Does the Foreo silicone electric toothbrush work?

If you own an electric toothbrush, chances are, it’s one from Oral-B, Philips or Braun. These guys have been the industry standard for years — and they do make excellent electric toothbrushes. But not that many people know about the silicone version from Foreo. Foreo as a brand is famous for their face cleansing devices — like the LUNA mini 2, and industry rumour has it that they single-handedly knocked Clarisonic out of the Singapore market. (Yes you can thank them if you’ve been desperately looking for your Clarisonic brush heads.) And more recently, Foreo has gone into the lucrative masking market, with a treatment device they call, UFO. But back to the toothbrushes.

above L-R: issa MINI 2, $174  /  issa mikr0, $149 / issa mini, $169

First impression: these toothbrushes look fun! They come in bright colours like turquoise and fuchsia, and the Issa Mini and Mini 2 have replaceable brush heads.

I passed the Mini to my seven-year-old, and the Mikro to my two-year-old. Here’s the small one using the Issa Mikro:

I like that the bristles on the Mikro are soft and smooth, and so are gentle to use on toddlers with their first teeth growing out.

ABOVE: THE ISSA MINI AND ISSA MIKRO HAVE HORIZONTAL SILICONE BRISTLES THAT ARE SOFT ON TEETH AND GUMS

And because these are electric toothbrushes, the kids get a kick out of the vibrations (which are gentle, sonic pulsations). To be honest, these gadgets are like toys to them. But it’s not a bad thing at all; it has turned brushing teeth into a game, and whatever encourages young kids to brush teeth is most certainly welcome in my household.

Foreo says that the silicone is nonporous, quick-drying, resistant to bacteria buildup, medical-grade, free of BPA and phthalates, and carries up to 10,000 times less bacteria than regular standard toothbrushes with nylon bristles. The Mikro, in particular is good for babies and toddlers because it has a non-detachable brush head (safety!), and the pulsations actually soothe gums and teething issues.

ABOVE: THE FOREO ISSA MINI 2 HAS A HYBRID BRUSH HEAD, WHICH COMBINES PBT polymer and soft silicone BRISTLES

I tried the Issa Mini 2 and chose it for its hybrid brush head. Like other electric toothbrushes, there’s a built-in timer, but what’s exceptional is that a single one-hour charge can power the toothbrush for up to 265 days. I’ve used it for almost three months now and have not needed to recharge it since. Other electric toothbrushes I’ve used in the past require charging every week.

The brush head is also flexible and can bend to reach corners and the back of teeth. And something that my kids pointed out — there are happy and frowny faces that appear on the Issa Mini 2 as well… I get a happy face when I’ve brushed my teeth for two whole minutes, and an unhappy face when I haven’t used the toothbrush for more than 12 hours. Good thing I haven’t seen that unhappy face yet.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Out of the three toothbrushes, I’d definitely recommend the Issa Mikro; it’s a great electric toothbrush for babies and toddlers. It’s incredibly gentle, looks cute, and I believe your kid will love using it. The Issa Mini 2 is interesting; I like it, but it wouldn’t be my one and only toothbrush. I still like my traditional nylon bristle brushes (especially the ones from Muji!) because they have small heads and long thin bristles, and can really get between my teeth. Personal preference.

Foreo ISSA MINI 2, $179 / FOREO ISSA MINI, $169 / FOREO MIKRO, $139. To shop Foreo toothbrushes, click here.