Sonicare Toothbrush Reviews

Sonicare Toothbrushes: Types & Benefits 

Philips’ Sonicare is one of the most popular electric toothbrush brands on the market today. 

With many lines and models available, it can be hard to know which one is right for you. 

Here are the major features to look for when choosing a Sonicare brush:

• Smartimer — Most Sonicare brushes automatically turn off after running for two minutes. The American Dental Association recommends two minutes as the ideal brushing time.⁶
• Quadpacer — Some models allow you to break up the timer into 30-second intervals, one for each quadrant of your mouth. 
• BrushSync — Models with BrushSync can track how often you brush, and therefore when it is time to swap out your old brush head for a new one. Research shows old brush heads are less effective at removing plaque, can damage enamel, and can even spread bacteria.^{3, 7} 
• EasyStart — New Sonicare brushes gradually ramp up the brushing intensity over the first 14 sessions of use. This helps beginners get used to the vibrations. 
• SenseIQ — SenseIQ detects motion, pressure, coverage, duration, and frequency to evaluate your brushing sessions and provide real-time feedback. It even turns off your toothbrush automatically if you brush too hard. Using an electric toothbrush with too much force can damage your enamel.⁸

How Do Sonicare Toothbrushes Work?

Sonicare refers to its toothbrushes as “sonic brushes.” As the term suggests, they work a little bit differently than other electric toothbrushes. 

Most electric toothbrushes oscillate, meaning the bristles move in a circular motion. 

Sonicare toothbrushes vibrate side-to-side at high frequencies. 

However, there is currently no scientific consensus on which action is better. 

Sonicare brush heads vibrate at around 31,000 brush strokes per minute (BPM). This is much faster than many regular electric toothbrushes, which are closer to the 2500-7500 range. 

Sonicare claims this helps their brushes remove up to 7x as much plaque as other brands.

Another key feature that sets the Sonicare brand apart is its use of fluid dynamics. 

Sonicare brushes use high sonic frequencies to propel toothpaste and water into the gaps between your teeth and into your gum line. This allows for a deeper clean than with conventional electric or manual toothbrushes and helps remove more dental plaque.

Philips Sonicare vs. Oral-B

Sonicare and Oral-B are the two most popular names in the electric toothbrush industry. Both brands feature a wide array of high-quality products that will get your teeth clean.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each brand. 

Benefits of Sonicare electric toothbrushes:

• Sonicare’s method of propelling liquid to attack plaque helps provide a more thorough clean in hard-to-reach places. It also benefits those with sensitive gums because the method is non-contact.
• Sonicare seems to pay closer attention to aesthetics. Their brushes are sleek and well-designed. By contrast, Oral-B brushes can appear relatively clunky and almost “toy-like” in appearance.
• Sonicare brushes tend to have more features, such as BrushSync, EasyStart, and SenseIQ.

Benefits of Oral-B electric toothbrushes:

• Oral-B’s brushes vibrate in a circular motion, rather than side-to-side like Sonicaire. This, plus their smaller brush heads might make it more comfortable for those with smaller mouths (especially for cleaning back teeth).
• The brushes in general tend to be more affordable.
• Oral-B has a more competitive warranty, with fewer conditions and fast turnaround times.

Why Trust Us? How We Choose Products

All medical content on this site, including this guide and other product reviews, is written by our team of experienced writers and researchers. All NewMouth writers vet products that are recommended and reviewed in the industry. In cases where this is not possible, our team will:

• Compare positive and negative reviews 
• Personally test out products 
• Talk to company leaders to ensure their products are safe and effective
• Look into costs to ensure customers are getting the best quality products at reasonable prices
• Research common ingredients (side effects, benefits, uses, etc.) 

Every piece of content is heavily reviewed before publication. All content on NewMouth is also medically reviewed by a licensed dentist, specifically any content where we recommend products. Our dentists are specifically instructed to flag any recommendations they don’t agree with. Any products that don’t meet their professional standards are removed.

Many of the products we recommend have the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance. These products are proven to be effective in preventing gum disease, cavities, and other oral health conditions.

When we recommend products that do not include this seal of acceptance, we conduct further research to ensure reputability. This may include speaking with company leaders, reading hundreds of customer reviews, and ensuring they provide quality customer service.

5 Best Sonicare Toothbrushes 2021: Full Review & Where to Buy

Here is our review of the top Sonicare electric toothbrushes on the market: 

1. Sonicare DiamondClean

One of the pricier options, the DiamondClean, has long been the flagship product for Sonicare. 

This sleek and well-constructed toothbrush tops many lists of best overall electric toothbrushes and is a favorite among dentists’ offices.

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Given the impressive features it boasts, it isn’t hard to see why. Features of the DiamondClean include: 

• Clean, DeepClean, White, Gum Care, and Sensitive cleaning modes with three intensity levels for each
• Smartimer and Quadpacer
• Three-week battery life 
• Easy and comfortable handle
• Pressure sensor that alerts you when you are brushing too hard
• An app that provides tips on best brushing practices. It also automatically orders a replacement brush head when it senses yours is worn down.
• Glass charging base
• USB chargeable

There are some drawbacks. Most notably the price: the DiamondClean currently costs $250 on Amazon.

The DiamondClean is not one of the smallest toothbrushes on this list. The charging and brush are both relatively large. However, if you do choose to travel with it, the travel case does double as a portable charger.

The DiamondClean comes with one brush handle, multiple brush heads, and some accessories. It is available in white, black, and pink, amethyst, and rose gold.

2. Sonicare Prestige 9900

The Sonicare Prestige 9900 is one of the newer entries in the Sonicare lineup and by far the most technologically advanced. 

Like the DiamondClean, the Prestige has a sleek design, while also being smaller, lighter, and quieter. It offers all the same features as the DC while adding some additional ones of its own. 

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The Philips’ AI-powered app and patented SenseIQ technology are the brush’s two main selling points. SenseIQ collects data on how fast, hard, long, effectively, and frequently you brush. 

Using this data, the AI then makes recommendations in real-time, telling you what areas you missed and automatically logging your sessions to your phone to measure your progress. 

It also will automatically adjust the vibration intensity based on how much pressure you are applying while brushing. 

Other improvements of the Prestige include:

• All-purpose brush head eliminates need to change out brush heads for different tasks
• It makes less noise
• It’s significantly lighter —only 0.89 lbs to the DiamondClean’s 2.26 lbs, making it travel-friendly
• Travel case/charger is leather rather than the synthetic material of the DiamondClean case
• Generally more “luxurious” feel

One area the DiamondClean beats out the Prestige 9900 is battery life. The Prestige 9900 lasts just two weeks to the DiamondClean’s impressive three weeks. 

But the main drawback of the Prestige 9900 is the price. There’s no getting around it, the Prestige 9900 is an expensive toothbrush, clocking in at $100 more than the DiamondClean. 

But while $350 the price tag may seem steep, when you consider that a cavity filling costs between $200 and $600, the Sonicare Prestige 9900 arguably pays for itself (when used correctly). In time, the Prestige may well replace the DiamondClean as a dentist office standard.

3. Sonicare Protective Clean 4100

If you’re looking for something that can provide a quality clean that won’t break the bank, the Sonicare Protective Clean is for you. 

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It comes at an affordable price (just $49), missing the fancy bells and whistles of some of the higher-end models, but with all the essential features you need:

• Smartimer and Quadpacer
• EasyStart 
• BrushSync
• Pressure sensor that vibrates to let you know when you are brushing too hard

Another benefit of the ProtectiveClean 4100 over the preceding two models is that it’s smaller and lighter, weighing in at just 0.79 lbs. This is less than the Prestige’s 0.89 lb and less than half that of the DiamondClean’s 2.26 lbs.

Drawbacks include the lack of Bluetooth technology and increased noise compared to the last two units. Its battery life is also two weeks, which, while good for its price range, is less than the DiamondClean’s impressive three weeks.

It also only has one mode and two levels of intensity. This makes it an ideal choice for beginners, but more experienced electric brushers may want a greater variety of modes. 

The ProtectiveClean 4100 also comes with the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance, meaning it is proven to effectively prevent cavities and reduce plaque.¹

4. Sonicare Essence

The Essence is one of Sonicare’s other less expensive models and comes with high reviews from its users. Like the Protective Clean, it offers a lot of value for your money.

What’s interesting about the Essence is the slightly bent neck. This makes it easier to reach those molars at the very back of the mouth. 

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It also has extra-soft and contoured bristles, making for a painless and efficient cleaning experience.

Like the ProtectiveClean, the Essence offers one cleaning mode, a timer, EasyStart, and two-weeks’ battery life. However, it lacks ProtectiveClean’s 30-second pacer, pressure sensor, and BrushSync. 

It’s also less elegantly designed than the other models on this list.

If you are looking for something to help clean hard-to-reach areas, this might be the brush for you.

5. Sonicare for Kids Powerbrush

This colorful and Bluetooth-compatible brush is intended to train kids in good brushing habits. 

It does this in several ways. The app offers tips on how to brush and fun rewards for repeat sessions. The brush also uses a musical timer to cue the user on when it’s time to move to the next segment of the mouth.

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The brush comes with removable stickers and is available in blue or pink 

If you have kids, this is an excellent choice.