I like the toothbrush overall. It has some great features and works well at what it does. However, there are some big downsides to the whole system.
First, I’ll start with the "great":
1.) Sleek design that really does look great all the time.
If you rinse off the toothbrush well after each use, it looks clean every time you use it. No build-up or residue left behind. And that design looks great in every setting regardless of bathroom decor.
2.) The battery life is tops.
It last a very long time (generally a month+/-) and takes only about 1.5 to 2 hours to fully charge. This is fantastic when you're about to travel and realize you didn't charge the toothbrush, and you just need to top it off. Most other company's toothbrushes take an entire day or more to charge. So, this is absolutely wonderful!
3.) The toothbrush works very well.
Generally, your mileage will vary here. Some electric toothbrushes spin the head, some simply vibrate, some rotate, etc. And different users require different things. For me, this toothbrush paired with other positive methods like flossing and a mouthwash works really great. And it's actually the best I've used for keeping my teeth clean and clear of tartar.
4.) The customized setting controls.
You really do have the ability to customize the controls within the Laifen app. You can change the vibration intensity, the speed at which the brush oscillates, and even how far it oscillates. It's really a great experience to be able to dial in that perfect setting. There are some limitations to this, (which I'll go over later), but overall it's quite nice.
Now the "bad" or "downsides":
1.) The price is getting expensive!
Initially, this company was selling a few great things. Three specifically.
A sleek design, a great battery life, and a cost that's far less for replacement brush heads than the competition. This cost though, has risen in the last year (alone) by more than 50%. The brush heads used to cost about $10 for 3 replacement heads. And if you wanted 6 it was only about $17. This was fantastic value overall. However, now it's $16 for 3 heads, and $27 for 6 heads. This is ridiculously insane! Especially, after only (less than) 6 months of time between my initial purchase (when they advertised that great pricing) and the new up-charge.
The big reason I purchased the toothbrush was for this promise of cheaper replacement costs. And this is simply not the case anymore. Laifen also never puts their brush heads on sale. The only way to get a discount on the replacement heads is to make that purchase while also purchasing a new toothbrush in a bundle. Which, I also think is ridiculous because how would you know which replacement head you like until after you try your new toothbrush. So, the initial cost might be alluring, but the continued use cost is definitely going up!
2.) You can't mix and match replacement head types when purchasing extra heads.
This has always puzzled me. Why can I only buy a 3-pack or 6-pack of only one type of toothbrush head? You get an initial 3-pack of a mix when you purchase a toothbrush; 1 Gum Care, 1 Super-Clean, & 1 Ultra-Whitening. This makes sense because you need to figure out which head works best for your needs. However, what if you like multiple kinds for different uses? What if you like all three? Unfortunately, you're stuck having to purchase 3 completely different full sets of 3, just to get the variety. And as I mentioned above, it is getting VERY expensive.
3.) The brushing experience is still only good at best.
This is mostly due to the fact that all brush heads are simply too firm for sensitive teeth needs. I noticed that I have to be extra careful about pressing too firmly on my teeth. Don't get me wrong, the cleaning power is pretty good, but it's also somewhat harsh. Even on the Gum-Care brush-head Laifen offers. It reminds me of a slightly firmer than "soft" toothbrush brush type. I tend to like "extra soft" toothbrushes, so Laifen's Gum-Care is just not soft enough for me to be comfortable.
4.) The customized experience (and app) has limitations and frustrations.
You can't ever turn off any one of the main settings. You always have to have the toothbrush vibrating and oscillating. I've thought often, “Wouldn't it be great if I could turn off the vibrating so that it gives my teeth a break from all the harsh rattling around?"
Those features are some of the main reasons you'd buy the toothbrush, but they never let you fully customize the experience. The other issue is the (what seems to be) constant signing back into the app. Laifen requires a code be sent to your phone or email, just to get into the settings. And this can be very frustrating when all you want to do is get in, change a setting quickly and move on.
5.) The feeling that you were allured in with false promises by a growing company, but ultimately they're just not following through.
It's understandable to see growing pains in a newer company... but the promise of cheaper brush head replacements is simply going out the window. I think the toothbrush is still a great looking one. And the performance, (in terms of battery life and charge time) is fantastic. However, they're simply not living up to that initial promise in terms of cost compared to other brands.
So to Sum-Up:
If you like the design, you want a toothbrush that lasts an entire month+ (and recharges very quickly), and the brush heads aren't too harsh for you, then this is one of the best I've seen on the market for its initial price. However, if you expect to save money over the long term when compare to other brands, because the cost of toothbrush heads keep going up, you will be sadly disappointed. Because ultimately, Laifen is going to raise their prices along with everybody else. And overall, it might cost you more because their proprietary heads never see sales like other brands and companies have.
Cheers!
We love this toothbrush and are so happy we bought it. Our teeth are cleaner than before and dental visits are much shorter because of it. We recommend to all our friends.
Disappointed in the customer service. They made a mistake (which I had to catch for them, 3 weeks after my order never shipped), and the communications to fix it were all through an AI assistant/bot rather than a person. Makes me want to find another retailer that makes compatible toothbrush heads to avoid ordering from them again.
These brush heads work well. I really don't see much difference among the 3 types offered. The 6-pack is more affordable but still quite pricey in my opinion. What makes this one "ultra-whitening"?
They have the wrong connection to connect to my toothbrush. The heads have a significantly smaller opening than the toothbrush itself. I cannot use these heads. I have an ABS toothbrush and the website stated these are for an ABS toothbrush but they do not fit.
Excellent replacement OEM brushes. The price is very reasonable, and the quality is outstanding. The brushes can definitely last their intended duration (2-4months)
While it’s helpful that these are a little cushioned, they’re not significantly improved from the standard brushes. Still jarring and uncomfortable when they knock your teeth.
Which brush head is the most suitable for sensitive teeth?
We recommend using the Gum Care brush head if you have sensitive teeth. It has ultra-thin, soft bristles that, combined with Wave's 60° oscillations, deeply clean teeth while being gentle on gums.
How often should you replace the brush head?
Dentists recommend changing the brush head every three months or immediately if there's any damage or deformation to the brush head. The Wave brush heads come with 90-day reminder bristles, so you always know when it's time for a change!
Is it normal for there to be a gap between the brush head and the handle?
Yes, it is normal for there to be an approximately 1mm gap between the brush head and the handle. This is to reduce the vibrations transferring between the two.
What kind of bristles do the brush heads use?
The Gum Care brush head uses ultra-thin PBT bristles tapered to just 0.02mm at the tip, meaning they can reach deep into the gaps between teeth. The Super-Clean and Ultra-Whitening brush heads use premium DuPont bristles to effectively clean teeth.
Are these brush heads hygienic?
The brush heads use the industry's most advanced copper-free tufting process, which effectively inhibits bacterial growth. They are also the first brush heads to get a global certification for food safety from TÜV Rheinland Germany.