My mum had been using the Braun Oral B Professional Care 8500 for a few months and her teeth kept catching my eye - they looked so clean and as if she had just visited the dentist when they have been polished and look really pristine. I had been thinking about buying an electric brush as every time I visited the dentist I needed to have a build up of plaque/tartar removed from the bottom teeth at the back - I have a particular saliva type that causes a quicker plaque build up apparently? I don't know what it is that I do or don't do when I brush with a manual brush but obviously it isn't a very good technique and I also found that no matter who many brushes I tried I could never contort the brush or myself or my mouth enough to reach every individual nook and cranny in my mouth - the brush head always seems too big to get around the back of the teeth and brush effectively or around the back of my wisdom teeth? Is it just me? I don't know but I do know something - I do not have that problem now! Since buying this electric brush I have had a much easier time brushing my teeth, the head is so small and compact and the stem is long and thin - this enables me to really get into all areas of my mouth and now my teeth look and feel like I have been to the dentist for a polish every day! Which is great because I get the look without the anxiety of visiting the dreaded dentist with his chair and picks and drills and tools - ugh, not my favourite experience of all time.

In fact the next to last time I visited my dentist I had only been using the electric brush for approximately two weeks and he noticed a difference. Obviously there was plaque/tartar to remove that had already develped but 6 months later on my last visit I could not believe it and neither could the dentist - no plaque/tartar build up at all! Now that is very impressive and to me is proof that this is a top brush that performs incredibly well! I would never go back to manual now. When the electric brush needs to be charged I do have to use the manual and even though I brush for ages and with sufficient pressure there is a noticable difference to my teeth, they just don't look as clean as when they have been done with the 8500 and they don't look as bright? This just proves to me how good the Braun is.

The Braun 8500 lasts a good 4 to five days and nights before needing charging, I wait until the charge is completely drained and then recharge - I don't know if that is the best and most efficient way to use it or not but it is not a problem to me and it certainly would not put me of buying another as I love my teeth and the fact that I get zero plaque/tartar build up! This brush is great!

The unit takes approx 10-12 hours to charge, which initially I thought was a long time but it works out fine as I just use my manual brush for a morning and it is more than worth the wait. The brush comes with a charger and some brush head replacements, one of which is for sensitive teeth! I thought I had sensitive teeth but find that I can use the normal brush heads without any sensitivity so I am not sure now? There is a storage container for the spare brush heads that is part of the charger unit and this keeps things nice and clean and tidy.

I clean my mouth in quarters and the brush times each session for you so that you know when to move on to the next area - this makes brushing so easy, you don't even have to think about it. I soon got used to the pulsating and swirling sensation and find that I can access the back teeth so much better as the brush head is much smaller, I can fit it right at the back of the back teeth, I only have a very small space at the back of my wisdom teeth and this brush can fit around them easily! My teeth are noticeably brighter, shades whiter (not white but getting a better shade) and just look and feel so clean.

There are two brushing options which are normal and sensitive.
The brush pulsates and oscillates.
There is a pressure sensor to protect gums from damage.
A two minute time, broken up into four 30 seconds.

I can highly recommend this brush to others and at the time of updating the review (November 2010) Braun Brushes are half price - a great time to buy! and join the Buzzing revolution!

All in all a fantastic tooth brush!