jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

A few weeks ago, I posted about replacing the battery in my Oral-B toothbrush. The battery cost about $5.00, and replacement involved taking the brush apart, unsoldering, re-soldering, and reassembling. Very delicate work. It was worth the trouble because the battery breathed new life into the old toothbrush.

Unfortunately, after I reassembled the brush, it was no longer watertight. After a couple of weeks, I saw condensation inside the little window. I took it apart and let it dry. Yesterday, there was more moisture inside, and the brush refused to operate. After sitting disassembled for a few hours, it works again, but sealing it from moisture seems to be a problem. I had to remove the small plastic ring at the top and the larger base at the bottom to take it apart. I can seal both areas with silicone, but then it will be even more difficult to take it apart again. If it leaks and stops working, it's useless, so I'm going to go the silicone route.

After seeing moisture inside the first time, I was very careful about not exposing it to any more water than necessary, but it got in anyway.

melismus Loc: Chesapeake Bay Country

No, no, no! you have to throw it away and buy another.

I use the cheap Spin Brush; it has an O-ring sealed battery compartment. Not much trouble to remove batteries and recharge them.

WayneW Loc: South Carolina

Hi Jerry, I have the same problem after replacing a watch battery. Nitrogen displaces the moisture, if you have access to it. I've opened a wet watch and let nitrogen flow into it and it's amazing to watch the moisture drops evaporate. As to sealing your toothbrush with silicone, go ahead. That won't make it tough to take apart next time, unless you use RTV silicone!

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Do you use the brush before or after the teeth soak in a glass overnight? :XD: :lol:

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

You mean I should take them out of the glass before I brush them? I like the way the brush agitates the water.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I think I'm fresh out of nitrogen, but maybe I can shoot some WD-40 in there. :D

WayneW Loc: South Carolina

If you have a friend in the air conditioning biz, he should have some. We use it to blow through the sealed systems (compressor, coils, etc) to remove air and moisture. Didn't know we were talking about removable teeth :)

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

I like a blue tint! :lol:

taffthetooth Loc: U.K

As an ex Dental Pro here's my take on it. Just buy a new one, it doesn't have to be an expensive one, it will do the job just as well. When you finish brushing pull the head off, run water into the base of the head. Hold the brush down so the metal shaft is pointing down and run water down it, then dry it off.

rowbow Loc: Leicestershire

Spray with ACF50 this is a water repellant spray, it will displace the water and seal any electrical part, expensive but good.
rowbow

:thumbup:

Sirsnapalot Loc: Hammond, Louisiana

That Oral-B sounds like a pain in the rectal-A!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I ordered a new one - after doing research online, of course - and it will arrive today. My current brush works. Actually, it will occasionally turn itself on. Sometimes it turns itself off, but not usually. It would make a good random alarm clock.

As for cleaning it, the routine you describe is the one I use.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I've had this one for 7 or 8 years, and I replaced a non-replaceable battery, so I can't complain.

Zonker Loc: Leesburg, FL

Just use some silicon sealant on the joint after you dry it out. Stick it into a sealed container with rice for a day before you seal it.

Carl D Loc: Albemarle, NC.

Just buy a new one, You've already spent more time on it that it's worth.