Philips Sonicare FlexCare Rechargeable Sonic Toothbrush
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Customer Reviews of Philips Sonicare FlexCare Rechargeable Sonic Toothbrush
Customer Review: A quantum leap over manual brushing
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been looking into buying a high-end electric toothbrush for several years, and when I finally decided to take the plunge I settled on this Phillips toothbrush based on the product features and the excellent positive feedback that other users had provided. More than a year later, I have to say that all the positive feedback was completely justified: this is a great toothbrush and it has completely and irrevocably changed the way I brush my teeth. After getting used to brushing your teeth with this brush, there is no way of going back to manual brushing, or even brushing with a low-end electrical toothbrush. Using it leaves your teeth feeling incredibly clean. Even my dentist had noticed the difference, and the last time I went for my regular teeth cleaning there wasn't much extra work that needed to be done.
As other reviewers had noted, the feeling of having an incredibly powerful toothbrush in your mouth can at first be rather uncomfortable, especially for your gums. However, if you can get through the first few days of use you'll eventually develop a tolerance for this and you'll experience no discomfort down the road.
The toothbrush comes with two different brushing heads - one small and one regular size. They both worked fine for me, and I think they only make a difference if you have a smaller mouth and you feel some discomfort with the larger one.
The brush heads have removable color coded rings, so you don't have to buy multiple toothbrushes for your other family members. Removing the brush head and attaching a different one is all that is necessary for multiple people to avail of single toothbrush.
There is also a travel case that is included with the toothbrush which has proven very convenient for traveling.
The battery life is excellent. I went on a three-week vacation, and even thought I used my toothbrush all the time I did not need to recharge it even once. I had brought the additional charger along, but in the end I did not end up using it at all.
After going through the included brush heads, you'll need to purchase the replacements like Philips Sonicare ProResults HX6013 Brush Head Standard 3pk. These are good replacement heads, but take the following considerations into the account:
1. The strip of brush-hears that is designed to indicate when the head needs a replacement seems to be worn out a bit too quickly. I used to replace my regular toothbrushes about once every couple of months or so, but these heads seem to get worn out after just a couple of weeks. From the look of the head and the way it brushed my teeth I could see clearly that it was still a perfectly usable toothbrush. And since I sanitize it after each use, there was absolutely no need for it to be replaced so soon.
2. The base of one of my brush heads, i.e. the part that gets attached to the toothbrush, came off and although I was able to reattach it this created problems every time I would remove the head from the body of the toothbrush. Since, as I mentioned, I remove the head after each brushing, this creates an annoyance. I wish the heads were made sturdier than this.
3. The price. When you consider the fact that you can buy a perfectly good full regular toothbrush for about $3-$5, the price of these brush replacements seems rather too high by at least a factor of two. I am not sure if there is some kind of copyright that prevents other manufacturers from creating their own replacement brush heads, but if there is no such thing then someone could make a lot of money by creating an alternative version of these heads.
4. Related to the above point, there is no reason why there should only be two shapes of these replacement heads. A little bit of competition in this department could be very useful as well.
Overall, the shortcomings of this toothbrush are insignificant compared to the overall value that it provides. I would recommend it to anyone who is serious about taking a major leap in improving your dental hygiene. You teeth will thank you for it.
Customer Review: Starts like a bee in your mouth . . . ends up as a workhorse
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
This Sonicare electric toothbrush is, simply put, an excellent product. I've been using a Braun (which I believe is the same as Oral B) electric toothbrush for years, and it does not compare with this newest generation of dental hygiene products.
This model comes preset with a step-up program that gradually increases the speed of the brush head over 14 uses until it reaches maximum effectiveness, a feature designed especially to those new to electric toothbrushes. Although I've used an electric toothbrush for years, I decided to try out the pre-programmed sessions to see how it worked. On the first day, the toothbrush sounded like a bee in my mouth; it was gentle, with enough high-speed vibration to clean my teeth better than my old, full-speed Braun. Over the fourteen uses -- I did it in a week, but those new to electric toothbrushes might want to use it only once a day at first -- the brush lost its whine and gradually moved to its final, more authoritative vibration that cleans exceptionally well. Even at maximum power, this toothbrush does not vibrate through my entire skull the way my Braun does.
The coolest part of the Sonicare is the option of selecting different modes. The sensitive teeth setting is more like a mosquito than a bee; although I have sensitive teeth, I find that the regular cleaning doesn't bother me and is more thorough. You may select "Go Care" (a one-minute touch up between regular brushings), "Massage" for the gums, and MaxCare for a 30 second tooth brushing following by a fifteen second gum massage for each quadrant (total time = 3 minutes.) To remind you to switch "quadrants" of your mouth, the pitch changes slightly. After the routine time is up, the toothbrush stops.
First time electric toothbrush users should note the instructions about angling the brush head and moving gently side to side. You do not move the brush much yourself as you would with a traditional tooth brush; otherwise, you'll irritate or even rip your gums. My dentist has always advocated using an electric toothbrush once a day, not twice, with a traditional brush doing the work for the second brushing, although I find that the Sonicare, unlike my old Braun, is gentle enough to use twice. Still, users might not want to throw out their toothbrushes.
The Sonicare comes with a stand charger, one standard brush head, user identification bands, a soft carrying case, and a plastic cap to protect the brush head while traveling. Those who have smaller mouths will want to buy the optional Philips Sonicare Elite (E-Series) Replacement Brush Head, Compact (2-Pack) since it's not easy maneuvering the head behind, say, the front teeth. If you are concerned about sanitizing the heads, you might prefer to buy the version with the sanitizer (Philips Sonicare Flexcare Professional with UV Sanitizer), although you can always buy a sanitizer separately later (Philips Sonicare UV Sanitizer.)
I have only two complaints about this product: you cannot attach it to the wall to keep counter space free, and the automatic stop feature is annoying if I'm not quite done brushing. The inability to mount it on the wall is especially frustrating since the handle is incredibly easy to knock off the charger. Some people might not like the fact that it tickles like the Dickens when you hit the roof of your mouth while on the brushing speeds.
I highly recommend this toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes promote oral health through both cleaner teeth and gum stimulation, and the Sonicare is an exceptional entry into the market.
Customer Review: The Best Sonicare Models Yet!
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been using an older Sonicare model, the "Essence 5300" on which the switch was beginning to go out. I decided to upgrade to a Flexcare model and am very glad I did. The Flexcare has been a great improvement all around.
Pros:
-New Lighter, Slimmer Handle
This is probably the first thing you'll notice if you're coming from an older Sonicare handle, and it is a very welcome improvement. The FlexCare handle is small and feels much better in the hand than my old bulky 5300 handle. The unit is actually longer than my old brush, but that's not a big deal at all.
-New ProResults Brush Head system
The new heads are great. Sonicare moved the tuning fork from the head to the handle, which means smaller brush heads than on the old models. A 3 pack of the new heads is the same price as a 2 pack of the old heads, making them actually a better deal for a superior product.
-No More Crud in the Handle!
The biggest problem with my old brush was that old toothpaste/drool/water tended to collected in the space where the handle connects to the brush head. It would get all moldy and gross if you didn't clean it out regularly. Thankfully, this problem is completely gone with the Flexcare handles.
-Lithium Ion Batteries
I've waited a long time for Sonicare to upgrade from inferior NiCd batteries, and they finally have. With Lithium Ion, you don't have to worry about battery capacity decreasing over time, or a memory effect. The new batteries charge faster, too.
-Quadpacer
This is basically a beep that goes off every 30 seconds while brushing, reminding you to switch to a new area of your mouth. It has appeared in previous models (not my 5300 though), and is nice if you'll use it, but I tend to go at my own pace as I focus more on problem areas in my mouth and less on others.
-5 Total Brushing Modes/Routines
There are 3 selectable "modes": clean mode: (2 minutes broken into 30 second segments), sensitive (a "gentler" clean mode) and massage (the brush pulsates for gum stimulation). Go Care Routine shortines the standard 2 minute clean mode to 1 minute, while Max Care is a longer, 3 minute cycle that includes both clean and massage mode. I set the brush on clean mode and tend not to use the other options, but some may find them useful.
-More Environmentally Friendly
Although buying a new product of any sort will always have a negative environmental footprint, these new brushes are better than the old models due to their Li-Ion batteries, reduced bulk, and lower waste in the smaller replacement brush heads.
Cons:
-Price
Let's be clear on this: a Sonicare toothbrush is a luxury product. You're paying a lot more up front, and you get to keep paying more every time you buy replacement heads. Surprisingly, heads for Flexcare units are actually a cheaper than the older models; you get 3 Flexcare heads for the same price as 2 of the old heads. The per head price is still several times what it would cost to buy a new manual brush; but for me the superior cleaning is worth it.
Noise
-Flexcare models are louder than older models. I'm not sure why this is, and supposedly vibration has been reduced in exchange, but the noise can be too much for some. The UV sanitizer also makes a quiet electric "hum" when plugged in with the door closed, even if the UV bulb isn't run.
-Buttons can be depressed while brushing
A couple of people have complained about accidentally hitting 1 of the 2 buttons on the handle while brushing. It hasn't happened to me, but for completeness I'll include this as a possible con.
Overall:
This brush is a vast improvement over my previous brush, and has fixed most of the problems I had without introducing any significant new ones. The fact that replacement brush heads are actually cheaper than on my old brush is a big plus. I highly recommend the Flexcare brushes as a great upgrade to any toothbrush, electric or manual, that you're currently using.
Customer Review: Starts like a bee in your mouth . . . ends up as a workhorse
Summary: 5 Stars
This Sonicare electric toothbrush is, simply put, an excellent product. I've been using a Braun (which I believe is the same as Oral B) electric toothbrush for years, and it does not compare with this newest generation of dental hygiene products.
This model comes preset with a step-up program that gradually increases the speed of the brush head over 14 uses until it reaches maximum effectiveness, a feature designed especially to those new to electric toothbrushes. Although I've used an electric toothbrush for years, I decided to try out the pre-programmed sessions to see how it worked. On the first day, the toothbrush sounded like a bee in my mouth; it was gentle, with enough high-speed vibration to clean my teeth better than my old, full-speed Braun. Over the fourteen uses -- I did it in a week, but those new to electric toothbrushes might want to use it only once a day at first -- the brush lost its whine and gradually moved to its final, more authoritative vibration that cleans exceptionally well. Even at maximum power, this toothbrush does not vibrate through my entire skull the way my Braun does.
The coolest part of the Sonicare is the option of selecting different modes. The sensitive teeth setting is more like a mosquito than a bee; although I have sensitive teeth, I find that the regular cleaning doesn't bother me and is more thorough. You may select "Go Care" (a one-minute touch up between regular brushings), "Massage" for the gums, and MaxCare for a 30 second tooth brushing following by a fifteen second gum massage for each quadrant (total time = 3 minutes.) To remind you to switch "quadrants" of your mouth, the pitch changes slightly. After the routine time is up, the toothbrush stops.
First time electric toothbrush users should note the instructions about angling the brush head and moving gently side to side. You do not move the brush much yourself as you would with a traditional tooth brush; otherwise, you'll irritate or even rip your gums. My dentist has always advocated using an electric toothbrush once a day, not twice, with a traditional brush doing the work for the second brushing, although I find that the Sonicare, unlike my old Braun, is gentle enough to use twice. Still, users might not want to throw out their toothbrushes.
The Sonicare comes with a stand charger, one standard brush head, user identification bands, a soft carrying case, and a plastic cap to protect the brush head while traveling. Those who have smaller mouths will want to buy the optional Philips Sonicare Elite (E-Series) Replacement Brush Head, Compact (2-Pack) since it's not easy maneuvering the head behind, say, the front teeth. If you are concerned about sanitizing the heads, you might prefer to buy the version with the sanitizer (Philips Sonicare Flexcare Professional with UV Sanitizer), although you can always buy a sanitizer separately later (Philips Sonicare UV Sanitizer.)
I have only two complaints about this product: you cannot attach it to the wall to keep counter space free, and the automatic stop feature is annoying if I'm not quite done brushing. The inability to mount it on the wall is especially frustrating since the handle is incredibly easy to knock off the charger. Some people might not like the fact that it tickles like the Dickens when you hit the roof of your mouth while on the brushing speeds.
I highly recommend this toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes promote oral health through both cleaner teeth and gum stimulation, and the Sonicare is an exceptional entry into the market.
Also look at Oral-B Pulsonic Power Toothbrush.
Customer Review: Much better than any (non-sonic) Oral-B electric toothbrush
Summary: 4 Stars
To give you some context, I've owned two Sonicare toothbrushes and four Oral-B toothbrushes over the last 17 years, including the ever popular 3D/8850 and the "Triumph" 4000/5000/9000 (whatever number they've decided to use this year). I have never used the Oral-B sonic brush, mostly because it has mediocre reviews and requires different brush-heads anyway. If I'm going to invest in all new equipment, I might as well buy the one with 4.5 stars... I have found this particular Sonicare to be the best toothbrush I've ever used, and not necessarily for the reasons you might expect.
First, what attracted me to Oral-B in the first place: it does a good job cleaning teeth and the standard brush-head is a very small, circular brush. I always found the enlarged brush-heads or cross-action brush-heads too gimicky, uncomfortable, and less effective. I would usually get 10 days to a charge, most brushes came with hard PLASTIC travel cases, which prevented them from being switched on inadvertently and discharging during the outbound flight of your vacation/business trip. In short, after 17 years of using several Oral-B brushes, I would consider myself a loyal customer.
Cons of the last couple of Oral-B brushes can be found in the reviews I've written on the relevant pages, although it's hard to keep up since they keep switching model numbers to confuse the customer. Basically, there are three types still available: a very basic version that has the oldest style of charge and a chunky handle, a newer version with 40,000 revolutions per minute AND 3D back-and-forth motion (oscillation) AND the "Triumph," which has the same specifications but an even chunkier handle to accommodate the LCD display. Either of the latter two are fine, although the charging circuit for my Triumph failed after barely a year, which is what made my mind up to switch to Sonicare.
Pros of the Sonicare are manifold: it's smaller, lighter, quieter, simpler, can be had with "compact" or regular brush heads. The best feature for me is that it holds a charge for two full weeks, even though it's so much lighter. The weight may seem insignificant, but it all adds up when you travel on a daily basis. Then there's the results: my teeth are definitely cleaner. That absolutely surprised me, given how gung-ho I've been about Oral-B all these years. My teeth are smoother, whiter, and I've noticed that the red wine stains that usually affect my teeth between dental cleanings have disappeared, without the need for a dental cleaning. Is the difference huge? No, but it is noticeable, and it was a pleasant surprise.
I thought the Sonicare and Oral-B would be very similar user experiences: both brushes have the little cut-outs every 30 seconds to remind you to change the set of teeth that you're currently brushing. It's not too intrusive and I've always liked it. This Sonicare completely cuts out after 2 minutes, unless you press the little button in advance to give you 3 minutes or 1 minute. I don't mind, since 2 minutes is all I ever shoot for (and you can always turn it right back on if you really need to). The battery indicator has 3 little levels, similar to the Triumph. So, objectively, they both clean teeth and have almost identical bells and whistles. Subjectively, they feel very different (different brushing motions) and have different results.
So why not 5 stars? Well, this particular model came with a soft cloth travel case, which I fear will lead to discharging (first trip with it is scheduled for next week - I'll be bringing the included compact charger with me). Also, I can't get to the very back of my teeth quite as easily as I could with the small circular Oral-B brush.
To Oral-B, I would say you just lost a customer because you couldn't be bothered to update your brushes with Lithium Ion batteries. To everyone else, I'd say if you're choosing between the two, the latest Sonicare brushes beat Oral-B on every dimension.