I've tried a number of battery power toothbrushes over the years with mixed results. A few weeks back I was browsing for a suitable replacement for my previous brush which had succumbed to that common problem of waterlogging, more of that later, when I found this little gem of a brush. What stood out about the Crest Spinbrush Revitalise for Adults, to give it its formal name, was the design. Many brushes are tall and elegant, spindly and futuristic and ultimately for all their well designed curves and space age beauty are never quite up to the job. CSRA, as he's known to his mates, looks a match for the most challenging of dental hygiene challenges, he's the Stallone of a brush in a world of Hugh Grants.

The brush sits in the hand like a well made screw driver, excuse the bloke type references, its easy to grip and feels comfortable. The on-off button is a sliding panel that lines up with your thumb meaning that you can start and stop the brush without altering your grip. Once in the hand CSRA is ready to go to work. The one thing that sells the brush for me is the head. Not only is it larger than any others that i have tried, it has two distinct sections operating in their own ways. The top half of the brush head is a circular piece that spins an its axis, the lower section is a U-shaped piece that moves back and forward on the vertical. The two sections combine into a tear drop shape about one inch long. The brush comes equipped with a see-through plastic cover for this head section, combining protection and hygiene for the business end of CSRA.

As mentioned above, one of the common problems I have found with previous brushes I have tried is that after a while water leaks into the battery compartment, corroding the contacts and battery and thus ending its life early. Like most brushes CSRA has a battery compartment at the base, for its two AA batteries but, in keeping with the design of the item, the housing is well made and very water proof. This is important as brushes like this are always going to be base heavy and designed to sit up, thus making the battery compartment the most vulnerable.

The head is removed by an easy twist, and can be replaced once the bristles have worn down. Batteries are included with the brush and the whole look is both modern and functional. The effect on the teeth is as good if not better that any other I have tried, the head size and the power of the brush mean that it delivers a clean that will have a noticeable effect on your teeth in a very short period of time. I am partial to all of the things that stain your teeth, black coffee, red wine, etc. and this brush has no problem keeping on top of the discoloration that can build up with lesser products.

I brought this in the local supermarket for less that a fiver and the combination of its practicalities and its design, not to mention its cheapness make this one of the best bathroom buys you can undertake. Buy this for all the family, there is a children's version and a toothpaste that is designed to go hand in hand, and it will be smiles all the way.