Reviews

My dentist and hygienist recommended I purchase an electric toothbrush on my last visit from their office. At their price, it seemed a bit expensive in my opinion, not to mention the one they were selling didn't match what they had on display (they had the one with the sanitizer on display). When I got home I did some research online and found a great deal at Amazon. The brush came with the Sanitizer for a few more dollars than my dentist tried to sell it for without. It also came with a charger, two brush heads, a travel charger and travel case. If you've never used an electric toothbrush before it feels a bit funny at first but you will quickly get use to it. But make sure you read the brief instruction manual BEFORE you use it so you will know how to use it, how you use it and make sure you get the best clean for your teeth. After using the toothbrush for a week, I found my teeth are much cleaner, those places in the back of the mouth are much easier to reach and with the customization, I know I am brushing my teeth, every time, for the right amount of time (per quadrant). I think using an electric toothbrush contributes to easier flossing as well. This was a great investment at a great price!

I purchased this product based on a recommendation from my dentist. I had recently undergone significant periodontal work, including lots of laser treatment, significant enough to have the procedure done under anesthesia. Afterwards, the office recommended using a Sonicare toothbrush. I was reticent, as my only experience with electric toothbrushes was from many decades back, when such things only used an exaggerated up and down brushing motion. I wasn't sure what to expect with this product. However, to say I was blown away with what this thing does is understatement. From the first time, I felt like I got a better cleaning than I got even from the dentist. My wife agrees. I have nothing but superlatives to say about this toothbrush. Well, except for the cost. This is a pricey unit, and the replacement toothbrush heads are outrageously priced, even here on Amazon. However, the cost is well worth it if it keeps my teeth and gums in the shape that the product appears to be capable of. I can only hope that the problems I've read here about the toothbrush not holding up for the long haul won't be something we encounter.

I've been looking at Phillips Sonicare toothbrushes since my Oral-B electric died, but was hesitant to purchase one because they are more expensive and the replacement brushes are a bit pricey. After reading a lot of reviews, I finally gave in and I'm thrilled with it! There is no comparing my previous Oral-B to the Sonicare...the Sonicare is so much better. I tend to brush too hard, and the Sonicare alleviates that problem. I recently had my teeth cleaned, and my dentist commented on how great my gums are doing! I'm more than happy to pay a little more for the replacement brushes.

I bought this toothbrush following a recommendation from a dental hygienist, who only said two words: "Philips" and "sonic." So I was on my own trying to winnow down the wide array of models and features available online and at local retail stores. I settled on this unit based on several positive reviews, its feature set, and the fact that for $5 more than the next model down, it came with the UV sanitizer feature. Although that is an unnecessary embellishment, I thought what can it hurt to try it out for about 3% more money? I have now been using the Sonicare Flexcare for more than 90 days, and I have to say I am extremely pleased at its performance so far. The sonic action really does leave my teeth and gumline feeling cleaner than I was EVER able to get them by manual brushing, and I have even seen slight improvement in my periodontal situation (some moderately deep pockets). Of course I did start with a pair of very thorough periodontal cleanings 3 months apart, but my periodontist and hygienists agree than the Sonicare is an outstanding dental home-care maintenance tool. The features on this unit all work as advertised, and are actually handy. I found the 14-use "ramp-up", which slowly increases the brushing to full-power over about a week's time, to be a good way to ease into the Sonicare experience, which can be startling for a newbie. This is a very powerful cleaning tool, unlike anything I have ever felt, other than at the dentist's office. I normally use the "MaxCare" cycle, 30 seconds of cleaning plus 15 seconds of massage on each quadrant. The regular "Clean" cycle (30 seconds of cleaning per quadrant) is fine for the morning brushing. The "GoCare" cycle (15 seconds of cleaning per quadrant) is fine if you're in a hurry, or just want to touch up The "Sensitive" cycle will probably come in handy as I ease back into brushing following any future dental work or periodontal surgery. The "Massage" cycle is fine for some gum stimulation. I find the feature that makes the toothbrush "burp", a tiny pause and beep after each of the first three segments of a cycle, to be also extremely handy. I don't have to keep track of time, I just switch to the next quadrant when the toothbrush tells me to. The brush heads fit perfectly, and do not seem to get any gunk underneath where they attach to the unit. I do take the brush head off and clean the mounting post about once every 8-10 days. The battery seems excellent: the instructions say a full charge takes 24 hours, so when the battery indicator has been on one green bar (out of three) for a couple days, I put the unit on the charger after my evening usage, and leave it there for 24 hours, using a manual brush the next morning. The charge has lasted at least 10 days per, so far, or at least 20 cycles. It might even go longer, but it's probably bad for the battery to drain it all the way. BTW, I do NOT keep the unit on the charger, but stand it up next to it. I believe it is better for the battery to "cycle" all the way up and most of the way down, rather than keep it fully charged all the time. Your experience and intuition may vary. I use the sanitizer about once a week, putting the brush head in the little compartment after the evening brushing, firing up the UV light, and then wiping off the unit's mounting post. The sanitizing cycle takes only 10-15 minutes, and shuts itself off automagically. So far, I have avoided any hideous mouth diseases (except for my pre-existing periodontal disease), but I didn't contract any in my previous 55 years of non-sanitized toothbrush use, so I can't say this UV sanitizing thing is too essential. Might be good if you shared the brush AND the brush head. (Yuck-o!) I was able to buy extra brush heads for about $8.50 apiece for a 3-pack, cheaper than retail. Philips also sent me one free one as a purchase bonus for signing up online with them. You're supposed to change the brush head every 90 days, but you can probably go 4-6 months between new heads without diminishing brushing effectiveness too much. Since you actually do NOT need to press the brush hard against the tooth and gumline surfaces, the brush does not wear out and get ragged as quickly as a manual brush. Regarding criticisms that this toothbrush spurts toothpaste and water all over, is difficult to use, make a deafening sound, is accidentally activated, etc, I can only say that some people clearly did not read the instructions carefully. I have found NONE of these flaws and, if used correctly, the unit is fairly easy to use. It should be held lightly but firmly, not clenched in one's fist, taking care to keep your fingers off the various buttons on the front. No "brushing" motion is required: simply moving the buzzing brush head over the tooth surface and gumline at about a 45 degree angle does the trick. My teeth feel cleaner than they have ever felt, and seem to stay that way between professional cleanings. I have also noticed an appreciable increase in the overall "whiteness" of my smile, an unexpected benefit. I cannot speak to the longevity of this product, but the two-year warranty should take care of any issues. If it breaks in month 25 of my ownership, I will definitely buy another one- it's still cheaper than dental work! To possibly improve my chances for toothbrush longevity, I rinse the brush head and toothbrush body briefly under running water after usage, dry it lightly with a hand towel, and flick it a few times to shake the excess water off the brush head. So far, I am VERY pleased with this product, and recommend it unconditionally to anyone seeking to maintain and augment their professional dental care. SEMI-DISCLAIMER: My dad is a retired dentist (practiced 45 years) and had nothing to say about, or add to, this review. I showed him the toothbrush, he felt the buzzing brush head with his finger, and said, "Huh. Might have to get one."

Cleans teeth very well, but expect to buy a new unit once every 18 months. My first one had the on/off button wear through and stop working. Luckily I had bought it at Costco and was able to return it. My second (current) now has a problem where the brush won't stay on. Even a new brush pops off every few seconds. I have cleaned the brush thoroughly and can't see why it's coming off. Apparently just a quality issue. And my call to Phillips? Sorry, your unit is out of warranty and we don't provide support. Please give us another $150 and we'll talk to you for another year.

Reviews

This is quite a machine! It buzzes your whole mouth and feels like it's doing a great job. I have had electronic toothbrushes before and this one feels quite different.

I am a habitual coffee/tea/wine drinker. I've been using Sonicare for about 8 years now. Earlier this year, I left my charger during a trip and did not get it back until 2 months later. In that time period, my teeth became visibly darker to the point that I really noticed it and started using brush on whiteners, which didn't really help (and I hate that gross feeling in my mouth). Anyway, I got the charger back and have been happy using my Sonicare again. I could notice that my teeth got whiter in about 2 weeks.

I was starting to get gingivitis when I ordered this product. I have to admit I had used an electric toothbrush before, but I didn't see much difference from a regular brush except it was noisier and required batteries. So I decided to try Philips Sonicare because it had great reviews. Wow. What a difference! After two weeks my gums looked significantly better and stopped bleeding. And my teeth really get that clean, squeaky feeling. It is an electric toothbrush so there is still the noise and the timer that goes off when it's time to switch sides takes a bit to get use to. But it's worth it. This is a great product.