Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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59 of 62 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent option for whiter teeth (5- stars), August 28, 2008
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
The Oral-B Pulsonic is a wonderful addition to the rechargeable electric/sonic toothbrush market. It is more slender, more quiet than the Philips Sonicare Flexcare Rechargeable Sonic Toothbrush I own, although it doesn't have as many features. Both clean equally well; you'll notice whiter teeth within a few days of use. Choosing between the two will be a matter of personal preference for most consumers.
The ultra-slender handle of the Pulsonic feels close to a regular toothbrush, particularly if you're used to the heftier ones on the market, making it easy to maneuver the brush around the mouth. The fine vibrations barely travel down the handle --unlike all of other rechargeables I've used, including an older Oral-B model-- and thus minimize annoyance. The included "Precision Tip" brush head is great for cleaning between teeth, although people with sensitive gums may find it too much. (Note: these sonic toothbrushes maintain and improve gum health, so what may be uncomfortable during the first two weeks may not be a problem later.)
This brush has two speeds: "clean" and "sensitive." Although the instructions say that the sensitive speed is for tongue and gums, it's also a great speed for gradually introducing sonic cleaning before you step up to full speed vibrations. Like the Sonicare, the vibrations briefly change tempo when it's time to move to another area of the mouth. The brush pulses twice when two full minutes have passed since turning on the unit.
The Oral-B addresses some complaints I have about the Sonicare. One, it comes with a charger stand that can be mounted on the wall, allowing you to choose whether you want it on or off the counter. Two, the charger has a well for the body, making it difficult to knock it over by accident. The handle may not fit tightly into the well, but it definitely stays put. (The stand also has room for two brush heads.) Three, when you've finished all four quadrants, the toothbrush does not shut off automatically, making it much easier to brush your tongue or to spend a little extra time on a specific area after the two minutes is up.
That's not to say that the Oral-B doesn't have drawbacks. To get to the sensitive mode, you have to click through the regular mode, which means that either you'll have a brief time with the faster vibrations or you'll run the risk of splattering toothpaste. Likewise, if you are on the regular cleaning mode, you have to press the button twice to turn it off -- once to get to sensitive mode and another to shut it off. The Sonicare allows you to choose the mode with a separate button, and the mode will "stick" time after time unless you change it. (Also, the Sonicare has five different modes, including a regimen that include gum massaging and one that allows for four-quadrant quick brushing.) The instructions for the Oral-B also suggest circular movement around the tooth, thus demanding more work from the user. It's not clear whether this type of motion is really necessary or whether it's simply Oral-B technique; I'm not even sure my hygienist will know. In any case, I followed the instructions, and while I did get teeth as clean as I do with the Sonicare, I disliked the extra movement. Also, Oral-B doesn't offer different-size brush heads, although I wouldn't be surprised if they offered them in the future.
All in all, I really like the Pulsonic Power, although right now I prefer the Sonicare because of its extra features and the way it fits into my hand. However, the Pulsonic Power beats the Sonicare hands down for quietness, small size, and its charger stand. This is truly a next-generation sonic toothbrush that, despite its lack of extra features, may set a new standard.
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48 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not sure..., August 28, 2008
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I have pretty much had and tested them all: The Oral-B Triumph, the Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite, and now the Oral-B Pulsonic. Each has their advantages and disadvantages, but the Pulsonic leaves me a bit unsure.
The design of this brush is very reminiscent of the Sonicare toothbrushes, right down to the stand which always looked different on all the previous Oral-B electric brushes. This design really looks like a stripped-down baby version of the Sonicare.
First of, the brush itself is extremely slim and light-weight for an electric brush. So much so that one wonders whether it can actually "do the job". So after charging it the required 12 hours, I tried it out for the first time. I did not find it any different in power than the Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite, it felt the same.
What is different is that the Pulsonic's manual instructs the user to move the brush over the teeth in a circular motion, very much like one is supposed to do with a manual brush. I, for one, didn't quite like this although I can see the benefit of doing it this way. The Pulsonic has - like the Sonicare and unlike the Oral-B Triumph - a regular (yet contoured) brush head. The shape of such a brush head makes it difficult to sufficiently cover the entire tooth. One is always either cleaning along the gumline or more towards the bite. Using circular motion prevents that only parts of the teeth are cleaned. Yet - I have been using electric toothbrushes for so long that I have gotten used to not really having to do anything but hold the brush head to the teeth. So this is a change I am not sure I like too much.
Also - these rectangular brush heads don't seem to work too well for me personally. I have a small mouth and find it difficult to easily brush my teeth with these brush heads, especially the insides of the front teeth. It always feels as if I can't quite reach all the surfaces, especially the areas along the gumline, and that leaves me wondering whether I get as complete a cleaning as I should be getting.
Philips has tried to address this problem by offering a smaller brush head for the Sonicare, but Oral-B doesn't seem to have that. So this is not optimal for me.
What I did like about the Pulsonic though is that it comes with a second "Precision Tip" brush head. I found this to be a great way to really get into the spaces between teeth and I give Oral-B a big thumbs-up for this one.
Lastly, the Pulsonic, like the other models and brands, informs the user audibly when it is time to change to a different "quadrant" to be brushed, and when the two minutes recommended brush time are over.
All in all this is probably a brush I will take along when travelling - the light weight but equal power output make it perfect for that, but at home I will likely stay with the Oral-B Triumph and its round brush heads. I just feel that these heads reach all areas of my teeth better and also feel more comfortable on the sensitive areas of my mouth.
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31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Breakthrough in Power Toothbrush Design, September 4, 2008
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I have used many different power toothbrushes over the past several years. All have been from the Sonicare and Oral-B line of products. I have been amazed at how the technology and design of these products have changed over the years. They continue to get smaller, more powerful, and now tend to include multiple operation modes and interchangeable brushes and accessories. Although there is clearly nothing wrong with scrubbing your teeth the traditional way, with a good old-fashioned toothbrush, I find that the power toothbrushes tend to remove stains better and keep my teeth whiter.
Gone are the days when a power toothbrush was a rather bulky, noisy product. Oral-B has introduced a new, extremely slim, power toothbrush that is not much bigger than a traditional (manual) toothbrush. The new Oral-B Pulsonic Power Toothbrush is truly a breakthrough in power toothbrush design. Weighing a mere 1.8 oz., with the brush head attached, the dimensions of the handle and brush assembly is roughly 8 1/4" long and only 11/16" (just under 3/4") around at the thickest part of the handle. The brush head is about 2/3 of the width and 3/4 of the length of a traditional toothbrush. The charging base measures approximately 1 3/4" - H x 1 5/8" - W x 3" - D. While I like the small footprint of the charging base, I find it a bit too light, which causes it to slide around on the countertop too easily.
Some of the manufacturer boasted features of the Oral-B Pulsonic Power Toothbrush are as follows:
* Provides Gentle Sonic Vibration - More than 27,000 Vibrations per Minute
* Multiple User Modes: Clean (normal) and Sensitive
* Super-Thin Bristles for Precision Cleaning, Polishing and Whitening
* Professional Timer, Providing Tactile Feedback at 30-second Intervals for Changing Quadrants of Your Mouth, and Once the Dental Expert Recommended 2-minute Brushing Time Has Been Reached
* Provides Up To 30 Minutes Of Use Between Charges
* Reduces Up to 94% of Surface Stains in 2 Weeks
* Lightweight Slim Handle Provides Effective Maneuverability and Control
* Warranty: 2-Year Limited
The current Pulsonic S15 kit includes the following items:
- Oral-B Pulsonic Power Handle
- One Standard Pulsonic Brush Head
- One Precision Tip Brush Head
- Charging Base w/ Brush Head Storage
- Instruction Manual
- Misc. Warranty and Registration Paperwork
Setting up and using the Oral-B Pulsonic Power Toothbrush couldn't be any easier. The small charging base simply plugs into an available A/C outlet and sits on your countertop. Although the instruction manual doesn't specifically mention anything about mounting the charging base, there are two slotted holes on the backside, which would allow for wall mounting. Once the charging base is plugged in you simply sit the Pulsonic Power Brush handle into a recessed opening on the front of the base. As with most rechargeable products these days, you must initially wait several hours for the device to charge before you begin using it. The Pulsonic toothbrush requires 12 hours on the charging base before it is fully charged. The instructions do not say anything about using the toothbrush before it is fully charged, so I guess one could try it out within an hour or two if they wished. There are two other recessed openings on the base, to allow for storage of the included Precision Tip brush head and a spare standard brush head. The front of the toothbrush handle has a single power/mode button and three indicator lights. Two of the LED indicators show what cleaning mode the brush is in, when powered on (clean or sensitive), while the third LED lights up when the device is charging. A single push of the power/mode button activates the power toothbrush in "Clean" mode, while a second push of the button switches the toothbrush into "Sensitive" mode. Pushing the button a third time powers the toothbrush off. Therefore, if you push the button once, and use the standard clean mode, you will need to push the button twice more in order to power the device off.
Unlike the typical oscillating head type power toothbrushes that Oral-B is known for, which require the user to simply hold the head on each tooth for cleaning, this Pulsonic model requires you to move the head around in a circular motion while cleaning. This can take a little getting used to if you are more accustomed to the oscillating brush-type models, like I am. There is no need to scrub your teeth with the Pulsonic toothbrush. You simply move the brush head gently over your teeth (in the aforementioned circular motion), letting the sonic vibrations perform the work of cleaning and polishing your teeth. Although these vibrations are fairly gentle, switching to the sensitive mode reduces the strength of the vibration by about 1/3. The vibration speed remains the same, but the intensity becomes gentler and feels less abrasive against your teeth. While brushing, the Pulsonic toothbrush provides a short stutter (a single break in vibration), at 30-second intervals, to let you know that you are supposed to switch quadrants in your mouth. Once you have brushed for the professionally recommended 2-minutes, a longer stutter (two breaks in vibration) can be heard and felt. This form of tactile feedback is quite effective in keeping the user informed as to the status of their brushing session.
Once you have finished brushing with the Pulsonic toothbrush, cleanup is a snap. You simply run the brush head under water and rinse thoroughly. To better clean the top portion of the toothbrush handle, you can easily remove the brush head attachment by turning the head counter-clockwise (about 1/4 turn) and lifting it off the handle. The top portion of the handle can be rinsed under running water, but it is not recommended to run water over the lower, controller portion of the handle. Reinstalling the brush head onto the handle is as simple as lowering it into place and giving about a 1/4 clockwise turn. You will hear and feel it click into place. Cleaning the charging base is just as easy. Since you should never get the electrical portion of the charger base wet, Oral-B has designed the base with a removable top, which can then be cleaned under running water. To remove the top you push down on a plastic tab, located at the rear of the base, and slide the top portion forward and lift off. After cleaning the removable portion, you can wipe the bottom portion of the base with a dry cloth. To reinstall the top portion, you sit it on the bottom portion and slide it back until you feel it click into place. The included instruction manual goes over these steps in better detail, providing visual illustrations. However, everything about the setup, use, and cleanup of the Oral-B Pulsonic Power Toothbrush is very simple and straightforward, so I doubt one would need to refer to the instruction manual more than once.
Although I prefer the Oscillating brush head of my Oral-B Triumph power toothbrush, my wife much prefers this new Oral-B Pulsonic toothbrush. She has been using it regularly and has given me the following pros and cons for this Pulsonic model:
Pros
******
- Extremely slim and lightweight.
- Comfortable to hold and is well balanced
- Very quiet operation
- Medium-soft bristles are gentle on teeth & gums
- Sensitive Mode is much gentler on touchy teeth & gums
- Easy to use and clean
- Perfect size for travel
- Precision Tip brush head is handy for cleaning between teeth and around dental work
- Charging base takes up very little space on the countertop
Cons
*******
- Charging base slides around countertop too easily
- No low battery warning indicator
- No indication of when charging is complete
- Spare brush storage is not covered
- No travel/storage case included
My wife really loves the new Oral-B Pulsonic power toothbrush. She has stayed away from power toothbrushes in the past because she didn't like the fat handles, noisy operation, and uncomfortable brush heads. Other than the few cons listed above, she feels that the Pulsonic toothbrush is perfect in every other way. She doesn't like leaving the brush heads exposed, so she keeps the spares in a drawer, due to the lack of covered brush storage on the base. She also wishes that the charging base was weighted, so that it wouldn't slide around on the counter so easily. She informed me that she wants the base mounted to the wall so she doesn't have to continue dealing with it sliding around.
Overall we are quite pleased with the Pulsonic Power Toothbrush by Oral-B. It is definitely a breakthrough in power toothbrush design and it is very easy and convenient to use. After using this new toothbrush for a couple of weeks, my wife's teeth are already noticeably brighter, so we definitely believe Oral-B's claim that this brush removes stains and polishes teeth for a brighter smile. I was very tempted to give this Pulsonic toothbrush a 5-star rating, but I honestly feel that Oral-B has overlooked a few important details that will hopefully be corrected on future model releases. First of all, they need to provide covered storage for the spare brushes. Most people have their toothbrushes in the bathroom, and I don't think anyone would want their brush heads uncovered and fully exposed in that environment. The charging base either needs to be weighted or should have better griping foot pads to prevent it from sliding all over the place. And why they don't have a low battery indicator on this toothbrush is anyone's guess. Nearly every rechargeable electronic device provides indication of when it requires charging. Finally, the inclusion of a travel/storage case would really make sense. Oral-B included a travel case for my Triumph power toothbrush, which is huge compared to this new Pulsonic model. Since the Pulsonic is the perfect size for travel, including a travel case would make perfect sense. Hopefully they will at least offer a Pulsonic travel case, as an optional accessory, in the near future. My wife and I consider the Oral-B Pulsonic Power Toothbrush a 4 and 1/2 star product, and we highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a powered brush but doesn't want the typical fat-handled, noisy products that have always been the norm.
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