothbrush and flossing. A few weeks with the sonic care and no more problems. My dentist was a little apprehensive about these mechanical brushes, but then saw my results and enthusiasm. She is recommending them now. I still have the original and it's going great! Going in for my 6 month cleaning is always a snap too. The only thing I would caution is not to press too hard when using.

  • 37 Posted by perrygang5@att.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    I worked for a periodontist office and they did not like the triumph. It is really rough on your gums. And when you are dealing with patients with gum and bone issues that is not good. I did try it and I agree.It vibrated way to much and it was rough on the gums. We were big on the sonic care. We had a rep come and give us a demonstration on the sonic care. As a Registered Dental Assistant I get to try a lot of tooth brushes, I have to say out of all the sonic tooth brushes out there, sonic care beats them all.One thing to remember is to clean your sonic care weekly. Take it apart and clean it. The new sonic care brushes allow the base of the tooth brush to be put in the dishwasher on the top shelf. If you are like me and brush your teeth in the shower, it allows that as well.

  • 38 Posted by sherry8034@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    I use a battery powered Oral B (costs under $7) that you can cheaply replace the heads on (under $6 for a two pack). Since I have arthritis it helps me get my teeth cleaner since using a regular brush tires me out and I wasn't brushing long enouch with it. When I go for my cleaning at the dentist they have very little to clean and I never get cavities. (I also use Colgate Total toothpaste with that.)

  • 39 Posted by magicmboy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    For the electric toothbrushes that only have mechanical motions, why dont' you just get a nice quality NORMAL toothbrush and save money? Are we that lazy that we can't even brush yourselves without a specialized toothbrush? I can understand the ultrasound because you can't really have that in a normal brush.

  • 40 Posted by jofsanko@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    this doesn't say anything thats meaningful..like what's the effect upon your teeth for openers..bad review..of what !

  • 41 Posted by tweety24311@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    I got the sonicare with sanitizer for free through signing up with BzzAgent.com. And I absolutly love it.I probally wouldn't of bought it without trying it. But it is definatly worth the money because my teeth feel like I just got them cleaned at the dentist all day long with the sonicare.

  • 42 Posted by gilbert1928@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    From a retired dental specialist. I have a sonicare, an oral-B, and a Water Pik. The object of toothbrushing is to remove food particles and plaque from the teeth. Any toobrush used properly, long enough and often enough will do that. But, they don't clean in between the teeth where most of the trouble originates. That's why we have dental floss. However, that's not foolproof either. Try brushig (simple, electric or sonic,no matter) then floss, THEN use a water pik and see for yourself how much food debris comes out when you thought you had done a good job of cleaning your mouth. Your mouth is your first post of defence against disease, DO A GOOD JOB.

  • 43 Posted by zexp@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 11:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    I've tried many toothbrushes and liked the sonicare except it was hard to get in certain spots. Note that unlike some people, I've got teeth prone to cavities, so care makes a difference. I warily bought the triumph with a timer and found i love it. My teeth and gums get cleaner. Also like that it indicates when pressing too hard. I like the clock in the bathroom, but a big surprise was how useful the timer is. The brush with "flossing action" is a favorite and I crank down the power if there is a sensitive area. Found ProEnamal the best toothpaste for my sensitive teeth. Would much rather scrimp to pay 100 for a triumph toothbrush, than 1,000 in repairs.

  • 44 Posted by brische on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    Good article - thanks. I have a few 'holier than thou' comments based on what I've read... Any decent dentist will tell you that a good electric tooth brush, used properly, is far superior to any 'regular toothbrush'. Also, electric toothbrushes that move the head back and forth in a limited arc (as opposed to a full circle) better articulate the proper brushing motion...a motion that is *not* 'up & down' *or* 'side to side', but a semi-circular sweeping motion along the gum line. As well, any reputable dentist will tell you that constantly exposing your gums to an amount of hydrogen peroxide that would actually provide meaningful cleaning benefits means you're using enough to damage your gums. If you want white teeth, talk to your dentist about products designed specifically to whiten your teeth without damaging your gums (and follow the directions), or pay your dentist for professional whitening treatments within his/her recommendations. Hydrogen Peroxide is good for one or two applications on minor cuts, but beyond that, just like aspirin or other meds, too much can be bad (it can cause unnecessary tissue damage when misused). It was never intended to be used in the mouth. There's a reason why EMTs and Paramedics rarely, if ever, treat wounds with Hydrogen Peroxide. When I worked as an EMT we never carried H2O2 in ambulances and never stocked it in the emergency rooms I worked. I've used the Oral B Triumph for about a year and I agree that it's unimaginably noisy...but it does leave my teeth feeling quite clean and the travel pack it comes with is outstanding with the exception of having no place to store the charger (although, in fairness, the charger does pop out of the counter-top base unit and isn't very large at all). Regarding the mess: it takes only a few seconds to wipe it down after each use and I don't have a spot of mess on the base. In fact the whole assembly (brush, base, etc) still looks brand new. Christopher, do you really just put the thing back after using it? Please say you at least rinsed the head out after each use...per the instructions. Now that I'm complete with that...thanks again for the article and taking the time to evaluate the three products. The Sonicare looks promising and will probably be my next electric based on your review. Much appreciated!

  • 45 Posted by zexp@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 11:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    Dental professionals have repeatedly told me baking soda is too abrasive and hydrogen peroxide is great for teeth but very harsh on the gums.

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