19.2.2013

About a year ago my parents sent me an electric toothbrush (<$20) because they were impressed with new ones that had recently tried. I was favorably impressed with the cleaning, but found that replacing the batteries always resulted in the waterproof seal being damaged and the batteries would flood. I went through about 4 of them, with at least a couple different types, and the story was always the same. Occasionally the heads would work their way apart too, even though they were within their regular use period.You have 2 types to choose from if you step up in quality: Oral-B (with the round spinning heads) and Philips (with the more traditional up and down stroke head).My personal preference is the Philips type of head. After much research, I found that the older Philips models, with the much bigger base to the replaceable brush end, were getting reports of significant material (toothpaste, saliva, etc.) remaining under the bigger base. For this reason I chose the least expensive of the smaller head toothbrushes, the Easy Clean, which had reviews as high as their most expensive models.Cleaning under the head is very easy, as I imagine it would be under the larger heads, but there is simply very little there to clean. The brush heads do a great job, and i have no doubt my teeth have never been cleaner. The design allows me to reach anywhere in my mouth, and after a little getting used to it, I am fine with the 'quadrant' system it uses. This way, you brush upper or bottom, left or right teeth for 30 seconds, then the toothbrush gives a slight beep, encouraging you to move to the next quadrant. In 2 minutes, you are done and it shuts off. This forces you to focus on exactly where you are brushing, to make sure you don't 'run out of time'. I used to brush longer, but now with the stroke speed and the strict timing, my teeth are much cleaner in a guaranteed 2 minutes. Of course you could turn the brush on again, but if you pay attention, there is no need to to do this.Since stroke speed is very fast, there apparently is an initial 14 day break in period, whereby the brush moves slower to start, but increases in speed over each of those uses. This can be reset if ever needed. I didn't really notice this change over time, but I guess that is part of the intent.The charging base is miniscule, with a simple structure, but very effective and requires virtually no effort to insert the toothbrush.The toothbrush itself is not cheap, but is well priced through Amazon. The individual heads are quite pricey $8-$10 each, but can be bought in packs of 2-4 to save a little bit. If this cost were to drop somewhat, I'm sure the number of users would increase dramatically.Great product that exceeded my expectations! I wish I had bought one years earlier, and probably would have if the cost wasn't such an issue.

12.1.2015

I bought this toothbrush in the boxing day sale and have been using it twice daily for the last couple of weeks. Not having used a sonic toothbrush before, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I have been very impressed with the toothbrush so far and have noticed that my teeth feel much cleaner than when I use a manual brush.In the box is the brush handle, 1 x Phillips DiamondClean standard brush head (easy to push onto the handle), 2 pin charger, instructions, 2 year warranty, and a plastic cap for the brush head.The concept of a sonic toothbrush is simple but effective - the brush head vibrates extremely quickly and helps to push fluid between your teeth, thereby giving a better clean.This model has a speed of 'up to 31,000 brush strokes per minute', which is the same speed as the most expensive products in the Phillips Sonicare range. The toothbrush is very simple to use, and minimal effort is required. The key is to only use a slight pressure and let the brush do the work, angling the brush slightly towards your gumline and moving it gently over your teeth. No need to scrub! The brush operates at a slightly lower speed for the first use, gradually ramping up over the next 14 uses until it reaches full speed. This is a great little feature that helps you get used to the feeling of a sonic brush, and it is simple enough to turn this off if you want to go full speed from the very start.The brush handle is nice and simple, with a single button which turns it on and off. The button is lit by a green LED light, which flashes if the battery gets too low and requires charging. The brush operates on a 2 minute timer, and every 30 seconds it pauses vibrating for a split second and makes a sound to let you know to move onto the next area of your mouth. Some people may find this slightly annoying but for me, 30 seconds is normally plenty of time to do each section of the mouth (front of top teeth, back of top teeth, front of bottom teeth, back of bottom teeth). It switches off automatically after the 2 minutes is up. It doesn't have the different modes (polish, sensitive etc.) that some of the more expensive models do, but in my opinion the basic clean mode does the job perfectly.I charged the battery up for 24 hours before first use 2 weeks ago, and so far I still have not yet had to charge it up. I will update this review when the battery finally requires a recharge but I get the feeling it won't be for a while yet.This model is compatible with all of the Sonicare brush heads - ProResults, Sensitive, InterCare, DiamondClean. Can't comment on the others but the DiamondClean head supplied does a fantastic job, and is the perfect size.Overall, a fantastic sonic toothbrush and one that is well worth the price tag. Highly recommended.

27.5.2014

I'm a firm convert to sonic toothbrushes but I needed to upgrade my Braun slim because I can't get hold of the brush heads any more. I wasn't expecting Philips Sonicare to impress me, but it did. Given that I am already using a fairly high spec sonic toothbrush I just expected more of the same but, I really can feel the difference with the Philips Sonicare. My teeth really do feel surprisingly cleaner--similar to the clean you get after a scale and polish at the dentist. Whether this is to do with the design of the brushhead or the speed of the toothbrush I can't tell.Please don't be put off by the initial weird tingle you feel when you first use a sonic toothbrush.I wasn't expecting it because I already use one but did happen. It only happens on the first occasion of use though.Info on the Amazon website states:'In order to get the most out of your Sonicare's battery life, it is essential that you charge it for 24 hours before first use.'There is no mention of this in the instructions as far as I can see and given that my toothbrush worked out of the packet I was tempted to start using it. However, is obviously important to charge it first even if it appears to be working.There are two sizes of brush heads: standard and mini. My pack contained the standard head which is quite small, so the mini must be really tiny.These are the pluses:* It charges silently. (Much quieter than the Braun which buzzed and kept my spouse awake in the next room.)* When you're using it, it is much quieter. Just a low hum.* I love the small brush head. It feels really gentle if your gums are receding.* The small brush seems to make it easier to get round all of the tooth surface.* As with most of these toothbrushes the bristles fade when it's time to replace the head.* It comes with a little clear plastic cap which you stick over the head for the sake of hygiene.Could do better:* Along with many other electric toothbrushes, this one cuts out after a couple of minutes when it thinks you're finished brushing. This is slightly annoying, but all you have to do is press the button to get it going again. (There is just one speed setting.) The compulsory time works okay for me if I do 2 min for the top set and then 2 min for the bottom set.* It's not as lightweight as the Braun slim, but that is particularly lightweight.* The 'whitening claim' on the box put me off initially because it sounded like it might be abrasive. However, the claim is simply that it makes teeth whiter than a manual toothbrush would if used for the same amount of time. So, pretty meaningless, really. I haven't noticed any dramatic whitening effect but I've got a feeling this is just a tagline to try and give the toothbrush a usp.*Not sure what the difference is from the

10.1.2014

I have been using electronic toothbrushes for nearly 20 years now. Most of the models I have used have performed to a high enough standard to leave me not wishing to use a regular manual toothbrush anymore.Philips' Sonicare however, is a considerable improvement in a few ways over the Oral B models I have used. What I like most of all is the how much fresher my mouth feels after the toothbrush does it's job. The effort required by the user is very minimal. As the manual suggests; guiding the toothbrush slowly, instead of actual scrubbing is all that is required for desired results in only two minutes.I also like the slimness the body of the motor unit.Previous models have been wide enough to result in occasional collisions with front teeth when reaching rear teeth.The stock bristles are very comfortable. As good as I have encountered over the years.The charge time isn't much of an improvement over what I am used to. Up to 24 hours is normal for a full charge from an almost completely drained battery. The good news is, I went three weeks before I needed to recharge the HX6511/50. I have found the battery on almost everything rechargeable does do better in the long run when a full, uninterrupted charge is provided every time.Very low maintenance is required. Keeping the brush, the replaceable head and the charging station clean is easy. A rinse of the head and motor body after every use is worthwhile. Wiping-down the charging base whenever it appears anything less than clean with a multipurpose cleaner has always worked well for me.Pros:1. Very minimal motor vibration.2. Teeth-hugging bristles3. Impressive ergonomics. Good fit in the palm and easy to guide.4. Green LED instead of blue. Much more subtle in the dark at night.5. Leaves mouth feeling very fresh.6. Price.7. Convenient when traveling - dual voltage and 50/60Hz. Charges just about anywhere offering electricity (socket fitment adapter may still be required).8. On/off button is easy to access, but not where you are likely to keep accidentally switching it off.Cons:1. Charge time no worse than the competition, but it doesn't seem to have improved in 20 years.2. Power cord takes a couple of weeks to soften. Results in the base requiring basic support during charging to avoid falling-over.3. Open with care to avoid packaging cuts.Overall, I am very pleased with my purchase. Philips are offering a very well thought-out design here which works very effectively. Not many bells and whistles are on board (quite normal at it's price point), but it has everything to get your mouth feeling fresh within two minutes. And it does so without feeling as though it is applying too much pressure or excess scrubbing to teeth and gums.

16.6.2014

My dentist is always telling me that electric toothbrushes are much better and although I have previously purchased one - albeit what he would probably call a budget one - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Oral-B-Vitality-Precision-Rechargeable-Toothbrush/dp/B003U9V7SC/ref=sr_1_2?s=drugstore&ie=UTF8&qid=1402917080&sr=1-2&keywords=electric+toothbrush - I am REALLY bad at keeping it charged and actually using it - I keep it in the bathroom cupboard for hygeine purposes and so the trusty manual toothbrush is used out of habit.I was interested to try this - part of me wondering what a toothbrush with an RRP of £90 could possible achieve (selling at £45 at the time of writing this review). Well - I am converted!

2.6.2014

Have used Oral B electric brushes for decades but this blows them out of the park.First use -The brush feels like it is tickling your gums whilst emiting a highish( but not unpleasantly so) noise. You just let the brush do all the work making sure it is wet, moving from one area to the next but not pressing down - it seemed to gentle to have any effect but my teeth felt really, really clean and shiny afterwards.Like all electric brushes you need to charge it up first. It comes with a shaver socket 2 pin lead so you need to have an adapter plug. I wish these were included in such a high spec product.

28.10.2015

I have purchased 4 Sonicares since 2011Philips Sonicare HX6972/10 FlexCare Plus Rechargeable Toothbrush June 2011 $136.99Philips Sonicare HX6972/10 FlexCare Plus Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush February 2012 $156.11Philips Sonicare HX6972/10 FlexCare Plus Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush October 2012 $136.24Philips Sonicare HX6921/02 FlexCare Plus Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush January 2014 $155.99First of all, I am an idiot. These Sonicares come with a 2 year warranty. I should have been returning these toothbrushes whenever they broke. That aside....As you can see, the first Sonicare lasted 8 months, the second one lasted 8 months, the third one lasted 15 months, and the fourth one lasted 20 months.

23.5.2014

After using another brand of electric toothbrush with a rotating head, I tried a Philips Sonicare for the first time last year, was instantly converted and this brush confirms my preference.In short, it is lightweight, sleek and slender, easy to hold and comfortable to navigate to every area of your mouth. As for effectiveness, I couldn't score it more highly. Although it doesn't have the extra features of my older brush, ie 3 different speed settings, gum mode and stain removal mode, it could be argued that these are not really essential. What it does do is provide my teeth with a very thorough clean leaving my mouth feeling cleaner and fresher than any of the rotating-brushes managed.

27.11.2012

I purchased this toothbrush as a replacement to my HX6950 because the metal tip where the brush head connects became loose and fell off after being dropped. I never used any of the other options that the HX6950 offers such as Gum Care, Refresh, etc., so the one function on the HX6511/50 is good enough for me. This toothbrush uses the same type of brush heads, ProResults, which is good since I have replacement heads at the ready. One thing that I was not aware of when I first used this model was that it has an "Easy-start" feature which increases power over the first 14 uses to ease you into the Sonicare experience. Having already been used to the full power of the HX6950,

12.6.2014

I love this toothbrush, it just works so well! I was using the Colgate C200 ProClinical Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush prior to the Philips, and I was pretty pleased with that one. On using the Philips, however, I found it to better and gentler.Let me explain: I had a new crown fitted just over a month ago, and when I used the Colgate toothbrush I found that it just vibrated a bit too much on the crown, making it uncomfortable and giving me horrible thoughts of the crown falling out. I would then have to lift it a bit higher off the tooth when I was brushing the crown, and I took to avoiding the crown after giving it a cursory brush. When I use the Philips there is no such problem,

25.11.2015

This gets 5 stars because in my view it is the best all round toothbrush on the market.I have used variants of the Philips Sonicare for more than 6 years and they are far superior to the earlier versions or the Oral 'B' main competition.The most important issue is your teeth and gum health. Gum condition in particular has been linked to heart health, so the extra cost of regular dentistry and a proper cleaning regime should be paid without complaint.As an amateur 'fixer' I have taken a number of these brushes apart, from the earlier basic models to the most recent luxury version. They all have the same basic components and will suffer the same failures. Philips claim more plaque removal(up to 7 times)

10.7.2015

This review will compare the Sonicare to the Cybersonic II, even though the Cybersonic II is not available. Reason? Because I'm thinking many people bought them about the time I did and are now looking for a substitute, since the Cybersonic 3 is almost identical to the original model and reviews say it doesn't last long. My Cybersonics lasted about 6 years each.Reasons the Sonicare is better:1. Faster motion means more scrubs per minute2. Smaller brush head fits easily in gaps where teeth are missing and gets deeper between normal teeth.3. A little smaller and lighter4. Metal spindle and interface between handle and brush.

11.7.2017

I do love these toothbrushes. We have one each and they get a lot of use. Sadly the newer of the two we had (at least 3 years newer) had decided to die so we had to purchase another.Managed to get a good price from Amazon so it wasn't too bad but it is a shame they they can fail on occasions. I think the one that failed had water ingress.I note with this one the design has changed a bit on the tip where you plug the brush. It seems a bit more robust. Time will tell.There is no mistake though that these sonic brushes by Philips do clean really well.The heads are a crazy price when it comes to renew, but then you can get plenty of months out of each one so it isn't too bad.Edit 2020:It does seem that these seem to fail at around the three year mark.

29.12.2011

Bought this as XMAS gift so I've owned this for a short while. I've used it a couple of times and like a lot of reviews that I read I have to just get used to it. Also, I will update this review if good or bad things occur (hopefully all good). I must say that in the short time I've used it, i really like the timer on this unit but I've come to realize that I used to brush for a lot longer using my regular, manual, non electric oral b toothbrush (two minutes seems to short for me). I like the feature that allows you to ease into using an electric toothbrush according to the instructions, this feature must be disabled after about two weeks of use--it's a gentler brushing mode (which is probably why I noticed the very first time that I used it that my teeth didn't feel all that clean).

23.6.2014

Having used 'normal' (rotating-head) electric toothbrushes for many years now, I did not believe that a sonic one (which uses vibration rather than rotation to clean the teeth) could really be much more effective. I was very wrong. After giving the device an initial 24 hour charge - essential to maximise the life of the battery, please note that, as is commonplace with 'bathroom' devices such as this, it comes supplied with only a shaver plug, so you will need an adaptor if you haven't got a shaver socket available - it was with a little trepidation that I turned it on. The sensation when you first use a sonic brush is difficult to describe, other than to say it really does vibrate your entire head!

Philips Sonicare EasyClean Whitening HX6511/43 - Reviews

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