Philips Sonicare Healthy White Electric Lavender Toothbrush

I have been using a Philips Sonicare "E-Series" toothbrush for many years, and it does a good job. Sonicare makes so many different models that I have difficulty distinguishing them. I don't know that I would recommend one over another, but this new Philips Sonicare "Healthy White" toothbrush is certainly as good as the model I have been using. It does add a three-speed option, which is particularly nice for sensitive teeth. I am periodically in and out of chemotherapy, and the gentle speed is recommended for me when I am actively in chemo.

We have several Sonicare toothbrushes in my household and every member of my household uses them. I have the much more expensive Philips Sonicare Diamond Clean toothbrush and a few of the inexpensive Sonicare Series 2 toothbrushes. This is a midrange Sonicare toothbrush that has the Sensitive setting and the Clean+White setting as well as the standard Clean setting.Sonicare toothbrushes use ultrasound waves in addition to the brushing action to more effectively break up and remove plaque and it really does work. We've been using ultrasonic toothbrushes for a number of years now and have the healthy mouths to prove it. And since there is a direct link between gum disease and heart disease, healthy teeth and gums give you more than just a beautiful smile. One of my children and I have defective heart valves and have been cautioned to practice good dental hygiene to avoid gum disease that could lead to a heart valve infection. Our cardiologist recommends ultrasonic cleaning, along with regular dental check ups, so I feel safer having my entire family use Sonicare as their regular toothbrush.If you've never used a Sonicare toothbrush before, you will notice immediately that it's a very vigorous cleaning. It may even be uncomfortable at first. This Sonicare has an Easy Start mode that gradually increases the power of the brushing action over a two week period to help you get used to it. Easy Start is activated when you first use the toothbrush as long as you do not use the Clean+White setting, which is the most vigorous setting. Additionally, this model has a Sensitive setting for people with sensitive teeth.There is an automatic 2 minute timer to ensure you brush for the full recommended time, which is especially great for kids. It also alerts you every 30 seconds to switch to another quadrant of your mouth so you brush every area thoroughly. The Clean+White setting does the normal 2 minutes of clean mode and then an additional 30 seconds of white mode which prompts you to brush for 15 seconds on your upper, front teeth and then 15 seconds on your lower, front teeth.This model comes with one Plaque Control brush head. The brush heads should be replaced every 3 months, just like a manual toothbrush, and they feature colored bristles that fade to remind you it's time to replace your brush head. Philips offers several styles of brush heads that will fit this toothbrush - Plaque Control, Gum Health, InterCare and Diamond Clean.The Philips brand brush heads are excellent but also pricey. I buy these for my large family, which fit perfectly and perform just as well, IMO. ]The charging base is very compact - great for limited counter space and for travel. There is a light on the toothbrush that flashes when charging and glows steady when charging is complete. Philips says it has a 3 week battery life, which will depend somewhat on how many people are using it daily. It also comes with a nice, plastic, travel case which holds the toothbrush and two brush heads (but not the charging base.)I do not have sensitive teeth and I love the way it makes my teeth and gums feel. Additionally, it's fabulous for removing coffee and tea stains from your teeth. Plus, I like that one toothbrush can keep a whole family's teeth and gums healthy and all you need is to purchase separate brush heads for everyone. It has a 2 year warranty but in my experience, they last years longer.Tip for larger families: While there are color coded bands available to put around the base of the brush heads to identify whose is whose, I found an easier solution. I found that large medication bottles - ones measuring 3 7/8" or taller without the cap on - are the perfect size to hold a brush head. I painted each family member's initial on the bottle with bright nail polish so everyone knows which brush head is theirs and there is no mix up. I got the bottles that have the cap that is childproof when put on one way and non child-proof when turned upside down for convenience and I got them from our veterinarian at no cost. While the brush heads generally come with a clear plastic cap, the caps are small and ours invariably get lost. The bottle method has worked very well for us for quite a few years.I got the lavender color, which is lavender and white in the front and a darker, dusty purple color on the back of the toothbrush. The dusty purple back is textured and has a rubberized finish to make it non-slip in wet hands. This is something I'm not as pleased with because in my experience, rubberized surfaces have a tendency to get gummy and sticky after a year or two. I will update this review if that happens.My only other disappointment is that for the price, I wish Philips had included another brush head or two since these are often purchased for families. But this is not a huge issue since you'll be buying replacement heads every 3 months anyway.If you want the Sonicare clean *and* whitening or if you have sensitive teeth, this is an excellent choice at a midrange price.

***UPDATE*** This toothbrush worked really well for the first 6 months, but now the base won't connect to the brush head correctly. Meaning, the whole point of the toothbrush being electric is pointless.Got this on sale, but it's definitely worth the retail price. I'm already seeing a difference in the way my teeth feel and look, and it's only been a few days.

I've never used an electronic toothbrush before so this was my first foray into this arena. I wasn't really sure what to expect but my initial impression is that using an electric toothbrush is a nice luxury...not something that is a necessity, but enjoyable if you're looking to upgrade your cleaning experience.Right out of the box, the toothbrush is easy and intuitive to use. There is a mode that is for easing into using an electric toothbrush which gradually increasing the vigor of the brushing motion over 14 consecutive sessions. This was a nice way to get my gums and teeth acclimated to the differences from manual brushing. Speaking of this, there are distinct differences...the electric brush has a much more visceral feel and it feels like you have a machine in your mouth. I kind of like this aspect of the experience but it might not be for everyone. For reference, I like going to the dentist and getting my teeth cleaned. There is a sensitive mode as well which I haven't tried yet. I also like the little timer that tells you how much time to spend on each section of your mouth. My wife tried it and she thinks its too much vibration even with the sensitive mode.One odd thing is that you have to put the toothbrush in your mouth up against your teeth before you turn it on otherwise the toothpaste comes off. Also, the reach of the toothbrush makes it a little bit tough to reach behind my back molars.The toothbrush easily keeps a charge for a couple of days but I haven't gone longer than three without putting it back on the charger. Aesthetically speaking, it looks nice for a medical device but it's still got a cord and adds clutter to your counter so keep that in mind.

I have used Phillips Sonicare toothbrushes for many years because of their outstanding features. I just bought this new one and am having GREAT difficulty with the on/off switch. Once you turn it on for brushing, you have to press 2 more times to turn it off. (it escalates to different functions). I have arthritis in my thumbs and it has become too hard to press.

I have used Philips Sonicare toothbrushes since they were first introduced to the general public and have been very happy with the results. My last model was the flex +. I ordered this model thinking I didn't really need all the bells and whistles...I was wrong. I don't care for this model at all. Only having basically one cleaning mode and no other settings other than an extra add on of 30 seconds or so if you can get it to kick in that is. I found the on off button very difficult to maneuver. It will turn the unit on ok but turning it off or to get the extra time for the extra clean at the end it quite difficult. I've already ordered the Diamond model, I figured what the heck, I love these brushes, I'm a believer in Philips Sonicare and am brand loyal as far as electric toothbrushes go.

I thought this toothbrush was fantastic at first use. Loves the setting, timer, and the fact that it came with a carrying case. After a few weeks of normal use I started noticing sporadic bursts in the motor that would make for an extremely noisy brush. While it started out only happening once every few bruises, it not happens every time I turn the toothbrush on. Its a very unpleasant sound that makes me think something is broken inside the handle which I cannot get to. Buy with caution

I have to say that I'm EXTREMELY disappointed with Philip's higher Sonicare line toothbrushes. My older Sonicare Essence and older models held up for 5+ years each. They each kept going, but I decided to upgrade them since I didn't like how water would pool in the space between the head and the base. The newer ones didn't have that problem. I bought a high-end Flexcare Sonicare toothbrush several years ago. I loved it. However, that thing died after a few months in. I remember contacting customer service, but they said I would have to pay to send it in, which was a hassle. I decided not to and just reordered an Essence model again.After 3-4 years, I decided to upgrade again. This time, I bought this Healthy White model thinking that Sonicare would have improved their technology by then. I made this purchase back in May 2017. I finally opened it up and used it in July 2017. the performance and everything has been great. However, it is now June 2018 and it DIED. I do not abuse my toothbrush. I AM SO MAD. I will no longer buy products from the Sonicare line again as it seems that the more money you spend, the shorter lifespan their products have. It does not recharge and it's a regular manual toothbrush now. I still have brush heads so I will use my now manual Sonicare toothbrush.I have to say that there were two things I couldn't live without in my life (besides the essentials) and they WERE the internet and my Sonicare toothbrush. You better believe I'm jumping on the Oral B bandwagon. Bye, Felicia. You were a cheap product in a pretty wolf's clothing that came with a big price tag.

I bought this toothbrush with the intention of using the sensitive setting. When I clicked through to that setting, there was no difference in speed. This was too fast and harsh for sensitive teeth and gums. I wish my original Phillips Sonicare still worked! It was perfect for years!

Just like TCs comment below, I bought this is May 2017 and it worked just fine. I liked the slimmer style to my previous Sonicare that lasted 8(!) years. However this model died and refused to start back up as of June 2019. The warranty only covers the toothbrush for 2 years.