Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Toothbrush – a sonic electric toothbrush with a USP of being “created by dentists” – has been garnering quite the hype of late. The dentists behind the boom? Sisters Lisa and Vanessa Creavan, who started the spotlightoralcare.com brand from their home country of Ireland in 2016 in response to local cosmetic teeth whitening restrictions.
They launched with a range of teeth whitening kits – including teeth whitening pens and whitening toothpaste to teeth whitening strips – which claimed to be harm-free and super effective, but they've since gone on to release some pricier products that promise to elevate your ~daily~ oral care routine. A sonic electric toothbrush included. Now, the hashtag #spotlightoralcare has over 29.9 million views and counting, and the toothbrush-in-question has been known to sell out in limited-edition colour-ways in a matter of days.
It boasts three speed settings – including teeth whitening and sensitive options – as well as up to 70 days (!) of battery life. Of course, other sonic toothbrushes on the market (~cough cough~ Phillips Sonicare) can cost upwards of £200, which will probably leave you wondering whether a sub-£100 alternative (when reduced in the sale) can compete. So, in the name of sparkly whites and fresh breath, we put the Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Toothbrush to a six-month-long test (and spoiler: it's really, really good).
What is a sonic toothbrush? | Can I use a sonic toothbrush everyday? | Packaging and design | Cleaning and whitening | Battery life | The final verdict.
Meet the reviewer:
Sophie Cockett, GLAMOUR's Commerce Editor.
How we tested:
“At the time of testing, I was a newbie to the Spotlight Oral Care brand, having not tried any of their other teeth whitening products. As such, I went in with no expectations – and a pre-existing adoration for my trusty Oral-B toothbrush. I was pretty certain I could not be swayed. I tested the Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Toothbrush over a period of six months, allowing me to travel with it, make my way through the replacement heads and test the teeth whitening and 70-day battery life claims. The below review is totally honest.”
Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Toothbrush review, at a glance:
- GLAMOUR star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
- Reasons to buy: Affordable, available in a range of colours, comes with a protective travel case, impressive battery life, well maintains oral hygiene, is effective at whitening teeth over a long period of time.
- Reasons to avoid: No app connectivity, has to be charged in a normal three-pin socket rather than a shaver socket.
- Price: £110 full-priced, currently reduced to £71.50. You can buy it at Amazon, too.
- Timer: Automated two minute self-timer.
- Speed settings: Three.
- Colours available: Five.
- Battery life: 70 days.
- Accessories included: Charger, travel case and nine months' worth of replacement brush heads.
What is a sonic toothbrush?
There are two types of electric toothbrush: oscillating toothbrushes and sonic toothbrushes. Oscillating electric toothbrushes have round, oscillating heads which rotate at high speeds, liked the famed Oral-B iO models, while sonic toothbrushes look a bit more like a manual toothbrush. Case in point: the Spotlight Oral Care Sonic. They don't rotate, rather, vibrate. This means they’re ideal for sensitive teeth, serve up a deep cleaning in a shorter amount of time, and are effective at stain removal.
Can I use a sonic toothbrush everyday?
Yes. In fact, it's recommended. Spotlight Oral Care recommend that you use your toothbrush for two minutes, twice a day: once in the morning and once in the evening.
Product deep dive: design and packaging
We know the drill: design and packaging are important deciding factors in any new electric toothbrush purchase. You want your new friend to look pretty on your bathroom cabinet, right? No judgement.
I tested the Sonic Toothbrush in its classic white hue, which I was a real fan of. It looked slick and clean on the edge of my bathroom sink. That said, I love the choice on offer – and my back-up would definitely be the rose gold colour-way, which is one of the brand's most popular.
It arrived packaged in a travel case, with a pack of three replacement heads (and covers) which were as easy-as-pie to click on. The brush itself it surprisingly lightweight (perhaps due to the lack of tech and app-connectivity), and it serves up an ergonomic, fuss-free design. Very comfortable to hold. There's a simple button used to switch between each of the modes at the front: click it once to turn the device on, twice to switch to mode three, three times to switch to mode three and fourth times to turn it off. You don't really need to concentrate too much to cycle between settings mid-brush.
Product deep dive: cleaning and whitening
Using professionally designed sonic technology, Spotlight Oral Care is one of the most powerful; high-frequency sonic toothbrushes on the market, where rapid movements and a sleek head ensure both toothpaste and oxygen are delivered to even the most inaccessible parts of the mouth.
The sensitive cleaning mode delivers 31,000 repetitions per minute, while the clean and white modes deliver 41,000 and 48,000 repetitions per minute respectively. I used the “clean mode” for a happy medium on most evenings (it has the gentle feel of a manual toothbrush) – then “whitening mode” on my tongue – while in the morning I used the “whitening mode” for extra freshness before work. The “whitening mode” is significantly more abrasive – and my gums are rather sensitive – hence my choice to avoid it on every clean. But using it a couple of times a week still seemed to have the desired effect: my breath always felt fresh, my teeth felt clean and my gums remained free of damage.
To be honest, I found the process of switching from an oscillating toothbrush to a sonic toothbrush a little tricky. At first, I felt as though the absence of a slightly-aggressive, small, spinning head must be leaving me with dirtier teeth. I was also quite surprised (due to naivety and not much else) at how high-pitched the toothbrush was when turned on – particularly in “white mode”. (Not that it's too offensive: just a little bit buzzier than you'll be used to if an oscillating toothbrush is your current model-of-choice). That said, over time, I noticed a significantly whiter appearance in my teeth, and realised just how much less irritated my gums were feeling. A deeper yet more gentle clean, perhaps?
Other pointers worth noting: I loved that the brush turned off automatically after two minutes, and I found that the curved shape meant toothpaste didn't dribble onto the basin when standing between brushes.
Product deep dive: battery life
I was so impressed the long-lasting battery life of this electric toothbrush. On a full charge, the Spotlight Sonic Toothbrush lasted for a solid two months, and I was pleased to not have to take my charger when I went away on holiday.
There's a light on the front of the toothbrush which flashes when you're low on charge – a handy feature – and the three-pin plug means you're not confined to charging the brush in a shaving socket. Or having to buy an adapter.
Midnight Navy Sonic ToothbrushRose Gold Sonic ToothbrushSonic Toothbrush Replacement Heads - WhiteSonic Toothbrush Replacement Heads - Rose GoldSonic Toothbrush Replacement Heads - Graphite GreyOther customer reviews are saying:
- This toothbrush serves up the best clean they've experienced since visiting their hygienist.
- The customer service is fantastic.
- After one delivery was misplaced, a replacement was shipped out immediately.
- They won't ever be returning to the electric toothbrush they owned before.
The final verdict
I'm such a fan of the Spotlight Sonic Toothbrush, and contrary to my expectations, I haven't missed my old electric toothbrush since the early days of my switch. In fact, I plan on using this model for the foreseeable. It feels endlessly more expensive than it actually is, lasted wear and tear and boasts replacement heads which lasted for a solid three months before feeling fluffy.
As for whether it lives up to its whitening claims? I'd certainly say that my teeth are looking whiter in comparison to when I first started using it six months ago. Of course, teeth whitening is never a quick process, but if you're willing to be patient and level-up your oral health in the process, I'd absolutely recommend making a purchase. One of the best electric toothbrushes around.
For more from our Commerce Editor Sophie Cockett, follow her on Instagram @sophiecockettx.
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