![]() ![]() I then had three of my coworkers each brush once with all four brush heads, without disclosing which was the brand-name versus the generic. In the case of the Oral-B brush heads, the difference was more stark: the generic brush-heads’ bristles were shorter and had less give, resulting in the harsher feel against gums that the ADA cautions against. Bristles with a round tip feel smoother against sensitive gums if left with a square tip, they’ll feel a bit prickly, as was the case with the generics-or “gray market” heads, as Araujo calls them. In both cases, the brand-name brushes’ bristles felt slightly more supple to me than the generics’, possibly because they are longer, and, according to Araujo, might be shaped differently. We covered up brand labels for a head-to-head comparison at a Wirecutter office. For our pick, an Oral-B brush, the monthly cost difference is less than the price of a small coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts, and that price gap is even smaller if you buy the brand-name brush heads in bulk. ![]() Moreover, we found that choosing a brand-name replacement head doesn’t cost much more than going with a generic. Though brushes from Oral B and Sonicare and the associated heads have earned the seal, there’s no third-party guarantee that the generics will be good for your oral health, cautioned Araujo. The ADA tests brushes for stiffness as part of its seal certification. The ADA recommends using a brush with soft bristles, as firmer brushes are harsher on gums and can lead to wear and tear and even gum recession.“Soft is a layman term we use to say that safe,” explained Araujo. This sounds like a minor issue, but according to Marcelo Araujo, vice president of the Science Institute at the American Dental Association, brush feel actually matters a lot when it comes to maintaining oral health. Although the generic brush heads will get the job done, the bristles in the ones we tested felt stiffer (and a bit prickly, even) compared with the brand-name ones. After six months of testing generic and brand-name electric toothbrush heads in a literal head-to-head comparison, we found we liked using those from Oral-B and Philips Sonicare best. At a time when my germ paranoia is at an all-time high, this is immensely reassuring.In several years of using an electric toothbrush, I’ve always gone with brand-name brush heads because, well, why change what is working just fine and is fairly inexpensive? But, as we are wont to do at Wirecutter, we also wondered: Is there a point to paying more for the brand-name thing? (It's the same technology Tao uses for its Orbital Face Brush.) By the time I get to it 12 hours later, it's cleaner than, well, probably anything in my home. What I really love, though, is that I don't just toss it in a cup by my sink when I'm done it tucks into its little homebase, where UV lights kill 99 percent of the bacteria left on the bristles. The brush, which has a conveniently thin neck, doesn't just vibrate, it pulses 40,000 tiny brush strokes per minute. I've been using drugstore toothbrushes for as long as I can remember, and the Tao brush was a completely new sensation. Having a small spaceship on my counter was an unexpected design choice, but I grew to love it just as soon as I pasted up and gave it a go. The brush comes in four colors: white, black, gray, and the ever-popular rose gold, which I selected. ![]() But in 2020, we have to get our kicks where we can find them, and I've found mine with an ultraclean toothbrush that looks like it might project Princess Leia onto my bathroom ceiling.Ī few months ago, I traded in my battery-powered brush for Tao's Clean Sonic Toothbrush, a product that has recently been upgraded and rebranded to the Umma Diamond Sonic Toothbrush. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.īrushing my teeth is not something I've ever looked forward to - not in the same way as some other self-care activities like peeling off pore strips or applying eye masks, anyway. As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too.
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