Some people are genetically predisposed to greater dental plaque accummulation and chronic halitosis. I’m one of them. On both counts. I’m also a mouth-breather, despite my corrected deviated septum. If you’re conjuring up a frightful picture, let me assure you, my mouth is minty-fresh almost all the time, since this predisposition has made me obsessive about oral hygene. And while some of the credit has to go to my dentist, Alan Zweig, today’s shout out goes to Oral-B.

I’ve experimented with all kinds of oral care novelties… Does anyone else remember those tablets you could chew after brushing to see if you’d missed any spots? My first electric device was a Waterpik, which I got to flush stuck food particles from a particularly medieval orthodontic torture device called a pallet splitter, which was installed by some dentist-in-training at the NYU dental school when I was in 10th grade. Neither that horrible memory, nor the fear of electrocution from operating an electrically powered device in such close proximity to the bathtub stopped me in my quest for cleaner teeth. To me, the Sonicare electric toothbrush was revolutionary, though maybe not worthy of the hubris with which it is promoted: “Stop brushing. Start Sonicare.” Yes, my teeth really felt cleaner.

But in 2001, a landmark clinical study proved, much to the delight of Gillette stock holders, that the only electric toothbrush proven to clean better than manual ones was the Oral-B with 3D action. I ran out and bought one that day. Then last month, I noticed a new model: The  Oral-B Triumph.

Now most of the improvements in the basic 3D models have been superfluous features: timers, multiple speeds, tongue-scraping attachments and the like. Yes, tongue scraping is important for those of us with chronic hali – but I don’t need an electric implement for that task. But the Triumph offered the first significant improvement since 3D action: The FlossAction brushhead, which has tiny rubber wipers that really do provide superior cleaning action.

If you don’t already own an Oral-B toothbrush, The Triumph is currently on sale at Drugstore.com. for $89.97 – a 40% savings!  And even more exciting, if you already own an Oral-B “professional care” series model (5000, 7000 or 8000), you can buy just the brushhead, available most places Oral-B brushes are sold, including online at Drugstore.com.  And that should put a smile on your face.

Note: Feb 06: Drugstore.com raised their price; Amazon.com now has the lowest price, $109.99

P.S. If you’re still puzzling about yesterday’s pop vocabulary quiz, precocious, in the botanical arena, refers to a plant that blossoms before its leaves appear. The magnolia is a precocious tree.