What To Look For
If you don't brush or floss regularly, sonic toothbrushes with heads that vibrate at an astounding 30,000 to 40,000 strokes per minute will probably be effective. However, if you brush and floss religiously with a standard toothbrush, investing in a pricey sonic toothbrush won't make a difference in your dental care. The truth is, many of the pricier sonic toothbrushes, replete with bells and whistles, might be fun, but professional reviewers found the lower-end sonic toothbrushes to be just as effective at cleaning and not as painful to pay for.
Common Pitfalls
Newer Sonicare models use the Sonicare ProResults Brush Heads; older ones use the E-Series brush head. While the E-Series brush head screws onto the toothbrush body, the ProResults head snaps on and off. If more than one family member is using the toothbrush body, changing the ProResults head can be more convenient. However, in some rare situations, consumers have found that the ProResults brush head falls off during brushing.
The Sonicare can be quite pricey compared to standard and electric toothbrushes -- higher-end sonic models like the Philips Sonicare Elite e9500 Custom Care can set you back $250. Just because a toothbrush has more "bells" and "whistles" doesn't mean its cleaning potential is greater. You should evaluate your own toothbrushing practices and, with your dentist, decide logically what essentials you need from a toothbrush.
Many of the sonic toothbrushes vibrate intensely at an astounding 30,000 to 40,000 strokes per minute. For some reviewers, the sensation was a bit uncomfortable.
Finally, some sonic models have a timer that prompts you when it's time to switch quadrants in your mouth. Others, like the Sonicare Flexcare with Sanitizer, have a feature that will sanitize the brush head between uses. Though Good Housekeeping rated it highly, many reviewers found this feature hard to remember to use, and found the additional cost unwarranted.
Where To Buy
Top-rated sonic toothbrushes made by Philips, OralB and Crest are all available through Amazon, Sonicare, OralB, major stores like Walmart and Target and at drugstore chains like CVS and RiteAid.
Cost
Philips Sonicare Flexcare R910 was rated the best by reviewers through the website Consumer Search. Though many didn't like the suggested retail price of $149, many enjoyed the professional cleaning feel of brushing with the toothbrush. The lower line Philips Sonicare R732 was also rated highly, and the price tag of $112 was more agreeable to many reviewers. If you want a basic sonic toothbrush, Amazon offers a basic Sonicare and a Sonicare for kids for $49. If you need replacement heads, a pack of five through Philip's is $41. OralB and Crest also offer sonic toothbrush lines ranging in price from $16 up to $120. Replacement heads cost $17 for a pack of three. This information is based on August 2010 pricing.
