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22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
Lightweight, easy to use, multi-brand friendly
The Sonicare UV Sanitizer uses a small but strong light bulb inside a chrome-painted plastic housing to kill electric toothbrush bacteria on a daily basis. All one needs to do is shake the water from the brush head, insert it into the capsule, close the door, and push a button. Ten minutes later, when the small green light stops blinking, the brush head is free of at...
Published on November 27, 2007 by Debbie Lee Wesselmann
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1,160 of 1,203 people found the following review helpful:
A biologist's opinion
I have a biology background and the good news is that this amount of UV light is going to have the desired effect on the bacteria that live in your toothbrush head. It will induce many double strand breaks in the bacterial DNA, making it hard or impossible for them to grow. It will have no lasting harmful effects on the brush because no chemicals/toxins are used. My...
Published on December 4, 2007 by a scientist
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1,160 of 1,203 people found the following review helpful:
A biologist's opinion, December 4, 2007
This review is from: Philips Sonicare UV Sanitizer (Health and Beauty)
I have a biology background and the good news is that this amount of UV light is going to have the desired effect on the bacteria that live in your toothbrush head. It will induce many double strand breaks in the bacterial DNA, making it hard or impossible for them to grow. It will have no lasting harmful effects on the brush because no chemicals/toxins are used. My understanding is that there is a shut-off to prevent humans from being exposed to the UV light, which is a good thing as UV light will interfere with human DNA in the same way that it damages bacterial DNA. However, I would like to point out a few things:
1, The detergent in your toothpaste (variously called sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, etc) will probably be effective enough at getting rid of bacteria -- that's why we use it.
2, The bacteria are already in your mouth anyway! How do you think your toothbrush head is getting contaminated in the first place?
3, People have survived very happily without wasting money on idiotic gadgets like this.
4, The bacteria that are NOT killed by this treatment are more likely to be mutated. It's a biological fact that UV light increases the number of DNA mutations. While most bacteria will be killed, the 0.01% that survive are more likely to have suffered mutations. This is not true for cell-disruptive methods of destruction like bleach and detergent (including the detergent in your toothpaste).
To summarize, dentists use this sort of gizmo because they're putting the same tools into the mouths of many different people. They don't want to get sued, especially in light of reports suggesting that certain diseases may be passed through saliva. However, this gizmo is completely unnecessary if you do not share your brushheads with other people. In fact, it's not even necessary if you share your brushheads with people you wouldn't mind kissing...
Lastly, please bear in mind that not all bacteria are bad and that you actually need some to help you digest food properly. Also, good bacteria take up space and resources to keep bad bacteria from finding a niche. So, try NOT to use 'antibacterial' soap, do eat some live active yogurt after a course of antibiotics and always completely finish a course of antibiotics that you've been prescribed by a doctor.
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58 of 61 people found the following review helpful:
Use Hydrogen Peroxide Instead!, June 25, 2008
This review is from: Philips Sonicare UV Sanitizer (Health and Beauty)
There is a much cheaper alternative to this product.
Go to the drug store and buy a quart bottle of hydrogen peroxide. It should cost about $.99. Then put your toothbrush in a glass filled half way with the hydrogen peroxide for about an hour or over night if you have the time. At the end of the hour you will have a disinfected toothbrush. You will notice that bubbles will form around the toothbrush as the hydrogen peroxide disinfects it.
I have read that hydrogen peroxide degrades in sunlight. That is why they put it in a dark colored bottle. I just leave my toothbrush in the hydrogen peroxide over night with the lights off. I try to flex the bristles a few times also to make sure it penetrates into the bristles. Remember, hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizer / bleach and is used to whiten teeth. I am not a rocket scientist but I do know that bacteria and viruses don't like the stuff at all. It is also used as a rocket fuel, so don't go mixing it with the chemicals from your son's chemistry set. :) Other than that, the use of hydrogen peroxide should be uneventful and will get the disinfecting job done at minimal cost.
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66 of 79 people found the following review helpful:
An Unnecessary Gadget, November 23, 2007
This review is from: Philips Sonicare UV Sanitizer (Health and Beauty)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Philips Sonicare sounds like a great idea - keeping your toothbrush free from germs on a daily basis. However, this can be done by simply dipping your toothbrush in a solution of hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol (however, rubbing alcohol does not taste good). In addition, this product only works with Sonicare and Oral-B brushes. Regular toothbrushes and other product names don't work with this machine. It's a clean looking machine, but for the money and the space on your bathroom counter, I'd don't think this is much more than a cool gadget. Besides, what do you do when the bulb burns out?
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22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
Lightweight, easy to use, multi-brand friendly, November 27, 2007
This review is from: Philips Sonicare UV Sanitizer (Health and Beauty)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
The Sonicare UV Sanitizer uses a small but strong light bulb inside a chrome-painted plastic housing to kill electric toothbrush bacteria on a daily basis. All one needs to do is shake the water from the brush head, insert it into the capsule, close the door, and push a button. Ten minutes later, when the small green light stops blinking, the brush head is free of at least 90% of bacteria. (Don't think about the other ten percent!) Does it work? Since I'm not a microbiologist, I can't say for sure, but all the warnings that come with the box suggest that the light is powerful enough to do the necessary damage.
The Sanitizer comes with adaptors that accommodate brush heads of multiple brands of electric toothbrushes: Sonicare, Oral B, and Braun. Not only do the adaptors address difference in bottom connectors (round or rectangular), but they also adjust for differences in height to keep the bristles at the right level. Users can insert the larger Sonicare brush assembly or a much smaller Oral B brush or both at the same time. (See product picture for illustration.) Since I use an electric toothbrush only once a day and use a traditional brush at other times, I wish that the housing could fit regular brushes as well. That feature might make this product nearly perfect.
Unfortunately, the unit sterilizes only the brush heads and not the entire brush. This means that the interior needs to be cleaned at least once a week, if not more often, because of the saliva-and-water mix that drains from inside the brush and down its sides. The bottom tray and adaptors snap out fairly easily for cleaning; however, it would be nice if the entire interior compartment emerged germ-free.
Although the sanitizer comes with strict warnings about not touching the bulb, making it not appropriate for use in the bathrooms of young children, it does have the safety feature of shutting off if the door is opened during operation. The canceled operation won't cool the bulb, but it will stop the UV radiation. The plastic bulb housing seems to protect the bulb adequately from all but the tiniest fingers. (I'm not even sure toddler fingers could get in, although kids have been known to defeat a host of safety devices.)
The unit is lightweight and compact enough to pack on a trip for those who travel with their electric toothbrushes and who don't like the idea of invisible germs lurking in their bristles, even for a few days. All you'll need is a standard outlet and a small flat surface to set it up.
I like the Sonicare UV Santizer for its easy of use. Maybe it's giving me a false sense of security since I can't tell whether it works or not, but ignorance can indeed be bliss.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
ordering a new bulb, November 13, 2008
This review is from: Philips Sonicare UV Sanitizer (Health and Beauty)
First let me start off by saying that the product itself is fine. I don't know if anyone else tried to order a new bulb from Philips, but let me tell you that it's not the simplest task. I looked on their website to order one, but it was nowhere to be found. I then sent an email to their customer support people and promptly got a reply with a phone number to call to order. After calling that number, I was put on hold for a while then told that I need to call the manufacturer directly to order a bulb. I called the new number and spoke to someone who also put me on hold. She said I selected the wrong option in the menu and needed to call back and select "other."
So after all this, I finally spoke to the right person who had me reinstall the bulb to make sure it wasn't working. She then got my contact info and shipped out the new bulb free of charge. Philips could have made the process less annoying, but hey, free bulb.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
If you're seriously OCD, maybe it's useful, January 10, 2008
This review is from: Philips Sonicare UV Sanitizer (Health and Beauty)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
When I first heard about the Philips Sonicare UV Sanitizer, I thought
it was an unnecessary device, meant to profit even further off a
hundred-dollar-plus toothbrush. My first thought when I received the
box was, "Hmm, bigger than I thought." I read the directions first,
which seemed to require an unusual number of steps to set up and
install the UV bulb. I only noticed later in fine print, "May come
with bulb pre-installed." Indeed, that was the case. So I just had to
plug it in.
The outer case presents a pleasing blue glow when operating, and indeed it is easy to operate--just push one button, come back 10 minutes later, done! However, it seems focused on cleaning just the brush head. My real concern is about the dark nastiness that builds up inside the handle base, around the threads, and underneath the "skirt" at the base of the brush head. What are you doing about that, Philips?!
Does have little adapters for other brands of toothbrush heads. I thought it wasn't worth the counter space, and considering that a dip into rubbing alcohol would kill everything, too, I left it with my mom at home. She, too, was hoping it would kill the innards. My sister, whose brush-head was part of the initial cycle run, remarked a few days later that she wished she could have had the UV sanitizer when, while traveling, the brush head slipped out, fell to the ground, and was stepped on. Ew.
Anyway, if you're seriously OCD, maybe it's useful. But considering all the other sources of germs that you put into your mouth, your toothbrush shouldn't be a significant concern (again, just soak it in rubbing alcohol). Not worth it. Floss, brush, use Listerine.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
Provides security to germaphobes, but is it necessary?, December 14, 2007
This review is from: Philips Sonicare UV Sanitizer (Health and Beauty)
First, this is easy to set up once you survive the hardest part... getting the thing out of its people-proof clamshell. Be careful... it's easy to hurt yourself opening these things -- but this is a problem for a lot of products not just the sanitizer.
I visit my dentist regularly and change my toothbrush every six months. The dentist has never once expressed concerns about bacteria.
When I set this up, I looked at the getting started directions and it begins with removing the cover on the bulb and inserting it. Well, the bulb is already in there, so this could confuse people. It should have directions for changing the bulb, but not at the start of the booklet.
Anyway, any Sonicare toothbrush fits right in the sanitizer case. The kit includes some pads so other brands of toothbrushes can work with this. Unpack, plug in, put toothbrush in with brush facing middle, close door, and push button. That's all it takes -- so this earns points for simplicity. Plus this is sold separately so those who already have a Sonic toothbrush or other brand don't have to buy the double set with toothbrush and Sanitizer.
Second, is it effective at getting rid of bacteria. I'm not a scientist, so I can't be sure. But as one person pointed out, we've lived without a Sanitizer for years and have gotten along fine without it. However, I'm a freak about germs (not OCD, though) and there's something comforting knowing my toothbrush gets a dose of UVA.
This is wider than my toothbrush set which has a small charger and the toothbrush sits in it. Plus, this takes up another plug in the outlet. The toothbrush takes one outlet and this takes the other. This could be an issue if you regularly use other gadgets like shavers, hair dryers, curling irons.
I also did research on keeping toothbrushes clean. The results led me to products... not articles or studies. I did find one article at WikiHow that says getting your toothbrush clean just takes toothpaste (which cleans the brush, too), using water and rubbing the bristles before and after... nothing fancy -- everything you already have.
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15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
Where's the Beef?, November 19, 2007
This review is from: Philips Sonicare UV Sanitizer (Health and Beauty)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
You hear it a lot these days: "Disinfect your kitchen counters"; "Use this hand sanitizer to keep your hands free of dangerous germs." We seem, in fact, to have become a germ phobic society. So, it's not surprising there would be interest in sanitizing the toothbrush that goes into one of the most germ-laden areas anywhere -- your mouth.
Enter the Phillip's power toothbrush sanitizer.
A compact unit that holds two power toothbrush heads, the sanitizer was easy to set up for use, and held both our Sonicare brush heads for easy sanitizing. Included in the package are attachments that will adapt the unit for use with Oral-B brush heads as well.
PROS:
Following the setup instructions was easy. And, in the process, I found that my ultraviolet light had already been installed.
My unit works exactly as the instructions said it would. Insert the brushes, close the unit's door, start the unit, and it turns itself off in ten minutes.
The light panel on the front of the unit makes it easy to tell at a glance whether the unit is working, has just finished, or is idle.
CONS:
There is no way to know whether the unit is doing what the manufacturer claims, i.e., killing 99% of the germs on your power brush head. You can know only the unit is running for the prescribed time. So how do you know that this product does what is says it will do?
A trip to "pubmed.gov" uncovered several studies on the disinfecting properties of ultraviolet light. Turns out, it is used to disinfect water, contact lens, and operating theaters in hospitals. And it works for most bacteria!
The problem is that I couldn't find any studies on disinfecting toothbrushes.
A trip to the Phillip's site yielded graphics and quick facts about germs, but nowhere could I find a study that showed that UV light is effective in disinfecting toothbrushes.
So the question remains. Does this product work? Does it kill up to 99% of the germs on your power toothbrush?
My answer: probably. However, I found no proof in the medical literature or on the Phillip's site.
Rating: Unit performs as indicated in the instructions, five stars. Unit does what it claims to do, one star (until we can see the proof). Overall rating: three stars.
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17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
A Product In Search Of A Purpose, November 23, 2007
This review is from: Philips Sonicare UV Sanitizer (Health and Beauty)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
This is one of the strangest products that I have ever reviewed. Judging it in its best light, I can say that it works as the manual describes. I inserted two Sonicare toothbrush heads in the sanitizer chamber, I watched the sanitizer's blue glow, and I removed the heads when the green light came on, apparently confident that my mouth would be bereft of bacteria. But was my confidence warranted? Since the manual did not include any scientific information on the efficacy of this product, how do I know that it works as intended? I have many unanswered questions. How soon after the sanitation process do the bacteria regroup? Assuming that the bacteria are killed, am I now healthier or are the bacteria killed anyway during ordinary brushing or by my mouth's immune system? Will this product inadvertently permit a heartier, resistant strain of bacteria to grow on my brush heads? Is this simply the first in a planned line of sanitizers for various parts of the body? Unfortunately, the list of questions is endless, and I, for one, am not persuaded that this product is necessary nor am I willing to make the leap of faith that the manufacturer cleary intends.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Neat idea, useless gadget that takes up space, March 29, 2010
This review is from: Philips Sonicare UV Sanitizer (Health and Beauty)
On the one hand, it seems like a neat idea when you have a slightly germaphobic SO. On the other, even the slightly germaphobic may recognize a waste of space.
I also have a background in biology, which is why i should have known better. But i thought, cheap supprise gift. woo hoo, points for me. Not so. Very anticlimactic. As a gift, it bombs. As a useful tool, it also comes up short. Particularly in comparison to other cleaning methods easily available.
Though I do have one quibble with another review, the biologist poo-pooing this device, despite being mainly in agreement. I think the main concern of bacterial growth on the brush is not the ones transmitted from our mouths. I think it is contamination from being in a restroom, open to fecal contaminants in the air, and also, at least here in my city, an apparently harmless but pretty pink growth that seems to come in the water supply.
That said... Save your money for some Sonicare condoms(little slip on silicon covers that help seal the brushhead to the body, helping to prevent leaks into the body mechanism. Found that one out too late) and new brush heads. It seems likely to be a far better use of the cash.
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