TOOTHBRUSHES ARE NOT ALL CREATED EQUAL

In the 1970s I lived in an aprartment where one of my neighbors was a Dental Hygienist and asked her if, at that time, "electric" toothbrushes were better than a regular manual one.  She said, "I don't see why you should get an electric toothbrush unless you're handicapped."  So, I stayed with my old friend Reach, firm bristled, toothbrush.

Through the years there were all kinds of machinery to clean your teeth.  The Water Pik and sonic noise type contraptions which I thought were good ideas, but they would take up a lot of room on my bathroom counter, so I dismssed them.

Lately, though, I saw an ad on TV, I believe, about the Spinbrush, a battery powered toothbrush.  It was the size of a regular toothbrush and claimed it removed 70% more tartar from your teeth than a regular, manual toothbrush. 

One day, while I was surfing the Net, an ad popped up about the Spinbrush, so I clicked on it and read how people who used it said it was just like getting their teeth cleaned going to a dentist everytime they used it.  Not just one person said it, but quite a few.  There were detailed photos of the toothbrush and some other specifications about the toothbrush and it was pretty cool looking with some really great colors I could choose.

Since I've been getting up there in age, the last five years I've felt my old buddy Reach wasn't making my mouth feel really clean anymore, so I had a mission in mind to make a project out of this and concentrate really seriously about my teeth. 

I've been feeling the back, inner, lower parts of my teeth especially, had gunk on them and even scrapping that soft gunk tartar off of them, which I have a special scraper for that purpose alone, my mouth still didn't feel clean even after brushing the two minutes they tell you to brush or sing the Happy Birthday song twice.  Also, I my teeth were starting to get brown and darker brown in between my front teeth.  (I drink coffee.  I gots to have my coffee, but two cups a day only).  I've gone to the dentist regularly during my life, but it just seemed maybe I can do something myself about these little things about my teeth that bothered me.  (Maybe I devulged a little too much personal hygiene information to you.)

I started to think seriously about the Spinbrush, so I headed down to my favorite, you must know by now, Walmart to check them out.  There were, not only Spinbrushes there, but other manufacturers which prices went up to about $80.  I checked out the brush shapes, sizes, how they all operated and the directions they went in.  The Spinbrush was the one I wanted.  It had the largest round rotating brush as well as a tringular shaped brush on the same head that went back and forth.  I also purchased two replacement heads, since my Reach toothbrush only lasted six weeks and toothpaste that is supposed to whiten your teeth.

I started two months ago and yes, I can see a subtle difference and yes, brushing with this toothbrush makes your mouth feel like you just got out of the dentist's chair and yes, it is a lot of fun and feels soooo good you don't want to stop brushing.  I still scrape the back, inner bottom teeth, but there is less soft gunk I retrieve.  I've noticed the brown coffee stains in between my teeth, as well as on my teeth were getting lighter and even eliminating some stains completely in between.  The head also is still the same original one that came with the toothbrush so the head even lasts longer.  They don't carry a medium or hard brush types, but maybe because they would be too harsh, considering the speed of the scrubbing of both brushes on the head. 

I noticed, the first time I used the brush, that my teeth were shinnier and the light from my bathroom reflected like crazy, just like you'd see those fake reflections in advertisements shooting light bouncing off your teeth.

In the meantime, I've gone back to the toothbrush department at Walmart to see what else I may purchase for my project and saw another manufacturer, I believe a Walmart brand.  This one had accessories included.  Two small pointed rotating brushes, a number of disposable floss attachments and a gum stimulator, also designed to pop on the top of the handle on the toothbrush.  I thought the small, rotating, pointed brush would be great to get in between my teeth and tackle the more darker coffee stains.  So I purchased that toothbrush.  I now just use that toothbrush after I use the Spinbrush.  The pointy toothbrush not only gets in between my teeth but goes along the gumlines which makes me feel and know this is about as clean as I can get my teeth.  I still, however, still use my firm Reach toothbrush to brush my tongue.  (Am I giving a little bit too much about this?)

I'd say for about a $20 investment, it was a really good one.  The batteries last about 6 weeks if you use the toothbrush twice a day.  They provide you with two batteries, but I used rechargeable batteries after the regular batteries died and I'm still using the rechargeable batteries with no noticeable slowing down of the toothbrush head.

While I was investigating the toothbrush aisle on one of my investigative trips to Walmart, I saw people shopping for regular manual type toothbrushes and just had to tell them about this Spinbrush.  They quickly went to the toothbrushes to check them out.  I didn't stick around to see if they actually purchased the Spinbrush, but just had to say something.  Now, how much more excitement can anybody get about a toothbrush?