I was very fortunate to be asked to review the Oral-B ProfessionalCare SmartSeries 5000 with SmartGuide, the latest and greatest electric toothbrush from Oral-B. Oddly, the name of the product neither mentions electric or teeth. Oral-B uses both "electric" and "power" to refer to this toothbrush but I've never used the latter, so I'm going with "electric toothbrush." (Google backs me up on the more common nomenclature: "electric toothbrush" 2,910,000 results, "power toothbrush" 670,000 results.)

We have always emphasized to our children the importance of bushing and flossing. Personally, my own oral hygiene was always about average until the invention of the floss pick, after which I have always shown up at the dentist with healthy teeth and gums.

First impressions of the Oral-B electric tooth brush is that it is very solidly built and runs surprisingly smoothly. I have vague memories of using an electric toothbrush a few times a couple of decades ago, but there are no positive feelings associated with the memory. This electric toothbrush is different. It is a pleasure to use and after bushing, my teeth felt at least as clean, if not cleaner than after manually brushing. It's hard to quantify...until I flossed afterward.

Normally, i can pull a small family of badgers out from between my teeth when flossing, even when flossing after brushing. This always amazes me since I brush from every imaginable angle with the very purpose of getting the bristles between my teeth and while applying more force than any two dentists combined would recommend. When I flossed after brushing with the Oral-B electric toothbrush, my floss was the cleanest I've ever seen it. This thing really does work and, first impressions, appears to handily beat out manual brushing.

This Oral-B electric toothbrush is their top of the line model. As I said, it is very well built including a modern induction charging system that allows the brushing handle to remain fully sealed. The technical specs state that the brush "provides 40,000 pulsations and 8,800 oscillations per minute." That translates into 667 pulsations and 147 oscillations a second, although I'm not quite sure what a "pulsation" is. The oscillations are the back and forth movement of the brush head since it does not "spin" around like I think the first generation of electric toothbrushes did many years ago. (Just checked my kids electric toothbrushes and they oscillate too...must have been a LONG time ago that I tried electric.)

The system comes with a wireless "SmartGuide," the LCD display unit, which communicates with the brush handle and tells you how long you are brushing as well indicating the various brushing modes. When brushing too hard, something I am very prone to do, the SmartGuide shows a frowning face and the brush handle lights up red. Also, included are the base stand with compartments for other brush heads so that more than one person can use the electric brush handle and a travel container. Oral-B says the brush will keep a charge for 10 days of twice a day 2 minute brushing.

This is a close up of the Oral-B FlossAction electric toothbrush head. There are nine different heads to accommodate every preference and need. Given how well this one cleans between teeth, I'll be sticking with it. In a week or two, I'll have a follow-up post to see how things go and whether I plan on making the change to electric.

There is a $10 mail in rebate offered by Oral-B on select electric toothbrushes until June 16, 2012. For more information check out Oral-B's website, or its Facebook or Twitter pages.

"I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Dad Central Consulting on behalf of Oral-B and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate."

Drew just about to smack a hard one into the outfield.

The next batter up hit one right to the shortstop who threw Drew out at second.

I love this photo. Drew hit one down the first base line...and the race was on!

Drew is racing as fast as he can while the first baseman is about the field the ball. It's going to be close.

Out at first by literally inches.

The other team hit a long one between Drew and another outfielder. Drew is throwing the ball in with all his might.

Drew about to get another hit.

It's another close one at first, but this time thanks to a throw that drew the first baseman off the bag, Drew was safe.

Drew had to hold up at first on a fly ball, but it was dropped and he sprinted to second where he was safe and eventually wound up scoring. The boys lost this one but won their next against a really good team. No pics from the second game since I was with Landon at soccer.

Both Will and Drew had games tonight and since I'll be photographing Drew in his tournament tomorrow, I got to watch Will tonight. The game promised to have a lot of action since Will was playing shortstop. Here he is getting his first grounder of the night.

Sometimes the best play is no play. Will wisely decided the best thing to do was stare down the runner and keep everyone from advancing rather than trying for the runner at first. It was a good thinking no-play.

Despite playing shortstop, this was the only other ball that made it to Will the whole game. Just as happened before a few games ago, the team's Ossie Smith/Omar Vizquel was playing pitcher tonight and kept almost everything from reaching either Will at shortstop or the second baseman.

Will was 4 for 4 tonight hitting off the tee. (I made movies of the three others.)

Will used his super speed to beat out this grounder that was scooped up by the pitcher.

Will is too serious during games to turn and give me a smile, but tonight he made my day when he acknowledged my cheers with a thumbs up!

Drew had his last chess club meeting of the year today and he finished with a 24-5 record. That is 24 wins and only 5 losses competing against other second graders along with third, fourth and fifth graders. If a game is unfinished they count up the total value of the pieces each player has left on the board with the highest scoring player getting the win. Draws or ties are counted as a win for each player. The kids kept track of their scores in a notebook throughout the year but they only know their own scores. So, while we have no idea if another kid had a better record, in our eyes, Drew is a chess champion!

Will had his ninth baseball game of the season tonight and it was his turn to play second base. As the picture shows, Will really enjoys playing baseball.

Will had another great night hitting including this one about to be walloped off the tee.

Stepping on home plate for the first of many runs for the team.

Will and his team had a great night fielding with two innings where they got 3 outs before the other team scored the maximum allowed 7 runs.

Slugging another hit.

Getting down low to field a grounder. Thanks to the boys' terrific defense efforts, they won the game 28-24.

Will's wind up before he hits a long one.

Stepping on home plate for another run.

Will getting in front of another grounder at second base.

Will's last at bat resulting in another hit.

Finally, a rare glimpse from Will towards the camera. Drew, the serious boy, will flash me and the camera a smile once in a while but Will, the smiley boy, is always too serous to give me a smile during a game.

Will had his eighth baseball game tonight. It was his turn to play left field.

Despite the game being an offensive battle, Will never got the ball in left field. Instead, a 5 year-old phenom at shortstop vacuumed up everything. Ossie Smith and Omar Vizquel couldn't have put on the performance that this little guy did at shortstop.

As the result of no baseballs making it to left field, all the action photos from this game were of Will hitting and running the bases like Will, here, smacking one hard.

A missed play at first and the coach sends Will off to second base.

Another hit for Will.

Easily safe at first.

It's important to always take a big lead off from the base.

Getting the green light to go home.

Will about to step on home plate for another run.

Will hitting a long one off the tee.

If you can't get the runner out, you can always slow him up.

Finally, Will on third base just before he scored the tying run in this 21-21 battle.

Drew had his first communion today. This is father Joe and the first communicants along with their religious education teachers.

Drew in front of the Saint Benedict's alter.

Drew proudly showing off his banner that he and Mama made together.

Drew's wonderful religious education teachers.

The Danz family.

The Youngmans joining in.

Since we didn't get a picture of Aunt Catherine together with Ma and Pa yesterday at Catherine's graduation, we got them to pose together today.

Finally, after church, everyone came over to our house to celebrate with lunch and a first communion cake that Mary made. God Bless Drew!

In the first inning, a line drive was hit down the first base line past the first baseman so quick that this was my first picture of the play. Drew perfectly played the grounder which allowed him the opportunity to try again what he had tried in a prior game (last picture).

Drew sprang up and in one motion made a rocket throw to first base.

My camera takes 8 frames/second. This was the ninth frame I captured of this play. That means Drew only had the ball in his possession for just 1.0 second. His speed, skill and quick thinking allowed Drew to accomplish what he just missed doing last game...he threw out a runner at first base from right field. Way to go Drew!

Drew's batting stance...looks pretty good to me.

In a rare occurrence, maybe the first of the year, Drew struck out. Looking at his eyes it is clear why. It's hard to hit a ball you're not looking at.

Drew did a terrific job in right field. Every time there was a play at first, he was there to back up the throw. A thankless job when everything goes right.

This time Drew clearly kept his eye on the ball and the result was a powerful hit up the middle.

Drew on the way to first with an RBI in the background.

Drew on first base.

Drew getting a lead off of second base.

Drew once again backing up first base but this time the throw to first base gets past the first baseman.

Not to worry, Drew was there to stop the runners from getting extra bases.

Drew's last at bat ended in the most incredible play by the other team's first baseman. He made a true major league stretch to catch the ball and get Drew out. If the first baseman looks like he might only come up to Drew's stomach, you are right. But, when you can stretch like a Soviet gymnast you don't need height to play first. The incredible defense by both teams resulted in the game being one of the lowest scoring games of the, so far, eighty-six game season. In the end, Drew's team squeaked out a 6-5 victory.

Tonight it was Will's turn to play first base. Here he is at the start of the game in his ready position.

It was a busy night for Will. Kindergartners don't hit the ball out of the infield much and almost every play is at first one way or another.

In this series of photos, a grounder was hit to Will's right, he immediately went after it, somehow while keeping an eye on the runner he bare-handed the ball (not one of the photos in the series shows him looking at the ball when picking it up), raced to first and just got the runner out--an unassisted out!

Fielding another grounder at first.

What looks like a grounder is actually a throw to first that got this runner out.

Will missed this grounder but that happens in baseball. What is awesome is that he has his glove on the ground and stopped the ball with his body. You can't ask for much more than that. Will did everything perfectly right!

Will fielding another grounder.

Will got three hits tonight. Check out his rippling forearm muscles as he powers through his swing!

Will smacking his second hit.

Will about to whack his third hit of the evening.

Will making a long Danz-style stride before stepping on home plate.

Will, Landon and Drew after church today.

This is the last day Aunt Donelda is in town so we made sure to take some family photos.

The Danz family!

Mary made another terrific number cake with Landon's favorite color orange piping. The vanilla cake also had surprise sprinkles inside.

The cake was a hit with everyone.

Landon getting ready to blow out the candles on his third birthday cake.

Ready to dig into his cake with a familiar "3" in the background.

Drew, Landon and Will share in the celebration.

Landon opening up his first present.

Landon's Teach Me Elmo doll was an instant favorite. You can't go wrong with Elmo!

Opening one of the last packages. Landon did a great job opening his gifts and was truly interested and excited about every one. Thanks to everyone who helped make Landon's third birthday extra special.

Last week Landon had his first ever soccer lesson at Soccer City. Since the lessons require parent participation and last week was Landon's first lesson, I didn't take any pictures. This week, however, was a different story.

Probably because he's the youngest, Landon is significantly more proficient at soccer than his brothers were when they first started. Landon instinctively dribbles the ball, looks ahead at where he's gong and is under much greater control at all times. It really was surprising how well he took to it.

Landon controlling the ball and looking ahead at his target.

Leaping to get ahead of the ball.

All smiles during a game of alien tag.

Landon is excited about making a goal.

Drew, Landon and Will on the field together.

After a great practice, Landon joins his brothers who are now taking their turn for the first time watching the action. After the break, a soccer stadium full of pictures.

]]> 2012-05-13T08:01:40Z 2012-04-28T04:58:53Z tag:www.danzfamily.com,2012://1.1051 2012-04-28T04:58:53Z

Aunt Donelda is in town for Landon's birthday. Tonight we all went to bingo night at Drew and Will's school. While the table we sat at was pretty lucky, we didn't win anything but we still had lots of fun.

]]>

The coach has been rotating each player through every position and today was Will's turn to play catcher for the whole game. Here he is hustling into position.

Will started out in the classic catcher's stance. His free hand wasn't being protected behind his back but in t-ball there aren't many foul balls that hit the catcher.

After a while, it's just easier to sit down.

In the action, watching the hitter do his stuff.

Will using his mind to levitate a ball or a ball just hit off the tee.

Will keeping his eye on a just hit ball.

Finally, Will's turn at bat which resulted in some good hard grounders.

Will hit a fast one right to the player playing between the first and second basemen. The boy was able to pick it up and just beat out Will to first. If Will hadn't hit it so hard, he would have been safe.

With the sun going down, Will continued to stand his ground at home plate.

Will maintained his focus even with the sun in his eyes. He was pretty tired afterward and even though he likes the position, a whole game of catching is quite lot to ask of a five year-old. Finally, I missed the last few minutes of the game as I had to go pick up Drew from his baseball practice.

Will played pitcher tonight which meant he was at the center of most of the action. This is his self-created ready position.

Kindergarten t-ball means a lot of work for the pitcher. Will worked hard to get in front of the balls hit his way.

But, some went to the right.

Some to the left.

And, others back to the right.

Still, others went left again.

Finally, a hopper up the middle.

Will taking a knee for fielding this one.

Once fielded, it was time to make the throw to first.

Another great throw to first. I think Will got the runner out on this one!

Will shows off perfect form keeping his eye on the ball.

Putting some weight behind this one.

About to make his third hit of the night.

Will racing to first, with another RBI in the background.

Finally, Will giving his coach five on first base.