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toothbrush

Review of Quip's toothbrush as a service

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

This blog article is not advertising and is not a sponsored post.

Quip is a new entrant in the competitive and packed electric toothbrush space. Unlike many of the larger bulkier electric toothbrushes, Quip is a sleek, shiny and well designed modern looking toothbrush.

Like all modern electronic works of art, it comes in different colours, finishes and materials.

It also has the seal of approval from the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. The ADA website explains it as "To this day, dentists and consumers recognize it as the gold standard for evaluating safety and efficacy of dental products."

So what how is the Quip compare? Quip is a simpler toothbrush that delivers the basics: it has a vibrating alert timer (to measure brushing each quadrant) and has gently cleaning vibrations that won't harm your gums.

What does it come with? The basic kit comes with a pre-installed battery, brush head and a slim toothbrush holder (attaches to your mirror with micro suction cups but also doubles as a travel cover). I have had it attached to my bathroom mirror for 30 days, and it hasn't fallen off once. I have traveled with it once, rinsed it with warm water when I got back, and it stuck right back on the mirror.

How do you charge the battery? I have used OralB and Philips electric toothbrushes, and they each come with their charging bases (which are usually bulky and consume valuable counter space). The Quip uses a single AAA battery that can be changed within seconds. Since Quip is a Toothbrush As A Service, when you subscribe to their toothbrush head replacement plan, they also send you a replacement battery every three months. If you travel and run out of power, replace it with a cheap AAA, you can buy anywhere, and you don't have to carry a bulky charger.

How does it compare to a "normal" (non-powered) toothbrush? The Quip is definitely better than a normal plastic toothbrush because it offers gentle vibrations and helps with timing. Additionally, they send replacement heads automatically which means you never have to worry about timing replacements.

How does the Quip compare to other electric toothbrushes? It depends. The truth is that the newer electric toothbrushes that vibrate and rotate seem to deliver an easier and better clean. However, the Quip is less than half the cost, easier to travel with and effective when used as directed (in conjunction with flossing and regular dentist visits).

General recommendations included with the introductory guide are:

  • Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste

  • Brush gently (don’t push too hard or you will injure your gums)

  • Make sure you brush every tooth from all directions

  • Brush for two minutes (30 seconds per quadrant)

  • Brush your tongue (the back of the brush head has a scraper)

  • Don’t rinse your mouth right after brushing

What are the cons?

  • The Quip is better than a plain non-powered toothbrush, but its performance is significantly worse than the modern sonic toothbrushes.

  • The Quip's bristles are better than a non-powered toothbrush, but they aren't as good as the ones on powered brushes that seem to have better reach into hard to reach crevices.

Conclusion: I like the Quip, but it isn't the most effective electric toothbrush. Not a bad offering but you need to determine what your actual needs are. I hope Quip releases another generation of their product with rotating bristles that uses real sonic pulses.