My dentist has recommended for me to go Electric. I don't want to spend hundreds, and I sometimes see Colgate and Oral B at around $20 (at 1/2 price) at Coles. Are these ones any good.
Which has the overall cheaper costs, and easiest to charge and replace the heads.
Advise is welcome (but don't sell me the $100 one as that's not what I want!)
Thanks.
What's the difference between the povo 20 dollar oral b vitality, and the original 60 dollar ish oral b electric brush?
They're essentially all the same:
http://thesweethome.com/reviews/best-electric-toothbrush/
The main thing is to get the right brush head for your needs.
I've had a few different Oral B electric toothbrushes and find the basic ones good. The Pro range are more powerful and do work better (you feel like you've had a better clean). The battery also seems to last longer, but may not be a factor for most people.
I currently have a "basic Pro" which I bought off Catch of the Day:
[Oral-B Pro 500 CrossAction Power Brush Regimen Kit] (https://www.catchoftheday.com.au/product/oral-b-pro-500-cros…)
The price hasn't changed that much since I bought it (though I used a code at the time and got free shipping to get a discount). Coles sells the same thing for twice the price without the extra toothpaste and mouthwash.
Shaver Shop has them (and other models depending on budget) discounted too. Haven't really Google'd other prices
Philips Sonicare but not for $20 If you want clean teeth
The oral B professional range is good. $120-160 should be the best bang for your buck.
Did you read the OP? "but don't sell me the $100 one as that's not what I want!"
My dentist told me the cheap ones are rubbish, and are as good as not using an electric toothbrush.
With respect - he simplified. Read my detailed response below.
Have been using Colgate ProClinical C200 for many years, excellent tooth brush (tried many other before). Shaver Shop has Colgate C200/C350 Pro Clinical for $45, and similar models (I never used those): C150 for $21 and C250 for $30. The C250 looks like refreshed model C200 and it is only $30, appears to be an excellent value.
Colgate cooperates with Omron, large manufacturer of medical equipment. Generally there are two types of electric toothbrushes: with small, round rotating head, and with oval vibrating head. I do not like models with round heads, but this is my individual preference. Previously referenced article is good read: http://thesweethome.com/reviews/best-electric-toothbrush/
Short version: buy Colgate Omron for $30, this is an excellent tooth brush, you won't regret it. Buy only the original replacement heads (perhaps ask for special price on the heads and buy some when buying your tooth brush?). Avoid cheap generic eBay Chinese copies: they are hit and miss, usually bad, and potentially made from non medical grade materials.
What makes a sonic toothbrush better than an oscillating one?
"Sonic" is used by marketing to highlight high speed of vibration. Cheap toothbrushes (or very old models) vibrate with speeds around 5,000 brushes per minute, while modern, even relatively inexpensive models have speeds around 20,000 - 40,000, sometimes even more. Higher vibration generally means better cleaning, but this is only one of many factors. Practically all modern models are "sonic", regardless of shape of the head. "Better" is individual: for me round head does not work very well, oval head works better, yet they both may have the same 30,000 oscillations per minute.
It is difficult to recommend something as there are many individual preferences. Higher price models typically have many gadgets like complex timers, display panels showing various stats, allow user to program various parameters, etc, etc - myself I find all that to be unnecessary complication in a toothbrush. At the same time some new users initially complain about high pitch noise resonating through their face and tingling sensation when using a high speed vibrating toothbrush, some even reject the concept and go back to manual brushing because of that. Electric (or sonic, if you like) toothbrushes require some time to get used to, some gum bleeding in the first week or so is not unusual.
There are many sites explaining it better (I am not a dentist, just happen to know a bit about it), for example this one: https://www.animated-teeth.com/electric_toothbrushes/b-best-… because of complex nature of the whole process dentists do have various opinions, sometimes even contradictory, so some research and using your own critical approach is necessary.
Some dentists recommend wiggling/vibrating a toothbrush in place, instead of the usual larger up and down motion. I guess the sonic toothbrush is meant to cater for this type of brushing. I'm pretty happy with a basic Philips Sonicare, which should be available for about $50. I find that the oscillating ones do not give as "clean" a feel at the end unless you're using the high-speed ones that cost $100+.
I got an oral B professional 3000 for my Christmas present last year. TBH it's the worst present I've ever received (mum said it was to clean my potty mouth), but it's the best toothbrush I've ever owned and I can see my teeth are actually whiter after brushing, especially if I smoked or drank coffee that day. Compared to an older oral B toothbrush that oscillated half the amount of my current one, the higher oscillations do make a massive difference.
Another thing I've noticed is that my basic Philips Sonicare lasts for more than 3 weeks without charging, while an equivalent Oral-B distinctly starts to get slower and slower within a few days (both electric toothbrushes are at least 3 years old). I'm thinking the quality of the battery in the Oral-B isn't that great, possibly a NiMH, hopefully newer ones are using lithium polymer.
Yeah they're still using NiMH, my sister's toothbrush died a few months ago and dad replaced the battery and confirmed it verbally just then when I asked what kind of battery it had.
My dentist has recommended for me to go Electric.
I would recommend change the dentist!…
I've tried a few electric toothbrushes over the years, but have gone back to manual. I find I can't get right to the back as comfortably with an electric one because of the depth of the mechanism behind the brush, compared to the relatively slim plastic backing holding the brushless on a manual. Or are there low profile electrics out there?
The Philips Sonicare brush heads are pretty much the same size and shape as a manual brush head as there are no moving parts, and the handle isn't that bulky. I use a water flosser for the really hard to get areas.
Can you recommend any good water flossers? Don't want to start a new thread just for that. Also, how do water flossers stack up against normal floss, or even the fancy satin floss?
I use a battery-operated Panasonic model. Pretty large and cumbersome so I don't really recommend it. I don't use it everyday. Maybe someone else can recommend.
I prefer to use a normal floss. The ribbon-type floss tends to break before I finish using it. I think water flossers aren't as good as normal floss, but sometimes, the floss is too thin to take out some food particles between molars and that's when either a water floss or an interdental brush is better. A water floss is also good for cleaning the area behind your last molar, since no brush or normal floss can comfortably reach that far, and sometimes food gets stuck there.
My dental hygienist recommended I go electric a few years ago and the basic Oral B for $20 on special would do the job. My gums are healthier and when I have my 6 monthly clean there is a lot less plaque. So yes the $20 model is better than a toothbrush. My wife was recommended to get the next model up for her teeth. I think it's in the professional range.
Thanks for all the comments here. Seems like Oral-B is the go for low cost one. No one seems to recommend or use the Colgate Optic White Sonic $10 one?
for the record, my dentist didn't say 'you have to use', she just said that it would do better then a manual one, so is recommended.
Looks like my lucky week. 2 Oral-B's are on sale at Coles:
Vitality Sensitive Clean Electric Toothbrush & 1 Replacment Brush Head 1 pack - $22.50
Vitality Plus Floss Action Electric Toothbrush & 1 Replacment Brush Head 1 pack - $23.50
Professional Care 500 Electric Toothbrush 1 pack - $50 (a lot more then I wanted to spend, but down from over $100)
Which to choose?
I've got the Vitality Sensitive Clean - $22.50. My wife has the Professional Care 500 - $50.
The $20 Oral-B (vitality?) range will fit your bill fine.