Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100 Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush, Plaque Control, Black

Product Information

The DiamondClean head is perfectly fine. I have no evidence to say 1 is really better than another. As a general rule we suggest the ProResults as it is designed a little more with ‘all round’ cleaning in mind whereas the DiamondClean is geared slightly more to trying to whiten teeth. Efficacy wise there are claims Sonicare make but this is never compared to one of their other brush heads so really understanding how good a brush head is, is difficult. Ultimately, there will be more improvement/efficacy to be gained from mastering the brushing technique and regular brushing for the correct time than any brush head can bring. Use any of these brushes twice a day, for 2 minutes each time, along with the correct brushing technique and you are going to get very good cleaning results. Other research, such as that by Strate et al also agrees. They conclude “Based on the findings of this single-use clinical evaluation, the action of the oscillating/ pulsating power toothbrush is more effective at plaque removal than a high frequency power toothbrush.”.

Whilst this is by no means essential, it adds an extra dimension to the cleaning experience and allows you to tweak the power to be more appropriate and comfortable for you. Clean the power button and surrounding area with a damp cloth to ensure it is clean and free of debris.

Our Verdict

Due to the tuning of the 4100’s motor, its high intensity setting is more powerful than that of the 1-3000 Series. Sonicare brushes use high frequency vibrations for cleaning, which some prefer, but the performance is similar. Ultimately Oral-B takes the edge for its balance of proven cleaning technology, important features, and reasonable prices.

To be called a sonic toothbrush this vibration must be at a speed that causes and audible hum. This is up to about 20,000 Hz (or vibrations per second). Vibrations faster than this are “ultrasonic” and can not be heard by the human ear. Pressing the power button switches between these and gives the option of a more gentle or more intense setting. Therefore if you are on a budget, the 1100 proves itself to be best value. Over 3 years, however, the premium for the 4100 isn’t that significant.National Center for Biotechnology Information: A six-month clinical comparison of the efficacy of the Sonicare and the Braun Oral-B electric toothbrushes on improving periodontal health in adult periodontitis patients. Consulted 16th September 2020 We don’t know the exact environmental impact of this particular model, but as a general rule the impact of electric toothbrushes is around 11 times more than a manual brush. Though it isn't exactly the same as sonic vibration, it supposedly does some of the same fluid-dynamics-based indirect cleaning. You can find out more about specific Oral-B brushes in our review of the best Oral-B electric toothbrush. But yet another study found that while both brushes were helpful in improving subjects' oral hygiene, Philips Sonicare had a clear advantage over Oral-B: We also have separate buying guides on Oral-B brush heads and Sonicare brush heads that explain the difference between the brushes.