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While there are more brand names than Oral-B in the electric toothbrush market, it is products such as the Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush which makes the brand stand out. So, while we apologise that many of the products we are reviewing are Oral-B electric toothbrushes, these are the leaders in the market. However, as you will see from the website, we have looked at an array of other brands and brought some of their more popular products onto the site.
Many years ago the concept of using an electric toothbrush was alien to many people. Nowadays, demand for electric toothbrushes has gone through the roof as has competition in the sector. The key now is to find value for money products, offering the services you require which are durable. Not easy, but this is where we come in!
What to expect when opening the box
So, that day has finally arrived, your Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush is in transit and due to be dropped off any moment. If you’re anything like us, it will feel a little like Christmas and new presents to open. When you’re Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush box appears, you’ll see the following:-
- 1 x Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush
- 1 x Charging station
- 1 x Toothbrush head storage compartment
- 3 x Brush heads
- 1 x Travel case
- 1 x Smart phone holder
- Instructions
The eagle eyed amongst you will have noticed there is a smart phone holder which gives away our next revelation; this electric toothbrush is compatible with the Oral-B mobile phone app. You will probably be wondering what this means. This is something we recover in detail further on in this review.
So, you’ve opened the box, you’ve examined all of the products and now you will be wondering exactly what you bought.
How good is this toothbrush at removing plaque?
It may seem as though we are rolling out the same statistics and figures when it comes to electric toothbrushes. Officially, the leading electric toothbrushes have been shown to remove up to double the amount of plaque you would expect to remove with a manual toothbrush. In reality, as many of us fail to replace our manual toothbrushes on a regular basis, there is every chance the real figure could be higher.
The reason why an electric toothbrush removes so much more plaque is simple. A manual toothbrush works on manual rotations per minute of between 600 and 800. With an electric toothbrush, depending upon the cleaning mode, this can be anywhere from 8000 to 20,000 and above rotations per minute. When you see that statistic, it is not difficult to realise how and why an electric toothbrush is so much more efficient.
One issue which is very rarely mentioned is the areas of the mouth which are hard to reach with a manual toothbrush. We all know where they are, those hard to reach teeth at the back of your mouth where clunky manual toothbrushes are little if any use. Even if you do reach, it will just be a light touch brush which will remove minimal if any plaque. So, why is an electric toothbrush so much better?
The size and shape of an electric toothbrush means that the slim brush heads can reach anywhere in your mouth. The extended body makes it much easier to navigate around the four quadrants of your mouth, giving each quadrant ample attention. Then we have the actual process of removing plaque from your teeth which we will recover in the next section. Great start!
Pressure sensor is vital
The difference in the pressure required when using a manual toothbrush compared to an electric toothbrush is significant. This is the biggest difference you will realise when you start using an electric toothbrush for the first time. However, thankfully the Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush contains a pressure sensor – which is extremely useful.
The pressure sensor measures the degree of pressure you are using with your electric toothbrush. In order to get the best out of your Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush you should be skimming the surface as opposed to pushing down hard. This is because the oscillations, rotations and pulsations used to loosen and remove plaque involve water on your brush head and saliva in your mouth. They create a whirlwind/vacuum style scenario which pushes and pulls plaque from your teeth, loosening it and removing it.
If you are brushing too vigourously with your Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush you will notice a red light displayed in your eye line. This indicates that you need to reduce the pressure exerted on the toothbrush head. This is not just a visual display, as the toothbrush will automatically reduce the power going into the toothbrush heads. This ensures that you are not damaging your teeth using excess pressure. Once you reduce the pressure, the motor will return back to “normal”.
This alert can prove very useful when you are trying to access the more difficult areas of your mouth. It can be tempting to use too much pressure with the Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush but thankfully it won’t let you.
Position detection – how does it work?
It is natural that many of us will focus on quadrants of our mouth where the teeth are more accessible. This makes us feel as if we are doing a greater service to our teeth when in reality we are neglecting other areas. Therefore, the mobile phone app will prove to be a godsend for many people.
This app uses the camera on the front of your mobile phone monitor and records the position of the toothbrush. This is why the mobile phone holder is a very important part of this mobile phone app process. The camera information is translated into a visual display on your mobile phone, showing which areas of your mouth you have brushed and which have yet to be touched.
Interestingly, the position detection system will also analyse your long-term brushing style and recommend changes where applicable. Yes, the Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush mobile phone has artificial intelligence which can train you to improve your dental health and dental hygiene. Bet that surprised you?
If you don’t wish to use the mobile phone app, you will notice an alarm/timer on your Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush which will illuminate every 30 seconds. As the recommended duration for brushing your teeth is two-minute, the 30 second alarm is a reminder to move onto the next quadrant. The Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush will certainly keep you on your toes!
Five brushing modes of the Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush
This is an area which often causes some confusion. Why would you need five different brushing modes for your Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush?
Well, some of the more expensive electric toothbrushes can offer up to 8 different brushing modes. Others may stick to the basic simple one brushing mode. So, think of it this way, if you only use one of the brushing modes then great. However, you have a choice between:-
- Daily clean
- Gum clean
- Sensitive
- Whitening
- Pro clean
We appreciate that for some people this may be too many options, but just use the options which are relevant to you. This then brings us onto the cleaning of your gums.
Many people fail to realise but gum disease can be a major issue for dental health and dental hygiene. Letting plaque and excess fluid buildup under your gum line will almost certainly lead to a degree of gum disease. This involves a reddening of the gum area, inflamation and can be very uncomfortable. Then we have the potential damage it can cause to the roots of your teeth.
Gum health and hygiene is in many ways just as important as dental health and hygiene although this needs to be promoted much more.
Many people switch to an electric toothbrush to not only improve their overall dental health and hygiene but also whiten their teeth. The whitening mode on the Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush will remove stains and discolouration from your teeth from day one. As a consequence, you will immediately begin to see an improvement in the colour of your teeth. Those pearly whites are back!
Recharging the Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush
As you can see from the image, charging your Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush is a simple as placing it on the charger. A full charge of the Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush will take up to 12 hours and if you use this twice a day, the recommended two minute duration, you will get 12 days use before it needs to be charged again.
This is probably on the higher side of battery durability and the fact that the recharging device is very simple and small, means you can take it with you anywhere. So, the Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush is perfectly compatible with business trips, family holidays or even days away. This then brings us onto the travel case, which is designed to accommodate all of the elements of your Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush. Perfect!
Replacement brush heads
When you open the box of your Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush you will notice a storage device for your spare brush heads. This then prompts the question, how often do you replace your Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush heads?
We live in a day when technology and mobile phone apps tend to lead the way. However, the Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush uses a very simple but extremely effective technique to warn you of worn brush heads. When you first attach the toothbrush head, you will notice the vibrant blue colour on some of the bristles. As your toothbrush heads wears down the colour will become faded when the toothbrush head needs replaced. Simple, but extremely effective!
So, after you have brushed your teeth, take a quick glimpse at the brush heads to see whether the vibrant blue is still visible or it has begun to fade. When it comes to actually ordering the toothbrush heads, this is very easy. Many online companies operate on a 24/48-hour delivery so they can be with you almost instantly (or you can buy in most chemists). However, it is probably advisable to keep a spare toothbrush head available as and when required.
Improving your dental health and dental hygiene
There is so much to the Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush that it is difficult to cover everything in one even comprehensive review. Consider the style, durability, the toothbrush technology and the fact that you can access all areas of your mouth. This is impossible with a manual toothbrush which makes the Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush standout. You will see an improvement in your dental health and dental hygiene from day one.
Whether or not you use the mobile phone app to assist with your brushing and improving your brushing technique is a personal decision. There are still various elements on the toothbrush itself, such as the pressure sensor and the 30 second alarm prompting you to move to the next quadrant. If you do use the mobile phone, the artificial intelligence associated with the service can be invaluable.
Extremely positive feedback
When you consider that the Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush has more than 5000 customer ratings, this is mighty impressive. More than 80% of these ratings offer a five out of five rating with the average rating standing at 4.7 out of five. When you consider the huge competition in the electric toothbrush market, this feedback speaks volumes.
We are more than happy to wax lyrical about the various pros and cons of the Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush. Indeed, in this particular instance it is difficult to find any real flaws with the product. However, feedback to us shows that customer ratings still hold significant sway. Therefore, we will leave the last word with customers; and the incredible feedback for the Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush.
