28-05-2025
This New Electric Toothbrush Is Out To Save Your Gums
Laifen e-toothbrush is gentle on the gums
Scott Kramer
Gum grafts are no fun. I've had two of them. In my case, I had receding gum lines in my mouth. So a specialist went in and grafted skin off the roof of my mouth and stitched it in over the receding gum lines. Then I waited a week or two for it to take and heal. It can be super painful. It can bleed. And it can hinder your ability to eat for a while. Last time I had it done was roughly 20 years ago. Every time I go to the dentist now for a teeth cleaning, they measure the gum lines. And I cringe.
Earlier this year was no exception. But the hygenist reminded me that I need to brush lightly along the gum lines in a gentle up-and-down motion. If I continue being too rough, it will erode the gum lines again. And I definitely don't want that happening. I use an electric toothbrush, so the hygienist told me to essentially not press as hard as I have been. And to make that motion.
But then a small miracle might have happened. Within a week, a tech brand named Laifen pitched me on trying out its new Wave SE (Special Electric) toothbrush that does exactly that. The ultra-thin bristles are extremely soft, so they are gentle on gums. And it automatically brushes in that up-and-down motion by oscillating at 60 degrees to brush away plaque (supposedly emulating the dentist-recommended Modified Bass brushing technique for a superior clean) while vibrating up to 26,000 times per minute, but can go at a lower speed so that it's softer on sensitive teeth. The company calls it the first dual-action electric toothbrush certified by the American Dental Association. The brush head is also cushioned with a TPE coating to provide a softer and more comfortable experience. Its thin arc-backed design is compact and flexible, helping it reach back molars more easily. Interestingly, the marketing material says that the bristles are fitted using an advanced copper-free tufting process, securing them in place and preventing rusting. Has rusting ever been an issue with other toothbrushes?
The box it arrives in looks so much like if Apple ever came out with a toothbrush – right down to how it's all packed on the inside. Expect minimal all-white packaging. Mine arrived fully charged. But if it hadn't, it's good to know that it only takes three hours to fully charge the unit via the included USB-C cable, and the battery lasts 50 days based on you using it twice a day for two minutes each time. It comes with two heads that easily snap on.
I've been using the brush without the companion smartphone app that lets you personalize your brushing across 1,000 possible brushing setting combinations, and offers a smart brushing timer and zone change reminder. In my time using it, I love how gentle it is on my gums and how much quieter it is in general than my current electric toothbrush. There are six color options and it sells for $90.
