A brush that offers personalized oral care and a professional-level cleaning

Edmund Khoo, DDS, is board-certified in orthodontics. He teaches full-time as a clinical associate professor at his alma mater, New York University College of Dentistry, is a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, and serves on advisory boards for the American Dental Education Association. Waterproof Electric Toothbrush

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The Oral-B iO Series 9 electric toothbrush is one of the flashiest—and most expensive—devices on the market. Still, the design, customization, and smart settings make the price semi-reasonable, depending on your budget. Unfortunately, the technology does not always work as it should, and we find it hard to believe that someone would use a smartphone app every time they brush their teeth. So unless you consistently use the additional features, this device might not be worth the money.

The electric toothbrush industry has grown in recent years with the addition of smart devices that connect with apps on your phone. The Oral-B iO Series 9 has Bluetooth technology, allowing it to connect with your phone and follow where in the mouth you are brushing. Given the advanced technology, this device comes with a higher price tag than most electric toothbrushes on the market. Some of this price, though, is well worth it. This device is sleek in design and it’s easy to choose between the seven brush modes it offers. 

Additionally, the device comes with great features: It lights up when you are pressing too hard and informs you when to switch to the next section of your mouth. But the device is expensive and the AI technology that notifies the app what portion of your mouth you are brushing is not always as effective. We tested this one over the course of several weeks, evaluating the ease of setup, ease of use, and the various features it has. Should you spend money on this device? It largely depends on what you are looking to get out of an electric toothbrush. 

First of all, this device requires customers who can drop roughly $300 or more on the device itself and then $15 to $19 per replacement head. On a fundamental level, it works for people who have the budget for it. Additionally, this device is great for people who have difficulties curbing cavities and other dental issues. The guided brushing feature through the smartphone app can help steer proper brushing techniques and notify the user of portions of the mouth that they are missing. 

This is one of the more technologically advanced electric toothbrushes on the market, yet that does not mean it is difficult to use. The device comes charged and is ready to use when you open the box. All you have to do is download the Oral-B app onto your smartphone to connect the device to your phone. The app walks you through all the steps to accomplish this, which makes it simple. Then, once the app is connected, the device is ready to use, either with or without the app open. 

When it’s time to brush, the device makes it easy for the user, with two buttons and an interactive color display. One button turns the device on and off, while the other helps you click through the seven brush modes. Then, once the brush mode is selected, the brush’s screen shows a timer to let you know how long you have been brushing your teeth. 

Besides that, the toothbrush will buzz after every 30-second interval. The brush will also flash red when you are using too much pressure on your teeth. When the light is green, that indicates that you are using the right amount of pressure. 

Overall, I rated this brush a 4 out of 5 for ease of use. 

Seven brush settings are included with the Oral-B device—daily clean, intense, whitening, gum care, sensitive, super sensitive, and tongue clean. As mentioned above, it is simple to switch between the different brush modes to select the one that works best for you. One highlight of the brush modes is that there are noticeable differences between each mode, and they each offer a variety for people depending on their own oral hygiene goals. The one downside of the device is that it does not allow the user to alter the intensity of the vibration once they select a brush mode and begin brushing. But, given the seven available options that include super sensitive, any user should be able to find a brush mode suitable for their needs. 

I rated this a 5 out of 5 due to the convenience of the settings and functionality. 

The accessories help justify the high price for this electric toothbrush, which comes with four replacement brush heads and a travel case. Additionally, the device comes equipped with a magnetic charging stand. This stand is very sleek in design and works well to charge the device. However, while the electric toothbrush stays standing on the charging stand when left alone, there is nothing to protect the brush from falling if someone nudges it accidentally. At this price range, it’s fair to be picky—and it would be nice if the charging stand provided more support, because nobody wants their brush to tumble onto the floor. 

Thanks to the travel case, I rated this a 5 out of 5 for portability.

Another selling point with this toothbrush is that it comes equipped with smartphone capabilities and AI technology to assist the user when they are brushing their teeth. 

Here’s how it works: The device connects to an app on your phone. Then, once you hit the power button to start brushing, it shows an interactive map of the mouth that follows the toothbrush as you target different sections. The interactive map will inform you when you have sufficiently cleaned each section of the mouth. It will also provide insights to the user about when and where they used too much pressure on the teeth, how long they brushed, and if they experienced any gum bleeding. Additionally, the app includes helpful advice and videos that teach skills, like proper brushing techniques.

One downfall with the AI technology is that it does not always register when you are using the brush on specific portions of the mouth. For example, it failed to notice when I would brush my upper front teeth, no matter how I altered my hold on the brush. I felt like I was more focused on the app instead of paying attention to brushing my teeth well. Also, I do not see myself using the app every time I brush my teeth. In other words, this device might not be worth the cost if someone does not see themselves consistently using the included technology. 

Overall, I gave this a 4 out of 5 for functionality. 

To evaluate the toothbrush’s functionality, as well as all its impressive features, I used it to brush my teeth over the course of several weeks. I evaluated the special features, reviewed the app, checked to see how the Bluetooth technology worked, and played with the different modes. I saw how the brush worked when I used it after eating various kinds of sticky or chewy food, and recorded how my teeth felt after brushing.

The Oral-B iO Series 9 is one of the most expensive electric toothbrushes on the market at around $300 to $330 for the device. The sleek design, interactivity, and special features to improve your dental health make it worth the price tag, depending on your needs. The device is easy to set up, and makes it easy to select different brush modes. Additionally, the use of the app helps inform users about how they are brushing their teeth, if they are brushing too hard, and other steps that can be taken to address any dental concerns.

Despite all these benefits, the device is not completely worth the hefty price tag. The AI technology, although innovative, does not work as efficiently as you would hope, given the price. The slightly precarious charging stand might be a deterrent. The brush heads, which cost around $15 to $19 per head, will make it even more expensive for the user to continue to use the brush after spending the initial amount. All said, although the device has its benefits, there are more affordable toothbrushes on the market that offer similar benefits. 

I rated the Oral-B iO Series 9 a 3 out of 5 for overall value.

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9500 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush: This top-of-the-line toothbrush comes with all the accouterments: Four different brush heads, a carrying case, a charging stand that looks like a water glass, and access to an app that promises to help you brush more effectively. It has five modes and three levels of intensity. This brush costs around the same amount (about $270) as the Oral-B iO Series 9, and has many of the same features, so choosing between them might come down to aesthetics (the Oral-B option is more sleek) and brush head style (the Philips one has a more traditional brush shape, while the Oral-B is round).

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9750 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush: This high-end option from Philips is the newest release in their line. This one includes a holder for the various brush heads, and people rave about the long battery life. Again, though, this mostly comes down to whether you like the look of it, and what brush type you like.

The Oral-B iO Series 9 provides the user with a seamless experience from start to finish. It is simple to set up, sleek in its design, and incorporates beneficial additions, including seven different brush modes and helpful advice through the smartphone app. These characteristics can make the cost of the device worthwhile for some. 

However, the AI technology does not always indicate correctly where in the mouth you are brushing. Also, the brush heads are expensive to replace, adding to the total cost of the device. Therefore, there are likely other devices on the market that could be just as or more beneficial for your oral hygiene without the hefty price tag.

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