Maintaining healthy teeth and gums is very important. The practice of keeping the mouth and teeth clean to prevent dental problems is sometimes referred to as Oral Hygiene. Having healthy teeth is vital to life because they help us to do different things that are essential for good health. For example, they help us to talk, and to pronounce different sounds clearly. Finally, teeth help to give our faces shape, and having a healthy smile can be a great asset as it can affect our confidence and self-esteem. For these reasons, taking appropriate care of your teeth is something that we must give great attention to.
Dental care basically needs keeping your mouth, teeth, and gums clean and healthy. To achieve this we need a toothbrush, toothpaste, and maybe mouthwash. When it comes to toothbrushes, there is a variety of them available as they come in many forms, sizes, and types. The standard ones are manual, some are battery operated while others are electric. The manual ones are common and are cheaper, whereas the electric ones are expensive and some of the electric ones are even more expensive.
This review is about the Oral-B Genius series of rechargeable toothbrushes powered by Braun, which are acclaimed to be the best toothbrushes ever because they combine a revolutionary Position Detection Technology with Triple Pressure Control and Professional Timer to control your brushing as recommended by dentists.
Overview of The Oral-B Genius Series Of Toothbrushes Powered By Braun
Name: Oral-B Genius 9000 Series Toothbrushes Powered By Braun. Check for variations.
Product type: Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush Powered By Braun
Website: https://nutrihorizons.com/oralb-9000-series
Owner(s): Procter & Gamble
Price: Varies depending on the model
Why Do You Need A Good Toothbrush?
There are people that would ask; what is the big deal about something like a toothbrush, which is just a brush for brushing the teeth? They would then argue that any toothbrush is good enough for brushing the teeth! Well, it is natural to think like that, but you need to remember that your teeth are vital to a healthy leaving and MUST be taken good care of. For instance, you need them to chew and eat food properly so that they can be used by the digestive system in your body. For this reason, keeping your teeth healthy and using an appropriate toothbrush as recommended by dentists, is important for maintaining your long-term health, and avoiding problems such as gum disease and other health problems.
The reason toothbrushes are made in different varieties, sizes and shapes are that they are personal. They are designed to fit your mouth and dentition. Consequently, choosing the right toothbrush will make your oral care more effective. For example, a person with a large mouth may naturally prefer a full-sized toothbrush head, whereas, a person with a small mouth may choose the one with a compact head.
Types Of Toothbrushes
Toothbrushes can generally be divided into 3 types; manual, battery-operated and electric (which includes rechargeable and sonic).
Manual Toothbrush
Manual toothbrushes are the basic and most common toothbrushes that can be found in shops, which most people are familiar with. They are called manual because they don’t use any other power source, except yours. Manual toothbrushes have been around for a long time and have proved to be a tried and tested method of brushing teeth. Their common feature is the plastic handle and various nylon bristle designs on the brush head, which most people are used to.
They are generally cheaper. However, they take longer to brush your teeth and get the best results because you have to brush diligently; brushing up and down and in circles in order to clean all of your teeth. For this reason, when using manual toothbrushes, your technique is what ensures that your teeth are cleaned properly.
From the above, the advantages of using manual toothbrushes are that they are not expensive. In addition, manual toothbrushes come in different varieties and because of this, there is a great selection to choose from.
Battery-Powered Toothbrush
Battery Powered Toothbrushes also known as “power toothbrushes” or “battery-operated toothbrush” are similar to manual toothbrushes but the main differences are:
- They use AA battery which adds extra power that produces the level of vibration needed to improve brushing and cleaning of teeth.
- The handle has “On/Off” or “+/-” button.
- They are specially designed with bristles or split brush heads that pulsate according to the vibrations.
Electric/ Rechargeable/Sonic Toothbrushes
There seems to be confusion between electric and battery-operated toothbrushes. Technically, battery-operated toothbrushes are not electric toothbrushes. The term electric refers to appliances that are powered by electricity. So, electric toothbrushes are those that are powered by electricity and they are normally rechargeable, as you have to plug them into the wall socket to recharge them. Only the brush heads have to be replaced periodically.
With manual toothbrushes, the brushing action; moving the brush back and forth along your teeth depends on you. By contrast, with electric toothbrushes, they provide the cleaning action for you and all you need to do is to guide them along with your hand.
They are also known as “power toothbrushes” and they vary according to the kind of cleaning technology they use, such as oscillating-rotating (3 D Cleaning Action) or sonic technology.
Oscillating-Rotating Power Technology
Oral-B pioneered this oscillating-rotating power technology in 1991 and has since made it part of its premium power toothbrush series. Oscillating brushing technology does the brushing for you through the back and forth rotating movement. The main element in their performance is the number of brush strokes they perform. With manual toothbrushes, you can expect to achieve at best 300 to 400 brush strokes per minute, but with an oscillating electric toothbrush you can achieve up to 8000 brushstrokes per minute. With this in mind, it is obvious that electric toothbrushes can clean better than traditional manual toothbrushes.
Sonic Technology
Like oscillating electric toothbrushes, sonic toothbrushes are electric rechargeable toothbrushes. However, sonic toothbrush heads do not rotate to clean your teeth. Instead, they use vibration. For instance, a sonic brush may vibrate as much as 40,000 times per minute. It is this vibration that works to remove the plaque lose from the teeth.
The Cochrane Collaboration, which is an independent healthcare research group conducted a systematic review of power toothbrushes to assess the impact of different tooth cleaning technologies on plaque reduction and gingival health. The study showed that in the short term ( four to twelve-week period), power brushes with rotating-oscillating technology, pioneered by Oral-B, reduce plaque and gingivitis more than power brushes that move laterally from side – to – side, known as Sonic brushes.
What Makes a Good Toothbrush?
Based on what has already been stated above about toothbrushes and recommendations, we can now state certain things to look for that make a good toothbrush which you have to consider when you want to buy one.
Brush Head Size that Fits Your Mouth
Whether it is manual or electric, the best toothbrush is one that fits your mouth properly. For this reason, the head of the toothbrush you have chosen should be one that allows you to move the brush conveniently in your mouth to reach all the surfaces of your teeth.
The brush head is the top end where the bristles are attached. For most adults, the normal toothbrush head is half an each wide and one inch tall. Some people may find large toothbrush heads difficult to maneuver to reach the sides and back of their molars.
The following types of specialized toothbrush heads can be identified:
- Angled Toothbrush – This is the type of toothbrush head that enables you to reach inside your lower and upper front teeth. These are the areas that tartar can easily build up because they can’t be reached by some people, unless they use a proper brush.
- Full size and Compact – The choice of whether to use a full size or compact toothbrush will depend on the size of your mouth as already stated above.
Convenient Handle
The handle of a toothbrush also matters. You need to choose a toothbrush with a handle that is long and convenient enough to hold. A good toothbrush that is convenient to hold should be neither too thin or too thick. The good thing is that many toothbrushes now have an ergonomic design which now gives you the option to choose toothbrushes that have ergonomic handles or non-slip grips to make them easier to hold.
Effectiveness
As already stated here, numerous investigations have been carried out to find out whether powered toothbrushes are more effective in reducing gum disease and preventing plaque. About 30 studies that reviewed disposable and electric toothbrushes found that there was no significant difference between manual and electric toothbrushes when it comes to reducing gum disease and preventing plaque. However, the studies showed that rotation oscillating toothbrushes are more effective than manual ones because the bristles go round and round and back and forth.
Suitable Bristles
Toothbrush bristles come in soft, medium, and hard. So, you need to select one that is most comfortable and safest, depending on the strength of your teeth and brushing. Most people need to use a brush with soft bristles as a brush with hard or even medium bristles may actually damage the gums, root surface, and your protective tooth enamel. For more protection of your teeth when brushing, it’s recommended to choose a toothbrush with rounded bristle tips.
Safety
Lastly, it’s a good idea to have a toothbrush from a reputable brand because not all brands are usually equipped to cater for our oral health needs. Using such less equipped brands frequently may lead can lead to irreparable dental problems. another reason for using toothbrushes from a reputable brand is to ensure that your toothbrush has undergone rigorous quality control tests.
Some people may like to brush vigorously and in the process may damage their gums and teeth. For such people, a powered toothbrush may be better because they are not controlled by them. This will help them to brush gently in order to prevent them from damaging their gums and teeth. Though some studies suggest that using a powered toothbrush may increase the number of bacteria in the bloodstream more than a manual toothbrush, there is no evidence to show that this poses any health risk for healthy people with normal immune systems and healthy hearts.
The Oral-B Brand
The Oral – B brand is owned by Oral-B Cosmetics, part of the multi-national company, Procter & Gamble since 2006. Oral – B is the creator of the first toothbrush with soft and rounded filaments. It is even claimed that Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon used one before the historic trip.
Today, Oral-B toothbrushes are the brand most widely used by dentists worldwide. Oral-B products are known for their superior quality because they are known to be such that if used properly, they can keep your teeth and gums healthy. For this reason, if you want to have a true feeling of cleanness, freshness, comfort, and superior care for your teeth and mouth, you need to use a reputable and proven brand for your dental and oral care.
Product Description
The Oral-B Genius series of Electric Toothbrushes are revolutionary in that their design is modelled after dentists’ recommendations with features such:
- Roundhead that surrounds and cups each tooth.
- Oscillating, rotating and pulsating technology to remove up to 100% more plaque than a regular manual toothbrush.
- Their designs are aimed at helping you brush as your dentist recommends.
- The brush connects with the Oral-B smartphone app via Bluetooth technology to provide you with customised real-time feedback, including time coaching to brush a recommended 2 minutes.
- Triple pressure control to protect your gums from over-brushing.
- Position Detection technology so you never miss a zone.
Not only is the Oral B the Number 1 recommended brand by dentists worldwide, but Oral-B Genius 9000 is also the first Oral-B intelligent brushing system with new Gum Guard technology to help you brush as your dentist recommends. It has won several Awards such as Which? Best Buy 2016, Product of the Year 2017, and GQ Best New Gadget 2017.
In addition, the handles on many Oral-B toothbrushes have been designed based on research into the five different ways that people hold their toothbrush while brushing.
Key Features
Full Brushing Coverage With Position Detection Technology
Oral – B Genius is the first of its kind with the most intelligent brushing system available today. One of the key features is the Position Detection Technology. These are sensors built into the brush that works in conjunction with a smartphone that allows the brush to detect the area of the teeth that you are brushing.
Helps to Brush As Dentists Recommend
Some people may not be able to brush their teeth properly. Various reasons may account for this. For example, you may be brushing too hard, or do not brush long enough or certain areas of the mouth are not reached or could not be reached, maybe because you are in a hurry! The Oral- B Genius includes a new brushing system that coaches you to improve your brushing in the three main areas of brushing behaviour that affects oral health. The Oral-B GENIUS and App take digital guidance to a different level by bringing awareness to what’s actually happening each time you brush so that you are given real-time guidance to improve your brushing. In this way, this toothbrush allows users to maintain a professionally guided brushing routine.
Various Cleaning Modes
It has 6 cleaning modes: Pro Clean, Daily Clean, Sensitive, Tongue Cleaning, Whitening, and Gum Care.
Targeted Digital Guidance for Maintaining Healthy Teeth
As time goes on, if you brush your teeth improperly, it can result in oral health issues such as tooth decay and even early tooth loss. With Oral-B Genius, you are able to actively monitor your brushing sessions through the use of the Oral-B App. This real-time feedback reduces guesswork, enabling users to brush for the dental professional-recommended two minutes, not apply too much pressure while brushing, and – thanks to the new revolutionary Position Detection – never miss those commonly missed zones.
It’s About Brushing for the Right Length, Not Pressing Too Hard, and Never Missing a Zone.
Oscillating and Rotating Technology
Its design is based on Oscillating-Rotating-Pulsating Technology. Oral-B proprietary technology cleans tooth-by-tooth and its round brush head reaches areas that are often difficult to reach, providing a superior cleaning every time, compared to a regular manual toothbrush.
Triple Pressure Sensor Technology
Excessive pressure during brushing is one of the key reasons for gum tissue abrasions. Some manual users apply brushing forces two times the recommended pressure, which can be harmful to the gums. This technology protects gums from overaggressive brushing by visually indicating when too much pressure is applied, automatically slowing down the brush head speed, and stopping the pulsations. With the Oral-B guidance system, up to 93% of aggressive brushers reduced their brushing force and the time spent brushing with excessive force was reduced by up to 88%2.
Whiter Teeth from the First Day
Oral – B toothbrushes are dentist-inspired. The Genius series includes include a special Whitening Mode which effectively and gently removes surface stains from your teeth right from the first use. With the round toothbrush head of Genius, you can remove up to 100% more plaque than using a standard manual toothbrush, resulting in healthier gums and whiter smiles always!
Healthier Gums All the Way
Some people brush too hard because they can’t tell or know that they are brushing too hard? One of the features of the Genius Toothbrush is the automatic speed reduction, which alerts you and slows down the brushing speed if you brush too hard.
Professional Timer
Independent scientific research suggests that it is more important to brush all zones in the mouth evenly, rather than brushing longer3. Even when not connected to the App, Oral-B’s Professional Timer ensures that each quadrant of the mouth is brushed for 30 seconds, to reach the dental professional-recommended two-minute brushing session. People using the Oral-B App brush on average 2 minutes and 27 seconds4, whereas manual brush users brush on average less than one minute.
Customization in Design
It is Oral-B’s most premium brush ever. It features a new handle design, longer battery life, an LED SmartRing customisable in 12 colours, and a Travel Case that not just charges your toothbrush, but also your smartphone.
Variations Of The Oral-B Genius Electric Toothbrushes.
Genius comes in many models and colours, some of which are briefly described below.
Difference between the Oral-B Genius 9000, 9000s, 8000, & 8000s
The Oral-B Genius 9000 is a UK model, It is not available in the US. The only difference between the 9000 and 8000 models is the colour of the handle. The difference between the 9000 and 9000s is the toothbrush heads that are included in the box. The 8000s are not available in the UK.
The 9000 model comes with a Cross Action, Floss Action, 3D White and Sensitive brush head. The 9000s comes with 2 Sensitive, a Cross Action and a 3D White brush head.
See More Here!Oral-B Genius X with Artificial Intelligence – Rose Gold, 1 Toothbrush Head, 6 Cleaning Modes, Gum Pressure Sensor, USB Charging Travel Case, UK 2 Pin Plug
Genius X with artificial intelligence is the latest electric toothbrush from Oral-B.
The Oral-B Genius X 20000 is equipped with motion sensors and is powered by artificial intelligence to recognize your brushing style and guide you to your best results every day, which makes it easier to brush like your dentist recommends for a superior clean and healthier gums. It is beautifully and safely designed to protect your delicate gums and prevent future issues, with the combination of new revolutionary Gum Guard technology, 360 SmartRing, and Pressure Control to alert you, reduce speed when you brush too hard and tell you where you over-brush for a gentler routine.
- It comes with a lithium-ion battery that lasts more than 2 weeks with 1 full charge.
- Artificial Intelligence tracks where you are brushing in your mouth; the Oral-B app gives you personalized feedback, so you know where you need to focus more and how to get your best results every day
- After brushing, you get a brushing score which factors in whether you press too hard, how long you brush for and how complete your brushing coverage is so you can give the best care to your smile
- Plaque Removal: Up to 100 Percent more plaque removal for healthier gums in 30 days versus a manual toothbrush
- Protects Your Gums: Automatically reduces brushing speed and alerts if you brush your teeth too hard
- Includes: Genius X with one sensi ultrathin brush head, rechargeable battery with up to 2 weeks of charge, smart USB travel case charges your brush and phone, six cleaning modes and charging station
Oral-B Genius 9900 Twin Handle Pack Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush, Black/Rose Gold – Packaging may vary (UK 2-Pin Bathroom Plug)
- Genius, the best toothbrush from Oral-B, the #1 dentist recommended brand worldwide
- Up to 100% more plaque removal: Round head cleans better for healthier gums
- 100% brushing coverage: The only brush with position detection to never miss a zone
- Protect your gums: Pressure control reduces brushing speed and alerts you if you brush too hard
- Gently whitens your teeth starting from day one by removing surface stains
- Battery lasting more than 2 weeks
- Six brushing modes including PRO Clean, whitening, gum care and sensitive
- Contents: One rose gold handle and one black handle, one brush heads, Lithium Ion battery, one travel case, smartphone holder, UK 2 pin plug
Oral-B Genius 9000 CrossAction Electric Toothbrush Rechargeable Powered By Braun, 1 White Connected Handle, 6 Modes Including Whitening, Sensitive and Gum Care, 4 Toothbrush Heads, 1 USB Travel Case – White Handle
The Genius 9000 comes in Black, Midnight Black, Orchid Purple, Rose Gold, White and Black with Rose Gold.
The Oral-B GENIUS 9000 White – the first Oral-B intelligent brushing system with new Gum Guard technology to help you brush as your dentist recommends. Thanks to the unique Position Detection technology you will never miss a zone. With the round brush head, you can remove up to 100% more plaque than with a standard manual toothbrush. The result? Healthier gums and a whiter smile by removing surface stains, from the first day of brushing. This beautifully advanced toothbrush protects your delicate gums and helps prevent future issues: the combination of the new revolutionary Gum Guard technology, 360 SmartRing, and Pressure Control alert you to reduce speed when you brush too hard and tell you where you over brush for a gentler routine. Last, but not least, GENIUS 9000 White comes with a lithium-ion battery that lasts more than 2 weeks with 1 full charge. No wonder Oral-B is the #1 recommended brand by dentists worldwide.
Oral-B GENIUS 9000 White electric rechargeable toothbrush is compatible with the following Oral-B toothbrush heads: CrossAction, 3D White, Sensi Ultrathin, Sensitive Clean, Precision Clean, FlossAction, TriZone, Dual Clean, Power Tip, Ortho Care. It comes with a UK 2-pin plug.
Genius 8900 and 8000
Below are variations of the Genius 8000 series; 8000 and 8900. The difference between them is that the 8900 comes with Set of 2 Electric Rechargeable Toothbrushes and a Standard Travel Case.
How To Use Your Electric Toothbrush?
You need to wet the brush head before applying the toothpaste. Place the toothbrush in the mouth and turn on. Guide the brush head slowly from tooth to tooth. Hold the toothbrush head in place for a few seconds before moving on to the next tooth. Brush the gums as well as the teeth, first the outsides, then the insides, finally the chewing surfaces. Oral-B offers a variety of toothbrush heads to fit your personal oral health needs.
Safety Warning
You need to check the cord periodically for damage. If the cord is damaged, take the charging unit to an Oral-B Braun Service Centre. A damaged or non-functioning unit must no longer be used. It is not intended for use by children under 3 years old. This appliance is not intended for use by children or persons with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities unless they are supervised by a person responsible for their safety.
In general, we recommend that you keep the appliance out of the reach of children. Children should be supervised to ensure they do not play with the appliance. If the product is dropped, the brush head should be replaced before the next use, even if no damage is visible.
Please note the following:
- Do not place or store the charger where it can fall or be pulled into a tub or sink.
- Do not place the charger in water or other liquid. Do not reach for a charger that has fallen into the water. Unplug immediately. Do not modify or repair the product. This may cause fire, electric shock or injury. Consult your dealer for repairs or contact an Oral-B Service Centre.
- Do not disassemble the product except when disposing of the battery. When taking out the battery for disposal, use caution not to short the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals. Do not insert any object into any opening of the appliance / charging unit.
- Do not touch the power plug with wet hands. This can cause an electric shock. When unplugging, always hold the power plug instead of the cord. Use this product only for its intended use as described.
- Do not use attachments that are not recommended by the manufacturer. If you are undergoing treatment for any oral care condition, consult your dental professional prior to use.
Pros And Cons
As already stated before, Oral-B Brand is recognized worldwide for its oral care products. Their tooth care products are acclaimed as the best since their designs are based on dentists’ recommendations. The Genius series have taken to Oral-B’s reputation to the next level with their innovation that incorporates modern technological advancement which makes brushing your tooth fun. The only downside is that the Genius series is not cheap. However, when you consider their results and the consequences of gum disease and other help problems for lack of proper tooth care, they are more than worth the expenditure.
References
Lea SC, e. (2018). Does cavitation occur around powered toothbrushes? – PubMed – NCBI. [online] Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15016029 [Accessed 5 Nov. 2018].
Size, F. and WIRE, B. (2018). Independent Study Shows Oral-B Oscillating-Rotating Power Toothbrush Technology Reduces More Plaque and Gingivitis than Power Brushes that Move Laterally Side-to-Side. [online] Businesswire.com. Available at: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111018005611/en/Independent-Study-Shows-Oral-B-Oscillating-Rotating-Power-Toothbrush [Accessed 8 Nov. 2018].
Yaacob, M., Worthington, H., Deacon, S., Deery, C., Walmsley, A., Robinson, P. and Glenny, A. (2018). Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health [online] Cochrane Library. Available at: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD002281.pub3/full [Accessed 5 Nov. 2018].