Hi, Shelby here! As part of the Dental Depot team, there’s one part of my job that I really enjoy — and that is getting the opportunity to test out new products and technologies so I can give you, a Dental Depot blog reader, my honest feedback on the good, the bad, and the downright awful oral health products on the market today.
For the last week I’ve been testing out our new hygiene gift sets (just in time for Christmas) and I’m excited to share my thoughts with you!
Meet the Oral-B Genius.
The toothbrush is a tool that we’ve been developing for thousands of years, and with each new innovation, we’re able to take better care of our oral and overall health. But have you thought about what you want from your toothbrush?
No matter your oral hygiene needs, the Oral-B Genius 6000 can meet them and more. With multiple modes and interchangeable, replaceable brush heads, you can get the clean you want, when you want it.
This week, I’ve been using the Crossaction brush head and I’ve been really pleased with how good of a job it’s doing cleaning my teeth. This is the standard brush head used on most Oral-B’s and is a great place to start with your new toothbrush. I used a manual toothbrush for a long time and just last year switched to an electric option. I just wasn’t sold on how it was better – until I got the Oral-B Genius.
Like so many people, I wasn’t brushing my teeth as long as I should. In fact, the Academy of General Dentistry reports that the average person only brushes for 45-70 seconds a day, when really, it’s recommended that you brush for two minutes, twice a day.
This is where the Genius comes in. This toothbrush not only adjusts to fit your needs, it also acts as a coach. Now, you may be thinking, ‘I know how to brush my teeth! I don’t need an app to tell me how!’ But you might be surprised by how helpful this tool can be. The Genius coaches you by buzzing every thirty seconds, letting you know it’s time to move on to the next quadrant of your mouth. And honestly, that’s the easiest way to make sure you’re brushing long enough.
The Genius also has pressure sensors to keep you from doing more harm than good while brushing. When the brush head is applied with force, a ring of LED lights turn red as a not-so-subtle reminder to back off. The rest of the time, the LED ring serves mostly as a personalization feature with 12 colors to choose from. I have mine set to an energizing teal color.
The handle is comfortable to hold and the buttons make it easy to navigate through the different settings. And because the neck of the brush heads are so slim, getting at those hard to reach places in your mouth becomes simple.
There’s an App for That.
If you think this toothbrush is smart now, you’ll be impressed to know that the Genius comes with its own app and Bluetooth technology. With features like timers and on-screen guidance that maps your face, you can get as much or as little direction on brushing your teeth as you want. You can even put in your recommendations from your dentist or hygienist and the Genius will help keep you on track for those goals.
It was super easy to connect my toothbrush to the Oral-B app. The Oral-B app is available in both the Apple Store and the Google Play Store for free and doesn’t take up much space on your phone.
The app helps track your progress in daily brushing and sends notifications to remind you to brush (which you can toggle off in your phone’s settings if you’re not a fan). For brushing streaks and exploring different modes, you’re even awarded achievements to commemorate and inspire your progress, because everything is more fun when it’s a game!
It’s Time to Accessorize!
The toothbrush is amazing. The app is super helpful. But that’s not all that comes in this gift pack. Oral-B partnered with Crest to include a full-sized tube of Crest’s Gum Detoxify toothpaste, Crest’s Pro-Health Multi-Protection Mouthwash, and Oral-B’s Glide Pro-Health Advanced Floss.
Crest’s Gum Detoxify toothpaste is formulated to target plaque and bacteria around the gum line that can lead to gingivitis, and Amazon users have rated it a whopping 4.5/5 stars!
I’ve been using the same toothpaste for years (Colgate’s Optic White) so it was a change for me. I’m a big fan of the taste and I like how fresh and cool my mouth feels after using it. It’s known to cause sensitivity for some people, so pay attention to how your mouth feels while you’re starting to use it.
Also included is Crest’s Pro-Health Multi-Protection Mouthwash. It took me a few days to try the mouthwash because ones I’ve used before left my mouth feeling harsh and dry. There’s no alcohol in the formula so it doesn’t leave your mouth feeling dried out after you use it. It’s actually pretty refreshing and helps me wake up a little more.
Lastly, Oral-B’s Glide Pro-Health Advanced Floss slides in to clean between even the tightest of teeth. I prefer flossers to traditional floss so I didn’t really care for the product. Because it’s designed to slide in between tight spaces, it was hard to keep wrapped around my fingers.
Try it for Yourself
I was really impressed with all of these products and how they worked together to improve the overall cleanliness of my mouth. The Genius is upping my preventative game and improving my oral health habits and it will for you, too. Like a superhero’s utility belt, the toothbrush is complimented by the other products.
We’re now offering the Oral-B Genius 6000 toothbrush as part of a gift pack with Crest Pro-Health. The pack includes: the Oral-B Genius 6000 toothbrush, multiple brush heads, floss, mouthwash, a traveling case, a charging station and a phone mount for your mirror! On top of that, Dental Depot is offering these gift set for $99 after a $30 mail-in rebate. It retails for $248.92 on Amazon AND when you purchase through Dental Depot, you can use your FSA card. The rebate ends on January 1, 2019, so you’re going to want to grab yours now!