Philips Sonicare Elite HX5910 Power Toothbrush with Quadpacer ***Twin Pack*** (2 Handles, 3 Standard Brush Heads, 2 Charger Bases, & 2 Travel Cases) Premium Edition

I got my first Sonicare toothbrush around 20 years ago, off an infomercial! I paid out the nose for it, and it didn't have the bells and whistles they do now, with the "massage" mode and the "ramp up" mode for first time users. There were no angled heads, and soft bristles. But after a couple of weeks of painful bleeding gums, my gums toughened up, and I was hooked. Then, the first time I went to the dentist after I started using it, my dentist took one look in my mouth and said, "You've been flossing!"I NEVER floss. :-/That sold me on it right there. I could get away with not flossing! And because my gums were toughened up now, going to the dentist was simply a non-issue. He could dig around all he wanted in there and it didn't hurt! That very first work-horse, rough and tough, "drill sargeant" Sonicare I had lasted me around 8 years. I called Phillips to find out about getting a new one when it finally konked out on me, and the guy admitted that they weren't expected to last that long! He gave me a discount on a new one and sent me the latest model (I forget now what the model was). I wasn't as impressed with this one. After my original "mean" Sonicare, this one seemed a bit of a wimp, with a smaller head, and a "ramp up" mode that increased the intensity of the vibrations for the first two weeks for those who needed to become accustomed to the ferocity of this brush. I was a veteran, what did I need that for? :-PThat one didn't last as long, about 2-3 years, I suppose, and I didn't mind, because I didn't like it that much anyway. My next model was this model, the Elite. The head was still too small to me, but I liked the angled brush, and shaped bristles. There was a way to turn off the "ramp up" feature for us veterans, and the quad pacer, which pauses the brush for just a split second every 30 seconds to let you know you can move to another quadrant for the optimum 2-minute brush.I stopped using it for a while, because the heads used to cost about $25 a pop, and I had lost my job - finances were looking pretty dim. The luxury of spending $25 on a toothbrush head just didn't make the cut of my new budget. When I went back to using it again about a year ago, I think the extended time of non-use helped it to konk out quicker. (you'll know it's getting ready to die when it won't go for the full two minutes, even on a full charge)I found this on Amazon, and was amazed at how much this thing has dropped in price! I got TWO FULL brushes and a third brush head with two travel cases for $90! (A far cry from the $120 I paid for my first one off the infomercial!) And the heads price at about $25 for 3! So I got this and introduced my fiance to the wonders of the Sonicare. He's an avid flosser, so I thought this would intrigue him.He's now talking about buying this two-pack item himself to give to his kids. :)Bottom line: There are many "sonic" toothbrushes out there these days, and they make all kinds of claims, but none can hold a candle to the original Philips Sonicare. This is one of those rare times when the name MATTERS. Knockoffs will just not cut it. If you want the best brush of your life, the healthiest and whitest teeth without pricey procedures, and even your dentist to compliment you, the Philips Sonicare is your answer. And the only toothbrush you will ever buy for the rest of your life!

I bought this on the recommendation of my dentist's office. It does everything claimed. My teeth feel much cleaner than with manual brushing. I keep one at home for daily use and the other one in my luggage. I used the one in my luggage on a recent week long trip. I charged it when I first received it about three weeks before the trip. I tried to recharge it just before the trip but it indicated that it was already fully charged. I used it the entire trip without keeping it in the charging stand (no room) and it held its charge fine the entire time. I put it in the charger when I got home and it needed only three or four hours to charge instead of the full 24 hours it needed when I first got it.The design is interesting. The handle that contains the battery is completely sealed. There are no contacts for charging and no mechanical connection to the brush head. Apparently, the battery charges by induction and the brush head is also operated by induction. Since I am the only user, I don't bother to remove the brush after each use. I'm careful to keep the brush horizontal while brushing so the only cleaning really needed is to rinse it with hot water after each use. I turn the brush on while rinsing and leave it on for a few seconds afterwards to fling off the remaining water. This has kept it clean with pretty much no extra effort.The only complaint I have is the charger base has a provision inside the bottom to wind up the extra cord. It is far too small to be of much use when traveling. It is a bit too small to contain all the extra cord when using it had home. This wasn't enough of a problem to dock a star, though.Based on a comment I saw here, it will be interesting to see if the battery is still usable a year or so from now.Post edit: I've had the units for over a year now and they are still working just fine. I found that the battery in the one I keep in my luggage would run down if it was unused and not recharged for more than a month or so. Rather than bother with remembering to recharge it before going on a trip (it takes at least 24 hours to fully recharge a battery if it is fully discharged), I just swap the fully charged one I use daily at home with the discharged one in my luggage when I'm packing the day before I leave. There is enough charge in the discharged battery by the next morning to easily allow me to brush my teeth. Although I keep a charger in my luggage, I found I still can go about a week without having to use it while on the road.