Electric Toothbrush Review : What we think of the Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite R710 sonic toothbrush (HX6711/02).

We consider the most valuable aspect of owning a Sonicare toothbrush to be that it can offer Sonicare's hallmark 31,000-brush-strokes-per-minute brushing action. When run in this setting, a Sonicare sonic toothbrush is a very effective teeth-cleaning tool. This is the brushing action on which the Sonicare name built its reputation. And it would be our opinion that running their brush in this mode offers the best brushing choice for the vast majority of people. All Sonicare models offer this type of mode. With the HealthyWhite R710 toothbrush, it is termed Clean mode.

The higher-end Sonicare toothbrushes typically offer one, more elaborate, brushing setting where the brush's "optimal" setting (the Clean mode in the case of the HealthyWhite) has been combined with periods of other brushing actions so to create a more varied brushing routine. The HealthyWhite line of toothbrushes features one of these concocted brushing settings. It is called the Clean and White mode.

When set to its Clean and White mode, a HealthyWhite Sonicare will first run for two minutes in Clean mode. The brush will then switch to White mode (a brushing mode that otherwise cannot be accessed) and run for an additional thirty seconds before turning off (for a total of two and a half minutes of brushing). The directions that accompany the HealthyWhite R710 sonic toothbrush state that the user should brush their teeth in normal fashion during the initial two minutes of the Clean and White routine. Then, during the last thirty seconds when the toothbrush is operating in White mode, the user should concentrate on just brushing the front side of their upper and lower front teeth (fifteen seconds each).

Philips Sonicare's advertising suggests that the great advantage of their HealthyWhite R710 electric toothbrush is that it can create a tooth-whitening effect for the user. Teeth whitening in this regard has to do with surface stain removal. If an electric toothbrush can remove tooth staining, then the person's teeth will look whiter. Philips Sonicare evidently believes that the HealthyWhite's White-mode brushing action has superior stain-removing capabilities. We don't really doubt this, but we also would be of the opinion that the extra thirty seconds of toothbrush use focused on just a relatively small area significantly contributes to creating the whitening effect. We'd also be of the opinion that any Sonicare model running in its full-power 31,000-brush-strokes-per-minute mode and used for an extra thirty seconds on a very focused area (like the front side of the front teeth) could also create a very similar whitening effect. (We detail our opinion about the HealthyWhite R710's Clean and White mode in greater detail here.)

With this mindset, it shouldn't come as any surprise as we state that we wouldn't be of the opinion to purchase a HealthyWhite R710 just because it offers its Clean and White mode. We absolutely would say, however, that if someone had purchased a HealthyWhite toothbrush for other reasons (features, design characteristics), which possibly is a great idea, then we would recommend to them that they use their brush in Clean and White mode. Not because of its promised whitening effect but because this mode makes the HealthyWhite run for two and a half minutes (which is thirty seconds longer than it will run when set to Clean mode). We think that almost anyone would benefit (in terms of dental plaque removal) from brushing longer and if, per chance, the same setting that encouraged a person to brush longer also happened to create some additional whitening effect at all, well then that's just super.

» The HealthyWhite R710 does not feature a Sensitive brushing mode.

Unlike the fuller featured model R732, the HealthyWhite R710 does not have a reduced-power Sensitive brushing mode. This gentler, and less effective, brushing setting can be an important option for someone who has trouble tolerating the use of their Sonicare toothbrush at full power (which is Clean mode in the case of the HealthyWhite line). But most users will probably never need to use this option. If a user knows that they will not, the HealthyWhite R710 provides an opportunity where they can buy a higher-end Sonicare without having to pay for an unneeded feature.

» The HealthyWhite R710 uses ProResults brush heads.

The HealthyWhite R710 is used with Sonicare's ProResults brush heads, which have a newer design than the e-series heads used with previous generations of Sonicares. ProResults brush heads come in both Standard and Mini sizes.

As a selling point, Sonicare states that ProResults brush heads create a more effective brushing action than the e-series brushes. In theory, we are sure this is true. We would anticipate, however, that on a practical level that this improvement is somewhat marginal and those people brushing with an older Sonicare model could effectively compensate for their brush's deficiency simply by brushing for a few moments longer.

We would think that the biggest advantage that the ProResults brush heads offer is one of convenience. They have a snap-in-place design, which makes it very easy and quick for other toothbrush users to set up the toothbrush for their use. In comparison, the older e-series of Sonicare brush heads needed to be screwed into place. As an added benefit, the ProResults design seems to provide for fewer nooks for gunk to accumulate in. As far as price goes, ProResults replacement brush heads are somewhat cheaper than the older e-series line. Philips Sonicare recommends that both types of brush heads should ideally be replaced at three-month intervals.

» Other considerations about the Sonicare HealthyWhite R710.

The HealthyWhite R710 has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. This provides some advantages over the NiCad battery found in older Sonicare models (less pronounced memory effect or idle charge loss, a superior energy-to-weight ratio). This battery makes is so a HealthyWhite toothbrush can be smaller and lighter than previous generations of Sonicares.

The HealthyWhite R710 does not come with a travel case (no real big deal) but each ProResults brush head does come with a plastic protective cap. This toothbrush does come with a charging setup that can be used as a compact multi-voltage travel charger, which is a nice feature for the world traveler. You will, however, have to purchase plug adapters so you can physically insert your recharging unit into whatever type of outlet you come across.

The HealthyWhite R710: Model-specific problems.

We've seen reports from owners that state that they have experienced their brush's ProResults brush head coming while their toothbrush was in use. This doesn't seem to be a widespread problem but rather one that can take place with some individual units. We are always disappointed to find a battery-operated device whose design is one where the battery cannot be replace if it fails. The HealthyWhite R710 has this design deficiency.

HealthyWhite R710 review conclusions.

Overall, we like the HealthyWhite R710 but probably not for the reasons that Philips Sonicare would want us to. We typically consider the purchase of a lower-end Sonicare the best value buy if that brush offers all of the features that you want. The fact that the HealthyWhite R710 is the lowest-cost Sonicare that offers many of Sonicare's newer features (a lithium-ion battery, snap-in-place ProResults brush heads, a travel charger) can make it a best choice for many. And while we wouldn't by the HealthyWhite R710 just because it features its Clean and White mode, we can see some advantages to using it.