This article is describes what we believe to be the best Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush currently available on the market in the UK. It can be hard to decide on a new electric toothbrush because there are so many to chose from. We’ve asked our dentist expert, Dr Andrew Wilson, to consider the features that your toothbrush needs to have alongside value for money and the best replacement heads from Philips Sonicare.
Philips Sonicare electric toothbrushes are excellent. The head of the toothbrush vibrates to disturb and lift away plaque (a soft build-up of bacteria). The vibrations work on the visible surfaces of your teeth and, according to Philips, send pulses between your teeth to clean where most other toothbrushes cannot reach. I have personally used several different Sonicare toothbrushes and I think they’re excellent.
Philips invest a lot of money into researching the design and effectiveness of their toothbrushes. This means that every brush in the range offers a very reliable clean, allowing you to be confident that whichever Philips Sonicare brush you select, it will not let you down.
For me, the most important thing is the quality of the clean that the brush provides. After all, the whole reason you invest in an electric toothbrush is to improve the health of your teeth and gums. That’s why I have selected a fairly basic brush as my choice for best Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush. It’s excellent value for money and does everything you need without any of the extra, expensive gadgets.
Philips Sonicare EasyClean electric toothbrush
This is my choice as the best Philips Sonicare available currently in the UK. It’s affordable, effective and reliable. If used correctly as part of your oral hygiene regime, it will protect your mouth against tooth decay and gum disease, saving you money at the dentist and ultimately proving a very wise investment.
Key information
Pros:
- Excellent at removing plaque
- Simple to use
- Built in timer
- Two week battery life
- Fantastic value
Cons:
- Philips Sonicare batteries can be unreliable
Would I use it? YES
Should you buy it? YES (although before you do, it would be worth reading about a couple of other toothbrushes below just in case there’s a better option for you)
- Patented sonic technology. Includes 1 x Optimal Gum Care brush heads
- Slim handle for comfort and maneuverability
- Removes up to 2x more plaque than a manual toothbrush
- 2-minute smarter helps ensure recommended brushing time with 30 second interval timer
Features
The Philips Sonicare EasyClean has a limited range of features but that shouldn’t put you off. It has everything it needs to make it a fantastic brush for you and your whole family.
Sonic cleaning action
All Philips Sonicare brushes work to remove plaque through a sonic action. Philips’ main competitor, Oral-B, uses a mechanical action where the toothbrush head rotates and oscillates to remove bacteria that cause tooth decay. Philips’ sonic action works through vibrations and pulses, designed to disturb bacteria and lift them away from the surface of the tooth.
Because they work through pulses, Philips claim that their Sonicare electric toothbrushes can reach further between teeth than other brushes to provide a deeper clean. When I use the Philips Sonicare EasyClean, I can certainly feel those pulsations working as I move the head around my mouth. The sonic action of this brush allows it to work at quite a rate, delivering up to 31,000 brush strokes per minute.
No one makes sonic brushes quite as well as Philips. It does leave your mouth feeling clean and fresh. A word of warning though… It is still vital that you clean between your teeth with either floss or interdental brushes once a day. Even if the Sonicare EasyClean reaches further between your teeth than other brushes, it will not be quite as effective as if you floss as well. Remember that one of the most common areas for tooth decay to start is between your teeth.
Slim, comfortable handle
I’m a big fan of the design of the Philips Sonicare EasyClean. The handle looks smart, slick and simple. It’s comfortable to hold and it also feels solid. If we compare it to other sonic toothbrushes such as the Colgate ProClinical 250+, the Sonicare EasyClean just feels that bit more robust. The Colgate ProClinical 250+ is very light and flimsy. It doesn’t feel like it was built to last. Whereas the EasyClean has a bit more weight to it. It’s sturdy and well made.
Inbuilt smart-timer
The Philips Sonicare EasyClean has a built in timer and what I would describe as a ‘quad pacer’. The EasyClean is designed for you to clean each quarter of your mouth at a time. You should start by focusing on one quarter of your mouth first, the lower left teeth for example. Then, after 30 seconds, the electric toothbrush gives you an alert to move onto the next quarter of your mouth, maybe the lower right teeth. You continue like this until after two minutes, you should have cleaned every tooth in your mouth.
Annoyingly, after these two minutes, the Philips Sonicare EasyClean turns off to indicate that two minutes is up. I tend to like to carry on for longer than two minutes and if you’re the same, make sure that you just switch it back on again. (Who’s in charge here? You or the toothbrush?)
I like the built-in timer feature. For me, it is essential to any electric toothbrush. However, I do find it annoying that the brush decides to turn off after two minutes rather than carrying on and allowing you to choose when you’re finished.
One cleaning mode
I like simplicity so it doesn’t bother me that the Philips Sonicare EasyClean only has one mode of brushing. This makes it really simple to use; all you have to do is turn it on. The cleaning mode is perfect for whatever you need to do. It’s 31,000 brush strokes per minute make it effective at removing plaque but gentle enough that it can be used around braces, crowns, implants or any other dental work that you may have had placed in your mouth.
Most of the more expensive brushes have loads of modes which are completely unnecessary. The EasyClean does what it says on the tin, making it really easy for you to care for your teeth and gums.
Rechargeable battery
On full charge, the lithium ion battery inside the Sonicare EasyClean should allow you to brush your teeth for two weeks before it needs charging again. That’s according to Philips. In reality, I rarely find it will last quite that long. It should still go for well over a week when it’s brand new.
However, the big downside that I would like you to know about all Philips Sonicare brushes is that the batteries have always been a bit unreliable. They work well initially but tend to stop holding their charge and die after a few years. That’s why I would choose the Sonicare EasyClean over others in the range. It’s the cheapest so it’s not the end of the world if you have to replace it after 3 years. The EasyClean also comes with a two year warranty from Philips so they should replace it if the battery fails within that time.
Summary
The Philips Sonicare EasyClean is a fantastic yet simple electric toothbrush. If you are after a sonic brush, I would recommend Philips. And if you are after a Philips brush, I would recommend the EasyClean. It’s relatively affordable, simple and no-nonsense.
It doesn’t come with any fancy gadgets, smart features or snazzy travel cases but it will remove plaque extremely effectively to protect your teeth and gums.
- Patented sonic technology. Includes 1 x Optimal Gum Care brush heads
- Slim handle for comfort and maneuverability
- Removes up to 2x more plaque than a manual toothbrush
- 2-minute smarter helps ensure recommended brushing time with 30 second interval timer
You can’t go wrong with the EasyClean. However, if you are unconvinced or would simply like to know about the other electric toothbrush models that you could consider, read on and I’ll give you some further information.
Best of the rest
Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300
This is what I would consider to be a model up from the Sonciare EasyClean. It’s still a relatively simple model but the ProtectiveClean 4300 does claim to provide a better clean than the EasyClean.
The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300 toothbrush handle comes in a range of colours which is nice. These all vary slightly in price so if the colour doesn’t bother you, it’s worth checking them all out and picking the cheapest. It also comes with a travel case to protect the toothbrush and head while out and about.
A big bonus with ProtectiveClean 4300 is that it has a built-in pressure sensor to prevent you from scrubbing too hard and causing damage to your gums. This is a fantastic feature for people with thin gums or shrinking (receding) gums.
The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300 is supposedly a better brush than the Sonicare EasyClean, remove seven times more plaque than a manual brush. Philips claim that the EasyClean only removes twice as much plaque as brushing with a manual toothbrush. Although I am sure the claims are accurate, I haven’t actually read the evidence to back this up.
The Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300 is a bit more expensive than the EasyClean but it does have some extra benefits which ensure that it’s still great value for money. At the time of writing (January 2019), the ProtectiveClean 4300 costs between £60 and £80 on Amazon (depending on the colour handle that you pick). The EasyClean is between £40 and £50 at the time of writing. So if you have an extra few pounds, I’d actually be tempted to go for the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300 at the moment. For me, the travel case and pressure sensor justify the cost.
- Removes up to 7x more plaque than a manual toothbrush
- Pressure sensor alerts you when are brushing too hard
- Travel case enables you to take your Sonicare wherever you go
- Smart brush head replacement reminder alerts you when to replace your brush head for effective cleaning, every time
- 2 weeks battery life limiting the need for frequent charging
Oral-B Pro 2 2500N
This is not a Philips Sonicare brush. Neither is it sonic. However, the Oral-B Pro 2 2500N was our winner of ‘best electric toothbrush’ this year and it’s very similar in a lot of respects to the EasyClean so I thought it would be helpful to compare the two for you.
These brushes are both excellent. They are both at the more affordable end of the range and come with all of the basic features.
The benefit of the Oral-B Pro 2 2500N would be if you wanted a brush which mechanically cleaned your teeth through the rotation of the head. I tend to find that the battery tends to be more reliable with Oral-B and the Pro 2 2500N comes with a travel case (not essential but a nice little bonus).
The benefit of the Philips Sonicare EasyClean over the Oral-B in this instance is that the cleaning action feels much gentler. You may prefer this if you have previously had problems with receding gums (where the gums shrink back) or if you have sensitive teeth.
When you compare the toothbrush heads, they are both very good. Both heads are small so you can reach right to the back around your last molar teeth and clean those awkward areas. They also both come with inbuilt timers that alert you every 30 seconds to keep moving around your mouth.
The Oral-B Pro 2 2500N comes with a pressure sensor to stop you from brushing too hard and damaging your gums. The Philips Sonicare EasyClean doesn’t have a pressure sensor but the head can flex backwards when pressed. This changes the tone of the brush so you do get a warning when overdoing it.
Both will do the job for you and represent fantastic value for money. For me, it just comes down to the type of brush that you would prefer. Would you prefer a sonic brush that works by pulsing and vibrating like the Sonicare? Or would you prefer the rotating, mechanical action of the Oral-B? We’ve created a comparison table below which will hopefully help.
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart Sonic Toothbrush
Here, Philips have excelled themselves at adding as many useless gadgets to an already excellent toothbrush as they can. There is an app to show you how well you are brushing but these things never really work. As a dentist, I get to try out all of the latest apps that toothbrush manufacturers make. You spend your whole time concentrating on your phone and you forget you’re supposed to be brushing your teeth. The toothbrush and the app never link up particularly well. For me, it’s a waste of time. And £260? Wow. If you want the most expensive toothbrush you can buy, be my guest. But you really don’t need to spend nearly this much money.
- 3 in built Smart Sensors: Location, Pressure and motion
- 5 modes: Clean, White+, Deep Clean+, Gum Health and Tongue Care+
- 4 Premium brush heads giving exceptional results with 10x more plaque removal*, whiter teeth in just 3 days**, up to 7x healthier gums in just 2 weeks* and long lasting fresh breath
- Stylish charging glass and USB charging deluxe travel case
- Connect to FREE Philips Sonicare App for real time feedback and coaching to improve your technique
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean
So this is pretty much the same toothbrush as mentioned above but without the smart phone apps. It’s a very good toothbrush. It has a great battery life as well. This will do the job for you without a doubt. The only downside is that I am not convinced that this toothbrush is any better than the Philips Sonicare EasyClean. I know the handle looks fancier and they’ve added a few extra (unnecessary) cleaning modes. But the DiamondClean is nearly three times more expensive than the EasyClean. The DiamondClean has a very pretty charger but who cares?
Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite+
No toothbrush can whiten your teeth. Let me say that again. No toothbrush can make your teeth whiter. This is a little fib from Philips. Now, toothbrushes can remove stain that builds up on the outside of your teeth and this is obviously what Philips think that this HealthyWhite+ toothbrush will do. They’ve even added a mode of cleaning to this brush which is specifically designed to remove stain. I would not recommend this toothbrush. If you want a toothbrush to remove stain, I would personally go for the Oral-B Pro 2 2500N toothbrush. The mechanical cleaning of this brush is much more likely to remove stain than the vibrating head of the Sonicare brushes.
- Oral-B 3D technology movement: Round toothbrush head oscillates, rotates and pulsates to break up 100 Percent more plaque vs manual toothbrush
- Protect your sensitive gums: Visible gum pressure sensor reduces brushing speed and alerts if you brush too hard
- From day 1: Gently whitens your teeth from 1st use by removing surface stains and plaque
- Two cleaning brushing modes: Daily clean and gum care
- Oral-B is the No. 1 brand: Used by dentist professionals and approved by the Oral Health Foundation
Philips Sonicare 3 Series Gum Health
I would not bother buying this toothbrush. The best way to keep your gums healthy is to brush your teeth to remove plaque. This is the job of any toothbrush so to say that this electric toothbrush is designed for gum health is like saying ‘this toothbrush is designed for brushing your teeth’. I do not believe that it is any more effective at removing plaque than the Philips Sonicare EasyClean toothbrush.
Philips Sonicare EasyClean
As mentioned at the top of this article, this is the Sonicare toothbrush that I would recommend. It’s one of the cheapest Sonicare brushes but it’s actually extremely effective. This makes it brilliant value. The battery life is good. It has a built-in timer. This is a fantastic brush and I have no hesitation in recommending it to you.
- Removes up to 7x more plaque than a manual toothbrush
- Easy-start programme eases you into using an electric toothbrush
- 2 weeks battery life on a full charge
- Inbuilt smart-timer signals when your dentist recommended 2 minutes of brushing are up
- Our sonic technology is suitable for use with braces, fillings, crowns and veneers
Philips Sonicare: What is the downside?
From the feedback that I get from my patients, it seems that the battery life of the Philips Sonicare range is not brilliant. My patients report that the battery stops holding charge after around 18 months. I had a similar experience when I used a Sonicare brush. I think that the Philips Sonicare EasyClean is a fantastic toothbrush because of how gently it removes plaque. However, if you want to consider a different brand of toothbrush, why not find out about what we think is the best electric toothbrush on the market right now?
If you’re set on buying a Philips Sonicare, here’s a comparison table to help you.
Which Philips Sonicare replacement toothbrush heads should I buy?
There are plenty of options to choose from here. You must always go for a genuine Philips Sonicare head because the unofficial replacements are just not as reliable in my opinion. A small downside of the Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush range is that the replacement heads are quite expensive. However, they are excellent. Some of the heads made for Philips are way too big. When choosing, you should look for a reasonably small head. The best head in the Philips range is the Diamond White head. It’s a compact head that is easy to get into those hard-to-reach places at the back of your mouth.
- Diamond-shaped bristles in a high-density bristle pattern
- Suitable for Philips SoniCare FlexCare+, FlexCare, HealthyWhite, HydroClean, EasyClean and DiamondClean handles
- Push-on brush head easily slips on to the handle
- Reminder bristles fade indicating when to replace
- Four pack
This article was written by our award winning dentist, Dr Andrew Wilson (GDC number 209563). Andrew was the winner of Young Dentist of the Year for the UK 2018. He helps BBC Radio and ITV News as an expert on everything dental. Andrew has no links to any toothbrush manufacturers. This article simply represents his opinion on the best Philips Sonicare toothbrush available.
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