HEY EVERYONE: I need your opinions plz on a new toothbrush

[bbsadmin]

There is a product that has come to my attention, and I would like some of your opinons about its concept. Would you buy this???

It is an electronic toothbrush which uses ultrasound waves to clean the teeth. The brush head doesn't move, and you don't actually brush your teeth with it. You just hold the device on the surface of the teeth and let the ultrasound waves do their work. There is no brushing action at all. It uses a special toothpaste meant to enhance the cleaning action of the ultrasound waves. You cannot use regular toothpaste -- you can only use the toothpaste that is made specially for the toothbrush. The toothpaste has a fresh minty flavor and you only use a very small amount per cleaning.

You spread the toothpaste on the teeth, then hold the ultrasound toothbrush on the surface of each tooth for 5 to 10 seconds, being sure to get all of the tooth surfaces.

The cost of this toothbrush is around $175. It is being widely used right now in Europe. I think there is a money-back guarantee of some sort on the product.

It is gets your teeth extremely clean and remove stains in a way that no other toothbrush can. It is also very good for cleaning teeth which have braces. The ultrasound technology also kills the bacteria on the surface of the toothbrush, so it stays sanitized. In addition, the ultrasound technology kills bacteria on the teeth and under the gumline to help people with periodontal problems.

Can I get your reactions to this product, given the description I just supplied to you? Would you be interested in this toothbrush? Would you pay $175 or more for such an item?

[Kipepeo]

I would be worried the ultrasound would loosen the glue holding brackets on. For non braced teeth, I just can't imagine the surfaces of the teeth would feel smooth and clean without physical brushing.

As a microbiologist I'm not convinced ultrasound kills bacteria. In fact studies show it actually enhances growth. It may loosen and remove cells from teeth and gums, but not kill them.

A $175, I'm a total skeptic and I would need real user's reviews on how they felt it cleaned, and actual clinical study data to support the claim of removing plaque and killing bacteria.

Edit: after I wrote the above I searched around. Pretty sure I found the toothbrush you're referring to. Since I work in regulatory, the first thing I want to know about is whether the device has been cleared by the FDA (for use here in the US). I couldn't find it in the databases, so I asked the company for the info.

It looks very promising, and if it does what they claim I would be very interested in using it.

[isthistaken]

It sounds (no pun intended) amazing! I'm wondering if not physically brushing the brackets and wires so much might be a good thing.

[katsface]

This sounds a lot like a sonicare, except the bristles move in an ultrasonic wave rather than a sonic one, right?

I'm a little turned off by the fact that you can only use one toothpaste. What do you do if they discontinue the brush, or the paste contains ingredients that you're sensitive to/ avoiding?

My curiosity is piqued, but I probably wouldn't buy one as my sonicare already does a fantastic job.

As a side note, I would love it if you offered third party or bulk sonicare toothbrush heads, as the sonicare ones are EXPENSIVE!

[bbsadmin]

I've seen "generic" Sonicare heads at my local CVS pharmacy recently. I haven't bought them yet so I can't say how they compare to the OEM, but they are significantly less expensive than the OEM ones. (OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer, aka Sonicare).

[katsface]

Thank you so much for the heads up! I usually shop at Walgreens, but I will check CVS.

[junglejulie]

I would love to try this. But I would still probably alternate this with using a regular brush out of fear.

[NervousNewbie]

*bump* Did you buy the brush? Are you able to reveal the mystery product yet? I, too, am looking for a new toothbrush to replace my old-school Sonicare that I got 2.5 years ago.

[isthistaken]

I've found that brushing with braces sometimes hurts. I think it would be great to not have to actually brush and the teeth might get cleaner because when they hurt you avoid those areas. I have never been one to spend much on gadgets but with braces you sort of cross that Rubicon fairly quickly.