I could never understand the ongoing stigma about a visit to the dental clinic. I suppose the childhood trauma of having your mouth bones ripped from your head would sufficiently scar you through adulthood, except with modern technology (that is, numbing cream) I never registered any pain at the dentist’s hands.
However, while I don’t dread having my teeth professionally cleaned or inspected, I’m not #TeamElectric. It’s not surprising to find out 83 percent of Singaporeans join me in staying loyal to a manual toothbrush, despite clear evidence of the benefits of an electric one. My reasons for aversion range from primitive (“Why would I want to stick something electrical in the wet cave of my head?”) to practical (“Great, one more device to charge and maintain”).
Here’s where I admit that even before testing the product for review, I was ready to pass it on after use to my family, since brush heads are replaceable. I’ve used electric brushes as a kid and I find that the old-fashioned way just seemed quicker and more thorough. And then all that conviction crumbled in two minutes.
It’s the most optimal brush duration according to the built-in timer prompts, but also how brief it took for me to change my mind. See, the big difference is that the ZenyumSonic vibrates. Singapore-based smile cosmetics company Zenyum specialises in 3D-printed invisible braces, but also has this range of electric brushes that comes in a modern, minimalist design.
Most electric toothbrushes I know of oscillate in their movement, so the style in which the ZenyumSonic operated at was fascinating. Clocking in 33,000 vibrations per minute instead of rotating all bristles in one direction, it’s intended to mimic water pressure waves and produce micro pressure bubbles for a deep clean in hard-to-reach spots.
Electric toothbrushes are already superior to their original prototype for less damage to the gums and ease in achieving the dental standard 45-degree angle better, but the optimally angled soft DuPont bristles moving 10 times faster than the average electric brush removes 21 percent more plaque.
Use between its three custom settings is also pretty intuitive. There’s Clean mode for default everyday use, Gentle, which is self-explanatory, and White that’s the brush head on steroids—an intense polishing effect to rid stubborn stains. A huge plus is the textured back, which I appreciate as an avid tongue cleaner; it also subtly scrubs the inner side of your cheeks when you brush.
The only downside experienced is the impossibility of applying toothpaste since the vibration virtually shakes it off. A solution is to slather it directly onto the teeth first, but with the effective buff I don’t always feel the need for toothpaste unless I’ve had, say, fish or a bunch of onions.
Together with a four-week battery life (and a sleek inductive wireless charging!), the price point of getting to be my own dentist seems reasonable. So yes, I am part of the 17 percent now, and I won’t be surprised if this electric toothbrush makes a convert out of you too.
ZenyumSonic toothbrush retails at SGD89.90 on Zenyum’s website and mobile application and is also available for purchase across Lazada and Shopee.
