Sonicare?

[farfisa23]

I was thinking about getting one of these Sonicare toothbrushes.

Anyone have one? Is it better than a manual toothbrush and why?

I was looking at this model: Philips Sonicare Essence E5550

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Produc..._Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&topnav=

Advice?

 

[Tarmac]

Highly recommended.

I have an Oral-B and I have heard the Sonicares are better. My Oral-B works great.

The key to electric toothbrushes is the timer. It forces you to brush for 2 minutes. This almost never happens if you are doing it yourself.

 

[daft]

i prefer traditional toothbrushes. i can never get enough paste on the electronic ones. even when i do, it becomes a mess.

 

[fredfred]

highly recommended. No cavities since starting use, and dentist says "I can tell you brush your teeth really well". I use twice a day. Morning night. Easy.

 

[mikej77]

I have been using the Ultreo for the past two years and had great results. Unfortunately, Ultreo went out of business so yesterday I bought the Sonicare Flexcare, which is their newest model I believe. I ended up buying it at Costco of all places, $160 which came with two entire sets. It worked out well because my girlfriend needed a new one too. I really do like it but I have only been using it for a day. Smaller brushhead than the Ultreo which I do like. The charger is compact enough and it comes with a smaller travel charger, travel case and a UV brushhead cleaner which Im sure doesn't really do anything at all.

 

[tonio028]

Don't think twice about it, and pick it up. I've been using the Elite series I purchased off eBay several years back and haven't gone back to a traditional toothbrush since. My dentist told me to keep using it, so that means something too.

 

[Tarmac]

If you are extremely dedicated, use a timer when you brush, and are extremely poor, it might be arguable that you don't need one. But most people benefit from it.

 

[farfisa23]

Originally Posted by Tarmac

If you are extremely dedicated, use a timer when you brush, and are extremely poor, it might be arguable that you don't need one. But most people benefit from it.

This model has a timer that 'dings!' when it is time to switch quadrants in your mouth and it's only 80 bucks from Costco.

 

[HORNS]

These types of toothbrushes are going to be around for the long run. I highly recommend it. Your teeth will feel noticeably different after the first use. Also, it is much more effective at cleaning the space between the gums and tooth - thus reducing inflammation and receding gums.

 

[javyn]

Can't comment on Sonicare, but I like my Oral-B Triumph lots.

 

[quevola]

Love my Sonicare. I have been using it for over 4 years now since my dentist recommended I use it.

 

[sonick]

What's the differences between the different lines of Sonicare? Flexcare, Essence, Healthywhite?

 

[Berticus]

Historically, Sonicare has been better than Oral-B. There was probably one time when they both came in 2nd and 3rd to the Waterpik. However, between the Sonicare Flexcare and the Oral-B Triumph, they're pretty equal. I think two studies indicate that Flexcare being better than the Triumph, but latest study concluded Triumph was better than Flexcare. However, between Triumph and Elite, the Triumph triumphed.

Originally Posted by Tarmac

The key to electric toothbrushes is the timer. It forces you to brush for 2 minutes.
That may not be necessarily true. A single blind, controlled clinical test was done between the Sonicare Elite, Oral-B P40 and a manual toothbrush (with a timer of 2 minutes). Took in 180 participants with gingival inflamation, 160 completed the trial. After 2 weeks, electric toothbrushes showed a slight improvement. However Significant reduction in plaque and gingivitis were seen at 4 weeks compared to manual toothbrushes. You could find similar tests that may have different protocols arriving at similar conclusions. It's really about technique, or in case of electric toothbrushes, taking away from the the dependence of patients' techniques. ---Edit---

Originally Posted by sonick

What's the differences between the different lines of Sonicare? Flexcare, Essence, Healthywhite?
There's a ton of things that can be varied. The amplitudes of the sweeps, the frequency of the sweeps, the contour of the bristles, the cut of the bristles. Not being in the industry myself, I can't think of what else could be varied, but there's probably more. As a little tangent, I just remembered reading an article about using nano sized particles to polish teeth. It makes the teeth so smooth, bacteria can't adhere to the teeth. Essentially you wouldn't need to brush your teeth.

 

[dragon8]

Originally Posted by mikej77

I have been using the Ultreo for the past two years and had great results. Unfortunately, Ultreo went out of business so yesterday I bought the Sonicare Flexcare, which is their newest model I believe. I ended up buying it at Costco of all places, $160 which came with two entire sets. It worked out well because my girlfriend needed a new one too. I really do like it but I have only been using it for a day. Smaller brushhead than the Ultreo which I do like. The charger is compact enough and it comes with a smaller travel charger, travel case and a UV brushhead cleaner which Im sure doesn't really do anything at all.

didn't know Ultreo went out of business. No wonder the replacement heads are so expensive.

 

[sonick]

Originally Posted by Berticus

There's a ton of things that can be varied. The amplitudes of the sweeps, the frequency of the sweeps, the contour of the bristles, the cut of the bristles. Not being in the industry myself, I can't think of what else could be varied, but there's probably more.

As a little tangent, I just remembered reading an article about using nano sized particles to polish teeth. It makes the teeth so smooth, bacteria can't adhere to the teeth. Essentially you wouldn't need to brush your teeth.

Ok, but what's the product line from the highest end to lowest?