Oral-B Professional Care SmartSeries 5000 Rechargeable Power Toothbrush Review

The Oral-B Professional Care SmartSeries 5000 Rechargeable Power Toothbrush is a valuable device for maintaining oral health and appearance. I would not have said this without using this electric toothbrush for a month. In this time, I have found that this electric toothbrush allows me to care for my teeth better than a manual toothbrush, and do so more efficiently. My oral health is better than before, and while I did not think this possible, my teeth are whiter than before.

The toothbrush package comes with a power handle and a separate display manufactured by Braun. All of the SmartSeries 5000's come with the FlossAction and ProWhite brush heads. Some come with the Sensitive brush head in addition to the other two.

Initially, the SmartSeries 5000 seems to be over engineered, and it may be. It has many more settings than the older Oral-B toothbrushes. As a dentist, I recommend using only two settings. The standard setting appears to be "Daily Clean" with the "Oral- B FlossAction" brush head. Many new users will find this setting and this brush head to be uncomfortable and aggressive. The "Oral-B Sensitive" brush head and the "Sensitive" setting will be more comfortable initially. The "Sensitive" brush head sports extra soft bristles. There are three more settings: "Massage", "Whitening" and "Deep Clean". There does not appear to be an advantage to using these settings over the first two.

There are three more Oral-B brush heads available. The "Oral-B ProWhite" brush head incorporates a rubber cup that looks like the one dentists and dental hygienists use to clean patients' teeth. Interestingly, the rubber cup does not come into continuous contact without pressing hard enough to trip the pressure indicator. There is no advantage to using this brush head over the "FlossAction" brush head. Oral-B recommends their "Ortho Care" brush head for patients who have braces. This brush head has extra soft bristles and a special arrangement designed to fit around orthodontic brackets. The Oral-B "Power Tip" brush head is smaller than the others and will fit nicely around dental devices and in hard to access areas between teeth.

As a dentist with 25 years experience, it is very hard for me to type the next line. Using the Oral-B SmartSeries 5000 is an improvement over manual brushing. There are two reasons for this. First, I appreciate the pressure sensor built into the toothbrush and the SmartGuide display. Several times a day I caution my patients not to brush too hard. If only they had a pressure sensor in their toothbrush, I would not have to worry. Second, it is possible to brush more effectively in less time with the Oral-B power toothbrush than with a manual toothbrush. Using the Oral-B electric toothbrush is not the same as using a manual brush, so carry your new Oral-B electric toothbrush to your next dental appointment to ask the dentist, hygienist, or dental assistant to demonstrate the correct technique.

A power toothbrush is especially useful for people who have poor manual dexterity. People afflicted with muscular, neurological, or skeletal problems will find that an electric toothbrush is easier to grip than a typical manual brush. Additionally, anyone who is not able to make small, controlled movements with their hand and wrist may be able to learn to use an electric toothbrush effectively.

There are two caveats with respect to using the Professional Care SmartSeries 5000 Rechargeable Power Toothbrush. Oral-B does not intend the "FlossAction" brush head to replace flossing. It is not like flossing in any way. It does not replace flossing. Oral-B does not say that the "FlossAction" brush head flosses, or that the use of the "FlossAction" head replaces flossing teeth. Oral-B, please call it something else. The name is very confusing. Secondly, do not allow young children to use this toothbrush. Oral-B advises against that. Perhaps the reason is that removing the brush head exposes a metal point on the end of the handle.

As a dental professional with 25 years of experience, I recommend the Professional Care SmartSeries 5000 Rechargeable Power Toothbrush with the "FlossAction" or "Sensitive" brush heads set on "Daily Clean" or "Sensitive" for adult users, especially those with poor manual dexterity. The Oral-B replaced the Triumph 9000 series with the SmartSeries 5000. They are identical in form and almost identical in function. Either would perform just as well.

Note that a coupon is available on the Oral-B website for a 15.00 rebate on your next dental check-up with the purchase of any of their rechargeable electric toothbrushes. (http://www.oralb.com/en-US/offers/visit/)