Review (3/5): Love Hate relationship
I have used Sonicare toothbrushes for years. I have had great dental visit reports because of using the brush twice a day and flossing once. I have recommended the brush to strangers in the dentists office who are being told to use one by the hygenist or dentist and hope they have joined the band wagon. My neighbor had consistently bad dental visits, so I convinced her to buy one. She just never "got around to using it" and had a very negative dental visit. I was puzzled why, when she confessed she just hadn't wanted to make the effort to get used to it. After realizing that she had to choose between having serious gingivitis or using the toothbrush she opted for the toothbrush and loves it now. Her next visit was much improved and the latest was great. I can't stress how much confidence I have in the benefits from using this toothbrush.
I only have one problem: black mold. After going thru a year of severe allergy symptoms all summer, then having severe eye allergy symptoms this winter, and now another eye problem just one week after after tackling the first issue I was feeling beaten down by my health issues. Today when cleaning the bathroom I noticed something black on the side and handle of the toothbrush. I know I have been sick, but I didn't think I had let any of my chores get this out of hand. It was black mold inside and pouring out of the brush. I had changed the handle about a month ago and saw no problems. I have noticed what I'd call crud or slime around the threads and into the base of the brush when I'd change the head or wipe the brush down.
I am terrified that my whole house is contaminated with black mold. And will be hiring a cleaning crew to help clean the house top to bottom. Pull the carpeting and wash the walls then have the ducts cleaned and get a whole house air cleaner. Black mold is toxic and can cause serious problems. I hope I am not too late in my clean-up efforts.
I am nervous about getting another Sonicare toothbrush and wish the company would step up to the plate and accept more responsibility for such an expensive appliance. The plastic could be antibacterial, the instructions to dry it out completely between uses should be more emphatically written.
Finally Sonicare should make every effort to eliminate black mold as a problem for their product. It is like the auto industry not acknowledging that they is a potentially life threatening problem with their autos. Sonicare could and should be more responsible in warning about this potenially serious health threat due to - in their thoughts - improper or inadequate customer/owner maintenance.