Oral B vs Sonicare. Want to find out the answer quick?
In my view there is really only one clear winner between the question Oral B vs Sonicare. The Oral-B range offers better value for money, has a better cleaning action and has the better range of Brush heads. If I were to pick a range to go with, I would personally go for the Oral-B.
Overall
N.B. If you would like to find out my recommended electric toothbrush click here
This blog post was updated on the 8th February 2018 . I hope you enjoy the read :)!
SSSHHHH!! Keep it down over there. Today we are going to do something naughty. The two biggest electric toothbrush manufacturers aren’t going to like this. We are going to directly compare Oral B vs Sonicare. Winner takes all. No holds barred.
You may be wondering why should you listen to me? Well, I am a dentist so that means I have gone through five crushing years of university. I also blog about dentistry in my spare time and have done so for five years! Doesn’t time fly.
Did you know that almost all main dental diseases are self caused and can be easily prevented. My aim is to dispel the myths around dentistry and improve your oral health.
Anyway enough about me, let’s get down to it, Oral B vs Sonicare. What are the differences and which should you buy?
1) Which has the best Cleaning power? – Oral B vs Sonicare
Let’s start with the main reason you are considering buying an electric toothbrush. To get clean teeth and improve your oral health. Is there a difference between the cleaning power of Oral B and Sonicare or are they both the same?
One of the fundamental differences between Sonicare vs Oral B is the way that they brush your teeth. The Oral B electric toothbrush uses a rotary motion whereas the Philips Sonicare opts for a sonic motion. What does this actually mean?
Oral-B Rotary motion
Most Oral-B electric toothbrush use an oscillating, rotating and pulsating motion to break up plaque. The brush spins right, left and then pumps up and down.
Oral-B has a variety of cleaning modes, which alters the electric toothbrushes cleaning power. The “standard” one is daily clean, where the brush head oscillates at 8,800 and 40,000 pulsations per minute.
The oscillation motion (right and left spinning) cleans the teeth through simple mechanical cleaning. The high frequency pulsating causes an effect known as non-contact brushing. This is where the pulsations can remove plaque from beyond the brush heads bristles.
As the bristles have to rotate, most Oral-B Brush heads are circular and quite small. This means it cleans individual teeth well and is easy to maneuver around the mouth.
Philips Sonic Motion
All Philips Sonicare electric toothbrushes use a Sonic motion. This is where the bristles rapidly vibrate side to side.
The Philips Sonicare on “clean” mode vibrates side to side at 31,000 brush strokes per minute. This rapid movement works in two ways. Firstly it has a mechanical cleaning effect. Secondly just like the pulsation on rotary motion, it can clean by non-contact brushing.
As the bristles move side to side, Philips have opted to go for an oval shaped brush head. The advantage is that it can clean multiple teeth at once, the disadvantage is that it lacks maneuverability.
So which one has more cleaning power Oral B vs Sonicare?
I will start by saying that both are better than manual tooth brushing. The most comprehensive piece of research on this subject is a systematic review by Cochrane in 2014. It included 56 studies published from 1964 to 2011 involving 5068 participants. It found that electric toothbrushes reduced plaque by 21% and gum disease by 11% over 3 months.
Between the Oral B and Sonicare electric toothbrushes the results are less clear. Again the Cochrane group in 2010 gives us the lowdown. In this systematic review, Cochrane included data from 17 trials which involved 1369 participants. They found that and I quote:
“Brushes with a rotation oscillation action reduced plaque and gingivitis more than those with a side to side action in the short term. However, the difference was small and it’s clinical importance unclear.”
Talk about sitting on the fence! Let’s see if we can find another study. A randomized clinical comparison by Klukowska M et al in 2014, compared Oral B vs Sonicare on 130 adults over six week period. The results was a clear win for Oral B, 32.6% less gum disease and 22% less plaque.
We cracked it! Or not…. The problem is, this research was probably sponsored by Oral-B. And there lies the inherent problem. Most research in this field are sponsored by manufacturers. Suprisingly, if Oral B pays for the research they tend to win and vice versa.
Reader: So would you please just answer the question which is better?
I would say very tentatively that the Oral-B rotary motion wins in terms of cleaning power. The result is by no means clear cut and it is really dependent on how you use the electric toothbrush.
P.S. If you want to find out how brush your teeth with an electric toothbrush click here.
2) Who has the best Electric Toothbrushes? – Oral B vs Sonicare
The best way to compare value for money is to directly compare the Oral-B and Sonicare electric toothbrushes. Please note that there are examples from the United States and United Kingdom.
Click here if you want to see US examples
Click here if you want to see UK examples
US Electric toothbrush Comparisons
US – Top of the range electric toothbrushes – Oral B vs Sonicare
Oral-B Genius Pro 7500 vs Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9500 Series
The Oral-B Pro 7500 is one of Oral-B’s top of the range models. It is uber high tech and comes ram-packed with features. Bluetooth connectivity, position location, pressure sensors, it really contains the works.
It’s current RRP in the US is $199 but you can get it for around 
Philips makes a direct competitor, the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9500 Series. It is also super high tech and is a great electric toothbrush. It has most of the same features as the Oral-B Genius 8000 like bluetooth connectivity, yada yada yada. But can you guess it’s cost?
It’s current RRP in the US is $269 and the cheapest you can get it for is 
Hmmmm…. So the Philip Sonicare is $70 more for practically the same thing. I would chose the Oral-B Genius 7500 over the Philip Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9500 Series any day of the week.
US – Electric toothbrushes under $100 – Oral B vs Sonicare
Oral-B Pro 3000 vs Sonicare 3 Series
Now, let’s see if the trend continues in their mid-range offerings. The Oral-B Pro 3000 and Philips Sonicare 3 Series are both best in class electric toothbrushes. Which one offers better value for money?
The Oral-B Pro 3000 has many good points. It is the cheapest electric toothbrush to feature bluetooth connectivity, it has a visible pressure sensor and it also has 3 cleaning modes. Most cleaning modes are gimmicks. However the Daily clean mode and sensitive mode on the Oral-B Pro 3000 are actually good because they last for 2 minutes.
As with all “cheaper” Oral-B electric toothbrushes, the battery life is pretty abysmal at 1 week daily use (28 minutes continuous). This is more than made up by the features especially bluetooth connectivity. Bluetooth allows the Oral-B Pro 3000 to connect with the Oral-B Smartphone app. The app is available on Android and Iphone. The RRP is $120.99 but on Amazon it currently retails for 
Philips Sonicare 3 Series
The Philips Sonicare 3 Series is pretty simple in comparison. It has one cleaning mode “clean” and three intensity settings. The intensity settings allow you to alter the cleaning power of the brush. This feature is useful for people with sensitive teeth or who press too hard. It doesn’t have Bluetooth connectivity or a visible pressure sensor, which kinda sucks.
The one thing that really shines on the Philips Sonicare 3 Series is the fantastic battery life. No charging for 3 weeks! Count me in. On the other hand it is a shame it comes, devoid of features.
The RRP on the Philips Sonicare 3 Series is $89.99 but on Amazon it currently retails for 
Since the two electric toothbrushes are basically the same price, the Oral-B Pro 3000 is the winner. It offers far better value for money than the Sonicare 3 Series. If only the Oral-B Pro 3000 could sort out it’s battery, it would be a perfect electric toothbrush.
US – Electric toothbrushes under $50 – Oral B vs Sonicare
Oral-B Pro 1000 vs Sonicare 2 Series
Now this is where it gets interesting. Both, Philips and Oral-B both have great offerings in the budget range category.
The Oral-B Pro 1000 is a solid, well functioning electric toothbrush. It has a two minute quadpacer timer and a pressure sensor that reduces power when pressing too hard. And let’s be honest, we all press too hard when brushing (myself included). It is let down by the small one week battery life, which is 28 minutes of continuous use. If you hate charging your electric toothbrush as much as I do, then this is a real bane. It’s current RRP is $65.99 however on Amazon it is currently sold for 
Philips Sonicare 2 Series
The Phillips Sonicare 2 Series is great entry level electric toothbrush. It has a two minute timer but sadly no pressure sensor. On the plus side it has a 2 week battery life, which is double what the Oral-B Pro 1000 gives. An extra week without having to charge the electric toothbrush! It’s current RRP is $69.99 however on Amazon it is currently 
This time things are much closer between the electric toothbrushes. It is a toss up between not having a pressure sensor (Sonicare 2 Series) or a poor battery life (Oral-B Pro 1000). A poor battery life is inconvenient. No pressure sensor could lead to damage to your teeth and gums.
In terms of value for money between the two, I am going to cop out and call it a tie. Oral B and Sonicare draw on this section.
US – Children’s Electric Toothbrushes- Oral B vs Sonicare
Oral-B Frozen Kids Electric Toothbrush vs Philips Sonicare for Kids Electric Toothbrush
I know what you are thinking. Are electric toothbrushes for kids really worth it? Yes they are as long as they have been specifically designed for kids. Oral-B and Sonicare both have electric toothbrushes for children but which one is better?
The Oral-B Frozen Kids Electric toothbrush is effectively an Oral-B Vitality with a pretty pattern on. It comes with two sensitive refills. The sensitive brush head has super soft bristles so that it is gentle on children’s teeth. It is also small allowing it to be easily moved around your child’s mouth. The battery life for this electric toothbrush is 20 minutes of continuous use or 5 days of brushing 2 minutes twice a day.
The Oral-B Frozen Kids Electric toothbrush also gives you access to the Disney magic timer app. This app is available on both iphone and android.The Disney magic timer app is the brushes biggest strength and weakness. When it works the app is fantastic, Kids enjoy interacting with the characters and children do brush longer. The downside is that in a recent update, many people lost their brushing history and extra unlockable characters. This has resulted in the current 2 star rating on itunes.
The Oral-B children’s electric toothbrush currently costs 
Philips Sonicare for Kids Electric Toothbrush
The Philips Sonicare for Kids Electric Toothbrush is one of the most popular children’s electric toothbrushes on . Amazon. It has a 2 minute timer which I think is essential on any electric toothbrush. It is also has bluetooth connectivity to the Philips Sonicare App. The Philips app in my view is not as good as the Oral-B’s however it is a lot more reliable.
Currently the Philips retails for 
P.S. If you want a more detailed post on Children’s electric toothbrushes click here.
Click here if you are from the US and want to skip the UK examples
UK Electric toothbrush Comparisons
UK – Top of the Range – Oral B vs Sonicare
Oral-B Genius 8000 vs Philips Sonicare DiamondClean
Comparison of Features: Oral-B Genius 8000 vs Philips Sonicare DiamondClean
In terms of appearance and styling the Philips Sonicare Diamondclean is the clear winner. The Diamondclean electric toothbrush handle is sleek and stylish and the charging station is novel as it is shaped like a glass cup. Functionality wise the Oral-B Genius 8000 is the clear winner as it has more features.
Both Diamondclean and Oral-B Genius 8000 have quadpacer 2 minute timers. This helps you brush for the dentist recommended 2 minutes. One area where the Philips Sonicare Diamondclean is lacking is the visible pressure sensor. Philips sonicare do not seem to put emphasis on pressure sensors. I think this is a grave mistake as pressing too hard with a toothbrush can lead to toothbrush abrasion which wears down the teeth. The Oral-B genius 8000 comes with multiple pressure sensors. A visible pressure sensor that you can personalise the colour of using the 360 degree smartring. A tactile pressure sensor that slows the rate of ocillations and rotations when you press too hard and finally a pressure sensor that is linked to the Oral-B app via Bluetooth.
The Philips Sonicare Diamondclean does not come with Bluetooth connectivity which is surprising for the cost of the electric toothbrush.
Cleaning modes: Oral-B Genius 8000 vs Philips Sonicare DiamondClean
The Oral-B Genius 8000 and Philips Sonicare Diamondclean both come with five cleaning modes. The Oral-B Genius 8000 comes with:
- Daily Clean
- Gum Care
- Sensitive
- Whitening
- Pro-Clean
The Philips Sonicare Diamondclean on the other hand comes with:
- Clean
- White
- Polish
- Gum Care
- Sensitive
In the cleaning mode department there is very little to separate the Philips Sonicare Diamondclean from the Oral-B Genius 8000.
Travelling: Oral-B Genius 8000 vs Philips Sonicare Diamondclean
Both the Oral-B Genius 8000 and Philips Sonicare Diamondclean come with very nice travel cases. The Oral-B Genius 8000 travel case is a soft touch leather effect case which holds the electric toothbrush handle and two toothbrush heads. The Philips Sonicare Diamondclean travel case comes in a cushioned textured cloth which has the added benefit of being able to charge the electric toothbrush via USB. This feature is extremely handy when travelling. It is therefore slightly easier to travel with the Philips Sonicare Diamondclean than the Oral-B Genius 8000.
Battery Life: Oral-B Genius 8000 vs Philips Sonicare Diamondclean
The Philips Sonicare Diamondclean has a much longer battery life than the Oral-B Genius 8000. Even though Oral-B have extended the battery life of this model to one week, it is completely destroyed by the Philips Sonicare Diamondclean batterylife of upto three weeks. This is particularly handy if you are travelling as charging the Philips Sonicare Diamondclean before you go on holiday will most likely last you the whole holiday. The battery life on the Philips Sonicare Diamondclean is much better than the Oral-B Genius 8000.
Value for money: Oral-B Genius 8000 vs Philips Sonicare Diamondclean
The value for money between the Oral-B Genius 8000 or Philips Sonicare Diamondclean is quite close and really depends what you value. If you want functionality with more features and a better clean go for the Oral-B Genius 8000. On the other hand if you value style and a much longer battery life go for the Philips Sonicare Diamondclean. If I were to pick I would go for the Oral-B Genius 8000 because I love the Bluetooth connectivity and the Oral-B app.
UK – Electric toothbrushes under £80 – Oral-B vs Sonicare
Oral-B Smart 5 5000 vs Philips Sonicare Healthywhite + HX8911/04
Comparison of Features: Oral-B Smart 5 5000 vs Philips Sonicare Healthywhite + HX8911/04
In terms of number of features, the Oral-B Smart 5 5000 blows the Philips Sonicare out the water. Both electric toothbrushes come with a Quadpacer 2 minute timer that helps you brush your teeth for the dentist recommended 2 minutes. The Oral-B comes with a visible pressure sensor that flashes red when you press too firmly. In contrast the Philips Sonicare does not which is surprising for a £70-80 electric toothbrush.
The Oral-B Smart 5 5000 trump card is the Bluetooth connectivity, which allows it to link to the Oral-B app. This connectivity allows you to monitor when and how often you are brushing your teeth with ease and also allows you to share this information with your dentist. Some of the other benefits include:
- Sets up a system of badges and rewards that motivate you to brush your teeth twice a day
- Information to help you to brush your teeth correctly
- Tracks where you are brushing your teeth too firmly
- Reminds you to change your tooth brush head when it is getting worn
The Philips electric toothbrush simply does not come with Bluetooth connectivity.
Cleaning modes: Oral-B Smart 5 5000 vs Philips Sonicare Healthywhite + HX8911/04
The Philips sonicare only has 2 cleaning modes (Clean and white) but allows you to alter the intensity of the brushing between low, medium and high. This gives it a total of 6 customisable settings (2 x 3). In contrast the Oral-B Smart Series 5000 comes with 4 cleaning modes (Daily Clean, Gum Care, Sensitive and Whitening). This gives the Philips Sonicare slightly more customisation although the advantages of intensity settings over cleaning modes is debatable.
Travelling: Oral-B Smart 5 5000 vs Philips Sonicare Healthywhite + HX8911/04
A travel case is an essential feature especially for an electric toothbrush of this price bracket. It is surprising that the Philips Sonicare Healthywhite + does not come with a travel case as standard. The Oral-B Smartseries however does come with one which makes it easier to take on holiday with you.
Battery Life: Oral-B Smart 5 5000 vs Philips Sonicare Healthywhite + HX8911/04
This is one area that the Philips Sonicare Healthywhite + beats the Oral-B opposition. The Philips Sonicare Healthywhite + battery life can last for up to 3 weeks of use whereas the Oral-B Smart 5 lasts for 2 weeks. There is nothing more annoying than reaching for your electric toothbrush and finding out there is no charge. The Philips electric toothbrush is the clear winner in this department.
Overall Value For Money: Oral-B Smart 5 5000 vs Philips Sonicare Healthywhite + HX8911/04
The Oral-B Smart 5 5000 is far more technologically advanced than the Philips Sonicare Healthywhite +. This is particularly so in the features it offers. The Philips Sonicare Healthywhite + does have a longer battery life than the Oral-B Smart 5 5000 however I reckon that the Oral-B Smart 5 5000 represents better value for money.
UK – Electric toothbrushes under £40 – Oral B vs Sonicare
Oral-B Pro 2 2500 vs Philips Sonicare HX3214/01 CleanCare +
Comparison of Features: Oral-B Pro 2 2500 vs Philips Sonicare HX3214/01 CleanCare +
The Oral-B Pro 2 2500 and Philips Sonicare are both good electric toothbrushes. The Oral-B Pro 2500 is the one with a larger range of features. Both the electric toothbrushes come with Quadpacer 2 minute timers. This is an on handle timer that “buzzes” every 30 seconds reminding you to change area of your mouth. This feature is essential for any good electric toothbrush.
Pressing too firmly with a toothbrush can lead to gum recession and sensitivity. To prevent this from happening the Oral-B Pro 2 2500 has a visible pressure sensor that flashes red when you press too hard. The Philips Sonicare HX3214 is completely missing this feature.
Cleaning modes: Oral-B Pro 2 2500 vs Philips Sonicare HX3214/01 CleanCare +
The Oral-B Pro 2 2500 also comes with 3 cleaning modes compared to the solitary one cleaning mode of the Philips Sonicare. The Oral-B Pro 2 2500 as standard comes with:
- Daily Clean Mode
- Gum Care Mode
- Sensitive Mode
The Philips Sonicare comes with the regular clean mode and an easy start programme. The easy start programme ramps up the intensity of the electric toothbrush over the first 2 weeks of using the brush. People transferring from using a manual toothbrush may find this useful to get used to the feeling of a sonic electric toothbrush. After that period, the easy start programme becomes useless.
Travelling: Oral-B Pro 2 2500 vs Philips Sonicare HX3214/01 CleanCare +
Travelling with an electric toothbrush can be tricky as the handle needs to be protected from heavy impacts. The Oral-B Pro 2 2500 comes with a travel case to protect it. The travel case although basic in design is a godsend as it protects the Oral-B Pro 2 2500 electric toothbrush handle and two brush heads. The Philips Sonicare HX3214/01 CleanCare + does not come with a travel case.
Battery Life: Oral-B Pro 2 2500 vs Philips Sonicare HX3214/01 CleanCare +
This is one area that the Philips Sonicare really does shine, the battery life is almost double that of the Oral-B Pro 2 2500. The battery life of the Philips Sonicare HX3214 is 10 days whereas the Oral-B Pro 2500 is sitting at a measly 5 days of charge.
Overall Value For Money: Oral-B Pro 2 2500 vs Philips Sonicare HX3214/01 CleanCare +
Although the Philips Sonicare has a better battery life, it is outclassed by the Oral-B Pro 2500 in all other departments. The Oral-B comes with many more features that the Philips Sonicare simply does not have. Therefore the better electric toothbrush under £40 is the Oral-B Pro 2 2500.
So overall who has the best electric toothbrushes for the money? – Oral B vs Sonicare
After comparing lots of electric toothbrushes, it turns out that Oral-B offers more features for your money. This is a general trend and with all trends there are exceptions. Notably in the US for electric toothbrushes under $50 there is virtually no difference between the two brands.
As a rule of thumb, you will tend to get more bang for your buck with Oral-B.
3) Who has the best Brush Heads? – Oral B vs Sonicare
Design and build quality
One of the most notable differences between Oral-B vs Sonicare is the shape of the brush head. The Oral-B is circular whereas the Sonicare is oval. The reason for this is the way the brushes clean your teeth. The Oral-B uses rotary action whereas the Philips uses sonic.
The Oral-B Brush heads for this reason tend to be smaller, which makes them more maneuverable. Also the neck of the Oral-B brush head tends to be smaller and thinner making it easier to use. If you don’t know what the neck of a brush head is check out the image below.
Both the Oral-B and Sonicare Brush Heads are “snap on” or push fit. To replace the brush heads simply pull off the brush and head and push on another one.
Build quality wise there is very little difference between the Oral-B and Sonicare. Both are well made and will easily last three months until it needs replacing. This is providing you go for the genuine brush heads and not the cheap rip offs.
Range of Brush Heads – Oral B vs Sonicare
Both Philips and Oral-B offer a ginormous range of brush heads, which can be confusing. I often recommend keeping it simple. If you want help choosing an Oral-B brush head click here.
What is really important is do Philips and Oral-B have brush heads that can clean your teeth effectively? The simple answer is yes. For Oral-B, I personally like the Crossaction brush head. If you prefer softer bristles, the Oral-B sensitive brush head is also good.
For Philips, the adaptive clean brush head is good for most people. If you want the latest technology in your brush head, then check out the Philips Premium plaque control brush head. It has a micro chip in it allowing, it to chose the best cleaning mode for you. This only works with the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart.
One area where Oral-B brush heads particularly shine is for people wearing orthodontic appliances (braces). The Oral-B ortho brush head is amazing for cleaning around brackets. This can be combined with the Oral-B interspace brush head to clean underneath the wire. Philips does not currently have any brush heads specifically designed for braces.
Cost of Brush heads – Oral B vs Sonicare
Brush heads are like the printer cartridges of the electric toothbrush world. It is no good if the electric toothbrush handle is cheap but the brush heads are expensive. This would completely defeat the point.
Oral-B brush heads tend to be cheaper than Philips Sonicare. To prove this let’s take the Oral-B Sensitive Brush head which currently retails for $16 for 3 brush heads. This would mean each brush head is $5.33.
In comparison the Philips Sonicare Adaptive Clean brush head retails for $25 for only two brush heads!! This means $12.50 each more than double the cost. Since you replace the brush heads once ever 3 months, this means over a 10 year period you would save $286.80 going for the Oral-B.
If you want to save those dollars go for the Oral-B
So who has the better brush heads? Oral B vs Sonicare
It comes as no surprise that Oral-B wins the best brush head award. It has better designed brush heads that are significantly cheaper. What more could you want?
Overall Conclusion: Oral B vs Sonicare
So we are at the big finale. In my view there is really only one clear winner between the question Oral B vs Sonicare. The Oral-B range offers better value for money, has a better cleaning action and has the better Brush heads. If I were to pick a range to go with, I would personally go for the Oral-B.
N.B. If you would like to find out our recommended electric toothbrush click here
What electric toothbrush range would you go with? What are your thoughts? Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section below.
I recently purchased the sonic care diamond clean and I’m disappointed. I hate the vibrations and loud noise. Does oral B have this same problem?
Hi Valerie. Thank you for the comment. All electric toothbrushes will have some degree of vibration and noise. If you have just moved on from a manual toothbrush, it does take time to get used to using an electric toothbrush. Having said that I do personally prefer the action of the Oral-B to the Sonicare. I would recommend buying a cheap oral-b electric toothbrush and comparing the two styles of action for yourself. Hope that helps.
Just a quick comment. Have never used Sonicare, and have been using Oral-b for 15-20 years. What I love mostly about the oral-b is not so much the different models of the hand unit and the modes (i’ve have 2 or 3 versions of them over the years), but the compact brush head. It lets me get to the rear of my molars and i feel like I have more agility with it. I do however find the brush heads expensive. I prefer the Precision Clean head, and had a little trouble finding them lately. A 3 pack in the a drug store (on sale) was like $21, down from $24. You might get them for $18 with a coupon and sale. So that’s $6-$8 per head. I did find at my buyers / shopping club a sale/deal for $32 for an 8 pack, so $4 per head is good. Note, you MUST get used to the different heads and I think all heads are not for everyone. I recently accidentally got the Floss Action head (instead of my Precision Clean), and maybe it’s the little rubbery paddles in the head to simulate flossing, the different bristle arrangement, or the fact it’s a slightly bigger head than the Precision Clean, but it really ripped / tore up the gums at my gumline (i brush at 45 degrees). Wow! Went back to a new Precision clean head and absolutely no problem. So beware of finding the right head for you.
Thank you Craig for the great bit of advice and well done for brushing at 45 degrees. I have now reviewed all the Oral-B Brush heads here. The precision clean is a great brush head and I actually used it regularly up until a few years ago. I have now converted to the CrossAction Brush Head as it was designed by Oral-B to replace the precision clean. Amazon usually stock the precision clean and crossaction so would recommend checking them out.
I completely agree with your analysis of the flossaction, not my favourite brush head and I am not keen on the little rubbery paddles. There is very little research suggesting it actually flosses between your teeth, which I think is misleading to the public. I would still floss if I was using the flossaction brush head.
What about this study? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/9487838/
Hi Aaron great question and thank you for the comment. The study you mention is a randomized control trial which is great however it’s sample size of 54 who actually completed the study is low. Also there is no mention as to whether this study is blind or double blind. One of the reasons I like the Cochrane review mentioned in my article so much is that it is a systematic review with a sample size of 1369 (which is 25 times bigger) and compares 17 clinical trials. Also Cochrane as an organisation has a great reputation especially for dental research and is an independent organisation which is not for profit. Other clinical trials sometimes are funded by the manufacturer’s which could lead to bias. Thank you again for the great question.
This is from Cochrane themselves.
“Powered brushes were first introduced commercially in the 1960s. A previously published Cochrane systematic review suggested one type of powered brush was superior to manual toothbrushing for the removal of plaque and reduction of gum inflammation.That review did not allow direct comparison between the different types of powered toothbrushes.
This review included data from 17 trials with 1369 participants. Brushes with a rotation oscillation action reduced plaque and gingivitis more than those with a side to side action in the short term. However, the difference was small and it’s clinical importance unclear. Due to the low numbers of trials using other types of powered brushes, no other definitive conclusions can be drawn regarding the superiority of one type of powered toothbrush over another. Only minor and transient side effects were reported. Cost and reliability of the brushes were not reported in the trials.
Further trials of good quality are required to establish if other types of powered brush are better at reducing plaque and gingivitis.”
This is hardly what I’d call a convincing recommendation. The NCBI study clearly states it was a single blind test.
Hi Tom.
Thank you for the comment and thank you for spending the time reading the article. The Cochrane systematic review is the most in depth article that I know of including the most clinical trials on this subject. As stated by Cochrane “Brushes with a rotation oscillation action reduced plaque and gingivitis more than those with a side to side action in the short term.” In the latest delivering better oral health published by the UK government, it states “While there is evidence that some powered toothbrushes (with a rotation, oscillation action) can be more effective for plaque control than manual tooth brushes”, it makes no mention of sonic electric toothbrushes. Although there are not enough published articles in this area of research, if you have to choose between Oscillating rotating (Oral-B) and Sonic motion (Sonicare) from the evidence we have at present, which one would you chose? Until more evidence is published, I will personally be choosing oscillating rotating.
Now this is only a small part of choosing an electric toothbrush and deciding between Oral B and Sonicare. It is a combination of the prices and range of the brushes, types of brush heads each company produce, the features you get and value for money, that ultimately lead to my decision of choosing Oral B. If Sonicare start bringing out better more competitive electric toothbrushes then the result will change.
Thank you once again for the comment. I appreciate the input.
I hate phillips me. Too buzzy m8
Peter Frost, Sometimes, you have to decide if a Little noise is worth your teeth. Philips doesn’t care!
This is just my personal experience, so take it for what it is worth.
In 2010, I was diagnosed with Periodontal Disease. I was told at that time that once you have it, you will always have it.A couple months later, I was given my first Sonicare for Christmas.
Fast forward to 2014. I started seeing a new dentist and told them I had periodontal disease on my admission form. At this point, it had been a year since my last cleaning. After the hygienist was finished, she looked at my paperwork, then my brand-new x-rays she just took, then asked to inspect my mouth again, then back at my papers.
“It says here you a have periodontal disease?”
me: “Yes, diagnosed a couple years ago”
“Well, I don’t see any signs of periodontal disease anywhere in your mouth”
me: “They told me it is permanent”
“It usually is! What did you do?”
– got a full root planing right after being diagnosed
– cleanings every 4 months for the first year after being diagnosed
– started flossing once a week, sometimes twice
– started using a sonicare (with Colgate Total) every day before bed, sometimes after waking up
Here we are in 2018
I still ask once a year “Do I show any signs of periodontal disease”
the answer is always “No, you look great.”
I personally believe that story would have been very different if I had been given an Oral B for Christmas that year. I have used both and the inside of my mouth feels very different after a Sonicare vs an Oral B. The Oral B feels just like a good brushing with a normal non-electric toothbrush. The Sonicare feels like something more significant has happened.
I have no doubt in my mind that if there was in independent, controlled, double-blind study that looked at dental outcome over a 2 year period, Sonicare would destroy the competition.
But that’s just my opinion.
That is fantastic news regarding your periodontal disease and thank you for sharing your opinion.
I bought a pair of Sonicare 2015 from Costco. The end of last year one of them broken–not able to be charged and beeped when put on the charger. Last week another one is broken–power button did not work very well and I have to push down many times with my nail to make it work. The worst thing is that it was beeping last night, woke me up and make me think something wrong with neighbor’s car. I called customer service and was told their product last 2-6 years. It is really a nightmare.
My first electric toothbrush was Oral-B and it last for 5 years and still worked well before switch to Sonicare.
Decide to switch back to Oral-B.
Hi Linda. That sounds like a bad experience! I hope that you have had a better experience with Oral-B.
Have you looked at the following study and can you comment on the validity of it, whether it changes your opinion or not.
Thanks in advance
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9487838
Thank you Al in advance for taking the time to write a message. The sample size of the study you mention is quite small at 66 adult patients. There are many small sample studies like this and as I mentioned in my article who sponsored the research. The only real large sample size study done on this topic is Cochrane.
I have been using the same Oral B for many years – it is called Professional Care and is model 4729. I recently won a Philips Sonicare Professional Model HX9193-03 from a dentist. Should I switch since the Sonicare is so much newer or is the technology of the Oral B still fine? I do not care about brush head price – I just want what is best for my teeth and gums. Thank you.
Hi Susan. Great Question! The Oral-B Professional Care 4729 is a fairly simple 1 speed electric toothbrush. It will be perfectly fine to still use providing the battery life is still good and the power output from the oscillation and rotation is good. The Sonicare Platinum connected electric toothbrush HX9193-03 is a top of the range electric toothbrush with all the bells and whistles blue tooth connectivity etc. Whether all this technology will provide you with a better clean is highly dependent on how you use it.
Unfortunately as I do not know what your teeth are like. I would thoroughly recommend seeking advice from your dentist or hygienist who sees your teeth regularly to give a more accurate opinion.
Dr Alexander Teckkam i have few questions i wish u answered.i am going to buy electric toothbrush so should i rinse my mouth with water before brushing?should i water toothbrush before brushing? And i saw on youtube that one woman said that one should spread toothpaste on teeth with toothbrush before turning it on should i do that?thank you im advance,doctor.
Hi Jubo. Thank you for the message. I will answer your questions:
Should i rinse my mouth with water before brushing?
I have no real preference here. Rinsing your mouth with water BEFORE brushing may dislodge some of the food debris prior to brushing but it will not be a significant amount. I would definitely not recommend rinsing with water AFTER brushing because it will remove the fluoride toothpaste from your teeth. Remember spit don’t rinse. I have a great article on toothbrushing here:How to brush your teeth properly step by step
Should i water toothbrush before brushing?
I tend to rinse the toothbrush under water before brushing. It will typically have been around 10 hours since you last used the toothbrush which is a decent amount of time for bacteria to harbor. Rinsing the brush beforehand with water, will remove some of that bacteria.
And i saw on youtube that one woman said that one should spread toothpaste on teeth with toothbrush before turning it on should i do that?
Yes you could do this although I personally myself don’t. The only advantage I could see with spreading it on your teeth first is if you use an electric toothbrush. Applying the toothpaste first to your teeth would prevent the toothpaste splatter when you turn the electric toothbrush on. Would this provide any benefits to your oral health, highly unlikely. I think it is personal preference. Remember to use a pea size amount of toothpaste.
Kindest regards,
Dr Alexander Teckkam
Forget about all the newfangled studies surreptitiously funded by those who have an axe to grind! They are grossly untrustworthy! You really want an UNBIASED opinion? Go with the government!
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9487838
Philip[s Sonicare beats the pants of the Oral B. Our Oral B is gathering dust while we use the Philips, to good effect!
Thank you Dr Boyd for your input. The study you are quoting has a sample size of 54 that actually completed it…. This is an incredibly small number.
Wow, very incisive and detailed analysis! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and thoughts. I went from a Sonicare to the Oral B/Braun electric toothbrush. I felt the Sonicare relies too much on the “sonic” technology that didn’t leave my teeth feeling as clean as with the Oral B toothbrush that uses a more effective “mechanical” cleaning method. While “sonic” may sound more advanced, it was less effective, in my experience. I also found the Sonicare head difficult to manipulate and clean smaller spaces and individual teeth, while the Oral B head is much more effective in these regards. The prices of the Sonicares are also out-of-control and the last one I owned needed to be replaced when the battery stopped taking a charge, rather than simply permitting replacement of the battery. I resented this planned obsolescence from Sonicare.
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for your comment. I completely agree with all your points about Sonicare vs Oral B. Phillips brush head sizes are slightly larger making them less maneuverable. Also I find that Philips electric toothbrushes are comparably more expensive than Oral B.
The Philips electric toothbrushes are in general more stylish than Oral B and their battery life tends to be longer.
There are pros and cons for each.
Kindest regards,
Alex
Thank you so much for taking the time to compile this information. I am nearing 40 years old, and have a significant degree of gum recession from aggressive brushing and teeth grinding (I also have loss of enamel due to 15 years of bulimia). I had the roots on my top teeth covered, as well as some on the bottom, thanks to a free, once-in-a-lifetime dental program for low-income folks with disabilities. The roots of my molars were never covered – I’m assuming because that’s where most grinding and chewing occurs, and the coverage wouldn’t hold up. Needless to say, i’ve been experiencing a fair amount of gum and tooth pain for some time now, and after visiting the dental clinic today, the hygienist confirmed that it was due to the extreme recession. She recommended that I switch from a manual brush to an electric one, and that I begin rinsing with fluoridated mouthwash. (To be honest, I dislike both these ideas, as I try to limit my use of plastics for environmental reasons, and love my compostable bamboo toothbrush. I do want to protect my teeth and gums as best I can, however.)
I’ve been reading up on various electric toothbrushes since I returned home this afternoon, and the amount and array of information is a bit overwhelming. For someone in my situation, who has sensitive teeth and gums, and an excessive degree of gum recession, would you still recommend the Oral-B? The hygienist sent me home with her recommendations, which she wrote as: Oral-B Braun (Vitality) or Sonicare (she didn’t indicate a model). She put an asterisk next to the Sonicare and said she recommended that brand over the Oral-B. According to your article, it looks like the Oral-B Pro 2 2500 might be something for me to consider. I am on a very fixed income, and I just want to make sure my money is being spent in the wisest way possible. Thanks so much for your time and consideration.
Hi Rebecca,
Thank you for your post and I am glad that my website has been of use and has helped you.
I have written an article recently for which electric toothbrush I recommend for sensitive teeth – Best electric toothbrush for sensitive teeth. I think it will be of help in this situation.
It is difficult to recommend an electric toothbrush because I have not seen your teeth. For gum recession and sensitivity, I generally recommend looking for a visible pressure sensor on an electric toothbrush, switching to sensitive cleaning mode and going for a softer bristled brush head (The Oral-B Sensiclean brush head is great). The Oral-B Pro 2 2500 does not have a sensitive cleaning mode so although it is a fantastic value electric toothbrush, it is not ideal for sensitivity.
All this is covered in my post on Best electric toothbrush for sensitive teeth. I hope it helps!
Great comparison article. I’ve yet to try the Oral-B, but OMG the Sonicare gives me the willies. It vibrates so fast and intensely that it freaks me out. Especially if it touches the roof of my mouth. it reminds me of that unnerving feeling that you get when your fingernails scratch across a chalkboard. I find myself looking at the expensive thing with trepidation, and instead opting for my old reliable manual brush.
Your welcome Bundy! Yes Sonicare does take a little bit to get used to. I would recommend giving Oral-B a try.