Following my wisdom tooth coming through (growing at the wrong angle) and causing all sorts of pains. I decided I needed to try a better toothbrush that was small enough to reach the difficult area but also good at the job.

The Philips Sonicare was recommended by my dentist so I thoguht I'd give it a whirl.


[Use]
I have had electric toothbrushes before and they were okay, nothing to write home about. However this was excellent. The first few times you use it, the brush goes at a slower/softer speed to allow you to adjust. However after about 3 or 4 uses the brush is on full power and you can tell.

There is the 2minute timer built in so it will switch off when you reach two minutes. This is the first brush I had with this option, though I know that it's pretty common now. It really is a great feature because "guessing" when two minutes is actually pretty difficult.

The speed is great and you do feel a difference in how your teeth feel by the end.


[Heads]
The head is small and compact so you don't feel like you are brushing your teeth with a household broom! The bristles are shaped at the ends to get into all the nocks and crannies and in the very centre there are two rubber-like "fins" that give a polish to your teeth.

The heads are replaceable and it comes with two additional heads along with the one attached. They are easy to remove and replace, a quick pull and they come off. I have never had trouble with wetness getting inside the unit via the heads and all the replacements are easy to purchase from Amazon.


[Body]
The body is a nice weight, not too heavy to be uncomfortable and no so light that it feels flimsy. It has rubber sections around the middle to allow for good grip especially if it gets wet.

At the very bottom, the base is removed to reveal where the batteries go. This bottom section is shaped and rubbery to allow for good grip in order to get it off. There is a rubber seal inside this area to keep it water tight to protect the batteries/inner working.


[Battery]
I specifically didn't want one with its own charger, mainly because I've had these before and if they break (which they all seem prone too) then you end up with a brush that doesn't work. So I opted for one that took batteries. This brush came with two AA batteries and when they died I replaced them with rechargeable ones which work just as well.

The battery life lasts way longer than I would expect and it can take just under two months before I have to change them. You do get an indication that the batteries are dying, as the unit will bleep and the light on the front goes from solid illumination to flashing. Even then the batteries will keep working for a few more weeks. I usually take this time to bring new batteries upstairs but don't change them out straight away. Eventually the brush just keeps cutting out to let you know it's definitely time to change the batteries.


[Packaging & Environment]
This toothbrush comes in that horrid moulded plastic packaging that needs to be surgically cut open to retrieve the items inside. This usually leaves razor sharp edges, great for cutting any exposed skin on.

This also means that the packaging is pretty much trash the instant you open it so any hope of returning a faulty product with its packaging is zero.

As far as I'm aware most Household Waste Centres don't cater to recycling this plastic though there is a paper inside that can be recycled (that's about it!)


[Warranty & Customer Service]
When I bought this it stopped working within about 6 months. I contacted the Customer Services via email, explained the situation and they took the product back and sent me a replacement. I only had to send the toothbrush back, no extra heads or packaging and I received a full new one with new head replacements which was really great. The people on the Customer services were polite, quick and very efficient. It does appear that the one I originally purchased was faulty as I have now had my current one for years and it is still going strong.


[Summary]
This is a great product. If you are still using a manual toothbrush I do suggest you take the plunge to electric and can highly recommend this model. If you have an electric and need to replace it, want a change then give this a try. I would not buy a different model as long as they still make this one.