Fed up of electric toothbrushes breaking. Are there any reliable brands?

[SettledAndHappy]

We've always used Oral B but they just stop working after a while. I've lost track of how many we've had but we probably have to replace one a year.

Are there any (not too expensive) brands which are more reliable?

Why does everything have to have an 'app' these days?

Why not do what the Romans did? After all they knew a thing or two about road building, aquaducts, public baths, legal system and so on. I'm sure this would have extending into cleaning teeth...

'The Romans cleaned their teeth using abrasive tooth powders, frayed twigs, and small picks. They scrubbed their teeth with harsh mixtures like crushed bones, oyster shells, and charcoal, and some used urine as a mouthwash because the ammonia helped whiten teeth.

It's worth a try, I have already collected some twigs from the garden and I've got charcoal from the BBQ. (I'm going to stick with Corsodyl as mouthwash for the moment.)

I'll let you know how I get on after my next visit to the dentist.

Oral Bs here DHs and mine came as a 2 pack years ago, 10 years maybe, his stopped holding charge recently. I think he was leaving it constantly on charge and killed the battery.
But I think 10 years out a toothbrush isn't bad.

My youngest handle on his is rubberised its a bugger to clean so might get ditched for that reason

I had a hygienist appointment last week and she said exact the same thing, to replace every few years regardless of brand/model as they start becoming less powerful and therefore less good at cleaning. So either we have the same hygienist or maybe there is something in it!

Hahaha seven years, well seven and a half 🤣

See ours says this, but then she also says we only need to see her once every 12-18 months as we are keeping our teeth very clean.

Less the battery,. I'm finding they get mold build up inside despite washing and drying after each use, it's a badly designed product

I have them break fairly regularly too. Current Oral b seems okay.

i found the replacement heads on Philips really crappy, bristles coming loose.

We’ve had Braun Oral Bs for donkeys’ years - I don’t think we’ve ever had one break, as such. IIRC we’ve replaced one after years when the battery wasn’t holding charge as well, another couple got left on holiday.

I asked the hygienist about toothbrushes on a recent visit - she said oral B is fine, the Braun iO maybe has a bit more oomph and that the Philips sonic is good if you like using one more like a conventional brush (sideways brushing)than the way you’re meant to use the rotating type (more deliberate vertical movements holding against the base of the tooth sort of thing)

We've just replaced ours on the advice of our hygienist. It's that the batteries wear out and don't give the same power to drive the motor. You can really feel the difference.

Oral B toothbrush owner here. They have never broken on me.

You can replace the battery on an Oral B toothbrush you don't need to throw it away when the battery fails.
I take mine to the repair cafe and they replace it.

This had confused me. I thought sideways brushing was a no no, even with a manual brush?
Op I am the same. They usually stop charging altogether after a few months or a year. I've sent a couple back to Phillips under warranty and they did replace but it drives me mad.

I've had an oral b for years and it hasn't broken. Don't know how good the battery is though as it stays on charge when not in use as that's just simpler.

Or it's an idea that Oral B heavily promotes to the dental profession in marketing literature, at trade shows etc.

Pretty disgusting really, encouraging pointless waste to increase sales. I'm another one who has a years old electric toothbrush that still works fine and I won't be replacing until it actually stops holding charge or otherwise no longer functions.

We use Oral B too, different models but they have lasted for years. We just change the heads regularly. Battery charge is still lasting long enough.

I’ve had lots over the years and Oral B is the best in terms of how well it cleans. I currently have the I0 10. Had it less than a year and it needs to be charged more frequently but that’s just how they go
Suri look all lovely and I’ve had one of those but the clean they give is not as good as oral B so I went back

I used to use Oral B they give up after a year or so now buy Fairywell on Amazon they last just as long and are as good without the price tag. They even replace one that stop working within 12months

I find an ordinary toothbrush better and more reliable.

I have one of the more expensive models of Philips Sonicare and the replacement heads are really expensive. The first set of heads that came with it were fine and I was very happy with the brush. but since then I've bought THREE sets of different replacement heads (you can only buy them in packs of six or eight I think?) and they don't seem to be identical to the ones that came with the brush. I cannot find the identical ones ANYWHERE. Technically the replacements I have bought should all be compatible / interchangeable but they never fit properly. They don't click into place cleanly so that when you use them they wobble all over the place and frequently fall off.

I returned the first pack to Amazon, bought a different type (but still Philips and according to the packet, still compatible) from Boots, same problem. Another type from Costco, same problem. I was starting to think I was just choosing the wrong heads and that it must be my mistake, misremembering the model of brush I have, or something. But no, they should fit properly and they don't,

I feel like I can't take them back because as far as the shops are concerned, the blister pack has been opened and a couple of brushes used, and it says they are officially compatible so they won't believe me if I say they don't fit and it must be my mistake

Yes I am definitely buying proper Philips heads, no cheap Chinese knock-offs. These replacement packs are really expensive and on top of the brush itself I must wasted upwards of £250. Really fed up with it.

I feel like writing to Philips directly actually.

@SettledAndHappywell we must be the unlucky ones as I also have to replace every year or so. They just stop holding the charge. I have bought from Amazon savers boots always the one that’s about £25 and they suck. I tried an expensive £70 one and it was no better

I think you’re right re sideways brushing, but her experience is that a lot of people don’t use the correct technique and in that case the sonic brush may help iyswim?

I have Philips Sonicare. I have had 2 in 20 years.

I quit using electric toothbrushes.

I have a Philips Sonicare and my gums kept bleeding.

I have never had the issue, beforehand, when using OralB.

The dentist told me my gum line was thin and just put Corsodyl gel on it after brushing. Shrugged it off.

A few months later, came across a YouTube dentist who said that Philips are not suitable for a lot of people because the brushes are too aggressive.

Never mentioned this to my dentist. Went for a check up. He asked me what brush I used (again). He said my teeth were 'impeccable'.

Told him I used manual because Philips made my gum line bleed.

He says, "Oh, I don't recommend those because they are very aggressive. Try OralB!"

After all of those years and all of the money I spent on heads etc!

Manual, soft, Colgate £1 for me.

I have a suri, its awesome, not cheap sure, but if you're replacing your cheap one every year, then its cheaper in the long run.

I love these but they are the ones that stop working for me.