Philips One Toothbrush By Sonicare Review: Should You Buy It?

Have you ever brushed your teeth and left the bathroom knowing that they should be clean and yet feeling they are still gritty and less than fresh? And yes, a glance in the mirror confirms what the less than squeaky clean feeling is trying to tell you.

But whether the culprit is coffee, tea, or sugary foods, you know you just can’t stop living. There has to be another way of solving the problem. Well, there is. Change your toothbrush. Bin that old manual brush and go electric.

It is time to try Philips latest offering on the market, the Philips One Electric toothbrush. Is this toothbrush good quality and worth the money? Will it leave you with a pearly white smile?

The Philips One Toothbrush at a Glance

If you do not have time to read the full article, the following summary will give you an insight into the Philips One toothbrush.

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Product Specifications

1. Lightweight and compact
2. Comes in a choice of four colors
3. Can be operated with removable or rechargeable batteries
4. The brush can be battery operated using removable or rechargeable batteries
5. Comes equipped with a timer and shut-off function
6. The brush has contoured bristles and uses micro-vibrations when cleaning your teeth
7. The makers of the Philips One are recommended by dentists
8. The brush comes in a choice of four attractive colors with a matching carry case.
9. Brush heads need to be replaced every three months and are easily available either through a subscription service if you are US based or over the counter if you live in the UK.

Pros

1. Efficiently sweeps away food debris and plaque
2. Slim, easily held. At 1.7 cm wide, the contoured grooving in the handle makes it easier to grip
3. Stylish with a color-coordinating travel case
4. Replaceable heads are readily available

Cons

1. Lacks the cleaning power of a real electric toothbrush
2. Removable batteries can be inconvenient and expensive unless you buy on the US-only subscription site
3. It has only one setting leaving you with no warning that you are overdoing the brushing and obliging you to monitor the amount of pressure you are putting on your teeth
4. Can be bought under a subscription plan spreading the cost of replacement heads and batteries in the US but not in the UK

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Our rating: 6/10

This toothbrush covers all the bases. It will last and provides an effective clean but lacks the advanced features of some more high-tech brushes on the market.

Why You Should Get the Philips One Toothbrush

Removable or Rechargeable Batteries

Two types of battery-operated electric toothbrush are available, giving you a choice between buying a model with removable batteries or one with rechargeable batteries.

Users of the removable battery-operated brush will mean dealing with replacing batteries. Users of the rechargeable battery toothbrush are provided with a USB-A -USB-C connector cable to facilitate recharging.

The removable battery option works out at approximately $10 less than the rechargeable option. However, the cost of replacing batteries over the lifetime of the brush will eat up any savings made by opting for the cheaper version.

To remove the batteries, you have to undo the rounded cap at the bottom of the handle. Usually, a screwdriver or a coin will have to be used to do this. The cap is made of plastic and can be easily damaged, so be careful not to use too much force here.

Using the rechargeable model is a little easier. You can remove the cap with a fingernail and reveal the USB-C port. The cap stays connected to the handle while you focus on the recharging, thus saving you from having to scrabble on hands and knees looking for a lost cap.

However, changing removable batteries should only happen once every three months or so, whereas the rechargeable batteries will need to be connected to the electricity supply once every month.

The Timer

The timer is a useful device to remind you that if you brush for too long on a section of your teeth, you risk damaging them.

It is recommended that you divide your teeth into sections, two above and two below, and you devote 30 seconds to brushing each section. When you have completed 30 seconds on one section, a beeper will sound, advising you that it is time to move on to the next section.

At the end of your recommended 2 minutes of brushing, a beeper will sound again, and the brush will shut down automatically.

However, this is the only setting on the brush. Some people may prefer a brush with a warning system to tell them they are running the risk of ruining tooth enamel if they are being too heavy-handed with the brush.

Bristles and Micro-Vibrations

The contoured bristles and micro-vibrations give your teeth a thorough clean. The bristles help you to reach areas of your mouth, for example, the backs of your teeth or under the gumline that are difficult to reach with a manual toothbrush.

The contouring of the bristles enables them to work around the teeth dislodging annoying food particles stuck there that may give rise to bad breath or, even worse, the beginnings of tooth decay.

Food debris and plaque are removed effortlessly, and you avoid getting the cavities they give rise to helping you avoid the inconvenience and expense unexpected visits to the dental clinic might cause.

The micro-vibrations remove material that leaves your teeth feeling gritty and also leave you feeling your teeth have been polished. Regular users of electric toothbrushes comment that they find the cleaning ability of the Philips One less powerful than they have found it on their regular electric brushes.

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Philips Products Come Recommended by Dentists

The fact that dentists recommend Philips, the makers of the toothbrush, will give you the added confidence of knowing you are using a device that effectively cares for your teeth.

You have the confidence of knowing that many years of expertise have gone into designing your toothbrush. The brand is experienced at working on the longevity of your teeth.

Cutting down on unplanned visits to the dentist is another plus factor.

Color Choices and Travel Case

Style may be the last thing you think about when caring for your teeth. However, when you calculate the amount of time you spend ensuring your teeth are pearly white, you will admit the experience should be enjoyable.

The colors on offer when buying the Philips One will make brushing your teeth less mundane. You are free to choose between mint, coral, midnight, and mango when making your purchase.

Each brush comes complete with a matching travel case lending a touch of style to your toothcare experience.

Replacing the Brush Head

Replacement brush heads and ease of access to them should be one of your main concerns when buying a toothbrush you hope to use over a long period of time. Your toothbrush will come with one head, but you are advised to replace it every three months. For both versions of the Philips One, brush heads are easily purchased.

Buying your brush head and batteries on the subscription method if you are US-based will cost you $4.99 for your first brush head, and batteries if you need them, for three months after your initial purchase of the Philips One. Every three months thereafter, you can expect to pay the same amount to replace the brush head.

You decide on the color of the brush head you want. You continue working on the subscription system for as long as you choose. While on the system, the replacement brush heads will automatically arrive every three months.

If you are UK based, you will find yourself using the non-subscription method to purchase your brush heads at present. You will get the brush heads in packs of 2 for $9.99 and will have to source your own AAA batteries.

The non-US-based user of the Philips One will not, for the moment, at any rate, have the convenience of brush heads arriving automatically. But in the future, Philips may look at upgrading that system.

Conclusion

The Philips One Toothbrush is a basic but stylish model. It cleans well but less powerfully than some other electric toothbrushes.

Here’s a recap of the key benefits and features:

• Made by Philips, a brand recommended by dentists
• Lightweight, fits easily into the palm of your hand
• In a choice of four colors with matching travel case
• Offers a choice between a brush with removable batteries or one with rechargeable batteries powered via a USB-C connector
• Micro-vibrations and contoured bristles to get at those hard-to-reach places
• One setting with a two-minute timer broken into 4×30 seconds of brushing time
• A buzzer to warn when the 30 seconds are up and advising you to move to the next section of teeth
• Programmed to shut down when the 2 minutes of recommended cleaning time are up

Using it, however, will allow you to continue drinking coffee or your glass of red wine, knowing that after brushing, your teeth will be genuinely clean.