The iO7 is a very stylish looking electric brush that cleans the teeth well.
It has some innovative features that can be beneficial for some, but for
the vast majority there are alternative models worth considering over the 7.
Hey, it’s Jon from Electric Teeth here.
It is rare to come across a brush that doesn’t clean the teeth well
nowadays. The iO7 from Oral-B is no exception.
It does sound very cliche and like something from an Oral-B ad, which this isn’t,
but you do get that dentist clean feeling with each use. I have no complaints.
The small round oscillating and rotating brush head gives a deep and invigorating clean.
The cleaning action is clinically proven and has the backing of the American Dental Association,
having been awarded their Seal of Acceptance.
Compared to other Oral-B brushes current and past, the iO Series uses a different motor.
The magnetically driven motor generates a different brushing experience,
brushing feels a little softer and less aggressive.
It does too mean the brush is much quieter, producing around 64 decibels of sound.
This brings it more inline with the sonic toothbrushes many people are familiar with.
Included in the box with the iO7 is 1 Ultimate Clean brush head for those in
the UK and central European countries whilst those in the USA get 2 included normally.
It has slightly firmer angled bristles for an effective clean.
It is 1 of 4 different brush head styles to choose from. A
preferred head for many is the softer bristled option called Gentle Care.
Unfortunately the iO specific brush heads command a price point double that of replacement heads for
other Oral-B handles. This has a negative knock on effect on the ownership costs.
Like a manual brush, the bristles need to ideally be replaced every 3 months.
Being a smart toothbrush the head is tracked via the app,
so you will get a notification right when you need to replace it.
The iO7 shares the same clean and minimal design as the more premium iO Series 8 and 9.
With a premium look these brushes have a minimal amount of gripping
points. The lack of grip doesn't mean the handle is slippy to the touch,
there is a good resistive feel to the plastic body.
A benefit you only realise with repeated use it that this makes the brush easier to
keep clean. No toothpaste residue building up in silicone grips.
A stand out feature that captures the attention is the interactive black
and white display that is built into the handle.
It is flanked by a power and mode button.
Whilst it is far from necessary, it is a neat feature and certainly adds to the premium feel.
You get emoji style feedback on your brushing, an on screen timer during a cleaning session and you
even have the ability to control settings that are usually reserved for the app.
The display isn’t touchscreen which is somewhat surprising,
but preferred for a more reliable user experience.
There are 5 different cleaning modes to choose from. Simply switch between
them by using the lower of the 2 function buttons on the handle.
As you do, the icon and text on screen will change to show
you the modes available. Daily Clean and Sensitive are my go to choices.
Each mode is designed to be used for 2 minutes.
The iO7 doesn't power off automatically after each brushing cycle, you will need
to press the power button. If you achieve the 2 minutes you will get
a smiley face on the screen to acknowledge your achievement.
Many people brush for just 45-70 seconds per day, far less than the
dentist recommended 2 minutes twice a day. This is why the iO7 has a pacer and timer.
They are designed to encourage you to brush for the correct time and to do so evenly.
Spend 30 seconds in each of the 4 quadrants of the mouth being sure to brush all surfaces.
A brief pause in the brushing, along with a vibration in the
brush handle will alert you to move from one section to another.
You will then get a similar, but different notification at 2 minutes.
The timer and pacer are 2 of the dentist recommended features that
this brush has. Another is the visible pressure sensor.
The iO series has one of the best sensor implementations going. It has
a smart pressure sensor that changes colour based on the pressure applied.
If it’s lit white, you’re not applying enough pressure.
If it’s red, you’re using too much.
You want to see a green light all the time you brush.
Brushing with too little force won’t clean the teeth as well, whilst too much can be damaging.
It would be useful if the handle vibrated differently when applying
too much pressure, but sadly it doesn't.
The iO7 is a smart toothbrush. This means it is Bluetooth enabled and can
connect to your phone via the free app available for iOS and Android.
Once paired you can track and log your brushing sessions to be able to get a good
overview of your habits. You can too use the app to personalise your brush and oral care routine.
Sensors in the handle and clever technology that processes this data allow you to get
real-time feedback on the screen as you brush.
For those who know their brushing routine isn’t great,
this tech can help as it will highlight areas for improvement.
If you brush too hard, miss certain areas,
or don’t brush for long enough, the app will let you know.
It is clever and potentially beneficial. But, the tracking isn’t perfect.
It can at times lag and not always register the correct zone.
It tracks 6 zones in the mouth, rather than all the individual biting surfaces.
Therefore the feedback isn’t as specific as it could be.
If you always fail to brush the inside surfaces of your upper right teeth, it won’t tell you this.
Oral-B’s iO9 would. This is because it tracks 16 different zones.
You are paying a premium for the tech and you need to be committed to get the best results.
You can get great brushing results without the app, if you are prepared to learn the
correct techniques. The video linked in the top right corner explains all you need to know.
Sealed inside the handle is the rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery.
This gives just over 2 weeks of use on a full charge. This is
acceptable but not the best usage time available on brushes today.
The brush recharges via the supplied magnetic charging stand. A premium option,
it has a 2 pin power adapter and support for 100-240 volts.
You can place the brush on the charger in any orientation and it can be replenished in just
3 hours. That is significantly faster than the 12-16 hours of most other Oral-B brushes.
Feedback on the charge level is given via the smartphone app and via the display
The handle is water resistant,
allowing you to rinse the brush under the tap or use in the shower if you so desire.
The iO7 comes with a travel case. It will hold the handle and up to 2
brush heads. It’s either black or white in colour subject to the handle colour.
You can get the brush in either White Alabaster or Black Onyx colour options.
With some variants, subject to location you will get a separate brush head
refill holder included in the box too or a magnetic pouch style travel case instead.
The iO7 has a retail price of £400 in the UK or $200 in the USA.
Selling prices are often lower. Expect around 50% discount in the UK and European countries,
with the potential for up to 20% off in the US.
Over 3 years the Series 7 will cost about £288 or $280,
when you factor in the expensive iO brush heads.
More affordable and less feature rich alternatives are linked in the video description and would
leave your bank balance looking healthier without compromising on the cleaning results.
But if you do want something as capable as the iO7, seriously consider the iO6.
It is the same brush really, just with a different charging stand.
I don’t dislike the Series 7 it has lots of positive features
and I could happily use this on a daily basis. Unfortunately it just
fails to deliver on the value for money front in my opinion. This isn’t helped
by the fact Oral-B offer a vast array of similar products at varying price points.
Linked in the description is a written review and links to buy the iO7 or possible alternatives.