Sonicare Review & Recollection : One of the First Things We Bought Together as a Couple

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BrushingEvolvedTarget #CollectiveBias

Twenty-one years ago (time flies!), my now wife and I moved in together as boyfriend and girlfriend. At the time, we were working for the same “Bed & Bath” retailer. But, we worked in different departments. I was in the Housewares department (then Bedding) and she worked in Customer Service. As one of the largest store chains of it’s type, we were occasionally offered a special deal in exchange for attending some training. One of these training sessions was with a representative from Sonicare.

Us circa 1996. A lot less gray on me.

We attended the training and were really impressed with the Sonicare toothbrush. Neither of us had an electric toothbrush between us so, the opportunity was appealing.

At the time, our combined earnings were sparse. We had just established our couplehood household utilizing retailer wages. I remember clearly that she wasn’t as sold on it as I was. And that was okay. I had some convincing to do. Eventually, with some encouragement, I prevailed and it became our first major purchase.

The Early Sonicare Results

Back then, dental care wasn’t that regular but, became more regular. The immediate impact of the Sonicare toothbrush for her was that she started having no cavity checkups. She’ll tell you that prior to using Sonicare, dental professionals called her tooth enamel “sticky”. And that she was very cavity prone. But, after using Sonicare it was a total turnaround! Less time on dental cleanings and cavity free.

And my results were equally impressive. No new cavities and quicker cleanings.

We both agreed our teeth “felt” cleaner.

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This is a picture from around 2000, you can see our original Sonicare toothbrush in the picture below (behind the red cup).

sonicare-toothbrush-2

Years went by and the battery of our original Sonicare declined. A family member that worked for a competing brand was very kind and set us up with another power toothbrush.

We were pleased with those models. And they all cleaned well. Dentist visits became routine with very few problems.

Enter the Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Toothbrush

sonicare toothbrush at Target
Location of the Sonicare toothbrushes at Target

Trolling the aisles of Target recently, I was in the toothbrush/toothpaste aisle and I saw something new.

I noticed a Sonicare toothbrush that was Bluetooth enabled and had a smartphone app. The app tracks your brushing and gives you feedback on your brushing. That’s high tech! That seemed like a great way to make it easier to ensure you are brushing well, which should lead to a much cleaner smile and even better checkups.

Better brushing? My dentist and dental hygienist would love that!

Not unlike the discussion about our first Sonicare, we discussed the merits of bringing the Sonicare FlexCare Platinum into our home. There was some hesitation but, ultimately we decided it would be a great addition to our daily “self-care”. And the high-tech touch of the app really was the dealmaker.

What’s in the Box? Unpacking the Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Toothbrush

picture of what's in the sonicare flexcare platinum box
In the box from clockwise top: travel case, Sonicare FlexCare handle, two brush heads, charging base, quick start guide, manual

Philips Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected App Setup  & Use

sonicare toothbrush setup in a bathroom
Sonicare setup in our bathroom

The first step to the whole thing is to make sure that your toothbrush is charged. The instructions recommend that your FlexCare Platinum toothbrush charge for at least 24 hours.

While it’s charging. Download and install the Sonicare smartphone app.

Sonicare app screens
Left: the Philips Sonicare app in the Google Play store. Right: Signing up for my Philips account, I had several choices including signing up with Facebook or, Google or, connecting an existing Philips account.

After installing the app, signing up for an account was a breeze. Since I am already logged into my Google account on my phone, it was quickest to sign-up via the Google+ option. Not, sure why the call it the Google+ option but, it was quick and easy.

After being logged in you connect your toothbrush via Bluetooth (the app prompts you, then turns on Bluetooth if it’s off). After the toothbrush handle is synched with your phone you are asked to calibrate your toothbrush by placing it on a flat surface. Then, the toothbrush is ready for action.

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Sonicare app screens
Left: The app shows where to start brushing. Also note the handle connected message. Right: The app’s Tools section reveals some options including collaborating with your dental professional.

After getting familiar with the app’s screens. I was ready to brush. After each brushing, you can review your brushing in 3-D (see the app screens below).

Sonicare app screens
The brushing review screen is one of the standouts of the app. Using your touchscreen you can manipulate the teeth in 3-D and rotate them to get a different view.

I’ll have to call my dentist’s office to see if (1) are they aware of this collaboration option and (2) see if it helps them in caring for me better. It’s great data to see and use each day. And I have definitely flossed more often since using this app.

What We Loved About the Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Toothbrush

There was a real feeling of “clean”. This was something we noticed when we had our first Sonicare toothbrush. And now that we had switched back to Sonicare we noticed it again. My wife was the first to comment on it. Our teeth “felt” cleaner right after the first brushing.

The speed & power of the brush, wow! This toothbrush really hauls butt! And this was something that we remembered from our first Sonicare experience.

The smartphone app is awesome. Easy to create an account. Feedback on where to touch-up, reminders to clean your tongue, floss and rinse were all great functions. And on top of that, we could share our brushing report with our dentist? Really? Top notch. The 3-D view of the mouth was extra cool!

Some Quips

The pacing was a little different than our other brushes. Sonicare divides up the mouth into six regions. Our old brush used four (I think?) Once we understood the Sonicare pacing it wasn’t a problem.

The charging base only has a spot to store two brush heads. That was good, but we are a family of three. And if we didn’t have a second electric toothbrush in the house, it could be a little problematic.

The charging base is on the small size and pretty light so, when removing a brush head or the toothbrush itself, there tends to be a lot of movement. Would be nice to see a heavier/weighted option.

Video: Using Your Philips Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected with app

More Information on the Philips Sonicare FlexCare Platinum is here

Want more information the Philips Sonicare FlexCare Platinum and it’s technology? I’ve included some links to some pages and their social media profiles below.

Phillips.com Sonicare FlexCare Platinum page

Target.com Product page 

Have a Question about Sonicare Connected? Ask on Social

Do you have the Sonicare FlexCare Platinum? What’s Your Experience? Comment Below. Would you share your brushing data with your dentist?

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