Before we delve into my review for the AutoBrush For Kids, let me tell you about how I first became interested in trying out this product. By now you all are probably aware of my love for social media. Well, lately as I have been doing my daily scroll I started to see more and more ads for the AutoBrush and the concept was very intriguing to me. At first I brushed it off a bit because, honestly, I was very skeptical about the effectiveness of the device and didn’t want to buy into the hype. My attention kept coming back to the brush however as more and more parents began to ask me my opinion on the AutoBrush and if I thought it was something worth buying.
My initial response to these parents was that I was skeptical but I could not say for certain one way or another on how well it worked as I had not tried it out myself. I decided that I wanted to be able to give a fully vetted opinion to my patients and parents so I reached out to the AutoBrush company and they were gracious enough to send me products for both my girls to use and try out.
After trying out the brushing system, I was in close communication with the representative for the company and shared with her my mixed reviews of the product. The concept I loved, the execution however, was not perfect. The representative informed me that a new version, the Autobrush 4 Kids, would soon be released and I told her I would love to try it once it was ready and share my thoughts, comparing the two versions. After trying both versions with my own girls for two weeks, I am ready to share my review with you all! Ready for my honest opinion? Read on to hear my thoughts!
Note: All products were sent to me free of charge however I receive no monetary compensation for this review. All thoughts and opinions here are my own and represent my honest view of the product. Also- please note that this review is sole for the AutoBrush 4 Kids model, and my opinions do not apply to the adult version of the AutoBrush or any other versions of the AutoBrush For Kids.
Packaging Claims
The AutoBrush claims to be able to clean every single tooth in the mouth in just 30 seconds while also making the process fun and enjoyable. Sounds amazing, right!?
Product Specifications
The new AutoBrush 4 Kids has antibacterial silicone brush heads that are set into an appropriately sized mouthpiece based on your child’s age. As compared to earlier versions, the new brush has sturdier silicone bristles that are also angled inward towards the teeth. As a side note, the silicone bristles offer a more hygienic alternative to nylon bristles as they are not prone to harboring bacteria The brush will play fun, upbeat music throughout the duration of the brushing timer although there is an option to turn off the music under the timer function.
In the most recent version of the brush, there are 3 cleaning modes: Care, Deep Cleaning, and Massage. The Deep Cleaning mode vibrates at 30,000 sonic pulsations per minute. In regards to timing, the newest version of the brush has options for both 30 and 60 second durations. Another cool feature of the newest model of the AutoBrush is the different light settings. You can choose from a 470 nm blue light which helps to kill and rid the mouth of bacteria, a 630 nm red light which keeps the gums healthy by reducing inflammation of the body’s tissues, or a purple light which is a combination of the two wavelengths.
First Impression And Effectiveness
The AutoBrush company also makes and sells their own brand of foaming toothpaste. When using the brush I do have my girls use this toothpaste as the foaming consistency does tend to work best with this type of brush. The toothpaste is easy to apply, you apply to both sides and bite down into the mouthpiece. My girls were able to bite right into the mouthpiece on the first try and adapted to the style of brushing right away. When trying out the first version of the AutoBrush I was not necessarily blown away by the effectiveness of the cleaning as the bristles did not contact the teeth as well as I would have liked. My girls did enjoy this new method of brushing however and were eager to brush their teeth with the new brush!
Upon receiving the new version of the AutoBrush, I was pleasantly surprised with the increased effectiveness of the brushing. I attribute this to the more inward angle of the new bristles and the increased number of pulsations per minute. Adding a sided to side and up and down movement to the brush when in use allows for an even more effective clean. My girls love the newer version just as much as the old and actually find the different light modes to be quite fascinating.
Effectiveness/Long Term Use
My overall thoughts? To be 100% honest, this is not a brushing system that I would recommend for children that already have a good handle on twice daily brushing the traditional way. The AutoBrush simply is not as effective as a thorough brush with a traditional toothbrush. If your child already brushes well 2-3 times per day and are just looking for an “easier way”, then this is likely not your answer.
However, if your child is like many other children around the world and struggles to brush well 2-3 times a day, you may want to consider giving the AutoBrush a try. I highly recommend this brush as what I would call a “Gateway Brush” to get kids into the habit of oral care. If your child struggles with brushing in general then it is crucial to make brushing a fun, easy, and motivating experience - or odds are high that there will not be success. The AutoBrush allows for all of the above with its fun music, ease of brushing, and novelty factor. I also highly recommend this brush for children with oral sensitivities or those with special needs who are not able to get brushing done the traditional way. And finally I think this is a great brush to send to school or daycare with your child for an after lunch brush, especially for those children who have braces, retainers, or other oral appliances. This is, hands down, the easiest way to get a third daily brushing in place.
A few more disclaimers I need to throw out there to complete this review. The first is that, like all toothbrushes, this brush WILL NOT take the place of flossing. For complete oral care, you will still have to clean in between the teeth with floss using traditional floss or flossing picks. Side note: AutoBrush does make easy to handle flossers.
The next disclaimer is that for the most effective brushing, your child will still need to move the handle and mouthpiece side to side and up and down. If your child just bites into the piece, the weight of the base will pull down on the mouthpiece and the bristles will not be in close contact with the teeth. Therefore it is important that the child hold the base level with the teeth and move it side to side and up and down.
And finally, I feel it is important to point out that the foaming toothpaste that is sold by AutoBrush does not contain fluoride. For some people this is a great thing as they wish to avoid fluoride in their toothpaste. There are many children however that are high cavity risk and fluoridated toothpaste is strongly recommended by their dentist. Fluoride use is a personal choice, which like all choices has their pros and cons. Either way, I just wanted to throw out that disclaimer for those families that currently use a fluoridated toothpaste.
In summary, I do absolutely love the concept of this brush. As a pediatric dentist, I see living proof day in and day out, that brushing is not readily done well by a majority of children. Typically it is due to lack of will and motivation. Making brushing more fun and “easier” is half the battle, and I believe that the AutoBrush goes a long way into doing this. If you find yourself and your child in this boat then I think giving this product a try is a good idea. If you find that it works I would recommend using it until the habit of brushing 2-3 times a day becomes solidified and then slowly transition into using a regular/electric toothbrush. You could also consider a combination which is what we do in our home. I let my girls use the AutoBrush for the morning brush as typically this is the brush that they want to skip, and then they use their regular electric toothbrush and floss before bed.
Price
The cost is $129 but you can use my discount code MAKEBRUSHINGFUN for 10% off!!
You can shop directly here through my affiliate link which means I will get a small commission of sales. ALL affiliate proceeds will go to the AAPD Foundation and the Political Action Committee to promote children's oral health and help find all children a dental home.
Author
Dr. Mikaeya Kalantari has been a practicing pediatric dentist for over 7 years working in both the children's hospital setting and private practice. She has had a wealth of experience treating children of all ages, and medical conditions. When it comes to serving children, she feels the importance of communication between the dentist and parent can not be emphasized enough. Dr. Kalantari practices in her family owned dental office in Mission Viejo, California
