Oral-B Vitality

User reviews of the Oral-B Vitality electric toothbrush are positive, with many saying they didn't expect such good results from such an inexpensive product. Some warn, however, that the battery eventually stops accepting recharges. Experts say the main disadvantage of cheaper electric toothbrushes like the Vitality is that they produce only a single brushing motion -- oscillating, in the case of the Braun Oral-B Vitality -- while expensive, higher-end options like the Braun Oral-B ProfessionalCare SmartSeries 4000 (*Est. $125) also pulse and rotate for what clinical studies say is more effective plaque removal. The Oral-B Vitality Dual Clean toothbrush isn't fancy, but experts say it's more effective than a manual toothbrush because people tend to brush longer with a powered toothbrush than they would with a manual brush.

In a test of 12 electric toothbrushes at the British product-review publication Which? magazine, the Oral-B Vitality gets good marks for cleaning effectiveness and ease of use, but comes in dead last in battery life. In a scientific test published in the Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice, the Oral-B Vitality removes stains as well as a professional cleaning at the dentist's office. In a Good Housekeeping review, dentist Denis Vu praises the Oral-B Vitality for being "very effective for a very modest cost." We found several user reviews at Amazon.com, with almost all of them positive. Some say they weren't expecting much, but were pleasantly surprised.