Oral-B iO9 Toothbrush

I know this is a page dedicated to climbing, adventure, and the outdoors, and so this review is going to be a stretch.  But I have stumbled across something that has absolutely changed the way I approach dental hygiene.  A little while back I wrote about how getting a tooth removed led me to embracing the scrumptious splendor that is musk melon/cantaloupe.

I like to consider myself a good brusher, both when it comes to brushing climbing holds and when it comes to brushing teeth¹.  Concerning teeth, I brush twice a day, I make sure to spend a little time on each tooth, and I hit the tongue when I’m finished. 

I thought myself a good brusher, but wow was I wrong.  My dental hygienist recommended a package that included an electric toothbrush, a few replacement heads, a mouthwash, and a tube of toothpaste.  Then he told me the price and I was like “cool, let me check my finances first”.  I had no intention of checking my finances, I wasn’t planning on spending over $200 on a toothbrush kit no matter many replacement heads came with it.

Then I looked into the deal a little bit, I looked into the benefits, and I thought about the cost of needing to get a tooth pulled and decided that I would take him up on the offer.

The brush is an Oral-B iO series 9 rechargeable electric toothbrush.  Going from a stick with some bristles on it to the iO was like going from a bike with a flat tire to a Cadillac.  I don’t know how many strokes per minute a manual toothbrush can manage, but iO comes in at over 1,000 per minute.  The head is designed to hit every angle of every tooth.  Each brushing feels like I just returned fresh from the hygienist.

The brush vibrates every thirty seconds to let you know how long you’ve been brushing, and there is an indicator light built into the brush to let you know if you are brushing too hard (red), too light (white), or just right (green).

Even more, there is an app that uses 3D technology when synched with your toothbrush to show you how and where you are brushing in real time right on your phone screen.  This might sound pointless, but it is actually my favorite thing.  Your teeth are broken down into six zones, with each zone broken down into three sections.  As you brush, through each section and zone the 3D model will light up when you have covered/cleaned that section sufficiently.  Allowing you to know exactly when to move to the next section/zone.  Once you complete the last section the screen will flash 100% coverage.  There is also a timer going, so you know exactly how long you spent brushing on each session.  After each session, there is a session report letting you know if you used too much or too little pressure, and where exactly that took place.

In addition, there are seven modes that you can use based on your specific needs, from a whitening mode to a gum care mode, you can specify what you are after for a specific session or part of an on-going routine.

There are lots of other bells and whistles including badges for hitting benchmarks and a judgmental face that lights up on your toothbrush based on how well you brushed.  If you hit 100% coverage your brush will reward you with a smile, but if you fail it calls you a loser and tells you to get a life.  Actually, it just gives a smirk, but that smirk is loaded with judgmental insults.  It is best to avoid the smirk.

Of course, electric toothbrushes don’t seem ideal for the dirtbag lifestyle where electricity is limited, but this brush holds a charge.  It can last 4-5 days before it needs more juice, and the charging time is relatively small.  The package comes with a portable brush holder², so you won’t have to worry about damaging it while hiking in or out of camp.

This is an appliance for the mouth, it’s expensive, but I see it as an investment.  The best I could have ever brushed with my stick and bristle style toothbrush could not come close to what can be done with the iO9.  It’s a lot of money, but after about a month of using it, I can say that it was money well spent.

As for brushing holds, I’m sure the oscillating, pulsating, rotating technology of the iO9 would be the best hold brusher on the planet, but cost/benefit analysis would deem that purchase to be trash.  I’d go with stick and bristles on wall and the iO9 in the mouth!

Recommendation: Great For Teeth/Not For Holds

Specs: Advanced brushing tech with AI recognition with 3D tracking, and 7 smart modes for a personalized dentist recommended clean.

MSRP: $299.99 (I was able to get it from my dentist office for $179.00)

Website: Oral-B

1. I told you connecting this review to climbing was going to be a stretch.
2. I forgot to take the portable brush holder out of the box, and accidentally threw is into the trash. So, Oral-B if you’re reading, feel free to send me a new one.