Hum from Colgate Smart Toothbrush
"Too lazy to brush? Colgate Hum awards points every time you use it to get you off the couch. "
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Earn reward points for brushing
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App guides you to effective brushing
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So-so cleaning performance
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Can be tricked into brushing teeth
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Limited selection with online shop
Smart toothbrushes are not new. They have been around for years, collecting data and providing us with useful information to improve our cleaning skills. The question is whether or not any of the new technologies or advances will make a practical difference. Sure, it's wonderful that some of them have gyroscopes, accelerometers, and pressure sensors inside, but at the end of the day, they're all meaningless if they can't change their habits.
This is where Hum by Colgate is different: it redirects the conversation to focus on changing our brushing habits – with the help of incentives. It's probably the smartest thing that happens to the smart toothbrush.
The charm to please
Colgate's intelligent toothbrush has a certain charm. That's because it's not about being a souped-up, tech-savvy toothbrush. There is no such thing as an imposing stature. Instead, Colgate's approach is rather reserved and, because of the pastel colors, often reminds me more than anything of a painter's brush. Available in two versions, rechargeable or battery operated, you can choose from three colors – in my case blue.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
Aside from the charming design, there isn't much that sets it apart from other toothbrushes. Although it is light and hollow, it is ergonomically designed to be comfortable while brushing. It comes with a carrying case and a charging station. I don't know why, but I was forced to see if the Colgate Hum could charge using one of my smartphone's wireless charging pads. And sure enough!
Superficially clean, tough in between
Before I get into the intelligent functions of the Hum by Colgate, I would like to describe in detail the cleaning performance that I prefer above all. The Colgate brush head is similar to others that vibrate, like Philips Sonicare electric toothbrushes, to break up plaque and dirt. The brush itself combines rigid brushes with softer, almost plastic-like brushes.
The overall brush performance is average I would say. The vibration is not as strong as I would like it to be, but it still managed to fix the superficial cleaning. However, it is not effective at removing stuck pieces of food from between your teeth. Therefore, floss is still required. I appreciate that it comes with a tongue cleaner, which you don't often find.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
You can brush your teeth in two ways: on your own or with the mobile app. The former have vibrations that indicate when it is time to move on to another area of your mouth – while the latter visually showed me how long and where to brush. I prefer the app experience as it makes sure I cover all areas of my mouth properly. On the other hand, it's nice that the toothbrush saves data from my brushes for up to 10 days. So you don't have to bring your smartphone with you every time you clean.
Incentives for brushing
As a smart toothbrush, the Colgate Hum does not exceed any of my existing expectations. It can tell where I'm cleaning and whether I'm cleaning fast enough. You can find this in every other smart toothbrush on the market. Where it stands out from the crowd are the incentives Colgate has for you to brush your teeth and in some ways it's a brilliant idea.
Whenever you brush, you will earn “smile” points – one point every time you brush, no matter how long or how well you do it. Reaching 100 points equals USD 1 in credit that can be used to purchase replacement heads (USD 10 for a two-pack) or a new toothbrush. It's worth noting that there is a hard cap of three allowable brushing sessions per day so you can't do something outrageous like brushing 100 times in a single day.
Currently the shop has a relatively limited selection so I hope more things have been added to it. Maybe toothpaste or floss? While it seems like it takes forever to collect enough points to get a significant discount, the app has Activities that you can use other ways to collect more points.
I was able to fool Colgate's buzz by pretending to brush my teeth.
This is without question the smartest thing that can happen to the smart toothbrush in a while. Oddly enough, I was able to fool Colgate's buzz by pretending to brush my teeth. In fact, I don't think it can actually sense whether it's in my mouth or not – so it depends on movement more than anything. It's not a bad thing in and of itself, especially considering how many points you can earn in a day.
Our opinion
Functionally, the $ 70 Hum from Colgate is no different from any other smart toothbrush on the market. What's special about this is how Colgate promotes the brushing experience by collecting points for discounts on actual products. It's a smart move and motivational tool to get you to brush more often.
How long it will take?
The all-plastic construction makes it feel light and hollow, but I'm confident that it will hold up well over time. There is a two year limited warranty that covers defects.
In my experience, the battery drain is around 3% to 4% for every three minute session. It's not terrible, but you'll get at least a handful of brushes before you need a recharge.
Is there a better alternative?
When it comes to cleaning and features, there are others out there who do a better job. The iO series from Philips Sonicare and Oral-B have impeccable cleaning capabilities. If this is the most important thing to you, then they are the better recommendations.
Should you buy it?
If you're on a tight budget and can overlook its mediocre cleaning performance, then definitely buy it, especially if there is an incentive to brush your teeth.
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