Review: the Oral-B Triumph 9900 Electric Toothbrush with SmartGuide

Attractive design, high build quality, and dependable electronics support the non-traditional brush of the Oral-B Triumph9900 with SmartGuide. This electric toothbrush may clean teeth more thoroughly and more quickly than a manual toothbrush. There are advantages for the handicapped, and for children. Inside the box is the toothbrush, charging stand, two standard brush heads and a travelcase. Additionally, there is an instruction manual (about 10 pages in English) and the wireless Smart Guide.

Attractive design, high build quality, and dependable electronics support the non-traditional brush of the Oral-B Triumph 9900 with SmartGuide. This electric toothbrush may clean teeth more thoroughly and more quickly than a manual toothbrush. There are advantages for the handicapped, and for children. Inside the box is the toothbrush, charging stand, two standard brush heads and a travel case. Additionally, there is an instruction manual (about 10 pages in English) and the wireless Smart Guide. Most Oral-B electric brushes share a unique feature that makes them more effective than many others, the contra-rotating brush head. Contra-rotating means that the brush turns a bit clockwise and then reverses. This is a very effective way to remove plaque. The round ended bristles, introduced by Oral-B in the 1950's, reduce gum abrasion. (Danser, Et Al, "Evaluation of the incidence of gingival abrasion as a result of toothbrushing," J Clin Periodontol. 1998 Sep;25(9):701-6.)

The Oral-B Triumph 9900 has four speed settings. Clean is a high speed setting. Oral-B recommends this mode for general cleaning. Sensitive is a lower speed setting. This mode is very effective and more comfortable to use. Massage is an intermittent setting. The effectiveness of this mode is questionable. Oral-B says that the Polish mode is for "All-over polishing and whitening". Use this setting with the special Pro-White brush head. The Pro-White brush head does not appear to contact the teeth the way it is intended to be used at the pressure allowed by the SmartGuide.

The most unique feature of this toothbrush is the wireless display, the SmartGuide. A chip in the brush head senses pressure and lights up a red indicator on the guide when it senses that the user should lighten up their grip. This is a very effective feature.

The guide keeps track of other data including time spent brushing, and when Oral-B recommends replacing the brush head. Replacing the brush head periodically ensures that the brush works at peak efficiency. The SmartGuide keeps track of brushing time with a timer and a graphic display. After two minutes, the user is rewarded with a smiley face. Perhaps future versions of the Triumph will track and record brushing statistics for report to the user's oral health care team.

One warning, removing the brush head from the handle of an Oral-B electric toothbrush reveals a metal spike projecting from the top of the handle. Tweens and teens who wrestle in the bathroom, could cause some damage with this device. Manual toothbrushes do not have hidden metal spikes.

Soft bristles are able to clean away plaque (the coating of bacteria that forms on teeth) more effectively than firm bristles. The Floss-Action brush head of the Triumph does not disappoint. However, "Floss-Action" seems to be a misnomer. Oral-B clearly states, in small type on the box, that using their brush "does not replace flossing." After two weeks of using this brush, teeth appear to be cleaner than with a manual brush, but not as clean and a manual brush with flossing. Using the Triumph 9900 electric toothbrush and flossing is even better.

An electric toothbrush like this one is much easier to use than a manual brush for people who are not able to grasp a manual toothbrush. The handle of the Oral-B Triumph is easy to grip for people who have arthritis or scleroderma. Using the Triumph powered toothbrush can simplify tooth brushing while improving effectiveness.

Recommendations: Choose an electric toothbrush with care. Buying the brush marries the owner to that company's product for a year or two. For the life of the brush handle, there is no shopping around for the least expensive brand or a different style of brush. If choosing an electric toothbrush, the Oral-B Triumph 9900 with SmartGuide is great choice. Use it with the standard Floss-Action brush head or the Ortho brush head if wearing orthodontic braces. Supervise active children when they use Oral-B electric brushes. Floss once or twice a day when brushing with either a manual or electric toothbrush. Finally, ask for the dentist or dental office staff to demonstrate the correct use of an electric toothbrush.