As much as we all like to think we’re above the Instagram algorithm, sometimes – just sometimes – an ad for a product comes along that’s too good to resist.
Zima Dental must have spent a small fortune on Instagram-based ads this past year because my feed is dominated by two very different health care ads: one for an overpriced hair pomade (I see through your lies, influencers) and one another for the Zima Dental Pod – supposedly the world’s first ultrasonic oral appliance cleaner.
Billed as a “revolutionary product that cleans aligners, retainers, Invisalign and other oral appliances,” the Dental Pod is essentially a mains-powered water bowl that aims to clean your nightly smile corrector using high-frequency ultrasonic waves. Simply drop your device into the pod and a series of bubbles will work on any bacteria and plaque hidden in its various hard-to-reach spots. At least, that’s the marketing promise.
@techradar
♬ Narration – Adriel
I’m a long-time retainer user and have cracked at least two of my previous devices by scrubbing them by hand with a toothbrush (what can I say, I’m careful!), so naturally I was intrigued by the prospect of a risk-free and potentially more powerful method of cleaning my current set. But is the Zima Pod really any good?
In an effort to answer this question while also adding some commercial variety to my Instagram account, I reached out to Zima for a sample pod, and the company graciously granted my request by sending the Arctic White model to TechRadar Towers (the Pod is also available in Sky Blue, Rose Pink and Jet Black). I took it home and immediately set it up on my bathroom counter next to my rubber duck and my Braun Series 9 Pro shaver (just kidding… about the shaver).
As for what you get in the box, the Zima Dental Pod comes with a small packet of cleaning tablets – the kind you already use to clean your retainers – as well as an AC adapter and a simple instruction manual. At 310 grams, the Pod is a nice size and weight, and its cute design makes it suitable for a bedside table or kitchen counter if you’re short on space in your bathroom.
The stainless steel lining of the Pod has a useful level gauge that tells you how much water to pour in, and once you’ve filled it, you simply drop a cleaning tablet into the water and let it bubble for two minutes. .
Then drop your components into the case and open the lid. Make sure it’s plugged in, then press the illuminated power button to start the cleaning process. The pod will buzz – kind of like an electric razor – for exactly five minutes and then automatically stop, so you don’t have to worry about over-cooking your device.
The results? In my experience, the Dental Pod returned a cleaner looking retainer set most of the time. Not to toot my own horn, but I’ve always kept my devices pretty clean and was even impressed by the Pod’s ability to root out deep-seated dirt.
Of course, there will always be some permanent discoloration that no amount of bubbles will get rid of, but as a risk-free alternative to cleaning your device with a toothbrush, the Zima Dental Pod is a pretty smart piece of kit.
You only get six cleaning tablets in the box, but if you’re a long-time retainer user like me, you probably have a stash of orthodontic version cleaning tablets that will work just as well as Zima’s brand name product. To be honest, the Pod works well without a tablet – I clean my device every day, but I only use one or two tablets a week.
The only real downside to the Zima Dental Pod is its price. It costs $99.99 in the US and £79.99 in the UKand Zima’s Christmas sale is only 10% off that price in both regions. But hey, you can’t put a price on a great smile.