Good Vibrations
June 04, 2007
I've been a fan of good dental hygiene ever since my first date in seventh grade, when my boyfriend climbed in the backseat of the car and grinned widely at me. He had just eaten breakfast, and remnants of masticated cornflakes were lining his gums. I was repulsed that he hadn't brushed his teeth, and shot my mother a wide-eyed look of worry through the rearview mirror.
Having never used an electric toothbrush, I've never understood the allure of owning one. Sure, I've seen them in stores. I've even watched them in action. But I've never been able to tell whether the electric version was that different from the manual brush, aside from the larger body and constant buzzing. That was before this weekend, when I bought one.
As soon as I got home, I tore into the packaging and pressed ON. It worked! I questioned whether I should stick it in my mouth, considering my affinity for washing everything before I use it (dishes! clothes! food!), but threw caution to the wind and anxiously squeezed my Colgate Total onto the bristles.
I put the toothbrush in my mouth and pressed ON again, slightly jumping when it roared to life in my mouth. I've never had anything vibrate in there before.
Was I using it correctly? Was I supposed to rub it along my teeth and gums, or brush vigorously, like I normally do? I walked up to the mirror and watched myself. It felt like my entire head was shaking.
I took the brush out of my mouth to inspect its movements, unintentionally dousing myself in toothpaste. The pulsating head flung a mixture of paste and saliva all over my mirror and walls and I watched helplessly as it dripped on the floor before I could shove the brush in my mouth again.
And then it turned itself off. Was that really two minutes? I only brushed the back quarter of my mouth. I continued watching myself in the mirror, turning the brush on twice more. After brushing my teeth for a full six minutes, I still wasn't sure that I was done.
So then I manually brushed my teeth with the Sonicare, too. Just to cover all my bases.
Afterward, I sat on the couch running my tongue around my mouth. If God could be my dentist, this is totally what it would feel like. Like plastic. Or like someone had poured hot wax in my mouth (except, you know, without the pain) and it had dried. Everything was smooth. My cheeks, my gums, my teeth, my tongue. And I didn't even brush my tongue!
I don't know why I've waited this long to buy a Sonicare toothbrush, but something tells me I've been missing out. Something also tells me that a certain someone should have used one many years ago, even if it meant keeping it on the kitchen table next to his cereal bowl and milk.
Comments
Isn't it just the best? I too, am a big fan of good dental hygiene, I love the Sonicare toothbrush!
Posted by: JLR | June 4, 2007 03:06 PM
I got a Sonicare toothbrush a few years ago and really need to unpack it from my last move. That thing was great - although it took me a while to get used to it, too! Yup - toothpaste EVERYWHERE. :)
Posted by: chickadee | June 4, 2007 03:21 PM
I got one of those brushes, too, about 6 months ago when my dentist reeeally encouraged it, especially considering that she was trying to get me to have some sort of procedure like a.... full-mouth-something. I guess it's like an in depth cleaning, especially of the gum. Guess I had some tartar build up. I opted not to have the procedure but to buy the brush instead. Six months later at my check up I passed with flying colors! I bought the one with the small round head since I have a hard time getting to the back side of my wisdom teeth. You should try looking at the digital numbers on the microwave while brushing and watch the numbers jump all around; it's funny!
Posted by: Chiada | June 4, 2007 04:38 PM
Hmmm six minutes worth of brushing . . . you sure you still have teeth in there?
Posted by: Katie | June 4, 2007 04:42 PM
Oh, MAN, do I love the sonicare. My husband, shockingly, doesn't care for it and is still using one of those old fashioned manual brushes. Crazy!
Posted by: Janssen | June 4, 2007 05:14 PM
I love mine as well - and the feeling after cleaning your teeth is just as you describe. I often thinking about posting the top five things I can do while brushing with my sonic care...finally I can hook my bra...big, big accomplishment..heh.
Posted by: Judi | June 4, 2007 07:39 PM
I have an OralB electric toothbrush that I got for x-mas one year and I really like it now that Im used to it (which means I have gotten better about slinging toothpaste all over the bathroom) One of my main requirements when I was dating was that the guy have good teeth and a nice smile. No small wonder I ended up marrying my dentists son.....seriously.
Posted by: Sara | June 4, 2007 07:50 PM
HA! I totally did the toothpaste fling thing too! It got everywhere! But I couldn't help it - it tickled SO bad the first time I tried it that I couldn't keep it in my mouth for more than like 10 seconds.
Oh and you're just supposed to rub - no need to vigorously brush back and forth. The brush does it for you!
Posted by: Courtney | June 4, 2007 10:49 PM
Why were you going on a date at sometime around 10am?
I might need to try one of those toothbrushes. I like brushing my teeth. :)
Posted by: Giselle | June 5, 2007 12:00 AM
Giselle: Good question! It was a Saturday, and my mom was taking us to the Science Museum. (I'll admit it: I was a nerd. Still am.)
Posted by: Chirky | June 5, 2007 12:10 AM
Suddenly I to try electric toothbrush. I use manual toothbrush until now.
Posted by: PrettyInTheCity | June 5, 2007 04:51 AM
I'm still on manual, although it looks like I'm in a rapidly shrinking minority. Maybe one day my dental hygienist will manage to convince me to make the switch, but the thought of a toothpaste monster is yet one more reason not to bother.
Posted by: Lia | June 5, 2007 07:40 AM
"I've never had anything vibrate in there before." OMW. The things that come out of your head.
I used to have an electric one, I loved it. I need to get a new one. I ONLY use colgate total and I always get good comments from my oral hygenist when I see her. Oh, and she says my mouth is clean too.
Posted by: eddo | June 5, 2007 09:38 AM
"I've never had anything vibrate in there before." OMW. The things that come out of your head.
I used to have an electric one, I loved it. I need to get a new one. I ONLY use colgate total and I always get good comments from my oral hygenist when I see her. Oh, and she says my mouth is clean too.
Posted by: eddo | June 5, 2007 09:38 AM
See, I had an electric toothbrush, but it was the cheap kind, and it died on me. That, and, I could never get the battery compartment open to change the battery (hence it dying on me). Instead, I just wear out my toothbrushes in about four months.
But now, this post makes me reconsider getting and electric toothbrush...
Hrmmmm....
"I've never had anything vibrate in there before."
That is the most glorious sentence from this post :-D
Posted by: Manchuria | June 5, 2007 10:47 AM
See, I had an electric toothbrush, but it was the cheap kind, and it died on me. That, and, I could never get the battery compartment open to change the battery (hence it dying on me). Instead, I just wear out my toothbrushes in about four months.
But now, this post makes me reconsider getting and electric toothbrush...
Hrmmmm....
"I've never had anything vibrate in there before."
That is the most glorious sentence from this post :-D
Posted by: Manchuria | June 5, 2007 10:49 AM
Chah. Stupid double posting. My apologies!
Posted by: Manchuria | June 5, 2007 10:50 AM
I'm still on the manual. I was actually at the dentist's office last week, and the dental assistant told me the electric toothbrushes weren't that much better than the regular, if I wanted to just stick with mine.
Now, I might have to try one someday.
Posted by: my life is brilliant | June 5, 2007 12:55 PM
I'm still on the manual. I was actually at the dentist's office last week, and the dental assistant told me the electric toothbrushes weren't that much better than the regular, if I wanted to just stick with mine.
Now, I might have to try one someday.
Posted by: my life is brilliant | June 5, 2007 12:55 PM
All this vibration talk is giving me the vapors! (shutter)
~Jef
Posted by: Edge | June 5, 2007 03:42 PM