Power Toothbrushes

Introduction

Which is better for you, a new electric fancy schmancy toothbrush or the standard old-fashion kind that is powered by your hand?

Well, out with the old and in with the new. Studies have proven that the electric toothbrushes are better at reducing plaque and gum inflammation than the standard, manual toothbrush. A recent review of 42 studies that involved almost 4,000 participants all showed that the powerbrushes are superior. Differences could be seen in the patients using the powerbrushes with alternately rotating circular heads. That’s the key here: The winning brushes have alternately rotating circular heads.

Within the first 90 days of use, these electric toothbrushes decreased plaque by 11% and reduced gum inflammation by 6%. After 11 months there was a 17 percent drop in gum inflammation that can lead to gingitivis. Also, there was no evidence of increase in gum damage with the electric-powered brushes but there was a big difference in price.

A Practice-Based Study of a Power Toothbrush: Assessment of Effectiveness and Acceptance

Paul R. Warren, L.D.S.

Tonya Smith Ray, R.D.H., M.A.

Maryann Cugini, R.D.H., M.H.P.

Bernard V. Chater, Ph.D.

Abstract

Background. The greater effectiveness of the power toothbrush compared with a manual toothbrush is well-documented. Despite this, acceptance by dental professionals is still low.

Methods. This general practice study evaluated the effectiveness of a power toothbrush (Braun Oral-B Ultra Plaque Remover, Braun GmbH) in 16,903 patients, based on the clinical opinions of dental professionals in regard to patients’ changing oral health status. In addition, a survey assessed the attitudes of dental professionals and patients toward the power toothbrush.

Results. The power toothbrush was considered by dental professionals to have had a positive effect on the oral health of 80.5 percent of their patients; the noticeable benefits with respect to a number of clinical criteria included plaque removal and improved gingival condition. Most patients in the study (88.9 percent) reported that they would continue using the power toothbrush once the study was completed. At the end of the study, many more dentists and hygienists considered the power toothbrush to be the most effective way of brushing, and almost 70 percent said that they would now be more likely to recommend a power toothbrush to their patients.

Conclusions. The power toothbrush improved the oral health of patients in this practice-based study, and the number of dental professionals who said they would recommend a power toothbrush increased markedly during the study.

Clinical Implications. Enabling dental professionals to evaluate the effect of a power toothbrush reinforces the findings from controlled clinical studies and increases their awareness of its potential to improve oral hygiene.

Since their introduction in the 1960s, power toothbrushes have been significantly improved, and today’s power toothbrushes are both highly effective and reliable. Their efficacy in comparison with that of the manual toothbrush has been evaluated in a large number of well-designed short- and long-term controlled clinical studies carried out by academic institutions and contract research companies specializing in dental research. These studies consistently have shown the power toothbrush to be superior, with results demonstrating greater plaque removal and, as a consequence, more improvement in gingival condition than that achieved with a manual toothbrush alone.1–5

In addition to being highly effective, power toothbrushes have been shown to be well-received by patients and have the potential to improve compliance. Stålnacke and colleagues6 showed improved compliance with a power toothbrush, as did Hellstadius and colleagues,7 who demonstrated improved maintenance of plaque control in a group of patients with periodontal disease who were noted for their poor compliance with manual toothbrushing. Thus, power toothbrushes can have two clinically important benefits over manual toothbrushes. First, they are more effective at plaque removal, presumably because they confer on the patient a better brushing technique, and, second, they encourage better compliance with brushing. However, despite these clinically proven benefits, relatively few dental professionals recommend the use of a power toothbrush to their general patient population.1

The fact that dental professionals do not wholeheartedly embrace the power toothbrush suggests that either the clinical data now available are not reaching them, or they are not convinced by the results of controlled clinical studies, which may not reflect the clinical situation as it applies to general practices. Therefore, practice-based studies8,9 are needed to establish that the findings from controlled clinical trials apply to general practice settings.

This study involving a large patient base was designed to evaluate the potential of the Braun Oral-B Ultra Plaque Remover (Braun GmbH) to improve oral hygiene and to investigate the attitudes of dental professionals and their patients toward this power toothbrush.

Materials and Methods The power toothbrush (Figure 1) evaluated in this study has an oscillating/rotating action with a frequency of 3,800 oscillating rotations per minute. The brush head is cup-shaped and has a diameter of 13 millimeters. Study population. Dentists and hygienists in the United States were selected from Braun Oral-B databases and asked if they would participate in the study, which involved distributing power toothbrushes to selected patients. The dental professionals instructed their patients in the use of the power toothbrush; they then monitored the clinical status of patients for approximately eight months. A total of 3,669 dental professionals agreed to participate and were included in the study, resulting in an overall study population of more than 80,000 patients. Patient inclusion criteria included having a consistent recall history; a need to improve manual brushing practices or poor oral hygiene despite the use of an alternative power brush; interest in using a power toothbrush; and sufficient motivation to comply with a continued preventive oral care regimen. Study design. The study was divided into two phases. In the first phase, the dentist or hygienist made a subjective clinical evaluation of the patient’s oral health, before and after changing to the power toothbrush. Data were collected using a patient evaluation form that asked a number of questions designed to establish if use of the power toothbrush had resulted in any change in clinical status and whether the patient was satisfied with the toothbrush. The questionnaire was completed at the first recall appointment after the patient was given the power toothbrush. In the second phase of the study, 600 dental professionals and 900 patients were randomly selected and contacted by telephone. A trained interviewer asked each subject a series of questions designed to evaluate his or her attitude toward the power toothbrush and its clinical effectiveness. Data were collected from dental professionals after approximately eight months and from patients after approximately 10 months. Because of the uncontrolled study design and subjective nature of the data, only descriptive statistical analyses were carried out.

Figure 1. The Braun Oral-B Ultra Plaque Remover (Braun GmbH).

Results

Clinical evaluation. Evaluation forms for 16,903 patients were available for analysis eight months after the start of the study. The Table shows baseline demographic characteristics of this group of patients. The majority of patients had been using a manual toothbrush, approximately one-half brushed two or more times per day and nearly three-fourths had good-to-excellent oral health. At the first recall appointment for patients after they began using the power toothbrush (that is, after approximately six months of product use), change in oral health status was evaluated by the dental professional and classified on a five-point scale (from considerably improved to considerably worse). Figure 2 shows that the oral health of the majority of patients (80.5 percent) improved somewhat or considerably, while the oral health of only 1.2 percent of patients was considered to have become somewhat worse or considerably worse. Clinical characteristics. Dental professionals were asked to specify, from a list of clinical characteristics, the changes that had been observed in patients in whom oral health had improved. Better cleaning along the gingival margin was reported for 57.8 percent of patients, improved gingival condition for 40.1 percent, better cleaning of lingual anterior surfaces for 34.5 percent, better cleaning of posterior surfaces for 33.3 percent, less calculus for 29.9 percent and less staining for 13.5 percent of patients. Other, unprompted, comments about the clinical condition of less than 1 percent of the patient population included better approximal cleaning, less tooth sensitivity and decreased pocket depths. When completing the evaluation forms, the dental professionals asked patients how satisfied they were with the power toothbrush and whether they intended to continue using the product (Figure 3). When asked if they would continue to use the power toothbrush, 88.9 percent of patients responded that they would, compared with 3.7 percent who responded that they would not. Five percent were not sure and 2.5 percent gave no answer. Professional telephone survey. Of the 3,669 dental professionals who participated in the patient evaluation phase of the investigation, 600 were randomly selected and contacted by telephone after approximately eight weeks. From this group, 420 completed a second telephone questionnaire after eight months. With respect to their patients’ oral health, more than 90 percent of dental professionals reported that it had been either somewhat or considerably improved by changing to the power toothbrush. Improvements were seen in cleaning along the gingival margin, at posterior surfaces and at lingual anterior surfaces. In addition, more than 90 percent of the dental professionals noted that gingival condition had improved and the level of calculus and staining had decreased. Nearly 70 percent of the dental professionals said they would now be more likely to recommend a power toothbrush to their patients. At the beginning of the study, they recommended use of a power toothbrush a mean of 2.5 times per week; this figure increased to more than seven times per week when they were contacted after eight months.
	Figure 2. Dental professionals’ evaluation of changes in their patients’ oral health status after switching to the power toothbrush (Braun Oral-B Ultra Plaque Remover, Braun GmbH). An opinion regarding oral health status was not provided for approximately 3.9 percent of the patients (N = 16,903).
	Figure 3. Patients’ satisfaction with the power toothbrush (Braun Oral-B Ultra Plaque Remover, Braun GmbH). Approximately 1.4 percent of patients did not provide an opinion (N = 16,903).

At baseline and after eight months, dental professionals were asked which method of toothbrushing they considered to be most effective: manual or power-assisted. As shown in Figure 4, after eight months, the percentage of dental professionals who considered the power toothbrush to be most effective had increased from 37.6 percent to 62.5 percent. Patient telephone survey. From among the patients involved in the study, 900 were randomly selected and contacted by telephone approximately four weeks after the study began. Of these, 600 were again contacted after about 10 months. At the four-week interview, 95 percent of patients reported that they were using the power toothbrush at least once a day. At the 10-month interview, this figure had decreased only slightly to 89 percent. With respect to their oral hygiene status, patients agreed with the subjective clinical evaluation made by the dental professionals. Seventy-four percent of patients thought that use of the power toothbrush had resulted in their oral hygiene being either somewhat better or much better than that when they had been using only a manual toothbrush. Ninety-four percent of patients reported that they would probably or definitely continue to use the power toothbrush, and 75 percent reported that they would recommend the power toothbrush to a friend.

Figure 4. The method of toothbrushing considered to be most effective by dental professionals eight months after the study began (n = 282).

Discussion

In contrast to nearly every other study carried out with power toothbrushes, this investigation was practice-based and involved a large number of patients (N = 16,903). Of these, 16,172 used a manual toothbrush and 687 used an alternative power toothbrush. The study involved 3,669 dental professionals, who monitored the effect of the power toothbrush on their patients’ oral hygiene.

Because of the number of patients involved, a large amount of data was generated; however, these data were of a subjective nature because it was impossible to calibrate the examiners with respect to scoring specific plaque and gingival indexes. Despite this, we consider the results of the study to be of particular value because they reflect the normal method of oral hygiene appraisal used by dental professionals at recall appointments—namely, an overall subjective evaluation of clinical status. Such a study is in agreement with the views of Mjör and Wilson,8,9 who commented that observations from the real-world environment of dental practice are important in interpreting research data.

Results from this practice-based study showed that 80.5 percent of patients benefited from switching to the power toothbrush, with dental professionals judging their oral health status to have improved somewhat or considerably compared with their baseline status. This was true despite the fact that approximately three-fourths of the patients had been judged to have good, very good or excellent standards of oral hygiene at the beginning of the study. The patients themselves endorsed this view, with 74 percent reporting their oral health to be somewhat better or much better than it had been when they were using only a manual toothbrush.

One other practice-based investigation of the power tooth-brush has been reported. In that study, a telephone survey was used to evaluate the opinions of dental practitioners in Germany with respect to the effect that power toothbrush use had on the oral health of their patients.10 Consistent with our own findings, 73 percent of respondents indicated that use of a power toothbrush (Braun Oral-B Plaque Remover) had resulted in improvement in the condition of their patients’ teeth and gingivae. Thus, findings from this practice-based study, as well as ours, appear to confirm the results from controlled clinical studies, which have shown that power toothbrushes,1,2,4,5 including the one evaluated in our study,3,11 are more effective than manual toothbrushes.

Results from this practice-based study showed that 80.5 percent of patients benefited from switching to the power toothbrush.

Our results show that when dental professionals have direct experience with a power toothbrush, their perception of its value to patients changes. By the end of the study, those favoring power toothbrushes had increased from 37.6 to 62.5 percent and those who were undecided had decreased from 46.6 to 22.7 percent. Although this study resulted in a change in practice with respect to recommending use of the power toothbrush, it remains to be seen whether the results will help to convince the general population of dental professionals of the benefits of power toothbrushing.

Conclusion

The superior effectiveness of power toothbrushes that has been shown in controlled clinical studies may also be exhibited in a general practice setting. In this practice-based study, we found that direct experience with a power toothbrush convinced the majority of dental professionals of its clinical benefits and resulted in an increased level of recommendation to their patients.

Footnotes

Dr. Warren is director of Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs, Braun GmbH, Kronberg, Germany

Ms. Ray is national manager of Professional Education, Oral-B Laboratories, Belmont, Calif.

Ms. Cugini is manager, Clinical Research Oral Care, Braun GmbH, Kronberg, Germany.

Dr. Chater is a medical communications consultant, Staffordshire, England.

This study was funded by Braun Oral-B. Braun GmbH, Kronberg, Germany, which is the manufacturer of the Braun Oral-B Ultra Plaque Remover.

The authors thank Merrill Research & Associates, San Mateo, Calif., for compilation of data from evaluation questionnaires; Research Data Inc., Framingham, Mass., for conducting the telephone interviews; and MaryAnn Connelly McCabe, Oral-B Laboratories, Belmont, Calif., for her contributions to this project.

References

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Retrieved from: http://jada.ada.org/cgi/content/full/131/3/389

Electric Toothbrushes: Review

Does an electric toothbrush really clean your teeth better than a manual toothbrush? Until recently, many dental experts said no, maintaining that if you brush for two minutes at least twice a day, floss and visit your dentist regularly, manual brushes and electric toothbrushes are equally effective. However, research by the Cochrane Oral Health Group and others now indicate that powered toothbrushes with an oscillating rotating action are more effective than manual toothbrushes in reducing plaque and gingivitis. Other types of powered toothbrushes produced less consistent reductions in plaque and gingivitis than manual brushes. The Cochrane group's study involved 3,855 participants and over 25 different powered and manual toothbrushes.

Another research study by the Journal of Dentistry corroborates findings of the Cochrane Oral Health Group -- electric toothbrushes using an oscillating rotating motion, such as toothbrushes by Braun Oral-B, are more effective than manual brushing at reducing plaque. A test by a more mainstream source -- Men's Health Magazine -- comes to the same conclusion: Braun Oral-B toothbrushes (in this case, the Oral-B ProfessionalCare) reduce plaque the most. Consumer Reports is not a good review source when it comes to electric toothbrushes. Editors have only tested four models over the last five years, and none recently.

We found the best review of electric toothbrushes on the British magazine Which?. Its test includes 12 electric toothbrushes, most of which are available in the United States. The brushes are tested on a model of four molars. Plaque removal is measured with a device called a "scanning laser vibrometer," which combines a laser scanner, a sensor and a video camera. Testers also assess battery performance and charging time, ease of use and comfort. Each of the 12 toothbrushes receives a lengthy review. Good Housekeeping tests electric toothbrushes in their video series, "GH on TV." In addition, we found single-product reviews on the websites for Popular Mechanics and Women's Health magazines, as well as consumer reviews at Amazon.com.

We also found several scientific studies in dental journals comparing toothbrushes against each other. Although these studies provide interesting data, it should be noted that most of these are sponsored by a toothbrush manufacturer.

The latest new electric toothbrush is the Ultreo (*Est. $100), which claims to combine "ultrasound waveguide technology" with brushing to achieve what its website describes as "an incredibly long-lasting feeling of clean." Positive feedback has come from the likes of Esquire, which gave the Ultreo a "grooming award," and New York Magazine, which plugged it in a short article. That said, the Ultreo's cleaning effectiveness has yet to be scientifically evaluated, and the final word on this powered toothbrush won't truly be known until clinical studies are performed that compare the Ultreo to models by industry leaders such as Oral-B and Sonicare.

We found some personal testimonials for the Ultreo, but these are based on casual, at-home testing by one or two individuals rather than comparative studies. Several reports we read say that people generally feel their teeth are cleaner after using the Ultreo, but this research also uncovered some concerns. The Ultreo has a learning curve in that you're not supposed to brush too hard with it. And while everyone seems to like the snazzy packaging and design, several users say that the brush head feels bulky in their mouths, so much so that they didn't feel they could properly reach some back teeth.

Back in September 2007, Procter & Gamble (which makes Oral-B electric toothbrushes, among others) filed a lawsuit against Ultreo, claiming that Ultreo makes misleading and false claims as to efficacy. Procter & Gamble says there's no clinical evidence involving consumer testing that proves ultrasound has an effect on plaque. In fact, Procter & Gamble claims that in its own tests, the Ultreo was actually more effective when the ultrasound feature was turned off. Obviously, Procter & Gamble has a financial motivation for challenging Ultreo, since it doesn't want to lose market share. In September 2008, a court found that Ultreo did have the right to make its claims, though that is not to say that the court found the claims themselves to be valid.

For now, the information on the Ultreo is inconclusive. While there are a good number of user reviews praising the Ultreo, there have been no blind studies yet that compare results with the competition. Ultreo was not included in the test of 12 electric toothbrushes conducted by the Which? website. Users generally feel that it works at least as well as Sonicare or Oral-B electric toothbrushes, but it remains to be seen whether the "ultrasound waveguide" feature actually makes a difference in plaque or gingivitis reduction.

The problem with any kind of toothbrush is that many people just aren't dentally self-disciplined. A number of articles we came across during our research say that most Americans brush for only 30 to 60 seconds, which is half the time recommended by dentists, and not nearly long enough to enable the fluoride in toothpaste to work properly. Reviews say the best electric toothbrushes come with a two-minute timer and are able to reach hard-to-clean areas better than most of us tend to do with a manual brush.

For those of us who could use a little encouragement to keep brushing past the one-minute mark, experts say electric toothbrushes are worth the investment. They're also good for folks who have restricted use of their hands or arms, and for children who might be motivated to brush longer with a fun-to-use electric brush.

Electric Toothbrushes: What to Look For

Overall, reviewers do say that a powered toothbrush does a better job than a manual brush, but experts differ as to why. Some studies show that electric toothbrushes really do remove more plaque, but others say that you're simply more likely to brush longer with an electric brush than with a manual toothbrush. One thing is certain -- it's definitely more expensive to use an electric toothbrush. Once you buy the brush itself, you'll need to replace the brush heads every month to two months at a cost of between $4 and $8 each.

If you're considering an electric toothbrush, here are some factors to consider:

• Since oral-health experts recommend brushing for two minutes, a timer that either signals or turns off the unit after the suggested two minutes is a plus. Some electric toothbrushes, such as the Sonicare and Braun Oral-B, come with a signal that beeps every 30 seconds, indicating that it's time to switch to a different quadrant of the mouth.
• A built-in, rechargeable battery is convenient and eliminates the cost of frequent battery changes. A brush should deliver enough power for at least one week of brushing on a full charge. This means you won't have to take the charging base with you on weekend trips or short vacations.
• Brush heads should be replaced every one or two months (on average). One handle can be used by the whole family, as long as each person uses their own brush head. It's a good idea to make sure you can easily find the replacement heads in your local store.
• The size of the brush head is important. For most people, a smaller brush head allows greater access to hard-to-reach tooth surfaces, but it's a matter of personal preference.

Retrieved from: http://www.consumersearch.com/electric-toothbrushes/important-features

Best Electric Toothbrushes

Oral-B and Sonicare Duke It Out

In the latest clinical testing, Oral-B electric toothbrushes, with their oscillating/rotating/pulsating action, are found to be most effective in removing plaque. Oral-B toothbrushes work by pulsation (in-and-out movement), rotation and oscillation (side-to-side movement). They also feature a built-in pressure sensor that stops the bristle movement when it detects that you're brushing too hard, something not found in many competitors' models. The Oral-B ProfessionalCare 7400 (*Est. $75) toothbrush features two brushing speeds and a two-minute timer with a 30-second beep to signal when to clean another area. It has a long-life battery charge of 12 days and indicator bristles that fade halfway when it's time to change the brush head.

While we found good reviews for the ProfessionalCare 7400, we found the most reviews for the Oral-B Triumph Professional Care (*Est. $90) which adds an LCD readout on the handle. It has three brushing modes (clean, sensitive and polish). On ElectricToothbrush.com, dentist Lynne Heckert writes that she and her staff use brushes from the Triumph series. Heckert especially likes the brush, which "has a round head with little plastic flaps that seem to get in between teeth well." The technology in this toothbrush include a microprocessor that tracks the battery charge; it also notifies different users when their brush heads need replacement, and even rewards the user with a smiley face when the recommended two-minute brush time is completed. In Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper, writer Jack Kapica wonders (as did we) why a toothbrush needs a computer. Kapica says he was prepared to laugh at it, however, after using it, he admits that his teeth felt cleaner and adds that the Triumph helped him to brush properly when all his good intentions with a manual toothbrush had repeatedly failed. In a British review, the Oral-B Triumph 9500 (the 9400 is sold as the 9500 in the U.K.) is the second-best unit in the test by Which? and is cited as one of four Best Buys. Testers summarize the benefits as "Excellent battery life, easy to use, good cleaning performance."

The Triumph has received positive mention in several recent reviews, as well as raves from Amazon.com contributors. Another plus is that the Oral-b Triumph electric toothbrush includes a traveling case with room to hold extra brush heads. It can also retain its charge for up to two weeks, so it's easy to take on vacation. As for negatives, we did read a few complaints that it's bulky and heavy.

The step-up model, the Oral-B Triumph 9900 with SmartGuide (*Est. $100), builds on the oscillating-rotating technology by including a second "Flossaction" brush head, a massage mode and a separate wireless display monitor which tracks brushing time, signals when you're brushing too hard and tells you when it is time to change brush heads. The Triumph 9900 with SmartGuide receives the best score in the test of 12 electric toothbrushes by Which? magazine; testers like that this brush "has excellent movement over your teeth and an average frequency of sweeps over the teeth." However, the more expensive 9900 uses the same handle and main brush head as the cheaper 9400, and some experts question whether the external display and massage model really add that much to the package. If these features help motivate you to brush longer, they might be worth it, but since the Triumph 9400 is functionally the same and costs less, we've chosen to include the Oral-B Triumph 9400 as our Best Reviewed pick.

Sonicare is the other major contender when it comes to electric toothbrushes. Sonicare brushes clean in two ways: with the scrubbing action of the bristles over the teeth and by agitating saliva which then dislodges plaque. In the latest tests, Sonicare is edged out by Braun Oral-B, but in most reviews it's a slim margin. In the test by Which? magazine, two Sonicare models, the Elite e9500 (*Est. $120) and the Elite e7300 (*Est. $100), are the only brushes that receive perfect scores for overall performance. It's primarily their lower battery life that prevents them from surpassing competitors made by Oral-B.

The Sonicare Elite e9500 receives favorable comments from dentists, testers and consumers who compare electric toothbrushes. In an article posted at iVillage.com, two dentists recommend the Sonicare toothbrush because it's effective at removing plaque and debris. Staffers at The Wall Street Journal preferred two Sonicare models -- the Elite and the FlexCare -- to the Oral-b Triumph and the Ultreo. It is important to note that recent research indicates toothbrushes with rotating/oscillating/pulsating action (like the Oral-B) are slightly more effective in reducing plaque and gingivitis than the Sonicare. In addition, some people dislike the noise made by Sonicare toothbrushes. Still, Sonicare has legions of fans.

Users at Amazon.com and Epinions.com like the Sonicare Elite e9500, praising it for excellent cleaning ability, ease of use (it's very light) and great battery life. An easy-start feature gently increases the power of the brush over 14 uses to help you adjust to using a powered brush. However, this feature can be deactivated. The Sonicare Elite e9500 includes a second, smaller brush for harder-to-reach areas, but it is also ideal for those users with small mouths who find it difficult to effectively reach all the way back with a standard-sized toothbrush head. There's a two-minute timer, and the Sonicare Elite e9500 prompts you after each 30 seconds of use, so that each quadrant of your mouth gets equal time for maximum benefit. (The user can also deactivate this feature.)

The Sonicare FlexCare with Sanitizer (*Est. $150) features a brush head that uses a broad sweeping motion as well as contoured bristles for better tooth coverage. The FlexCare includes a built-in UV sanitizer, which helps keep toothbrush heads clean. In a video review by Good Housekeeping testing seven electric toothbrushes, the Sonicare FlexCare receives top marks from both testers and a dentist, Denis Vu, who states that "the head is particularly impressive because of its small size." Vu is similarly impressed with the UV sanitizer. Vibrations are greatly reduced in this FlexCare toothbrush, but users at Amazon.com still find it noisy compared with other powered toothbrushes. Even when factoring in the extra noise, however, users give the Sonicare FlexCare raves so far.

Oral-B also makes sonic toothbrushes. The Oral-B sonic Complete S-200 (*Est. $80) has two brushing modes, and the bristles on the brush are angled in different directions. The Oral-B Sonic Complete S-320 Deluxe (*Est. $70) comes with two brush heads and has three brushing modes: clean, soft and massage (for stimulating gums). Both brushes have two-minute timers with alerts at 30-second intervals. In September 2008, Oral-B launched a new sonic toothbrush, the Oral-B Pulsonic (*Est. $55). The Pulsonic is notable for its slim design, comes with one brush head and has two brushing modes (clean and sensitive). The Oral-B Pulsonic toothbrushes have not yet been included in tests against other toothbrushes, but the few informal reviews we found were very positive.

At the blog Stylelist.com, Cat Lincoln likes the "incredibly cool-looking design" of the Braun Pulsonic and suggests that the sensitive speed makes the brush "an excellent gateway brush for those new to the whole toothbrush-shaking-in-your-mouth thing." For a reviewer on GeekyHousewife.com, "This toothbrush gets pretty close to delivering that overwhelming feeling of clean," you get at the dentist's office. At Amazon.com, several reviewers complain that the brush head twists off the body while the brush is in use. Others do not like that the directions call for the brush to be moved in a circular motion on the teeth. For a few, the brush head is too large.

People who lack the patience to brush their teeth for the recommended two minutes might benefit from the HydraBrush (*Est. $70), which surrounds the teeth with brushes. According to the manufacturer, the HydraBrush can cut the usual brushing time by more than half. The HydraBrush has two different brush heads, one for the top teeth and one for the bottom, and both of these brushes are split to clean the front and back of the teeth simultaneously. The brush moves with a back-and-forth motion. We did not find many reviews for the HydraBrush; it is not included in any comparative testing with other electric toothbrushes.

In a test for a television news show, reporter Mari Alvarez and dentist Sam Paredes agree that the HydraBrush does a good job. Alvarez states that "there is virtually no work involved" in using the brush, and Dr. Paredes states that the HydraBrush might be helpful for people who lack hand strength or dexterity. A writer with multiple sclerosis at INT2View.com confirms this view, stating, "The handle is lightweight and easy to maneuver, which is important to me and to anyone experiencing some weakness or fatigue." Reviews at Amazon.com are mostly positive. People appreciate the reduced brushing time, but some reviewers complain that they are not able to reach all parts of their teeth.

Retrieved from: http://www.comsumersearch.com

Oral-B Triumph Professional Care 9400

The 9400 Power Toothbrush is the low end item of the entire Oral-B Professional Care model with practical utilities. This comes around $125 and I would recommend this instead of wasting more money at the dental clinic. There is no doubt that it enables you to have a perfect and spotless

clean dental care at home. This is compact and does not require much of a space. What attracted me towards this model is that it is rechargeable. While it is difficult to clean your teeth from top to bottom and left to right and vice versa this little equipment facilitates to do everything in a snap of a second. This works like a slave with great 3d oscillations at a constant rate.

The floss action head that is supposed to be compatible with only the Triumph invariably works with every model. The LCD display exhibits some stupid readings and I don't think it adds value to this unit. I am not bothered about the number of times I have brushed and there is no need of any reminder to put it in charge. One good thing is that it needs to be charge only once a week. The battery that supports the display adds to it weight. This is equipped with a timer that for 2 minutes that sends signals once in 20 seconds to jog your memory that it is time to change the side and angle of brushing. This feature might be handy for kids but not for me.

This comes with multiple cleaning speeds and you can adjust the level based on the receptiveness of the gums. But I set it in maximum to get the work done at a faster pace. I am told that the unique Power Polisher brush head polishes the teeth in 21 days. I am using it for a couple of weeks and now keeping my fingers crossed to see if there is really any impact. So far this seems to be a well built brush all in action without hurting the gums. The brush head is a bit big and it will take some time for you to get used to the maneuverability. The bristles are lengthy and will not fit into the guys with small mouth.

Oral-B Comes a Calling

Electric toothbrushes are very profitable for Oral-B, and they inspire brand loyalty. Consumers who purchase an electric brush will have to buy replacement heads for that brush every two or three months. That means that they will not be shopping down the toothbrush aisle for the best deal. These replacement heads cost much more than a manual toothbrush.

Oral-B works to increase the demand for their electric brushes. First, they market a sonic style toothbrush to compete directly with their major competitor, Phillips Sonicare (www.sonicare.com). They do this in spite of the fact that Oral-B believes that their non-sonic toothbrush provides superior service. In addition, they upgrade the designof their contra-rotating (rotates back and forth) electric brush on an 18-month schedule. The latest upgrade, the Triumph, includes an LCD timer screen, three power settings, and a removable battery pack. Finally, they promote the new Pulsar toothbrush. The Pulsar toothbrush is a premium manual brush that has a small motor that vibrates the brush. When the Pulsar's battery dies, throw it away.

Mike's demonstration leaves the dentist with many questions that Mike cannot answer. The Internet, dental journals, the telephone, and experience provide answers.

A phone call to Phillips Sonicare results in e-mail from Arthur F. Hefti, DDS, PhD, VP Clinical and Scientific Affairs, Philips Oral Healthcare, Inc. Dr Hefti disputes the results of the Cochrane study. Sonicare's most recent products were not included. The included Sonicare product, a more than 10 year old model, is in the same test group as up to 40-year-old antiquated models. Cochrane places Oral-B products in a different group. Finally, some of the members of the Cochrane group report that they receive some type of funding from Braun Oral-B.

Two independent American testing organizations have examined electric toothbrushes. Dentists respect Clinical Research Associates (www.cranews.org) for their thorough and unbiased reviews of dental techniques and products. Their most recent toothbrush comparison, published in July 1998, includes a manual toothbrush, concurrent models of the Sonicare and Oral-B electric toothbrushes, and other power brushes. This statement in their conclusion sums up their findings, "Non-handicapped subjects indicated a high preference for the [Oral-B] Advantage manual brush…because of superior control, convenience, ease of use,

Most dentists recommend manual toothbrushes with soft bristles and buy such brushes for their patients. Many dentists advertise the quality of their office with premium toothbrushes. Oral-B, Butler, Lactona, Colgate, and other brands make high quality manual toothbrushes.

An electric toothbrush is useful for handicapped patients. Many find that the thick handle is easier to hold. The movement of the brush head, whether oscillating or sonically vibrating, can compensate for limited hand and wrist movements of some patients. Choose a high quality electric brush. The inexpensive brushes with heads that spin in one direction are not very effective.

Electric brushes benefit some children. Children enjoy the technology and may brush longer. Unfortunately, electric Oral-B brushes have one very unsafe feature. Remove the brush head, and a shiny metal spike sticks about an inch and a half out of the handle. It is easy to imagine what this spike can do if a little horseplay ensues.What is the best toothbrush for you? The best toothbrush is one that you will use. Discuss your options with your dentist or dental hygienist. They will base their recommendation on your ability and your dental condition. Most importantly, they will teach you to use your chosen toothbrush effectively

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Philips Sonicare Advanced 4100 Toothbrush

The Philips Sonicare Advance 41oo Toothbrush is an excellent personal toothbrush. If you are interested in getting a new electric toothbrush then the Advance 4100 power toothbrush would be a great choice. This philips Sonicare Advance 4100 comes with a lot of very good features, great cleaning action, and the trusted Sonicare name. If you want to make a change in your life and truely begin to care for your teeth in the way that you should care for them then please keep reading and see what Sonicare Advance Sonic toothbrushes are all about. In most cases people do not brush properly and do not see the dentist often enough. This is usually because they are lazy and have a fear of the dentist. Both of these problems can easily be solved by taking the time to brush with a good toothbrush and also by seeing a good sleep dentist.

First and foremost the Sonicare Advance 4100 is the most affordable electric toothbrush sold buy Sonicare. The 4100 Sonicare Advance replacement bush would be a great starter brush for someone who is getting an electric power toothbrush for the first time. But don't think for a second that you are sacrificing any quality by choosing Sonicare's least expensive toothbrush. Despite its reduced price the Philips Sonicare Advance 4100 still comes with Sonicare's patented Sonic technology. When you choose this cheap brush you do give up some of the nifty features of elite series brushes but you don't give up the same cleaning action quality. The Sonicare Advance Standard toothbrush sells for $60-$75 right now.

The Advance 4100 toothbrush comes with a lot of great features that still make it an excellent Sonicare Sonic toothbrush. The Sonicare Advance 4100 power toothbrush comes with Sonicare's patented Sonic technology that allows you to get the equivalent of 25,000 manual brush strokes in just 1 minute of brushing. Sonicare's patented high speed technology helps deliver the best cleaning action on the planet. The Advance 4100 electric toothbrush also comes with a two minute smart timer that automatically shuts off after two minutes. Finally, the phillips sonicare 4100 also comes with the easy-start mode that allows new users to gradually increase bristle speed over their first two weeks of use. This helps new electric toothbrush users to get use to their new high power brush so that it doesn't irritate their gums. When you purchase the Sonicare Advance 4100 brush you will also get a toothbrush holder. Another great thing about this electric toothbrush is that you can use it for up to 14 two minute uses without needing to recharge it.

This Sonicare Sonic Advance toothbrush delivers some of the best cleaning action out of all toothbrushes available. The Sonicare Advance 4100 Sonic Power toothbrush has been clinically proven to be significantly better and removing plaque when compared with any manual toothbrush. This Sonicare Advance Brush is your best bet if you are trying to keep your teeth as clean as possible. The philips Sonicare advance 4100 has also been proven to help whiten teeth in as short at 25 days. The amazing clean power and bristle speed of the Sonicare 4100 have been shown to reduce teeth stains caused by tea, coffee, and tobacco products. The Advance 4100 Power Sonic toothbrush has been shown to be one of only a handful of toothbrushes that actually reverses gum disease, gingivitis, and periodontal diseases.

The Sonicare Advance 4100 comes with a 2 year warranty against manufacturer defect. This means that for at least two years you will never have to buy a new toothbrush. You will of course have to buy new a new Sonicare Advance brush head from time to time.

After looking over the Sonicare Advance toothbrushes and the Sonicare Advance 4100 I don't see how anybody could deny themselves the opportunity to have a healthier mouth while also spending less time brushing. Every single review or rating of the Sonicare Advance 4100 has been great and nearly everyone has made a comparison between it and other top rated electric toothbrushes. If you want to improve your overall health through better oral care then you should definitely check out the Philips Sonicare Advance 4100 toothbrush.

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September 25, 2008

Sonicare Elite e7300 Power Toothbrush Custom Care Benefits

In my last post I wrote about the Philips Sonicare elite e7300 power toothbrush custom care system. I gave you all a brief review of all of the features that the Sonicare elite e7300 came with and explained how it is customizable to each individual user. My last post was a basic run down of what the Sonicare elite e7300 was and today I am going to explain in detail the benefits of the e7300 power toothbrush.

I have already stated in previous posts that healthy teeth result in a healthier mouth and healthier body. If you are interested in taking care of your teeth properly to gain the benefit of a healthier you then you have found the right place. Recent studies have shown that if you have a healthier mouth and teeth you reduce your risk for chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. If I told you that by simply buying a Sonicare elite toothbrush and using it for two and half minutes everyday you would reduce these risks you would be crazy not to listen.

The benefits listed above are indirect benefits of having cleaner teeth and now I am going to go into the direct benefits of using the Sonicare elite power e7300 toothbrush.

Tests have shown that when using the e7300 or any Sonicare power toothbrush you will have naturally whiter teeth. The power of the Sonicare e7300 allows it to significantly reduce everyday stains from coffee, tea, and soda pop. Studies have also shown that the Philips Sonicare e7300 does a 15%-25% better job of removing plaque as compared with other electric toothbrushes. This is a electric to electric comparison and doesn't even include how much better Sonicare toothbrushes are as compared with manual toothbrushes. I think it is reasonable to guess that they are at least 50% better than most manual toothbrushes. Finally, the Sonicare elite e7300 power toothbrush has also been shown to greatly improve gum health and reduce the risk for gingivitis and periodontal disease.

If you use the e7300 power toothbrush or another Sonicare toothbrush daily you will significantly improve the over health of your mouth an in turn improve the overall health of your entire body. The benefits of using a Sonicare electric power toothbrush are pretty astounding and pretty significant.

If you are considering a toothbrush change or need a replacement toothbrush please consider the Sonicare e7300. It currently sells for $80-$100 and comes with a full two year warranty.

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September 9, 2008

Table I: Automatic Toothbrushes Currently Available

Table II: Clinical Outcomes from Automated Toothbrush Studies

• Table represents published, in-vivo studies that evaluate clinical outcomes