Oral B Genius Toothbrush..is it worth the 'hype'?

Anoneemoose

I am in the market for a new toothbrush and keep seeing adverts for the Oral B genius at knock down prices, but I was wondering if it really is worth it. Or are there better versions out there?

Thank you for any opinions.

Anoneemoose

Shameless bump!

jenniewb

I remember someone on here not so long ago explaining that once the brush oscilates beyond a certain level, it makes little difference and that generally speaking, £20 is more than adequate for an electric tooth brush.


Having said that, some do offer features which can be useful that the cheaper ones do not have, for example timing your brushing and giving feedback via an app as to areas you could do more brushing on or are missing out on.


I suppose it depends on what you want from a brush and if you are able to get a decent clean with what you do have already.

Toothsmith

jenniewb wrote: »

I remember someone on here not so long ago explaining that once the brush oscilates beyond a certain level, it makes little difference and that generally speaking, £20 is more than adequate for an electric tooth brush.


Having said that, some do offer features which can be useful that the cheaper ones do not have, for example timing your brushing and giving feedback via an app as to areas you could do more brushing on or are missing out on.


I suppose it depends on what you want from a brush and if you are able to get a decent clean with what you do have already.

That might have been me. It was £25-30 if you find a Braun on a half price offer. Not any old £20 electric brush.

I've been given one of these brushes free. It really does have some very useful features when coupled with the app. It will watch you brush and make sure (pretty accurately) that you are getting round all areas and spending enough time in each area.

It's amazing how many people with grotty mouths say 'well I brush my teeth 3 times a day for 2 mins each time'. When you look - there is an absolutely spotless area (often down the cheek side of the left lower molars) and everywhere else shows in forensic detail their last 7 days of meals!

This is because they stand there scrubbing away at the same area whilst thinking about everything else they have to do - or have done that day!

This brush with the app would make them see that whilst one area is getting plenty of attention, the rest are not.

The app can also be programmed by the dentist or hygienist - and if there are areas that need more care, then more time can be dialled into it which will kick in every time the patient uses it.

So - this could be a very useful toothbrush for quite a lot of people. But to be useful, it does need to be used with the app, and even more useful if used with your dental care providers (Which might be a bit more than the average NHS dentist would want to bother with. There is certainly no NHS payment for faffing with a patient's phone!

If you don't use it with the app - then there is no other timer on the brush and that would probably make it less useful than the cheaper ones that do give a beep or a buzz every 30 seconds.

Anoneemoose

Toothsmith wrote: »

That might have been me. It was £25-30 if you find a Braun on a half price offer. Not any old £20 electric brush.

I've been given one of these brushes free. It really does have some very useful features when coupled with the app. It will watch you brush and make sure (pretty accurately) that you are getting round all areas and spending enough time in each area.

It's amazing how many people with grotty mouths say 'well I brush my teeth 3 times a day for 2 mins each time'. When you look - there is an absolutely spotless area (often down the cheek side of the left lower molars) and everywhere else shows in forensic detail their last 7 days of meals!

This is because they stand there scrubbing away at the same area whilst thinking about everything else they have to do - or have done that day!

This brush with the app would make them see that whilst one area is getting plenty of attention, the rest are not.

The app can also be programmed by the dentist or hygienist - and if there are areas that need more care, then more time can be dialled into it which will kick in every time the patient uses it.

So - this could be a very useful toothbrush for quite a lot of people. But to be useful, it does need to be used with the app, and even more useful if used with your dental care providers (Which might be a bit more than the average NHS dentist would want to bother with. There is certainly no NHS payment for faffing with a patient's phone!

If you don't use it with the app - then there is no other timer on the brush and that would probably make it less useful than the cheaper ones that do give a beep or a buzz every 30 seconds.

I would definitely use it with the app. I was more concerned about 'doing them properly'. I never have any issues barring a couple of fillings (one tiny, one root filled ages ago and then extracted due to infections - both these occured after pregnancy, not sure if that's coincidence). I floss every day and brush twice (I was under the impression more would damage your teeth)..I do actually cover all areas of my mouth, although with kids in the background, there is often no set pattern to it!:rotfl:

Could you get the same effect with a 'normal' electric toothbrush? And are there any others you would recommend?

Edited to add...thanks Toothsmith for such a detailed reply!

Toothsmith

This is the only brush I'm aware of that has such an app - so there is no other brush that has the same effect. You just need to be disciplined with those and have a good effective brushing pattern of your own.

I must admit, I haven't checked if the motion sensing part of the app - that watches you brush - works without the bluetooth connection from the brush. I suspect it needs to be connected to work rather than watch you push any old toothbrush round your mouth - but I'll give that a bash tonight and report back!

But as I always say - I feel that the Braun Oral B electric brushes are by far the best (When used with regularly changed PROPER Oral B heads (Not eBay Knock-offs)) And the best way to get one is to get a £50-£60 one when you find them on half-price offers.

This new one is good if you like whizzy gadgets and apps and things - but it only improves motivation. Not actual brushing.

Motivation to do it right, and the reassurance that you are doing it right is important though. A fair %age of the population don't brush their teeth right, and the proper use of this brush would help that.

Anoneemoose

Toothsmith wrote: »

This is the only brush I'm aware of that has such an app - so there is no other brush that has the same effect. You just need to be disciplined with those and have a good effective brushing pattern of your own.

I must admit, I haven't checked if the motion sensing part of the app - that watches you brush - works without the bluetooth connection from the brush. I suspect it needs to be connected to work rather than watch you push any old toothbrush round your mouth - but I'll give that a bash tonight and report back!

But as I always say - I feel that the Braun Oral B electric brushes are by far the best (When used with regularly changed PROPER Oral B heads (Not eBay Knock-offs)) And the best way to get one is to get a £50-£60 one when you find them on half-price offers.

This new one is good if you like whizzy gadgets and apps and things - but it only improves motivation. Not actual brushing.

Motivation to do it right, and the reassurance that you are doing it right is important though. A fair %age of the population don't brush their teeth right, and the proper use of this brush would help that.

Thanks again.

I may look out for those then. I have a braun Oral B at the min but it needs replacing soon. I always use the proper heads as well - I usually find them on offer somewhere. I did have a brush that had the 30 second increments of buzzing and that is when I got in to the habit of doing all 4 'corners' of my mouth. My kids and I can often be heard saying 'tops, bottoms, ups, downs, side and side and fronts and backs' - so we know we've done all the bits! Well, so I believe! Not saying I'm perfect, but I do try!

pollypenny

I'm intrigued. Does the use of an app mean you have to take your phone or iPad to the bathroom while you do your teeth?

Toothsmith

That's right.

It has a suction holder so you can stick it to the mirror, and you have to set it up so your face is at the correct angle and position.

It's iphone (or phone) only - not for tablets.

Apollonia

Toothsmith wrote: »

.

If you don't use it with the app - then there is no other timer on the brush and that would probably make it less useful than the cheaper ones that do give a beep or a buzz every 30 seconds.

It does have a 'built-in' timer for use without the app. After the first 30 seconds it hesitates/pulses once, after 60 seconds it hesitates twice, 90 secs three times and then 120 secs four times.

Toothsmith

Hmmm - that's not my experience of it. Maybe something has been turned off. You can switch functions and features of the brush on and off via the app.