Oral-B CrossAction Pro-Health manual toothbrush Review

Everyone agrees that it is vitally important to clean and take care of their teeth, but with so many different cleaning devices available, how can one possibly determine which one is best? Electric toothbrushes offer certain advantages, but a manual toothbrush can be just as effective at removing plaque and keeping the mouth healthy. Even among manual toothbrushes there are dozens of choices and one of the more unique tooth- cleaning devices I had the chance to try recently is the Oral- B Cross- Action Pro- Health Toothbrush, a large manual toothbrush.

Toothbrush Commentary:

Oral- B manufactured this toothbrush in a unique way that supposedly makes it more effective at cleaning teeth and promoting better oral hygiene. Part of its promotional material is its claim that it provides "Seven Benefits for a Cleaner, Healthier Mouth". They are:

• Removes hard to reach plaque
• Reduces gingivitis
• Cleans along gumline
• Polishes away surface stains
• Removes odor causing germs on the tongue
• Stimulates gums
• Gentle on tooth enamel and gums

The Oral- B Cross Action Pro- Health Toothbrush is unique in its design. The handle itself is a little larger than most toothbrushes but what is most unique are the bristles on the head of the toothbrush. There are bristles of differing lengths and bristles than are aimed in different directions. Along with these different rows of bristles are a textured tongue cleaner (one on each side of the toothbrush head). Also, a section of bristles are "indicator" bristles, which means they will gradually change color over time, indicating that it is time to switch to a new toothbrush.

All of these different rows and types of bristles certainly give the Oral- B Cross Action Pro- Health Toothbrush a stylish appearance. But what really counts is the performance. Oral- B has made some very lofty claims about the ability of this brush, and these claims quickly brought my naturally skeptic side to the forefront. How, I wondered, could a manual toothbrush succeed at doing all of these things? Was there something special in those bristles? Or, was this just a bunch of over- hyped marketing to sell a new product?

The only way to find out was to give the toothbrush a try and then check the results. My teeth are still in pretty good shape and I have never had any serious dental problems, so my opinions are based on this perspective (other users, depending on their dental condition, may have a different opinion). Trying out the Oral- B Cross Action Pro- Health Toothbrush for the first time, some aspects of the brush immediately caught my attention. First, it does have a large handle and the head of the brush is also quite large. The head is both wider and longer than most other brushes. I suppose the head needs to be a little bit larger to accommodate the many different rows of bristles. Second, the outside rows of bristles- the so called textured tongue cleaners- look unusual and don't appear to be very comfortable. They look like stiffened plastic, and I wasn't so sure they would feel very good, even if they were effective.

After trying the Oral- B Cross Action Pro- Health Toothbrush for several days, I quickly discovered that these textured tongue cleaning bristles are actually not uncomfortable after all. They do not feel the way they appear. They are actually soft and comfortable and they do an effective job at their assigned task. And as for the rest of the brush, the crisscross action of the bristles does, indeed, lead to a better feeling of clean. A quick check of the teeth following a good, five minute brushing reveals teeth that are virtually plaque free, even at the gumline. The different bristles and their multi- directional design also leads to a massaging sensation as you brush. Your entire mouth feels clean and fresh. The bristles are soft and gentle, even though they have an appearance that is something quite different.

Bottom Line Viewpoint:

Overall, the Oral- B Cross Action Pro- Health Toothbrush is a very good toothbrush from Oral- B and I am satisfied with the results. Looking back at the seven benefits promised by Oral- B to those who use this toothbrush, I can confirm six out of the seven. The only one I cannot speak for is the effects on gingivitis since I do not have that disease. But the other claims are basically true and my overall experience has proven positive, making the Oral- B Cross Action Pro- Health Toothbrush a toothbrush worth considering for those who want cleaner teeth and a healthier mouth (i.e., almost every one of us).