Philips Sonicare HX8111/02 AirFloss

I've had recurring gingivitis and on my last visit to the dentist was told in no uncertain terms that if I didn't start taking proper care of my teeth I'd start losing them as my gums had begun recessing and bleeding daily. I find flossing messy and very time consuming so decided to try a different approach after hearing about water flossing.

I chose the Philips product for 3 reasons, firstly on the strength of positive reviews on Amazon, secondly because it's battery operated and thirdly because I trust the Philips brand and know they make good products, particularly in terms of battery life.

Initial Impressions

For £67 I was a little underwhelmed at seeing the thing out of the box. It looks quite basic and there's no accessories with it. The user guide is extremely basic and not very helpful either.

Unlike other air and water floss devices, the Philips model has no adjustable pressure. There's no different nozzles with it either. This is very much a "one size fits all" product. It just has two buttons, on/off and spray. In terms of ergonomics it's quite a bulky device to hold but not that heavy despite the hefty battery in it. The nozzle is quite small and easy to get in-between teeth and along the gum line. The device charges on one of those no contact charges which uses the clever electromagnetic power transfer technology. That makes it safer to use in bathrooms or near sinks. Annoyingly the charger came with a European 2-pin plug, requiring an adaptor which Philips did not provide. I simply cut the 2-pin plug off and put a UK 3-pin mains plug on it rather than spend more money on an adaptor. Philips claim the battery will last about 2 weeks between charges which is rather good compared to other products I saw reviewed which typically last 2 days. I've been using it several times daily for 10 days and it's still going strong and not needed recharging yet.

Using it for the first time

Using the product takes quite a bit of getting used to. After filling the tiny reservoir you switch it on and then press the spray button a few times to get the water pressure going..priming it, you might say. I must say I was quite taken back by the pressure of the thing. It really packs a punch for a little device. I didn't like it much. It felt like someone flicking your gum hard. My gums bled a lot but that's to be expected the state they're in. My dentist told me to ignore the bleeding and carry on with it. It's the only way to get healthy gums. Grin and bear it!

Suprisingly it does work well

Anyway back to the review of the product. Despite my misgivings about using it, it does work very well once you start to get the hang of it. It dislodges even compacted plaque from the gum line very well indeed and also off the surface of teeth. I'd definitely more effective than using regular flossing which wouldn't get plaque in some places this device can. My teeth felt very clean and shiny after using it like I'd seen the dental hygienist. It is rather quick and convenient to use compared to normal flossing, taking seconds instead of minutes. And of course, it's also a lot more hygenic and pleasant than flossing string, even though it does tend to spray out a bit so be careful where you use it.

A few negatives

There are some draw backs to this product though. Firstly, the reservoir is very tiny and hardly holds much. It runs out before you've got anywhere close to finishing and you have to stop and refill several times. Filling it up is fiddling with the small opening and it would've been nice to get a little jug or something with it However if you use mouth rinse in it, as I do, it's not really a problem you can use the cap to fill it . I do find the way it works inconsistent. Sometimes you'll get a big blast and other times not. This may be to do with how much water/rinse is in it, or the angle you're holding it, rather than an actual design problem though.

It definitely requires some practice and familiarity I think in order to learn how to use it properly. It's a shame there isn't a DVD or a video online by Philips showing the correct way. For a product of this type and price tag, you would expect that I think.

Summary

All in all, I think it's quite expensive for what it is and the lack of any accessories, variable pressure or proper training guide would make me hesitate buying this again. I would question whether it's suitable to use and good value. The answer to these questions will only be known after a few weeks of using it. However I am very pleased so far with the difference its made to my gums and teeth and how quick it is to use. If it stops my gums bleeding and returns them to good health it will be worth every penny.

Philip's Money Back Guarantee

On the plus side, Philips have probably anticipated these concerns and the need to adapt to a new way of flossing. They're offering a one month money back guarantee. If you're not satisfied with the results a month after using it, you can return it for a full refund. Can't say fairer than that can you? They must have confidence that the product will deliver what they promise, healthy clean gums and teeth.

Some advice

To anyone with badly inflamed sensitive gums wanting to take Philips up on their offer and try this product, I have a couple of tips. If you find the pressure too much for your sensitive gums, try holding the nozzle further back away from the gums for the first week. That way, it's not such an impact and you can gradually get closer and closer as you gain more confidence using it. Second tip is to use the floss immediately after brushing and use your mouth rinse in it instead of water. It removes more plaque easier and makes your teeth cleaner which means you spend even less time flossing and brushing. Oh and lastly, if you have a little water jug with your iron as I do, it comes in handy for filling the reservoir if you're using water.

Final note of caution

One thing to watch out for this product is that when using it, it does get quite messy and usually requires rinsing under the tap and wiping down with a towel after using it. But for god sake be sure to switch it off first or make sure it's facing away from you when clean it! It's easy to forget, and if you forget to switch it off and then wipe over the button you can end spraying and copping an eye full of mouth rinse or high pressure water. I've done it twice already and it's no fun at all!

I have been using this for about 8 months now so it seems as if I have been lucky given the number of comments about failures after a few weeks. Basically it does work and it is quick - the 2 claims made for it. However there are stupid design failures which, as a former engineer, infuriate me.

- The shape is such that it only just balances on its base. If it falls off the wash basin it is likely to break the plastic nozzle. If you put it on its side it wobbles about like an egg. The charging base is likewise far too small and so it is unstable when charging.

- the water reservoir is unnecessarily small and the cap on it can form an airtight seal. The result is that the pressure within it falls as you use it and, before the water is half used, it stops delivering any water to the nozzle.

Given the price has increased from £54 last November to £72 now, I don't think I would buy another one now.

Having had this now for 4 weeks, I would like to add my 2p :)

Positives:
1) It is REALLY easy to use.
2) I am finally 'flossing' everyday since this makes it so much easier and better than the regular floss. This gives me the giddy feeling that I am finally making my dentist happy.
3) Battery lasts really long - so you don't need to have it on the charger continuously like a toothbrush. They say two weeks. I am have still not charged it 4 weeks later!

Minor negatives:
1) Water tank is too small. They say it is good for two uses - more like 1 use for a reason I will explain below. However it is very easy to fill up so I am not too bothered by this. I however would not use mouthwash in here. I do think it will mess up the internals
2) Tightly packed teeth can pose a challenge. I find that in this case, I 'floss/shoot' that gap twice or thrice. In fact I love it so much, I sometimes do each gap twice :)

Other reviews make note of the 'kickback' action and users being scared of the 'flossing/air' action. It's not bad. In fact it seems perfectly normal to me. It is quite powerful but you DO want it to clean!

I would recommend this for most people. Just make sure your mouth is closed when you press the button, or else you will need to clean the bathroom mirror :)