Review: Ultreo Toothbrush

The folks at Ultreo were kind enough to send us their Ultreo Ultrasound Toothbrush to review. I have never tried an electric toothbrush before and Heather hadn’t used one in a long time so we were eager to try it out. Here is the Ultreo description of their product:

Ultreo® is the first power toothbrush to combine patented ultrasound waveguide technology with precisely tuned sonic bristle action. Ultreo’s bristles create microbubbles that are powerfully activated by ultrasound energy channeled through a patented ultrasound waveguide. The result is a gentle brushing experience and a deep, long-lasting feeling of clean.

What’s in the box?

The designers at Ultreo did an excellent job with this product and it’s packaging. As I opened the box I was immediately reminded of Apple products. Very clean design, no excess - everything has a purpose, and the packaging itself is well done and a pleasure to open. Needless to say, I was immediately excited. Included was the toothbrush, base, brush head, charger, case, and directions. Ultreo also included a second toothbrush head so both Heather and myself can use the same brush and simply switch heads. Setting up was as simple as attaching the head, plugging in the base, and waiting for the charge to complete.

First Impressions

Day 1 - The first time I used the brush I was, to be honest, startled and a little concerned that I wouldn’t be able to continue using the brush. The vibration was downright ticklish and it felt somewhat awkward to brush my teeth. I tried it for a minute before quitting, but resigned myself to give it a week and see if I get used to it.

Day 2 - Surprisingly, I grew accustomed to the vibration very quickly, but it is still awkward. I love the timer feature which beeps every 30 seconds telling me to switch zones and stops after 2 minutes, but I still can’t see myself using this brush long term.

Eureka!

Heather and I had the same experience with the Ultreo. By day 4 we weren’t sure how we felt about. Using the brush still felt strange, but we couldn’t deny that our teeth felt so much cleaner. Something changed around day 5 or 6 and we “got it”. I think it was a combination of getting used to the vibration along with learning how to brush properly so that the wave guide and the plastic head don’t hit our teeth. We are now 3 weeks into our trial and we are loving this toothbrush.

What we love

• Form factor - superb design. Considering how much larger the Ultreo is compared to a regular toothbrush it is surprising that we didn’t notice it at all.
• Very, very clean teeth - Heather briefly switched back to her old brush as an experiment and the difference in cleanliness is noticeable. The Ultreo simply gets the job done.
• Ease of Use - Despite the adjustment period, I know find it easier to brush my teeth. I think the key is to let the Ultreo do its thing.

Considerations

• Vibration - There was definitely an adjustment period to get accustomed to this type of toothbrush. My recommendation to anyone is to stick with it. Took us a few days, but for some people it might take longer. For those that don’t love the toothbrush after a couple weeks, Ultreo offers a 30 day money back guarantee.
• Price - I had never even considered buying a $170 toothbrush and that is indeed a steep price when you can buy a toothbrush for a few dollars at the grocery store. After experiencing the difference, however, I would not hesitate to buy this toothbrush. I’ve spent a LOT more than $170 on dental work. Personally, I would rather spend the money pro-actively and avoid the extra time with my dentist.
• Directions - I think everyone sleepwalks through brushing their teeth so switching to a new brushing method can catch you off guard. The key is to read the manual and follow the instructions, which seems like a strange thing to do with a toothbrush, but I found the directions very helpful for achieving great results.

Overall, we are in love with our Ultreo toothbrush. The upfront cost seems steep, but we feel the payoff from healthier teeth will make it a sound investment. The timing for this trial was perfect since we had just visited the dentist a month before we got our new brushes. We’ll post an update after our cleanings in July with our report card.