 DIFFERENCES between Flexcare and Flexcare+ |
| Review Date: November 17, 2009 |
| Reviewer: K. Benson, Atlanta, GA |
The differences between this model and the "older" Flexcare are minimal, that is probably why all they did is add a + to the end of the name. But there are a few differences between the two.
1. Most notably is the "new" look. It has a cleaner appearance with most of the front being a dark chrome look, also instead of the green led's, it has a backlight behind the selected brushing mode.
2. Gone are the 'Go Care' and 'Max Care' and in their place are 'Gum Care' and 'Refresh' mode. They do exactly what the other one did except for one important change on the 'Gum Care' mode which replaced 'Max Care (which is why I picked the new one over the old) '. Instead of having a 3 minute routine with 45 seconds each quad (30 normal + 15 massage) for a total of 3 min; they now have it where it goes 30 seconds each quad with an added 1 minute at the end for 'problem areas'.
3. 'Different' color, looks very similar - its 'Soft Sky Blue' instead of 'Medical Blue'. Basically bluer color than the old one which was more of a green color.
4. Supposedly lasts longer - 42 2-minute brushings, vs. 20 2-minute brushings of the old one
5. Case is now hard plastic instead of the soft case that comes with the old model
There is also a few changes in what the battery display shows with its charge but I'm not going to go into it that far with this review. I decided to upgrade from the Sonicare Elite as I was getting tired of seeing the nasty gunk that would grow inside of the handle. It was time to get a new brush head so I decided to go ahead and get a new brush while I was looking around. Overall I think it has been a good decision as this brush shouldn't need the constant cleaning of the old one and I like the new 'Gum Care' routine. So if wanted to know the differences, there you go, you probably now know more than you wanted about a toothbrush. If your like me and wanted to know at least some of this, it should help you decide between the two. Be sure to click yes if this helped you out! Thanks. |
Slight Improvements Over The Previous FlexCare Model
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| Review Date: November 25, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Philip R. Heath, DFW |
BACKGROUND: I have been using the Philips Sonicare FlexCare Rechargeable Sonic Toothbrush (see my previous review for a detailed write up) for about a year and a half before getting the FlexCare Plus with the UV Sanitizer. For this review, I will highlight the differences between the two models as well as comment on the UV Sanitizer, and I will conclude with an overall recommendation between the two.
SETUP: Much like previous units, this is a breeze. Simply plug in the base sanitizer/charging unit combo and place the base handle on the peg to begin charging. The instructions recommend charging 24 hours prior to the first use, but I doubt this is necessary given that the brush will only be used minutes a day and likely be able to charge 23 hours minimum every day that you use it.
For multiple users, Philips again includes the standard colored rings to distinguish one brush head from another. For this unit, Philips includes both a standard and a compact brush head. These compare well with manual toothbrushes so it's a matter of preference. However, some will find it nice to try out both sizes before ordering new brush heads.
USAGE: The basic operation of the FlexCare Plus is the same as the previous model. It uses the same Quadpacer signal in thirty second intervals over two minutes in the "Clean" mode. It seemed to me that this unit pulses a little faster, yet it is also quieter while running. You can still discern the signal when it is time to change "zones" on your teeth.
Philips did a nice job of simplifying the mode selection over the previous FlexCare model. There are five modes to choose from: Clean, Gum Care, Refresh, Sensitive, and Massage. This is much more user friendly than the previous model's Clean, Sensitive, and Massage modes paired with the separate routines of Go Care and Max Care. I stick to the Clean mode for the most part, but the Refresh is a nice one minute version of Clean if you doing a simple between brushing touch up.
As for the UV Sanitizer, I am not able to do a scientific test of whether or not it provides added benefit. I did some research that suggests that UV Sanitizers are effective, but that is taking someone else's word for it. What I can say is that it does operate as the instructions indicate. Once you remove the brush head and insert it into the peg stand and close the door, pressing the power button once starts a 10 minute cycle that shuts off automatically. The blue light is fairly bright and much larger than the green battery indicator on the main brushing unit. If you use this right before bed, you will probably want to close your bathroom door to avoid having the nice blue glow in your bedroom. I did find that after the 10 minute cycle was complete, the brush head was dry as far as I could tell. This is important since the sanitizer becomes a closed container, and excess water could cause mold/mildew. In the end I can't offer any negatives on the UV Sanitizer which is good because (as of this writing) the only FlexCare Plus model you can by is this one. There is currently no standalone model.
Battery life is rated for 42 two minute brushings, but I don't think most people will ever put this to the test. An individual would have to be away from home for three solid weeks and not take their travel charger to drain the battery.
ACCESSORIES: One of the things I criticized on my older FlexCare brush was the soft travel case. Philips stepped up on the FlexCare Plus and added a hard plastic case that holds the base unit and two brush heads. They also include a travel charger, which is nice, but you would only need this for an extended trip away from home with the increased battery life.
DRAWBACKS: There really aren't any. Some may find the price steep, but you do get what you pay for. Perhaps offering a unit without the UV Sanitizer could lower the price some, but I wouldn't expect a large difference.
CONCLUSION: Philips has done what all manufacturers should strive to do in the next generation of a product. They kept what worked and made improvements in the shortcomings of the prior version. After having used a Sonicare FlexCare brush for over a year and a half, I highly recommend this model to anyone looking for a new power toothbrush. If you have the older FlexCare model, I would wait until it is time to replace your old one before upgrading as the differences, while improvements, are not substantial. |
WOW
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| Review Date: September 15, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Steve R. Cook, |
| This is a GREAT investment in your dental hygiene. I have had this for only a few days and it knocks the pants off of my old Sonicare Elite that I have had for almost 5 years. New Flexcares are the way to go in my opinion. The look and feel of this tooth brush is very high tech and sleek. In comparing the Elite model with the Flexcare plus I have noticed a tremendous amount of improvements. The first is the Procare brush heads that come with this toothbrush. They are slightly more course (which I like) than the original brush heads that I bought for my Elite. They also have a blue strip on them which diminishes in time to signal when you need to replace the brush head. It just feels like my teeth are cleaner than when I used the Elite. Also the 5 modes of cleaning you can choose from compared to only one with my Elite. The quadpacer feature is pretty nice. It is basically a small and short beep every 30 seconds to signal you when you should switch brushing from one quadrant of your teeth to another. And the last thing that leapt out at me was the UV sanitizer built in to the charger. After 5 years with one model, I was growing paranoid about the cleanliness even though you change up brush heads. Some added accessories come in very handy if you travel a lot. A miniature travel case with an extra brush head and a miniature charger come with this purchase. I highly recommend this item to anybody. |
Philips delivers another solid product
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| Review Date: December 13, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Senor Zoidbergo, Washington D.C. |
I am thoroughly impressed with the Philips Sonicare FlexCare Plus. I was somewhat skeptical about what to expect from a teeth cleaning system promising such great things, and the price also caused me some hesitation. On the whole, however, this toothbrush delivers as advertised.
MODES: There is no shortage of brushing options here. The Sonicare has five modes: Clean, Gum Care, Refresh, Sensitive and Massage. After reading the directions and making several trials with each one, I still can't quite figure out why Refresh is on here. There appears to be no distinction between Clean and Refresh, and the directions only indicate that the Clean mode is designed for a two minute brush, while the Refresh is designed for a one minute brush. The difference is also subtle between Clean/Refresh and Gum Care. Nothing wrong with having too many modes per se, but it almost seemed like Philips just wanted another selling point by offering five modes.
The other Sensitive and Massage modes, however, demonstrated their unique value. Notably, the Sensitive option offered a much gentler brushing, and the Massage option was a nice change of pace along the gum line.
As a side note when using any of the modes, and you will probably learn this within five seconds of your first use, make sure the toothbrush is in your mouth before turning it on. As I found out, a brush this powerful can and will spray toothpaste everywhere.
PERFORMANCE: There is no denying that my teeth feel cleaner after each use of this toothbrush. The Sonicare does all the work, so there is no actual "brushing" involved on your end. The brush head is designed well. It gets into all the crevices and does a great job between the teeth and on the gums.
I discovered one interesting thing upon reading the directions. The Sonicare comes defaulted to setting called Easy-start. Basically, this feature starts you off with a gentler brushing experience for your first use, and the power gradually builds throughout the first week (i.e., 14 brushings). The directions say this feature is there for you "to ease into the Sonicare experience." If you don't feel the need to ease into a toothbrush, don't worry, there's a way to turn off Easy-start. Further, I could not detect any difference in intensity during my first 14 brushings, but this may be the point of the feature.
Also, I noticed that while brushing, the Sonicare sometimes stopped its buzzing for brief moment. After looking this up in the manual, I learned that this is the toothbrush's way of letting you know it's time to move to a new part of your mouth (e.g., after 30 seconds it's time to go from the front of the lower teeth to the back of the lower teeth).
DESIGN: The handle of the toothbrush has a nice grip. The brush head is small, but I find this a good thing, because anything bigger would be a nuisance once it started buzzing in your mouth. The front of the handle will highlight which mode you are in, and it is very easy to tell which mode is highlighted. You can only switch modes when the Sonicare is turned off.
UV SANITIZER: The UV sanitizer takes 10 minutes, if that. The brush head fits right inside the compartment on a small peg, and the door shuts firmly even though there's no latch. You push a button to start the cleaning process, and the UV light will turn off automatically. Also, if you open the door at any time during the cleaning, the UV light will immediately shut off (tried it). This is a safety feature. The brush head will come out slightly warm, but only slightly. I like this feature. I can't imagine what a hotbed of germs a toothbrush is, and the UV light kills 99% of bacteria and viruses.
CHARGERS: It takes 24 hours to give this product a full charge, but once it's charged, you won't need to do it again for a long while. I've heard this from other reviewers, and I can tell you from my own experience that after a week of use, I still have full bars (3 of 3) showing on the display. The device comes with a travel charger as well, but you may just want to leave it in the drawer if you're only going out of town for a week or so. You can also leave the toothbrush in the charger after each use, and once the device is fully charged, it is designed to draw only minimal power from the outlet.
The base of the charger also has a way for you to wrap the power cord under the device. This just allows you to shorten the amount of cord you have exposed to view. I first found this annoying because it's not that easy to fit the cord into the grooves in the bottom of the charger. Once done, however, it was nice to get the excess cord out of the way so it wasn't bunched up on the counter top.
BOTTOM LINE: I know this product is expensive, and I know there may be more bells and whistles than you're looking for on a toothbrush, but I think it's worth it. Dental health is important, and we too often take it for granted.
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Waited too long to get this!
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| Review Date: October 28, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Joanne, Washington, DC United States |
| Dentist told me few years ago this was the best way to protect your teeth and gums. Didn't get around to buying. Dentist was so right that this is light years ahead of normal tooth brushing for cleaning teeth and keeping gums healthy. Fact that it has a method for completely sterilizing brushes made me take the jump to buy. Insructions easy; the pause system that tells u when u have spent enough time on a section of your teeth makes this so user friendly. Lasts long time between charging--nearly a month. Be prepared for irst time use---it will tickle like crazy. Switch it to "sensitive" for a few brushings and by 2nd brushing I had no tickling sensation. You immediately adjust. Moved from sensitive to normal seeting within a week. If a family---you'll need more than one power wand, since if one of you is traveling, who gets custody of the Sonicare becomes an issue! After I bought this, saw some sets come with multiple wands. |
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