 This Product Hum by Colgate Battery Powered | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best for Kids |  Most Gentle, Great Battery Life and Value | Best Value Electric Toothbrush | | Best Value for Included Brush Heads |
| Price | $30 List $29.49 at Amazon | $40 List $25.96 at Amazon | $50 List $39.96 at Amazon | $30 List $27.99 at Amazon | $60 List $39.95 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | While not the equipped with the softest bristles or most robust vibrations, we really like the interactive app and think kids will too | An gentle, minimalist toothbrush with a long-lasting battery that cleans well | Inexpensive yet fully capable, this electric toothbrush is a solid choice for just about everyone | A great entry level option, but falls a little short in terms of overall cleaning ability | Affordable, effective, and user-friendly — this device offers value with good cleaning and extra brush heads |
| Rating Categories | Hum by Colgate Batt... | Philips One | Philips Sonicare 4100 | Quip | Aquasonic Black Series |
| Cleaning (40%) | |||||
| Comfort (30%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (20%) | |||||
| Battery Life (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Hum by Colgate Batt... | Philips One | Philips Sonicare 4100 | Quip | Aquasonic Black Series |
| Measured Battery Life | 62.5 days | 30 days | 49.5 days | 170 days | 31 days |
| Pressure Sensor | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Number of Brushing Modes | 2 modes: Clean Sensitive |
1 mode: Clean |
1 mode: Clean 2 sensivity levels |
1 mode: Clean |
4 modes: Clean, Soft, Whiten, Massage |
| Estimated Annual Brush Head Cost | $19.98 for (2) two packs | $15.92 for (2) two packs | $44.96 for (1) four pack | $28 for (4) 1 packs | $19.90 for (2) two packs |
| Charger or Battery Info | Magnetic USB-A | USB | USB (block not included) |
1 AAA battery | 100 - 240VA 50-60Hz 0.8 - 1.6W |
| American Dental Association accepted? | Not Listed | Not Listed | Not Listed | Yes | Yes |
| Waterproof / Resistant | Yes, can use in shower | No, cannot be used in the shower | Yes, can use in shower | Yes, can use in shower | Yes, can use in shower |
| Number of Brush Head Styles Available | 1 style available in 2 colors | 1 style available in multiple colors | 8 styles, most available in 2 colors | 1 style available in multiple colors | 3 |
| Number of Included Brush Heads | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| Thirty Second Reminder | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Two Minute Alert | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Travel Case Included | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Measured Handle Weight | 2.2 oz | 1.4 oz | 3.2 oz | 1.2 oz | 3.6 oz |
| App | Yes | No | No | Yes* *must manually enter data unless using a Smart model |
No |
| Available Colors | 2 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| Decibels from 6ft Away | 42.4 dB | 40 dB* | 42 dB | 40 dB* | 53 dB |
| Decibels from 3" Away | 43.9 dB | 40 dB* | 58 dB | 40 dB* | 68 dB |
The toothbrush itself is affordable and solid, but it really stood out with the Hum app. It has settings for adults and kids and comes with a cool reward program built in. Not only does the app help ensure that you brush every single tooth, but you can earn “Smile” points that can be redeemed for dental hygiene supplies like toothpaste. The app was easy to use and this extra gamification is a fun bonus.
We use several stages to evaluate cleaning ability. To begin, we spend an entire day eating, drinking, and trying to get our teeth as dirty as possible. Then, we chew up a pink plaque-disclosing tab before brushing. At this point, we can clearly see which spots the toothbrush missed. Then we brush for a couple of minutes to see how much plaque was actually removed from our teeth.
For our second stress test, we rub coffee grinds into a tooth model and brush on the daily setting for 1 minute. With these scores in hand, we're able to rank each brush based on cleaning.
The Hum scored okay on our cleaning test, but there are a few reasons it ended up below average. First off, during our first round of brushing, our gums began to bleed (granted, our tester has sensitive gums). Between the coarse bristles and the feeling that we needed to brush more since the brush doesn't have any oscillation or large bristle movements, we found the regular mode too intense.
During our second round, we used the sensitive setting and found it much more comfortable. Plus, it provided a cleaner result. When using the guided app, it took about three and a half minutes to reach a clean rating.
There were a few spots of leftover plaque on the lower inside portion of the mouth after brushing for just over three minutes and earning a clean rating on the app. But it still ranked well. That said, this brush may be too rough for people with particularly sensitive teeth and gums.
To test for comfort we evaluate how each brush feels in the mouth, what the bristles are like, and if the vibrations are jarring or comfortable. We also use a decibel meter to see how loud each unit is. Brushes that include a gentle mode or a pressure sensor also receive accolades as they help to avoid overly harsh brushing sessions. Once all of this is calculated we give each brush a score, which accounts for 30% of the overall rating.
Unfortunately, the Hum by Colgate is quite uncomfortable for those with sensitive gums. We found the bristles to be a bit coarse and the standard mode too rough. Luckily, it has a sensitive mode, and our testers liked that setting much better. With the stiffer bristles, we would definitely recommend using the sensitive setting, even if it takes a bit longer to get your mouth clean. It has a simple handle vibration, and the bristle head moves very little. Compared to other electric toothbrushes, you may need to make much more of an effort to manually brush your teeth for a complete clean.
The Hum by Colgate has a simple design that is similar to a manual toothbrush. It weighs in at 2.2 ounces and is available in two colors. It was comfortable in our hands during testing and reached back molars easily.
During this part of the test, we look at how many modes the toothbrush has and how easy it is to cycle through them. We also note how easy (or annoying) it is to clean the toothbrush itself. Lastly, we take into account travel cases, storage for additional brush heads, and if there is a built-in timer. Overall, the Hum by Colgate performed really well in our ease of use test. It has a single button, which is very intuitive.
You can change the mode by pressing the power button and we really liked that it saves your last used mode. So, if you always want to use the sensitive mode, you don't have to cycle through it each time. It simply auto-reverts to your last-used mode, which is handy.
It also has a small indicator light above the button. It shines pink for sensitive mode and white for regular. This brush is technically water-resistant but should not be fully submerged or used in the shower. It buzzes at the two-minute mark to alert you, though you may find you need a longer brush time if you're following the guidance in the app and using its gentle mode.
The Hum includes a matching travel case. It's sturdy and easy to use, but you do have to remove the brush head in order to store it in the case. And it does not include any space for additional brush heads.
The Hum by Colgate is a battery-operated toothbrush. It is very easy to replace the single AAA battery and we found it lasted quite a long time. To test, we ran each toothbrush for four minutes every day and noted when it needed a new battery (or recharge).
This brush lasted for 62 days before it needed a new battery. While this isn't as long as the 170 days some battery-powered brushes lasted, it's still a very long battery life — especially considering the app connection. This could be great for anyone who travels for extended times or often forgets to recharge.
There is no battery indicator on the toothbrush itself, but the app does show a percentage of battery left. Since we like the app so much on this brush, we have always used it and can easily keep track of the battery left.
The Hum by Colgate is a great option for kids and anyone who is looking for a way to motivate themselves to be on top of their dental hygiene. It's incredibly intuitive and fun to use, and the app helps ensure that you brush for at least two minutes. It performed well in our testing, and we like that it includes a travel case and the ability to earn free Colgate products.
