As adults, there are some things that we’re all just expected to be great at, no questions asked. Being financially responsible, cleaning up after ourselves, understanding the ins and outs of insurance—it’s all part of adulting. But I’d be lying if I said I have every little thing under control.
Case in point: Despite being 31, I find it to be an absolute chore to brush my teeth. That’s not to say I don’t do it, but I certainly drag my feet with the process. Especially because no matter what I do, it seems I can never avoid some kind of dental drama. (Half of my front tooth is fake, I’ve had countless fillings, and I have an impending appointment for a cracked back molar—fun!)
Because I know just how much I dislike oral care, I have the mundane task listed on my habit tracker to make it a fun little thing to check off each and every day, twice a day. And you know what keeps me on track? Having a top-notch toothbrush.
While I’ve long used electric toothbrushes, admittedly, they’ve all been perks of my job as a beauty writer and reviewer. And in every instance—despite how much I’ve liked a certain toothbrush—I’ve gone a bit wide-eyed when looking at the price tags. After all, should caring for your teeth really cost so much? I say nay, which is why I was glad to learn about the Smile Brilliant Caripro Electric Toothbrush, which costs just $71 (nearly a third of the price of the cult favorite pro brush I currently use). Naturally, I had to check it out.
What you get in the Caripro Electric Toothbrush
The Caripro Electric Toothbrush has five brush modes: clean, white, massage, gum care, sensitive. No matter the mode, you can expect 40,000 vibrations per minute (not that you’re counting), intended to adequately de-gunk your teeth—Smile Brilliant says it removes seven times as much plaque as a manual toothbrush, and its soft bristles can improve your gum health in as little as two weeks.
It’s designed with a built-in two-minute timer (the dentist recommendation for squeaky-clean teeth) that buzzes every 30 seconds to let you know when to move to the next quadrant of your mouth. I like this, because it keeps you anticipating the next buzz, which makes the whole brushing process less boring.
How the modes differ
After trying all five modes of the brush, I must admit that the massage version is my favorite, and feels most effective. It’s gentle but has a unique pulse that features much shorter, faster pulses that makes it feel pretty constant without being aggressive on my sensitive gums.
Meanwhile, the gum care mode has breaks in between each pulse, while the clean, white, and sensitive modes feature nonstop buzzing in varying intensities. Surprisingly, I found that the sensitive mode felt more intense than the classic clean mode. It’s higher pitched, which sounds weird but when it’s in your mouth, you’ll quickly see how that correlates to a buzzier, less enjoyable sensation.
Benefits of the Caripro design
Vibrations and modes aside, this electric toothbrush features a slim handle with a powdery-matte feel that’s easy to grip. The head is slim and the actual brush is small and curved in a shallow W-shape that makes getting into nooks and crannies easier. Plus, it has a silicone tongue scraper on the back. All in all, it’s super well thought out—especially for the price.
Two things that could make it better
Some things that I don’t like about this toothbrush, though, is that, for one, it’s darker than the pictures show online, and it’s only sold in one gray color, which feels too grim for my liking. (I prefer a white, pink, or pale toothbrush in general—it somehow feels cleaner.)
Additionally, while this toothbrush comes with a wireless charger base, it doesn’t come with a travel case, which more expensive brushes do. So you’d have to just toss it in your toiletry bag and hope something doesn’t accidentally press it on.
Still, considering this electric toothbrush has five brush modes and a far-reaching brush head—and that it comes with two replacement heads—all for under $100 makes it a worthy budget choice in my book.