We all want a beautiful white smile, but oral health is also important. And, with gum disease being linked to health issues such as heart disease and diabetes, we definitely want products that can give us a healthy mouth in addition to shiny white teeth.

It’s no surprise that power toothbrushes are the best way to clean your teeth – they constantly outperform manual toothbrushes at cleaning plaque and reducing the risk of gingivitis.  But there are so many power toothbrushes out there and new ones are coming out all the time, so it can be confusing how to choose just one.  It would be impossible to cover all of the power toothbrushes out there so this article will focus on the three newest and highest rated models of higher end power toothbrushes.

Sonicare FlexCare
This new model from the ever popular Sonicare comes with two brush heads – standard and compact – so you can choose the best fit for your mouth.  The FlexCare now features the motor in the brush head as opposed to the handle.  This makes it less bulky than previous models and allows it to clean those hard to reach areas better as well.  The FlexCare also removes more plaque than previous Sonicare toothbrushes.  It has three brushing modes (clean, sensitive, and massage) and two special cleaning “routines” (Go Care, which lasts one minute for those on a time crunch, and Max Care, which lasts for three and includes the massage brushing mode for gum health).  Each setting also incorporates Sonicare’s Quadpacer, which lets you know when to move on to brushing the next section of your teeth.  It comes with UV sanitizer which fits two brush heads and kills up to 99% of bacteria.  The brush heads will need to be replaced about every three months – combine this with the recommended use of the UV sanitizer and you have one hygienic toothbrush!  The easy to understand instructions that come with the FlexCare can also be downloaded from the Sonicare website.  This toothbrush would work well for frequent travelers, as it comes with a travel charger and case.  It is also a wise choice for energy conscious individuals as it has a 77% reduction in energy consumption vs. the Sonicare Elite.  People concerned about gingivitis will love the massage mode on the FlexCare.  Additionally, this is a great brush for first time power toothbrush users as it gradually increases in power through 14 uses to get you accustomed to how it feels.

Oral-B Triumph 9900
Oral-B power toothbrushes are not sonic, but oscillating.  With all the talk about sonic technology, you might be inclined to prefer other toothbrushes.  However, Oral-B power toothbrushes have a very loyal customer base who swears that the Triumph line gets their teeth cleaner than they’ve ever been.  The high oscillating brush head has pulsing bristles that clean deep between teeth and along the gumline, which will give you that deep clean feeling.  The newest model, the 9900, now features a SmartGuide, which ensures that you brush every section of your mouth for the appropriate length of time.  It also can sense if you are brushing too hard and it transmits this information to a wireless display so you will know to lighten up and prevent damage to the gums.  This wireless display will also let you know when it’s time to change your brush head and works as a clock.  This toothbrush is perfect for those people who want a very simple, easy to use model.  It has an attractive silver base and since the wireless display has a clock on it, it adds to the bathroom décor.  This is definitely a function meets fashion toothbrush.

Ultreo The Ultrasound Toothbrush
The Ultreo was developed by the same people who developed Sonicare.  It’s the first power toothbrush to combine ultrasound technology with sonic technology.  The sonic bristles clean plaque on contact and create “microbubbles”.  The deep cleaning happens when the Ultreo’s patented waveguide moves ultrasound energy into the microbubbles.  This may sound weird and maybe a little scary at first, but Ultreo can remove up to 95% of plaque in just the first minute of brushing.  This means that you get the results of brushing with other power toothbrushes in half the time with Ultreo.  However, since most dentists recommend brushing for a full two minutes, the Ultreo will run for two minutes and then automatically shut off.  It also features a timer that lets you know to switch areas of the mouth every 30 seconds.  It even boasts an ergonomically designed handle to make brushing that much easier.  There is a brush head replacement indicator that allows you to program it for one or two users.  This is a definite plus when sharing a power toothbrush.  People who have tried Ultreo have experienced whiter smiles in two weeks and a reduction in gingivitis in only a month.  In fact, even some fiercely loyal Sonicare users are switching to Ultreo because of the new technology and its benefits.  This toothbrush would be great for couples since it’s ideal for sharing.  It also works wonderfully for travelers as it has a universal voltage wall plug and a travel caddy.  And, of course, it’s the perfect toothbrush for people who want the newest of the new and are into the latest technological advances.

No matter which brand or model of power toothbrush you choose, you’re bound to improve the health of your teeth and gums.  If you buy a model with massaging action, be sure to use it on your gums as massaging the gums may prevent gingivitis.  And, remember that over brushing may cause receding gums, so don’t apply too much pressure when you brush.  These toothbrushes are very powerful and don’t need much pressure to be effective.  A final tip for people new to power toothbrushes – wait until the brush is in your mouth with the toothpaste on it before hitting the “on” button to avoid getting toothpaste all over the sink!