Get a new eletctric toothbrush?

cashmonger

I have the braun oral b 1000 and the battery is so bad it only lasts like 2 days now before being at a crawl.

I hate how they made it so you can't easily change the batteries. I know it's possible but it seems like such a rigmarole. With soldering and they warn it could explode in your face.

If I do get a new one I'd like to get one which is as good at cleaning but has easily changeable batteries for when it's required. When I looked a while back it seemed most are made with this 'locked battery' design to force you to be wasteful and buy a new one I guess. Really shameful business practices.

Suggestions on how to proceed? I don't really wanna mess with replacing that finickey battery on my current one.

KxMx

You could roll back a step and get a battery powered toothbrush.

I used quite expensive batteries (lithium) on mine and frankly since using an electric one i'd never go back!

Toothsmith

The replaceable battery ones really aren't much good. You'd be better off with a manual.

The problem with making the rechargable battery replaceable is the environment the toothbrush works in. The Bathroom. It's wet, and the thing is used in the mouth.

To get a battery with the right power, in the amount of space available in a decent design, then you really need batteries that the general public shouldn't go mucking about with.

YOU might be fine, and know which end of a soldering iron to hold - but unfortunately, these days, companies have to assume the 'general public' as a beast are a bunch of mindless numpties! That's why you cant have them replaceable!

C_Mababejive

BEINGREAT wrote: »

Yes, I agree, manual toothbrush can be more convenient and for me, I have been used to manual one and believe they work better than electronic toothbrush.
And manual toothbrush is much cheaper.

Agree with toothy. I have a braun rechargeable brush but i only use it occasionally. I much prefer a small headed ,soft bristled manual. You see effective brushing has more to do with technique. I have observed people using battery rotating head brushes incorrectly ie like a manual brush, presumably thinking they are doing a good job.

I tend to use my soft manual maybe 3 times a day but only use toothpaste on it last thing at night. Brushing just with water can be very effective during the day.

I have previously engineered battery replacements on power brushes i owned as i am nifty with a soldering iron but often the manufs try to thwart you by using non standard shorter batts so the off the shelf ones wont fit the casing !

Toothsmith

Hang on!

I didn't say I thought manual ones were better than 'proper' electric toothbrushes! Obviously technique is important, but studies show that a well used electric brush is superior to a well used manual one.

What I don't like are the sort of electric toothbrush you can change the batteries on.

These tend to be bottom-end ones, and you would be better off with a manual one here.

I don't suggest people go top-end either. Just something round the £50-£60 mark when you find them on a half-price offer. So £25-£30 should get you as good a toothbrush as you need. And remember to change the heads frequently (About every couple of months).

C_Mababejive

Toothsmith wrote: »

Hang on!

I didn't say I thought manual ones were better than 'proper' electric toothbrushes! Obviously technique is important, but studies show that a well used electric brush is superior to a well used manual one.

What I don't like are the sort of electric toothbrush you can change the batteries on.

These tend to be bottom-end ones, and you would be better off with a manual one here.

I don't suggest people go top-end either. Just something round the £50-£60 mark when you find them on a half-price offer. So £25-£30 should get you as good a toothbrush as you need. And remember to change the heads frequently (About every couple of months).

Sorry if we got the wrong impression and thanks for filling us in toothy

cashmonger

Yes what tooothy says is what my dentists have said, although you always wonder how much of that is motivated on the commisions they get from certain companies; but I also do my research on google to confirm it.

I take pride in having a great smile and great teeth so definitely am not gonna scrimp by slumming it with a manual again

My mum's teeth are absolutely atrocious, which she admits. The typical stereotype americans make of us brits having bad teeth, so I guess it has really been an added motivated to not end up like hers . but also bad teeth are really painful and you can't replace them so it is a no brainer to keep them in tip top shape.

I was also looking into the 25-30 range.

Your reasoning toothy, about the environment of the brush, does make sense and makes it feel less like a conspiracy of in built obsolescence. Makes me feel less bad about forking out for a new one.

Are there any specific ones you recomend toothy or most in the 25-30 bracket should be a good shout? as long as they are established names.

brook2jack

Dentists get no "commission" from dental companies. Indeed at our surgery we sell toothbrushes at virtually cost price , we make no profit on them, to try to get people to improve their oral hygiene. We sell and recommend what we think is best. Indeed most dental surgeries do not even sell electric toothbrushes !!

As TS said any oscillating mid range toothbrush will do a good job. I like the mid range oral b brushes and you can often get them on offer.

cashmonger

Whats the difference between:

Oral-B Pro 2000

and

Oral-B Pro 2500

Both the exact same price. Does the 2500 = go faster ? More revs or what?

Sharon87

I would wait to see if you can get them half price, you usually can in the run up to Christmas. I got mine that cost £50ish originally half price.

teddysmum

I had two that took AAA batteries and they wee large headed, had little power and soon used up the batteries.


Then I bought a Wisdom rechargeable,which failed under warranty and Morrisons reluctantly gave me a replacement. They no longer make them and the replacement doesn't work now,so I'm back to the old fashioned manual one. (Typical that I bought a supply of Wisdom heads, which won't fit anything else).