This Philips Sonicare Toothbrush and Power Flosser Are Dentist-Recommended, on Sale, and Currently Saving My Smile

So, I’m just going to throw this out there: I didn’t go to the dentist for six years. On paper this is because I moved three times and had two kids—but the truth of the matter is that I also felt it couldn’t be that important. I floss and brush every day, what can go wrong, right? Turns out, a lot, I learned once I found myself back in the reclining chair about a month ago (ahem, plaque buildup, cavities, gum disease). Mercifully, genetics and commitment to my dental routine mostly spared me, but my dentist did have one recommendation: get the Philips Sonicare Diamondclean 9000 and a Power Flosser, stat.

Okay, these weren’t her exact words, but she did recommend that I invest in an electric toothbrush like a Philips, because my primary issue is receding gums due to overly aggressive brushing (an electric toothbrush offers a softer experience). In doing my research, I landed on the Philips Sonicare Diamondclean 9000 plus the Philips Sonicare Cordless Power Flosser as my new smart, upgraded oral-care duo. And a dentist backs this up—read on to find out why.

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 — $259.00

Pros

• Features four brushing modes to align with your goals: clean, whiten, gum health, and deep clean
• Gently brushes teeth to protect gums and tooth enamel and alerts the user when you scrub too hard
• Includes an app too track your brushing progress
• Smart features galore like a high-tech charging cup

Cons

• An investment

Philips Sonicare Cordless Power Flosser 2000 — $65.00

Originally $70; now on sale for $65

Pros

• “Power washes” your teeth with a stream of water to remove plaque and food build-up
• Has whitening properties in addition to removing buildup
• High-tech alternative to manual flossing

Cons

• A bit bulky on your counter

My Philips Sonicare Diamondclean 9000 review

First of all, this toothbrush is pretty. It’s sleek, it’s minimal, and it comes with a chic little glass cup to sit in on your counter that’s secretly a charger. This is my first-ever electric toothbrush experience, so please know that I was dazzled by this.

“This specific brush is compact and offers a lot of hygiene tool add-ons that can optimize your oral hygiene,” says Inna Chern DDS, a cosmetic and restorative dentist in New York City. “It has a timer and pressure sensor which are ideal to make sure a patient brushes for the recommended two minutes and at a gentle pressure so as not to damage tooth enamel and prevent subsequent tooth sensitivity.” On the brush itself, you can select from four different modes depending on your goal: clean, whiten, gum health, and deep clean.

The smart features just go on, too, because it also has an app that pairs with the brush to track your brushing. “The app is a great way to be accountable for your oral hygiene, and the pressure sensor is a great way to make sure you are not overaggressively scrubbing the tooth surface and subsequently damaging the enamel,” says Dr. Chern. “The brush will stop moving if you press too hard and can be a great tool for breaking an aggressive brushing habit.” Guilty as charged, but now reformed.

My experience with the Philips Sonicare Cordless Flosser

If there’s anything I prided myself about in my oral-care routine, it was flossing. I do it every night, and it’s oh-so-necessary because I also eat popcorn every night (I am a snack creature of habit). So while I didn’t mind flossing manually, per se, I was certainly intrigued by the concept of a power flosser.

“It is an excellent way to wash the junction where the tooth meets the gum area,” says Dr. Chern. “This is the area that plaque accumulates and starts the inflammatory process. The power flosser is also great at keeping stains off the teeth…almost like a power wash of the entire tooth.”

Now that I’m newly devoted to avoiding plaque buildup, this description alone sold me—but it’s the rather intense (but pleasant) experience of using the power washer that has me in it for good. It is so satisfying to send your mouth through an oral-hygiene car wash and then admire your handiwork after. Even my husband, who was never a flossing freak like I am, is now totally converted. But the real power couple here, of course, is the Philips Diamondclean and Power Flosser—grab them both and act smug at the dentist later.