I mean, “sonic” styled brushes just vibrate. The technology is that, if you shake your teeth enough, debris will fall off with minimal force (brushing). But it can’t be too hard or else your skull explodes and your hand jams the brush into your teeth instead of gently pushing it.
@pakopako It touts its “wave technology” as a special feature. But are you saying you don’t have any of those, you’re just looking at the VPMs online or something?
@Kyeh ah. Well, SonicCare is an Oral-B trademark, so I suppose “wave technology” is the workaround.
Given the 4 examples I gave, I stick with my Colgate (because it’s cheap). SonicCare is reliable and has the gentlest vibrations but the costs add up as the battery is impossible to replace yourself.
If it were possible, I wish ConAir would have continued their InterPlak line. I’ve got three broken brush motors I’ve partially disassembled hoping I can Frankenstein a working model.
Their brush heads were actually 8-10 individually spinning “floss-like” tufts. Very thorough.
@pakopako Sonicare is Philips; I guess it’s highly recommended but I don’t love it. Oral B’s brush head apparently spins around; I haven’t tried it. I still mostly use a manual toothbrush.
Personally I have bad gingivitis and gum health so I prefer a Phillips Sonic type brush a bit more. That said, there’s also cheaper versions, like the Quisp or the Colgate 360 and even store brand “wave sonic” ones that gently vibrate (albeit at a slower frequency).
https://www.cvs.com/shop/cvs-professional-clean-power-toothbrush-soft-bristle-prodid-808698
Then there’s the two-AA powered rotating brush. You don’t have to move your hands in a circular brushing motion as it “does the work for you” (I still find it helpful to “tap” so the bristles dig in the gaps between teeth). Heavier than a manual, my arms get tired all the same holding it in place as I guide it from tooth to tooth.
https://www.target.com/p/colgate-electric-toothbrush-black/-/A-89382488
What I use. It’s like the first one, but has TWO AAA’s. It’s still light like a manual, but the vibration is strong enough that I treat it like a rotating brush above (I don’t grip and scrub, but gingerly rotate and frequently tap). Similar strength to the QUIP. This specific model has a big brush (like the Quip) that you can treat it like a manual when it’s powered off.
Then there’s the stronger vibrators (the Philips SonicCare line, this Chasfit, etc) which you’ve said you were averse to. (Any specifics why? Personally I can handle the Chasfit but the higher end SonicCare shakes my jaw too much.) And the discontinued Interplak that I pine for (i’d classify it as a rotator; it’s heavy and loud). Also there’s the mouth-guard all-your-teeth-at-once rubber brushes; those use weak vibrations (and the kids version have been sold here on Meh) but in theory only take 30 seconds as they clean your whole row of teeth as you swab the guard back and forth to reach your molars).
@pakopako Are you a dentist? Seriously, thanks for the very thorough write up of the various options. A lot to think about!
What I don’t like about the Sonic - I don’t love the vibrations, but what really annoys me is you can’t stop it without restarting the 2 minute timer. I don’t NEED a timer anyway; I usually brush that long on my own. And if I can’t stop the brush then there’s all that foamy stuff I want to spit out but can’t? I don’t know - it’s just too bossy for me.
@Kyeh I have tooth problems, which is why I invested way too much time into oral care. My dentists used to love me (before they all died from strokes – seriously, I get the old ones were pushing their retirement back, but the last one was a 40-something kid – I’m on year 12 of looking, though not very hard, for a new dentist).
Yeah, all these brushes these days are “pushy” with their timers. But you can stop them earlier (just press, sometimes hold, the power button); extending their brushing times is trickier. Many of the “spinning models” (based on Oral-B) tend to have a hiccup every 2 minutes (indicating your time is up) but will continue to spin (until another 2 minutes and the motor will stutter again).
Also, as a bit of a trick if you can: leave that foamy stuff in your mouth for as long as you can (up to 5 or 10 minutes) and try “rinsing” with it (gargling it between your teeth) before spitting and rinsing your mouth. This lets more minerals in the foam get absorbed by your teeth enamel (leading to a whiter effect).
Specs
Product: Chasfit Oscillating Sonic Toothbrush with 4 Brush Heads
Model: SHCF-FCT-301
Condition: New
What’s Included?
Price Comparison
$29.99 at Amazon
Warranty
90 days
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Jul 20
Specs
Product: Chasfit Oscillating Sonic Toothbrush with 4 Brush Heads
Model: SHCF-FCT-301
Condition: New
What’s Included?
Price Comparison
$29.99 at Amazon
Warranty
90 days
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Jul 20
They’re not very powerful (30000 Vibrations Per Minute) and they don’t have that clear travel case pictured, but it’s a serviceable $12 brush.
For reference, my AAA powered $9 Colgate 360 is 20000 VPM. A $50 SonicCare is ~60000 VPM. The $25 Ocean sold here is 80000 VPM.
@pakopako How does this “wave technology” thing differ from other electric toothbrushes? I have a Sonicare, which I guess just vibrates?
@Kyeh what wave technology, what other brushes?
I mean, “sonic” styled brushes just vibrate. The technology is that, if you shake your teeth enough, debris will fall off with minimal force (brushing). But it can’t be too hard or else your skull explodes and your hand jams the brush into your teeth instead of gently pushing it.
@pakopako It touts its “wave technology” as a special feature. But are you saying you don’t have any of those, you’re just looking at the VPMs online or something?
@Kyeh ah. Well, SonicCare is an Oral-B trademark, so I suppose “wave technology” is the workaround.
Given the 4 examples I gave, I stick with my Colgate (because it’s cheap). SonicCare is reliable and has the gentlest vibrations but the costs add up as the battery is impossible to replace yourself.
If it were possible, I wish ConAir would have continued their InterPlak line. I’ve got three broken brush motors I’ve partially disassembled hoping I can Frankenstein a working model.
Their brush heads were actually 8-10 individually spinning “floss-like” tufts. Very thorough.
@pakopako Sonicare is Philips; I guess it’s highly recommended but I don’t love it. Oral B’s brush head apparently spins around; I haven’t tried it. I still mostly use a manual toothbrush.
@Kyeh Braun/Oral-B is… Just a manual brush. If you use the “whitening” heads, the ones with a rubber cup that keeps a wad of toothpaste centered, it polishes quite well. You can get a cheap rotating brush for about $9, usually Crest or the store brand, and they’re… A heavier manual brush.
https://www.cvs.com/shop/cvs-professional-clean-power-toothbrush-soft-bristle-prodid-808698
Personally I have bad gingivitis and gum health so I prefer a Phillips Sonic type brush a bit more. That said, there’s also cheaper versions, like the Quisp or the Colgate 360 and even store brand “wave sonic” ones that gently vibrate (albeit at a slower frequency).
(Again I would have really liked the InterPlak’s old multi-spinning brushes. Their tufts would “floss” by drilling between teeth.)
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Conair-Conair-NT11BC-Interplak-By-Conair-Rechargeable-Power-Toothbrush-Replacement-Brush-Heads/1002945680
@pakopako By manual toothbrush I mean this:
I use the Sonicare occasionally but I just don’t love it.
@Kyeh yeah my friend sticks to those.
On a scale of “cybernetic enhancements”:
https://www.cvs.com/shop/oral-b-vibrating-pulsar-expert-clean-battery-toothbrush-prodid-1011283
These are a step above manual brushes; powered by a single AAA, they’re practically the same: there’s little vibration and you do through the same wrist motions.
https://www.cvs.com/shop/cvs-professional-clean-power-toothbrush-soft-bristle-prodid-808698
Then there’s the two-AA powered rotating brush. You don’t have to move your hands in a circular brushing motion as it “does the work for you” (I still find it helpful to “tap” so the bristles dig in the gaps between teeth). Heavier than a manual, my arms get tired all the same holding it in place as I guide it from tooth to tooth.
https://www.cvs.com/shop/oral-b-easy-clean-battery-powered-toothbrush-white-prodid-552863
The Oral-B/Braun version has more styles of heads (for different ways to clean) and handles (some with advanced pressure or smart sensors). The rotating motor is still loud.
https://www.target.com/p/colgate-electric-toothbrush-black/-/A-89382488
What I use. It’s like the first one, but has TWO AAA’s. It’s still light like a manual, but the vibration is strong enough that I treat it like a rotating brush above (I don’t grip and scrub, but gingerly rotate and frequently tap). Similar strength to the QUIP. This specific model has a big brush (like the Quip) that you can treat it like a manual when it’s powered off.
Then there’s the stronger vibrators (the Philips SonicCare line, this Chasfit, etc) which you’ve said you were averse to. (Any specifics why? Personally I can handle the Chasfit but the higher end SonicCare shakes my jaw too much.) And the discontinued Interplak that I pine for (i’d classify it as a rotator; it’s heavy and loud). Also there’s the mouth-guard all-your-teeth-at-once rubber brushes; those use weak vibrations (and the kids version have been sold here on Meh) but in theory only take 30 seconds as they clean your whole row of teeth as you swab the guard back and forth to reach your molars).
@pakopako
Are you a dentist? Seriously, thanks for the very thorough write up of the various options. A lot to think about!
What I don’t like about the Sonic - I don’t love the vibrations, but what really annoys me is you can’t stop it without restarting the 2 minute timer. I don’t NEED a timer anyway; I usually brush that long on my own. And if I can’t stop the brush then there’s all that foamy stuff I want to spit out but can’t? I don’t know - it’s just too bossy for me.
@Kyeh I have tooth problems, which is why I invested way too much time into oral care. My dentists used to love me (before they all died from strokes – seriously, I get the old ones were pushing their retirement back, but the last one was a 40-something kid – I’m on year 12 of looking, though not very hard, for a new dentist).
Yeah, all these brushes these days are “pushy” with their timers. But you can stop them earlier (just press, sometimes hold, the power button); extending their brushing times is trickier. Many of the “spinning models” (based on Oral-B) tend to have a hiccup every 2 minutes (indicating your time is up) but will continue to spin (until another 2 minutes and the motor will stutter again).
Also, as a bit of a trick if you can: leave that foamy stuff in your mouth for as long as you can (up to 5 or 10 minutes) and try “rinsing” with it (gargling it between your teeth) before spitting and rinsing your mouth. This lets more minerals in the foam get absorbed by your teeth enamel (leading to a whiter effect).