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The FDA has issued a warning about Spinbrush toothbrushes, such as those shown here. Parts have flown off during use, causing cuts and chipping teeth.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a consumer safety update Thursday about a brand of electric toothbrushes that's been found to chip teeth, cut gums and generally wreak havoc with your face.
Injuries reported from use of the battery-powered Spinbrush toothbrush, sold by both Arm & Hammer and Crest (before 2009), include chipped or broken teeth, cuts to the mouth and gums, injuries to the face and eyes and choking hazards thanks to broken pieces.
According to a consumer safety officer at the FDA, reports indicate that parts of the toothbrush have broken off during use, causing them to be "released into the mouth with great speed, causing broken teeth and presenting a choking hazard."
The Spinbrush, manufactured by Church & Dwight Co., Inc., comes in both adult and children's models under the following names: Spinbrush ProClean; Spinbrush ProClean Recharge; Spinbrush Pro Whitening; Spinbrush SONIC; Spinbrush SONIC Recharge; Spinbrush Swirl; Spinbrush Classic Clean, and Spinbrush for Kids.
All have the potential for injury, according to the FDA.
The adult Spinbrush model has a brush head that is removable and can be replaced. However, the brush head has popped off in some cases, exposing metal pieces that have poked users in the cheek and eye areas, causing injuries. The child's model, Spinbrush for Kids (which includes Spiderman and Thomas & Friends designs), does not come with a removable head, however, it, too, has caused problems, including cut lips, burns from the batteries, and bristles which have fallen off and lodged in a child's tonsils.
“We are particularly concerned about the problems with these toothbrushes as they appear to be geared towards children,” said Dr. Susan Runner, branch chief for Dental Devices in the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “The hazards that have been reported are potentially very serious, and parents should be aware of helping young children with tooth brushing both for safety reasons and for assuring adequacy of brushing.”
Last year, the FDA issued a warning to Church & Dwight Co Inc. based on an inspection which found numerous consumer complaints about the product that had not been reported to the agency. The manufacturer responded to the FDA warning by improving its labeling to caution consumers about changing the brush head after three months; adding bristles that changed color to help reminder consumers to swap out the brush head and issuing a safety notice in TV and print ads which warns that if the brush head is not replaced after three months' use or becomes damaged or loose that it "could lead to brush head breakage, generation of small parts and possible choking hazard."
In the safety alert issued today, the FDA advises parents, caregivers and consumers to inspect the Spinbrush before use for loose or damaged brush bristles and to make sure the brush head is connected tightly to the brush handle. If the brush head or bristles are loose (or damaged), the FDA says the Spinbrush should not be used and the issue should be reported to the manufacturer at 1-800-352-3384 or 1-800-561-0752.
In addition, the FDA advises Spinbrush users to never bite down on the brush head while brushing and to follow all instructions and recommended replacement guidelines for the product.
The FDA also recommends that anyone suffering an injury or problem with the Spinbrush contact the FDA's Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program by calling 1-800-332-1088 or using going to the website.
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Unless you can not physically brush by hand there is little reason to have a powered toothbrush. Learn proper brushing technique, see a dentist regularly and save electricity.
include chipped or broken teeth, cuts to the mouth and gums
Would it possible that they could prevent politicians from talking? If so, they should give one to each, free of charge.....
I used to agree with you until I purchased an Oral B electric toothbrush. It does a much better job than a manual. Teeth feel cleaner. It's the next best thing to the dental hygienist's cleaning.
economykiller have you ever even tried an electric toothbrush? CBL is correct I've been using an Oral b electric toothbrush for about 5 years and I would never go back. The difference is night and day. I paid about $100 for mine which was the higher end model, not one of these cheap ones mentioned in this story.
Not true, economykiller. Powered toothbrushes that oscillate and pulse are better able to remove debris from your gums and teeth. Also, if a powered toothbrush makes brushing more pleasant or fun, I think that's reason enough to want one.
In addition to everything unidentifiedmale said, if you get a good electric model, they have built in timers to remind you to brush for at least two minutes. My electric gets my teeth much cleaner than any handheld brush, but like almost anything else, you get what you pay for.
ANY dentist worth their degree, will agree that proper manual technique, minutes after a meal or eating anything, is far superior that an electric brush amd that they are gimmics to part you from your money. However, they also agree, that if the dang things get people to have better oral hygiene, then they have a accomplished something that a manual brush (and floss), intellectually, have NEVER been able to accomplish.
Wrong!
Every single time I see a new dentist I tell them I use a Sonicare. Every one of them not only approves of that choice but also ends up, at some point, stating how good the Sonicare is.
You find me a dentist, a good one, that will tell you that manual brushing is better than a Sonicare. Try it, you'll find you're wasting your time. Just the simple science behind the toothbrush is enough to prove that manual is not better.
I have periodontal disease and they recommend an electronic toothbrush like sonicare only because it gets under the gums better than manual brushing which is necessary to fend off the bacteria.
My wife has very bad gums, and a family history of bad teeth. Both her parents had dentures by the time they were 40.
Her dentist has recommended a good electric toothbrush and a water pick, and taught her the brushing routine she uses every night to try to keep her teeth intact.
I have tried every brush recommended to me by dentists over my lifetime, and not until I tried a spin brush was I satisfied. My teeth are much cleaner using a spin brush. I was shocked at the difference. I have used one for a few years and never had any problems. I would highly recommend them. You know when the head needs replacing. The job just isn't as good. It really is simple, but then are society is being dumbed down every day. Pretty soon we will require assistance across the street.
Its really just a matter of preference, nothing to argue over people. The important part is brushing at least twice a day.
All you people commenting that powered tooth brushing is better than manual tooth brushing are probably correct only in your individual cases, since you are clearly too lazy or dumb to give your teeth a real manual cleaning and instead need an unintelligent machine to do it for you.Shows your level of laziness and intellectual inferiority.
My toothbrush is better than yours!
People will argue about EVERYTHING these days! LOL
UH OH You mean I should brush twice a day, not twice a week?
BG-1026147:
Ford vs Chevy !!
Northern Lights & BG-1026147 --
First off -- Ford, definitely!
Next -- Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip?
And for the record, I have one of these spinbrushes and I love it! Really does a much better job of cleaning.
I began using an electric toothbrush several years ago. My dentist now tells me I have less plaque and healthier gums. So I am going to stick to what works for me. If you want to brush yours manually, go for it.
Hey economykiller: the children's toothbrushes referenced here to NOT plug into the wall; they are battery operated. Why don't you turn off your computer and the save the world from your ignorance as well as saving electricity?
take a look at where they are manufactured, CHINA, cheap, no quality control, and best of all the sellers do not give a damn.
People forget that dentistry is one of the most disreputable branches of faux medicine. I am an old guy, but when I was a kid, TOOTHPASTE was the leading cause of tooth decay --- all very certified by the American Dental Association (who will certify anything for as little as a dollar.) Toothpaste contained abrasives that ate away your enamel, leading whole generations to have lifelong dental problems. But dentists never once complained. They just enjoyed the additional income and admonished kids to brush three, even five times a day. That's what happened to Gleem, Ipana, and the rest of the leading brands. They all went away --- mostly to Mexico where they sell their high-abrasive toothpastes currently.
As a parent who has to pay for the results of children not being as adept at tooth brushing as adults.....I love the spin style of toothbrushes, because the kids will actually use them and use them for longer periods of time, which means fewer cavities. As most of these are battery powered, and the batteries do last a goodly long time, I am not sure that there is a significant environmental impact unless you are not disposing of your batteries properly.
Consumer Reports did a test of electric vs. manual brushes a few years ago. They found that, while there is some difference in how each type cleaned teeth, the biggest difference was in the length of time that people spent brushing with electric brushes as opposed to manual brushes. People spent more time brushing with the electric brushes than with the manual, especially if the electric brushes had a timer function, and therefore, had cleaner teeth than people who used manual brushes. At the time, the top Sonicare model had the highest ranking. Their new ratings show that the new top models of the Oral B and Sonicare are pretty much equally effective. The Oral B rated slightly higher in comfort.
So THAT's what those are for! My wife doesn't use hers like that; so she should be fine.
Geez Northern Lights, what happened to your kitty? Poor thing looks like it fell into a load of wash on heavy duty cycle.
Interesting comments in response to an article about a hazardous product marketed to adults and children alike . . . I was a bit more struck by this quote:
This kind of sh*t just makes my blood boil - please pardon the profanity, and the interruption of the vital "electric vs. manual" debate ;)
Don't use a powered toothbrush? A rather simplistic way to dismiss the whole point. If brushing your teeth by hand is the best method - then why was this product even on the market?
A business is selling a product that can cause injury due to defects in the product. Apparently the business has developed packaging and advertising to convince some people to buy the product and use it. Should the consumer only have information available from the manufacturer?
The FDA issued a warning to inform consumers. Consumers can now make an informed decision about buying this product.
Actually, economykiller, most dentists I have spoken to like well-designed electric toothbrushes. If used at the proper speed, the oscillations better massage the gums, loosening plaque and other debris below the gum line and encouraging better blood flow to the gums, all of which lead to better overall oral health. As with all things, of course, it is only one tool in the arsenal.
I agree with Sirlafalot. My wife uses it to "brush" her toothless wonder.
Chris, I've worked in the dental industry for over 20 years and you can't hold dentists responsible for the ingredients in toothpaste! That is just absurd. Dentistry gets a bad wrap and it pisses me off. I have had the privilege of working for an amazing dentist for the last 15 yrs. People blame dentists but never take into account that they don't take care of their oral health. You don't come in for your preventative treatment, haven't had your teeth cleaned in 8-10 years, then get upset because you have mouth full of decay. Oh and by the way, the see your dentist twice a year BS was made up by the toothpaste companies, not the dental industry. Everyone is different. I have patients that are seen every 2, 3, 4, 6 or 12 months, depending on their specific needs. Sorry, I got off topic. An electric brush is far superior to a manual one, I see the results every day. The defective brushes are from 2009! These cheap spin brushes aren't designed to last for years. The Oral B Triumph, Rotadent and Sonicare are the only ones that should last for several years. You get what you pay for, these are cheap electric brushes that fall apart. Just like a cheap manual brush that looses it's bristles.
For those who argue that dentists recommend electric toothbrushes consider this and this is a fact. All those free toothbrushes and paste samples you get from the dentist come for certain manufacturers. Those manufacturers give them to dentists in exchange for their recommendation. In other words they know that a patient will go through a few brushes in between visits and want those brushes to be their brand. By recommending electric brushes that have higher price points there is greater profit margin. The next time your dentist praises an electric toothbrush take a look at his sample cabinet and you will notice that everything he gives out to his patients is from the same company and his pens all have that company logo and his notepads have the logo and those tickets to the latest play are from that company. That is why the Sunshine Act was passed specifically to cut back on how much doctors rely on gifts and freebies from companies in exchange for recommendations. Dentists are also the worst offenders of this because their profession doesn't involve life or death decisions. At least Medical doctors know that a bad call can leave someone seriously injured or dead and that gives some initiative to make the best judgement call.
Chris-749391, and it is the A.D.A. that wants fluoride in drinking water.
However jodilee66, the A.D.A. is responsible.
You can sand wood by hand or with power sanders.
Guess which one gets the job done quicker and more effectively.
Sonicare was recommended to me by my Dentist. It has resulted in healthier teeth. That is a fact, not an opinion (although anecdotal).
As for these spinbrushes - how many were sold, and how many were defective?
If they sold 20 million and 20 have problems - that's just a 1 in a million problem rate. Considering it has moving parts, and people don't change the heads or bite down on them (with the tremendous force that your teeth can exert) - it might really be a minor risk for most users.
These articles never seem to be able to answer the one question I have. How many went bad out of how many sold is probably the most important piece of data.
Hey planet comet i agreed with you that its everyone's preference on what to use but did you haft resort to childish name calling i use an electric brush and you still hafta put the same amount of work and time into bushing the only difference is it gets your teeth cleaner! so please keep your ignorant comments to your self! thank you!
I know it's probably just me but if you get eye injuries from your toothbrush I think you need some training on the proper use of said brush.
Don't tell me there made in china aren't they? they must be cause Ive never bought one. Never by Chnise, if you don't have a choice sometimes its better to just do without something.
Not all technology is good, unless you're selling it to someone else. I'll stick with the old style brush that has served me well.
As for the dental industry it's like any other profession, there's good and bad. Few things are more painful than a bad tooth, in that respect it's great to have dentists to fix the problem and to help maintain a happy smile.
However recent studies has shown an marked increase in thyroid cancer, tooth and breast x-rays are suspect in the increase of the disease. While radiation shields are provided with x-ray machines many reports indicate they end up stuffed in a drawer somewhere unused.
Another negative aspect of dental care that's often overlooked is flouride treatments and the use of flouride (a known poison) in toothpaste. My 88 year old aunt has used baking soda and salt for toothpaste all her life and has beautiful teeth to this day!
See story: http://www.naturalnews.com/026605_fluoride_fluorides_detox.html?fb_comment_id=fbc_10150116237378014_18783003_10150312529933014
A google search on the effects of fluoride is eye opening at the least as the negative effects are well documented. As for whether or not the average dentist knowingly recommends products that cause harm to the user, I would suspect they too are ignorant of some of the dangers out there and rely on the advice of "experts". As for dentistry in general I would rather "be with the have's than the have not's"!
Switched my children over to electric toothbrushes a few years ago. Surprise, surprise, they went from having one or two cavities a year to zero.
Planet Comet, you are suspended for a day for violating rule # 1 of the Code of Honor.
Not true, EK. Two dentists have told me to get the Phillips Sonicare. First time ten years ago was $100, second last year was $50 for a cheaper model. Problems is, I brush too hard with a manual brush, and damage my teeth and gums.
Nice thing is, My mouth feels cleaner and no more cut gums.
Candle you are wrong. Manufacturers do not GIVE anything to the dentists, you have no idea what you are talking about. Dentist PAY for the toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, bags that they give them to you in, mouthwash, all of it. We do get some free, biotene offers 12 free small kits per month, per office. Colgate also offer 2 boxes of sample toothpaste per month (not cases, boxes of 24-32). We see hundreds of patients per month. Dentist's do not get tickets to anything from reps. We do go to continueing education classes, that we pay to go to, to aquire the necessary education to renew our licenses. Geez where do you get your information. When we go to conventions, we get free samples for ourselves so that we can try the products that we recommend to our patients. Oh and by the way, our profession does deal with life and death decisions. Detecting oral cancer, a cancer with the highest mortality rate, finding tumors, cysts, clogged arteries, abcesses that left untreated can result in death, treating periodontal disease that leads to stroke, heart attack, low birth weight, pulmonary disorders like COPD, keeping patients alive while sedated, making sure that patients with artificial joints, limbs and heart valves receive the proper pre-medication so that their joints don't fail and they don't get bacterial endocarditis which can cause heart failure and death. It's people like you, with no facts or education on the subject they are discussing that show how ignorant some people can be.
Planet Comet or whatever planet you are from... EVERY dentist recommends an electric toothbrush and particularly the sonic one. Not only do these "clean" your teeth better than you can possibly do with a manual toothbrush, but they are less damaging to your gums. If you want to prevent gum disease and receeding gums, you will use an electric toothbrush. The electric toothbrush actually slows down the harder you press on your teeth to "protect" your gums. Some of you speak as though you are the authority on brushing your teeth... unless you have had receeding gums and the sensitivity that comes from that (caused by brushing too hard with a manual toothbrush), you will not appreciate the benefits of using an electric toothbrush. My teeth were always as white as they could be and as clean as they could be because I scrubbed hard and long with a manual toothbrush... when I "brushed my gums away" from cleaning so good, I wished I had listened. Once the gum becomes exposed, your teeth will not be white along the gum line no matter what you do and you cannot enjoy very cold or very hot foods. Listen to your dentist and not the experts on this blog!!!
ROFL! She does know that they make gadgets other than toothbrushes for that purpose, doesn't she???
I don't use electric or battery operated tooth brushes. But what I am curious about is why it has take 3 years to inform consumers about this?
deborah, it is only this brand (the one mentioned in the article) that is a problem. It's sort of like there have to be 12 accidents at an intersection before they will put up a traffic light... well, there had to be a large number of accidents with this brand of toothpaste before they warn the public about them.
make that "toothbrush" not "toothpaste"... long week.
I use the crest or arm & hammer spin brush. I have trouble changing the head so when the battery dies or the bristles get bad or I start having trouble moving the on/off switch, I buy a new one. This works fine for me, my teeth are cleaner now than they've ever been.
Human Rights: Food, Clothing, Shelter, Education, Health-Care and Work! Why do we have to go to jail in the richest country in the world to get them?
Human Right: safe toothbrushes.
Now they tell me. I figured this out back in 2009 and $25,000- $35,000 later or a new car for my dentist's kid.
Why isnt Takenaka trying to ban the tooth brush?
I used to have a toothbrush with a straight 6 turbo diesel made entirely out of sufuric acid and razor blades. Too many injuries, so I got rid of it.
You were just using it the wrong way!
You are kidding, right? Americans and the FDA are sick to even have @!$%# like this reported. Wow, what a country??!!.
It's offensive for the government to treat the public as if they're retarded children. Next thing the government will be warning us that living will cause a chance for harm. Government is a bunch of retarded dopes.
WARNING:
The US Government has issued a red alert! Beleiving anything gereated by
Government officials may cause brain damage.
Unless you cannot physically use your hand, brush manually.
If you couldn't physically use your hand, you wouldn't be able to hold an electric toothbrush either, moron.
Regulations? Who needs any stinkin regulations.
hey now, we only need regulations when the KIDS might get hurt... who cares if us adults get "messed up faces"
I've been using a Spinbrush for probably two years now, changing the brush head periodically, and haven't had any problems whatsoever. I'm wondering if these people are mashing the brush head against their teeth, biting down on it or never changing the brush head.
I'd agree. The head seems to fit nice and tight for me. I used the first one I had for about 2 years, and the head didn't want to fit right. So I chucked it and got a new one a few months ago. They're cheap enough that it wasn't really a big deal. Then again, I pay attention to things like that.
I've been using it for a couple of years too -- no problem except I can never get the battery compartment open. I just toss it and get a new one when the batteries die. I bought it when I forgot my toothbrush while traveling because it was cheap and liked it so much I kept buying it.
They said the majority of problems are with children. So yeah, their brushing techniques are probably not at their strongest.
We have never experienced the problems noted either. Wonder how many times this has actually happened and if consumer abuse or negligence factors into the incidence....What I fear is that a wonderful product may be pulled off the market because a few ignorant people will not use it according to directions and common sense, will not properly maintain it or replace it when necessary. So many wonderful things have been banned because of consumer stupidity rather than manufacturer errors. But of course, we cannot blame stupid people, or stubborn people who will not take care of themselves, the government must step in and protect everyone from themselves. I would imagine that a conventional toothbrush, improperly used, could pose a choking hazard, but is anyone suggesting that we give up brushing teeth (other than greedy dentists who want to fill all the resulting cavitites
Once upon a time, when something broke, we accepted that everything has a "shelf life" and went on our way. The broken item was chucked into the trash and either replaced or gone without. However, in our lawsuit happy society, *any* time something breaks, a recall is immediately issued. If you want to be highly amused (or, in some cases, aggravated and/or infuriated), head over the CPSC website and look over the recalls there.
Yeah, funny how things tend to not work properly when you don't use them properly. "I've had this brush head for a year, and I've chewed on it daily, and now it's broken and I've hurt my mouth! SHOCK!!!"
LOL. Thats what you get when you buy cheap @!$%#. I'll stick with my $180.00 Sonicare. No problems just great teeth. BTW, economykiller, you sound like a real TOOL!!!
I recently bought these spinbrushes for my 6 and 9 y.o.'s. Sonicares are great but far too expensive for me to allow my children to use. I wish my kids' dentist had warned me about this if this problem has been known for a while.
I've been using the SonicCares for about 10 years. They definitely do a better job than you can do with a manual toothbrush, and I got my last one for $75 at Kohl's. No extra bells and whistles, but it does the same job for people that can't afford the deluxe model that you have.
So if people can't afford to spend $180 on a toothbrush, it's their own fault if they're injured?
I bet you can barely afford $180 for your trailer park rent.
$180 for a toothbrush?! THINK of the number of starving people that could be helped. The of the number of scholarships that could benefit. The only thing you are accomplishing with this ridiculous expense is lining the pockets of some fate CEO. Making self centered purchases like this is what's wrong with this country.
Wal-Mart, uses 2 removable AA batteries, roughly $30. Buy rechargeable batteries and you're looking at $40. Use one for a year, you won't even have to tell your dentist you got one, they'll know
Darrel from Florida - wow, thats great you call someone a tool because they (smartly) dont want to spend $180 on a TOOTH BRUSH. I use a manual toothbrush and havent had a cavity since I was a kid. Does that make me a tool too?
Crimson Wife - So now you'll probably try to find a way to sue your dentist. Ever think about actually asking him whether the toothbrushes your kids use are safe, or maybe doing a little research on your own? Try taking a little responsibility for yourself and your kids rather than expecting everyong else to take care of you.
There are cheaper Sonicares. The $180 dollar model comes with an ultrasonic cleaner and a bunch of other goodies that aren't really necessary.
$180 toothbrush that makes sure you have good gums and better brushing beats a $2000 root canal.
ABC,
I'll admit that we live in an overly litigious country, but Crimson Wife simply stating that she wished her dentist had told her about this doesn't mean she's going to sue him. It probably doesn't mean that she blames him for any problem. She just wishes that he had told her there was a problem. What's wrong with that?
Amused? In what universe do you live that $180 will fund not just one scholarship, but many? None that I have ever heard of. The feeding the poor I can understand. A donation like that could feed a family of 4 for maybe a week in this economy, but that scholarship BS is laughable. Perhaps that's why you're amused.
Mark is right too. While I personally may not spend $180 on a top-of-the-line model, the money I do spend on my spinner is well worth the money not spent on considerably more expensive dental work. That whole ounce of prevention thing. I admittedly had not been to a dentist in more years than I care to mention, but had to when a tooth I had repaired some years ago cracked even worse. I have used my spinner for a long time and my dentist said that I had fewer problems than those who went as long and used a manual. There IS a difference!
"Knee," meet "jerk." Does anyone ever put these "warnings" to the smell test? If it sounds stupid, it probably is? Wanna bet there were only 2-3 incidents of these toothbrushes breaking and actually injuring someone?
Yeah right. Now they tell me.... I figured this out back in 2009 and $25,000-$35,000 later or was it a new car for my dentist's kid?
Yeah, Denny, but you can bet those brushes will now come with idiot labels just like the curling iron that says "do not insert into any orifice" or the hair dryer that says "do not use while showering"
Interesting. I've been using these for a few years now with no issues at all. I find the head to snap on rather well. I just changed out the entire unit a few months ago.
As to why anyone would need these over a manual brush... some of us are prone to softer teeth, high saliva acidity, and easy tartar build up. Since I started using it, I spend the same amount of time brushing, but my dentist has been MUCH happier at my cleanings. I've been able to drop from 3 month cleanings to 6 month. It does a really good job for the price, and it had medium heads available (which also does a LOT more for me than a soft head ever did). I'm lucky enough to work at a job where I get slightly used Duracell Procell AA's all the time for free, though I typically change the battery maybe once or twice a month at most.
They're actually good units for the price.
When there is a product warning, it doesn't mean that every brush has had the problem. But there have been enough problems to warrant concern. You can't go by your own personal anecdotal experience when there have been numerous incidents of a problem.
Not necessarily, yank. The CPSC site issues recalls no matter how many problems have been reported. As little as one call can set off that chain of events.
@economykiller and Tina 293371: my dentist actually recommends electric toothbrushes since they do a much more thorough job than manual brushing.
What I find disheartening about this article is that the warning seems to apply to brushes sold before 2009. Three years seems like an awfully long time for a warning to the public to be issued, especially since they seem to have known about it at least a year before when they issued the warning to the manufacturer.
We are so hooked on electric gadgets. A potential housemate once asked us if we had a dish washer in our kitchen. I held up my two hands and he looked at me blankly. Funny, they've worked well for years.
When filled to capacity, and used by the directions, the dishwasher uses less water, than washing by hand.
This is so typical. Instead of re-designing and recalling this defective product, they just add warnings to the labeling and call it "fixed." This sounds like a dangerous product and they know it's dangerous and it should not be sold. Adding warnings to an unsafe product should not be tolerated as a solution. Especially for products that are marketed to children.
It's a safe bet the manufacturing was outsourced to the lowest bidder in China.
They can always relabel them and sell them as "jewelry cleaners", etc...
Good one! Maybe they could add a warning "Caution: Remove teeth before using! Wear face and eye protection."
A piece of my front tooth broke off using an ultrasonic tooth brush. I switched to regular electric, no problems since.
Will add my comment to the host of others... I've been using this brush for about five years with no incidents. We change the heads regularly and replace the brushes every so often. I can't think of a product some chuckleheads couldn't manage to injure themselves on, if they tried hard enough...
did anyone else notice that the brushes they are warning about are from 2009? these are battery operated brushes that you throw out after the head gets worn out. i threw that brush out a long time ago!
thanks for the warning FDA!
I used these toothbrushes on my teeth for years.
Now I just let them soak in the cup.
Amazing, just think, use a little common sense when using the spin brush. "Don't bite down on the spinning head? Replace the heads every three months. OK. Not too complicated.
Doubly so on the 3 months thing. Gee, isn't that how often you're supposed to replace MANUAL toothbrushes? Do people buy these things thinking the (REPLACEABLE) heads last forever? Do they wonder why there are replacement heads being sold less than a foot away?
I wonder if Sonicare and Oral B, who both sell $200 toothbrushes that are not much better, paid the feds off so that the $8 toothbrushes that are great stop being sold...
Or perhaps someone in the FDA has just jumped off the board of directors at Oral B to do a stint at the FDA and soon they will go back to work at Oral B. This kind of crap happens all the time.
Greg - I got my Sonicare for $80.00. My gums have improved and my dental visits havd decreased from 4 a year to 2 a year. Considering the cost of a dental visit, it is money well spent.
I have a Phillips and it does a much better job of cleaning. Now if as Amused123 says that " the majority of dentists agree that a manual technique is far superior to an electric brush", why do all dentists use electric brushes in their practice?
Oooh, good question. And their brushes aren't even brushes, they are little rubber cup-like thingies. But since they've just scraped all the crap off your teeth, they don't really need the brush.
What's your answer to that, Amused?
I've used one for a couple years now with no problems at all. Maybe I just wasn't aware brushing my teeth was a contact sport. Kind of makes me wonder about the people who suffered the injuries.
For those saying 'oh, they're talking about brushes sold before 2009', you need to learn to do a little research. In under 30 seconds I found that the placement of their (before 2009) note was correct... the Spinbrush was owned by Proctor & Gamble (makers of Crest) and purchased by Arm & Hammer in 2009. This means that, before 2009, it was a Crest Spinbrush and after 2009it was an Arm & Hammer Spinbrush
But of course, it's easier to do no work at all and comment on things you know nothing about...
How did the eyes get involved in an article about toothbrushes?
Can someone please explain how a defective mouth gizmo can get all the way up to the eye, and screw something up there? Maybe it's all that flying shrapnel whizzing around the bathroom, bouncing off the mirror and landing in your eye?
Remember kids, when you're brushing your teeth, always remember your safety glasses; you only get one set of eyes.
I wondered about that myself, so I'll take a shot at it.
Let's say the Spinbrush user is vigorously brushing, enjoying the massage-like quality of today's modern electronic tooth scrubber, when suddenly the removable head pops off during an out-stroke! But since their arm is moving quickly and in a large arc, the user, already lulled into a sense of serenity by the mouth massage, doesn't yet realize that the soft brushy head has fallen off exposing the sharp metallic grindy bit. As they bring their forearm back towards the mouth the distance is now misjudged, and in a pique they begin to look downward bringing their cheek - perhaps even their eye - in line with the sharp and angry rotational mechanism! GAAAH!!!
ROFL! I love it!
"thanks to broken pieces" Nice reporting!