This is going to gross some of you out: for the better part of my life, I’ve brushed my teeth once a day and flossed maybe half a dozen times a year.
My dentist calls them “Magic Teeth” because after years of deplorable oral hygiene, I have one very tiny cavity that didn’t even require freezing to fill.
I’m not sure what my problem is. It’s not that I don’t enjoy that smooth feeling as my tongue sweeps across my top row of teeth after a good brushing. I do – really.
Being busy is probably a terrible excuse, but I’ve got a full life and from the minute I wake up, my brain goes into overdrive, tasking my day almost obsessively. Some days, it’s noon before I realize that I haven’t washed my face, brushed my hair or teeth. At least my kids leave the house clean, fed and well-dressed. (Someone should.)
I’m trying to pass along better habits to my kids. I cleaned their gums before they had teeth, and as soon as they were each co-ordinated enough to hold a toothbrush, we started teaching them how to do it. We will continue to do the bulk of the brushing for them until they’re at least six years old, and then closely monitor them until age eight, which is what most dentists recommend.
At our P&G Mom kick-off event, which was one part social function to one part conference, I questioned the dentist about the necessity of using toothpaste. You see, I’ve read (more than once) that you really don’t need toothpaste to effectively clean your teeth. She paused for a moment, and admitted that about 30 per cent of the population brushes well enough to omit the use of toothpaste.
But where does that leave the rest of us?
I suppose we better improve our brushing skills and grab some Crest.
This same dentist went on to tell us how an electric toothbrush can really up our tooth game, and something like 91 per cent of dentists recommend using one. (Which obviously begs the question: then why the hell do they keep giving us manual toothbrushes at the end of every visit?)
At the end of her presentation, she told us that we would each receive an Oral-B ProfessionalCare SmartSeries 5000 electric toothbrush. Many oohs and ahhs flooded the room. I didn’t know at the time that this was the toothbrush of all toothbrushes.

THE GOOD
Mark my words: the first time you brush with the Oral-B ProfessionalCare SmartSeries 5000, you’re going to be WOWed. Now, don’t take this from yours truly – the non-brusher. Take it from my husband who is religious about toothbrushing. Big B said he’d never felt cleaner teeth. He immediately tossed his toothbrush and all but peed on this one to stake his claim.
It’s even easy for a four year old to operate; he has no problem turning the SmartSeries 5000 on and off and brushing solo. Although, The K Man prefers the idea of having a toothbrush that just belongs to him (enter the Oral-B Pro-Health For Me Vitality electric toothbrush – we decided to ignore the 8+ age reco and it’s fantastic for little kids).
You can brush your teeth in the shower. It’s waterproof. I often brush my teeth in the shower while my conditioner is setting, so I like this feature.
There’s room for four brush heads on the SmartSeries 5000’s base unit. So if you’re a family of four (with kids older than three – we’ll get to that…), you could do away with everyone’s manual toothbrush and make this a family affair. You each just choose different-coloured “rings” for your brush heads so you know which one belongs to whom. If you all have to rush to get out of the house at the same time each morning, this arrangement might take some serious co-ordination.

The timer. We have to talk about the timer, people. The Oral-B SmartGuide is a wireless clock/timer combo that will become your toothbrushing guru. Dentists say you need to brush for two minutes to ensure you’ve done a good job. I promise you – if you’re not using a timer, it’s pretty unlikely that you’re brushing for two whole minutes. Because two whole minutes is a long damn time when you’re doing something like brushing your teeth. Try it yourself. Get out your iPhone or laptop, use a timer app and start brushing; don’t look at the timer and brush as you normally would. When you’re done, check your timer. My guess is that you’ve maxed out around the one-minute mark (if that). The coolest part, perhaps, is that the brush alerts you at every 30-second interval, so you can do your pearly whites from top to bottom and front and back evenly.
There’s a pressure alarm. When I mentioned earlier that Big B’s really into his oral hygiene routine, I failed to describe what his toothbrushes usually look like about a month in to use: hammerheads. The poor, sad bristles in the middle completely obliterated. Too. Much. Pressure. Well, with the Oral-B ProfessionalCare SmartSeries 5000, if you brush too hard, there’s a bright red light that warns you to ease up; if you don’t pay attention, the brush head grinds to a halt.
It’s fully rechargeable. No batteries needed. And the charge lasts a long time.
I really, really love the brush head that came with the SmartSeries 5000 kit. The Oral-B FlossAction rocks. We bought some less-fancy Oral-B brush heads at Costco but they’re not in the same league.
A travel carry case!
Every Oral-B Professional Series toothbrush has a 60-day money-back guarantee and two-year repair and replacement warranty. They’re obviously fairly confident.
There are apparently five settings on the brush (Daily Clean, Sensitive, Whitening, Massage, Deep Clean). I have honestly not bothered to try anything but the Daily Clean. If it ain’t broke…
During Oral Health Month, pledge to get a more confident smile by brushing, flossing and rinsing with Crest and Oral-B products for 30 days. If you do, P&G will donate $1 to the awesome charity Dress for Success – totalling up to $20,000!
I really do get excited now to brush my teeth. Sometimes even twice a day.
THE GAFFE
Oral-B FlossAction replacement brush heads do not come cheap. I think I paid around $20 for three. That’s almost $7 per brush, which is double what I’d normally spend on a manual toothbrush. I’m not replacing them every three months as recommended.
When I asked P&G if there was an age recommendation for the Oral-B ProfessionalCare SmartSeries 5000 with SmartGuide, I was told age three. But why? My kids have used Oral-B electric toothbrushes for kids for years. Is it about the speed or the brush head? Seems to me, Oral-B could create a toddler setting and we could just pop on one of the sensitive brush heads.
The battery cover on the timer is a real SOB to get off. We read and re-read the instructions, and after I tried for 10 minutes, I gave up. Big B – with his added strength and patience – managed to dislodge it, but not without a bit of a fight. I saw many of the P&G Moms complaining about the battery cover, so I know it wasn’t just me. Room for improvement here.
If you’re not going to make this into a family brushing centre, the SmartSeries 5000 is pricey at $175+. However, if you share this among four family members, $43.75 for what is overall a truly outstanding electric toothbrush is pretty reasonable.
THE GEARS
4/5
So…where can you buy it?
CONTEST
While this contest isn’t for the Oral-B ProfessionalCare SmartSeries 5000 with SmartGuide Electric Toothbrush, you do have the opportunity to win one of two really amazing electric toothbrush prize packs (enter here):
- Valued at $50, the first prize pack is perfect for smaller hands and includes the Oral-B CrossAction Pro-Health Toothbrush, Oral-B Glide floss, plus The K Man’s favourite, the Oral-B Pro-Health for Me Vitality electric toothbrush.
- Valued at $110, the second prize is an Oral-B Professional Deep Sweep Triaction 5000.
DISCLAIMER: I’m a P&G Mom and get access to products and special events. All opinions expressed on this blog are mine. All mine. By entering the contest you are accepting that if you win your contact information will be shared with a P&G PR agency for the purpose of mailing your prize. This giveaway may appear on other blogs as part of the #PGmom program; however, to be fair, you can only win once per giveaway. If your name is chosen more than once, another winner will be selected.
Rick Bronder says
How did you get the Smart Guide battery cover off? I have not had success. Any body, please let me know. Please follow up my comment so it gets forwarded to me. If you are a good Samaritan, please email me rbronder@gmail.com!
Mommy Gearest says
Hi Rick – it was REALLY REALLY hard! I ended up handing it over to my husband who fiddled with it for about 10 minutes and finally managed. He doesn’t remember how. I suggest tweeting to Oral B or calling a customer service line if available on/in the packaging. But we ultimately DID get it to work and it’s AWESOME!
Rick Bronder says
How did you get the Smart Guide battery cover off? I have not had success. Any body, please let me know. Please follow up my comment so it gets forwarded to me. If you are a good Samaritan, please email me rbronder@gmail.com!
Mommy Gearest says
Hi Rick – it was REALLY REALLY hard! I ended up handing it over to my husband who fiddled with it for about 10 minutes and finally managed. He doesn’t remember how. I suggest tweeting to Oral B or calling a customer service line if available on/in the packaging. But we ultimately DID get it to work and it’s AWESOME!
Bree says
My kids enjoy brushing their teeth and love to try out new toothbrushes and toothpaste!
Bree says
My kids enjoy brushing their teeth and love to try out new toothbrushes and toothpaste!
Glogirl says
I would actually like to win this prize pack for myself. I don’t have an electric toothbrush and would love to try one!
Mommy Gearest says
I don’t see why this couldn’t be for an adult…seriously – if you find the brush head too soft, just buy different ones for it!
Glogirl says
I would actually like to win this prize pack for myself. I don’t have an electric toothbrush and would love to try one!
Mommy Gearest says
I don’t see why this couldn’t be for an adult…seriously – if you find the brush head too soft, just buy different ones for it!
angela m says
My daughter would love the Oral-B Pro-Health For Me Vitality electric toothbrush to have one just like mommy
thanks
angela m says
My daughter would love the Oral-B Pro-Health For Me Vitality electric toothbrush to have one just like mommy
thanks
Lori Butler says
i brush at least twice a day 🙂
Lori Butler says
i brush at least twice a day 🙂
Belinda McNabb says
I brush twice a day
Belinda McNabb says
I brush twice a day
shari says
we brush twice a day
shari says
we brush twice a day
Areta says
I brush 4 times per day on average.
Mommy Gearest says
Whhhaaaaa?!?!?!
Areta says
I brush 4 times per day on average.
Mommy Gearest says
Whhhaaaaa?!?!?!
Suzinzski Suzy says
My son would love the Oral-B Pro-Health for Me Vitality electric toothbrush to have all to himself! How cool would that be!!
Mommy Gearest says
He sure would – mine does!
Suzinzski Suzy says
My son would love the Oral-B Pro-Health for Me Vitality electric toothbrush to have all to himself! How cool would that be!!
Mommy Gearest says
He sure would – mine does!
Suzinzski Suzy says
Once a day is it for me. Should be doing it more often. 🙂
Suzinzski Suzy says
Once a day is it for me. Should be doing it more often. 🙂
Karen Anne Burns says
Once…..sometimes twice!
Karen Anne Burns says
Once…..sometimes twice!
Brenda Penton says
I brush twice daily. Once after breakfast and once before bed
Brenda Penton says
I brush twice daily. Once after breakfast and once before bed
KateA says
I am a twice a day brusher and a recent flosser every night before bed. go me!
KateA says
I am a twice a day brusher and a recent flosser every night before bed. go me!
Olivia L says
I brush twice a day and floss before bed. (FYI – the comment box doesn’t show up when I use Firefox. I had to switch to Explorer to leave a comment.)
Mommy Gearest says
Oh – interesting… thanks for letting me know! I’ll check on that with my web designer. 🙂
Olivia L says
I brush twice a day and floss before bed. (FYI – the comment box doesn’t show up when I use Firefox. I had to switch to Explorer to leave a comment.)
Mommy Gearest says
Oh – interesting… thanks for letting me know! I’ll check on that with my web designer. 🙂
holly messana says
i try to brush twice a day
holly messana says
i try to brush twice a day
Angela Mitchell says
I brush twice a day always and sometimes a third time when needed.
Angela Mitchell says
I brush twice a day always and sometimes a third time when needed.
mrdisco says
I have yet to brush as I’m in need of a toothbrush (so you can see how timely this giveaway is!)
Mommy Gearest says
You realize that the prize pack doesn’t include bacon-flavoured toothpaste, right!? 😉
mrdisco says
I have yet to brush as I’m in need of a toothbrush (so you can see how timely this giveaway is!)
Mommy Gearest says
You realize that the prize pack doesn’t include bacon-flavoured toothpaste, right!? 😉
J says
I brush daily. And floss as well. There are some places that a brush simply cannot go that floss can.
J says
I brush daily. And floss as well. There are some places that a brush simply cannot go that floss can.
Glogirl says
I brush my teeth daily.
Glogirl says
I brush my teeth daily.
Jasen H says
Once a day
Jasen H says
Once a day
tennille says
Usually I brush 3-4 times a day and the kids 2x.
Mommy Gearest says
OK, you’re hard core.
tennille says
Usually I brush 3-4 times a day and the kids 2x.
Mommy Gearest says
OK, you’re hard core.
Andrew P says
Twice a day
Andrew P says
Twice a day
lisa bolduc says
i love flossing my teeth! i love the feeling. i brush about 2to 3 times a day
lisa bolduc says
i love flossing my teeth! i love the feeling. i brush about 2to 3 times a day
Suzie M says
I brush twice a day
Suzie M says
I brush twice a day
angela m says
I brush my teeth once a day.
thanks
angela m says
I brush my teeth once a day.
thanks
Jeannie says
I think my son would like his very own special electric toothbrush!
Jeannie says
I think my son would like his very own special electric toothbrush!
Jeannie says
I brush twice a day, sometimes more if I’ve eaten something meaty or sticky sweet.
Jeannie says
I brush twice a day, sometimes more if I’ve eaten something meaty or sticky sweet.
Anu Chopra says
We all brush our teeth at least once a day in the morning and my son brushes twice a day (morning and night) due to many cavities.
Anu Chopra says
We all brush our teeth at least once a day in the morning and my son brushes twice a day (morning and night) due to many cavities.
Monique L. S. says
I always brush at least 2 times a day, but often will brush 3 times. (I’m known to bring my toothbrush to work — It’s so nice to feel fresh after a meal)
Monique L. S. says
I always brush at least 2 times a day, but often will brush 3 times. (I’m known to bring my toothbrush to work — It’s so nice to feel fresh after a meal)
Ingrid L says
Everyone in our house brushed twice a day, but flosses less than we should.
I’d love to win the kids pack, my kiddies would love it!
Ingrid L says
Everyone in our house brushed twice a day, but flosses less than we should.
I’d love to win the kids pack, my kiddies would love it!
Courtney says
My son brushes his teeth 2 times a day, he loves it!
Mommy Gearest says
So good to instill a good habit like that!
Courtney says
My son brushes his teeth 2 times a day, he loves it!
Mommy Gearest says
So good to instill a good habit like that!
Courtney says
I brush my teeth twice a day, sometimes 3 if I’ve had a spicy lunch!
Courtney says
I brush my teeth twice a day, sometimes 3 if I’ve had a spicy lunch!
Dayna Wilson says
twice a day! 🙂
Dayna Wilson says
twice a day! 🙂
Jaime Brown says
My family all brush our teeth 2 or more times a day, thank you:)
Jaime Brown says
My family all brush our teeth 2 or more times a day, thank you:)
Jennifer says
I can tell you my little man would love using this toothbrush. He loves the whole idea of an electric toothbrush, so much more exciting than his manual version.
Jennifer says
I can tell you my little man would love using this toothbrush. He loves the whole idea of an electric toothbrush, so much more exciting than his manual version.
shari says
my daughter is only 10 months but loves brushing her two teeth. this would amuse her to no end
shari says
my daughter is only 10 months but loves brushing her two teeth. this would amuse her to no end