The benefits of an Oral B electric toothbrush are many. From getting nearly three times as many strokes per minute to having a built-in timer to remind you that you have brushed long enough, Oral B reports that electric toothbrushes are 100% more effective at removing plaque than manual brushes. However, when the electric toothbrush does not hold a charge, all of these benefits are rendered irrelevant. But why is your Oral B brush not charging?
The most likely cause of an Oral B toothbrush that does not charge is due to damage to the printed circuit board. This is usually the result of water getting to the brush’s electric interior or an impactful blow that breaks the PCB wires. An Oral B toothbrush also might not charge if it’s on a metal surface which may interfere with charging; causing the toothbrush to not charge properly.
Damage to the PCB disrupts the flow of electricity from the battery to the toothbrush motor, causing the toothbrush to lose power. If the PCB is still in good shape, the charging issues may stem from a faulty battery or charger, or maybe even something as simple as a dead outlet or bad connection, so be sure to troubleshoot all possibilities before purchasing a new Oral B brush. Below, we’ll cover all of these troubleshooting steps and more.
PCB Damage
The Oral B electric toothbrush has a heavy-duty design built to withstand frequent brushing and other impacts. However, there are times when its electric interior can become compromised.
For example, if the toothbrush gets submerged in water or is forcefully dropped onto a hard surface, it is possible that damage can occur to the printed circuit board (PCB). Corrosion or breaks in the copper wires of the PCB will disrupt the flow of electricity to the toothbrush’s induction motor, leaving the brush seemingly “dead” despite having electricity stored in the battery.
To see if a damaged PCB is the cause of your charging issues, open the brush and inspect the PCB. If you see any cracks, burns, or corrosion on any of the wires that lead to the battery or motor, you can attempt to make repairs using a soldering iron or simply replace the PCB itself.
Faulty Battery
If the PCB looks good, the battery may have degraded over time. If the toothbrush is more than a couple of years old and the battery has never been replaced, the toothbrush may not be able to hold a charge throughout a single brushing session.
To replace the battery, you will need to open the toothbrush in the same manner you did to check the PCB. Make sure the old battery is replaced with a rechargeable option compatible with your Oral B toothbrush. It also requires soldering skills to get the rechargeable battery properly installed, so the replacement is not as simple as a typical disposable battery exchange.
Worn Charger
Another possible option is a worn-out charger. To test if the charger is the issue and not some internal fault of the toothbrush itself, take a look at the lighted power button on the bottom of your toothbrush.
If the power light does not start blinking when placed on the charger, then the charging issues lie with the charger. You can further confirm this by feeling the base of the toothbrush. If it does not get slightly warm after sitting on the charger for some time, then the charger is most likely dead.
There is little you can do to fix a blown charger, but replacement charging stands can be purchased for around $10.
Bad Outlet or Poor Connection
It is always important to check even the most basic problems when dealing with malfunctioning electronic devices. For example, it is possible that the outlet is not working. If it is one of the outlets controlled by a switch, make sure the switch is on and check the charging status again. After ruling this out, plug in a different device, such as a blow dryer, and see if it recognizes the power source.
Other things to consider include:
- Make sure the charging stand is sitting on a level surface and that the toothbrush is sitting flush on the stand.
- Check the charging port at the bottom of the toothbrush to ensure that there is no dirt or debris that may be blocking interrupting the connection.
- If plugging your charging stand into a power strip, make sure that the strip is turned on and not overloaded with other cords.
Final Thoughts
An electric toothbrush by Oral B has many benefits over a standard manual toothbrush. However, all of these benefits are lost if the toothbrush will not hold a charge. The most likely cause of charging issues is damage to the printed circuit board. If this is not the case, other potential causes could be a degraded battery, a failed charging stand, or connectivity and outlet issues.
Just remember to take care of your toothbrush—including regular cleaning—and it will certainly take care of your teeth!