My Dentist Is Obsessed With My Teeth, Thanks to This Toothbrush

You can nab it on sale for Memorial Day Weekend.

My Dentist Is Obsessed With My Teeth, Thanks to This Toothbrush

I tried the Philips Sonicare toothbrush, and to my surprise, it has become one of my most beloved possessions. Let me explain: I’ve never been someone who enjoys oral hygiene. I’d probably rank it at the bottom of my "favorite things to do" list if it weren't for the obvious health benefits. As a child, I dreaded going to the dentist, dental floss was Enemy No. 1, and I stubbornly refused to brush my teeth twice a day (because, IMHO, once was totally enough). Even in my adult years, I did just enough to have a nice smile and no cavities, but I never truly invested in the health of my teeth—until now.

Here’s how it all went down. I was scheduled to test what felt like hundreds of beauty products, and one of them was the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9300. At first glance, it looked super luxurious but way too high-maintenance for my taste. Still, I was curious and ended up taking it home and testing it out that night. As time crept on that evening, my anticipation kept building and I couldn't wait until my normal wind-down routine started so that I could try it. I tore open the box, found that it was (thankfully) fully charged, ignored the directions, and put it to the test.

Philips Sonicare Diamondclean Smart 9300

~~$230~~$170AmazonBuy Now

Can I just say, wow. The Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart is like the Superman of all toothbrushes. Instead of rotating like a traditional electric brush, it uses pulses and brushstrokes to clean in between the teeth and along the gum line all at the same time. It makes a whopping 62,000 brush movements per minute, which resulted in my teeth feeling squeaky clean after a two-minute brush. The best way to describe it is how I feel when leaving a professional dental cleaning. You know when you run your tongue along the front of your teeth and it feels as smooth as a baby’s bum? Yep, that’s how it felt. And since dental offices are catching up on patients after being closed for months, I’m even more thankful I can achieve professional-feeling results in the comfort of my own bathroom. (It doesn't hurt that I don’t have to worry about tools resembling a pirate’s hook coming toward my mouth, either.)

The Philips Sonicare has five cleaning modes—clean, whiten, gum health, deep clean, and tongue care—and each mode has three levels of intensity that you can adjust while you brush. It’s truly a personalized clean. My go-to setting is the standard clean—unless my mouth is feeling especially yucky, then I’ll switch to the deep clean. In the beginning, I gave the whitening mode a try and found that it was a bit aggressive on my gums, so I'll use that mode only for my front four teeth if they need a touch-up.

But I have to admit, it's the accessories included with the toothbrush that really won my heart. You get four brush heads, including one specifically for your tongue, which I appreciate because bad breath isn’t cute. And since I’m homebound with my husband 24/7, he’s super thankful for that addition. There’s a sleek-looking travel case you can pop your toothbrush into when you’re on the go (which I’ll put to good use once I can travel again). And instead of having to change the batteries every few weeks, the Philips Sonicare has a charging glass that you can set on the bathroom counter, plug in, and recharge throughout the day or night. In fact, the glass holder is so cute I just leave it on my counter and store my toothbrush there when I’m not using it. It may seem insignificant, but small details like that make otherwise "boring" maintenance so easy for me to enjoy.

Now if you’re really into technology or dental hygiene, you’ll love that this model of the Philips Sonicare pairs with an app that monitors your brushing. The toothbrush has built-in smart sensors that report whether you’re brushing too hard or too soft, missing spots, or have any problem areas in your mouth to focus on. It even updates you on the lifetime of your brush head(!). The app also reminds you to floss and rinse—which I begrudgingly accept, because flossing is one of those practices you either love or hate (and I’m sure you can guess which category I fall into). Another great feature, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, is that the app gives you unlimited access to a digital dentist.

I love my Philips Sonicare and I don’t know what I’d do without it. It’s made me have a change of heart when it comes to brushing my teeth, and I'm convinced it'll save me so much money long-term. Think of all those would-be cavities and crowns; despite the high price point (of about $250) now, I'm sure I'll be saving major coin by avoiding urgent dentist trips in the future. Did I mention my dentist saw improvement too? During my first visit post-Sonicare, he asked, “Are you using a Philips Sonicare toothbrush?” He noticed the plaque on my teeth was minimal and my smile looked whiter—and yes, he really did call the toothbrush out by name after one quick look at my teeth. I suggest snagging your very own, like now. Yes, it’s an investment, but I think it's 100% worth it.

Want to impress your dentist too? As part of the Memorial Day Weekend Sales, the Philips Sonicare Diamondclean Smart 9300 is on sale. Score it for just $170 while supplies, and check out our other can't-miss Memorial Day Weekend Sales.