Oral b vs Sonicare Electric ToothBrush: Which One Should You Buy?

In the fight between Oral B and Sonicare, it can be tough to choose a winner. Without a side-by-side comparison of every feature, it’s difficult to find the best toothbrush. Plus, you want the best toothbrush for your specific needs.

It’ll be one that conforms to the problems you have with oral hygiene. You might need one focused on whitening. It might be plaque where you run into issues. After a dental visit, you might be wondering how to improve your flossing. In this comparison guide, we’re covering the features of each brush as well as which ones excel.

There will be vital information regarding all the features the two brands have in common as well as their notable differences. After reading this guide, you should be able to pick a toothbrush that works for you.

WINNERS:

Sonicare vs Oral B: Comparisons

As the different models of Oral B and Philips Sonicare are compared, we’ll be breaking down the features of each toothbrush. The head-to-head comparison should help you make your decision between the two. At the end of each, we’ll give you our recommendation. You should keep in mind that your unique needs could take priority, so choose the one that has the features you need for a healthy mouth.

Oral-B Genius Pro 8000 vs Philips Sonicare Diamond Clean

Our first pairing is the Oral-B Pro 8000 vs DiamondClean Smart 9700. They are two of the newest offerings from the companies, so they have some of the latest features. Advanced technologies are seen in these two electric toothbrushes, but one is definitely a better choice.

Oral-B 8000 vs DiamondClean

Healthy Gums

Gum Health is a priority for the Genius Pro 8000 as well as Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9700. The Philips Sonicare DiamondClean has a few features that will focus on the gums. There’s a premium gum care brush included with the handle. There’s also a pressure sensor on the DiamondClean. For the Genius 8000, the pressure sensor will keep you from hurting your gums. The SmartRing will light up, and the pulses will slow to indicate you’ve put too much pressure on your teeth and gums. As you can see both companies understand how important it is to focus on your gum health. At the same time, it should be done without hard brushing.

Brushing Modes

When it comes to brushing modes, both toothbrushes have all the cleaning modes you’ll need. These two advanced toothbrushes have a basic cleaning mode, which is standard for every electric toothbrush. They take it five or six steps further, though.

The Genius Pro 8000 has five more cleaning modes. There’s gum care as mentioned above. There’s also Pro-Clean Modes, which is their deep cleaning feature. The toothbrush has Whitening that will clean and polish your teeth. The Sensitive mode is meant for those who have problems with bleeding or pain when brushing. Finally, the Pro 8000 has a Tongue Cleaning mode for ridding you of one of the leading causes of bad breath.

Sonicare DiamondClean has four more cleaning modes beyond the basic clean. It has White+ that will remove stains on your teeth. There’s Gum Health, which was mentioned previously. There’s Deep Clean+, which focuses on a more intense cleaning. Tongue Care is a mode that will remove bacteria from your tongue. There are 3 intensities, too. A higher setting is faster with more power. The lowest setting is for those with more sensitive teeth.

The Genius Pro 8000 has one more cleaning mode than the DiamondClean, but the Sonicare model has extra intensities for customized brushing.

Brush Heads

The Philips Sonicare DiamondClean comes with more brush heads than the Genius Pro 8000. There’s the Premium Plaque Control brush. It’s meant to remove plaque, and it removes 10x more than a manual brush. The Premium Gum Care brush head massages and focuses on the gums to reduce sensitivity and stop gum disease. The Premium White brush head removes stains in just a few days. In the package, you’ll get 3 plaque, 2 gum care, 2 white, and 1 tongue care brush heads.

The Genius Pro 8000 comes with a standard brush head and a Whitening brush head. The Whitening head has a polishing cup on the interior of the brush to brighten your smile. All other brush heads are sold separately.

Replacement Indicator

The Genius Pro 8000 has bristles that will indicate whether it’s time to change the brush head. Brushes should be replaced frequently to ensure that bacteria isn’t building in the brush head. It’s important to keep the bristles in top form, too. Oral B has technology that will fade the bristles as they’re worn, so you can see when they need to be replaced. Sonicare doesn’t have that technology. Yet, you can replace the brushes every three to four months to be safe.

Smart Mode Pairing

This is a feature only available in the Sonicare line of toothbrushes. The DiamondClean has an illuminated display that will tell you exactly what mode you’re using. You can change the mode with the press of a button. From Clean to Deep Clean to Whitening is written directly on the handle. You can choose the mode at will while brushing, too. When you change brush heads, the handle of the toothbrush will recognize the type of brush you’re using. For example, if you want to focus on your gums, you’d use the Gum Cleaning brush head. When you click that into the handle, the handle changes the mode to Gum Health. You don’t have to remember to switch.

Real-Time Feedback

Oral B has Bluetooth technology available for most of their toothbrushes. You can download the Oral B app to your smartphone. It uses facial recognition and sensors to link your brushing in real time to data you’ll see in the app. This Position Detection is new, advanced technology for Oral B. If you are in the middle of brushing, you can see where you’ve missed spots in your mouth. It has a Focused Care option that will let you implement your dentist’s specific recommendations. There’s a program called Dental Care Journeys that will give you a routine to follow. Whether it’s Fresh Breath, Gum Health, or Plaque Fighter, the mode will improve your brushing routine.

The smart sensors in the Sonicare brush will let you know when you’ve missed areas. The location sensor will report where you’ve cleaned, and what’s missed before you stop brushing your teeth. This is vital if you’ve been to the dentist and been lectured about spots you’re missing. It’ll also let you know when you’re brushing too hard, too.

Overall, the Oral B technology is more advanced when it comes to real-time feedback and brushing options paired with your smartphone.

Easy Start

When you’re first using an electric toothbrush with oscillation or sonic technology, it can be incredibly intense. The Easy Start option will start at the lowest power when first used. Over the course of 14 brushings, the Easy Start mode will increase power and intensity. At the end of the 14 days, the user should be familiar with the normal intensity of the brush. This feature is only available in the Sonicare DiamondClean.

Overall, our recommendation between these two toothbrushes is the Sonicare DiamondClean Smart. It has more features and technology than the Oral B Genius 8000.

FeaturesOral-B Genius Pro 8000Philips Sonicare DiamondClean
Brushing Stokes40,000 pulsations and 8,800 oscillations31000
Brushing Modes65
Battery lifeUpto 10 daysUpto 3 weeks
Voltage110 V110-220 V
Easy startNoYes
Bristle IndicatorYesNo
ColorsBlackBlack,white,purple,pink
Price Check price Check price

Oral-B Pro 7000 vs Philips Sonicare Flexcare Platinum

If you want a toothbrush that is stylish and doesn’t look like a dental tool, the Oral B Pro Black 7000 is a good choice. It’s sleek and doesn’t come in a standard white like the Philips Sonicare Flexcare Platinum. Let’s take a look at the rest of the features, though. You’ll want more than just a sleek-looking toothbrush.
Oral-B 7000 vs Sonicare Flexcare

Plaque Removal

These toothbrushes focus on superior plaque removal. First, let’s start with the Oral B 7000. It comes with a CrossAction brush head that focuses on one tooth at a time. As it surrounds the tooth, the bristles will reach between teeth and along the gum line. This helps to remove more plaque than a manual toothbrush.

The Flexcare Platinum has an AdaptiveClean brush head that flexes and moves to cover the entire surface of the tooth. This includes getting along the gum line and between the spaces of the teeth. It removes 10x more plaque than a manual toothbrush. It’ll increase gum health, too.

In my opinion, this pairing for plaque removal is a tie. They’re both great at removing plaque and focus on improving gum health.

Brushing Modes

The Oral B Pro 7000 has five modes of brushing. There’s the Whitening mode for removing stains. There’s the Gum Care and Tongue Cleaning modes for removing bacteria as well as focusing on a healthy mouth. The Deep Clean mode is more intense for a fantastic clean. The Sensitive mode is for those who aren’t able to handle the intense sensations of the regular cleaning modes.

The Flexcare Platinum has three brushing modes. There’s the Clean mode for standard, everyday cleaning. The Deep Clean is for an intense cleaning for a fresher mouth. There’s also a White mode for removing stains. While there are not as many modes in the Flexcare, there are added intensity settings. You can choose a slow speed and power, medium, or high intensity for your brushing needs.

The Flexcare Platinum has 3 brushing modes, but the added intensity settings for each mode gives it more flexibility for your brushing needs.

Brush Heads

The Oral B 7000 comes with 3 brush heads. There’s the CrossAction, ProWhite, and Sensitive brush heads. The CrossAction is meant for plaque removal. The ProWhite removes stains – especially when paired with the Whitening mode. The Sensitive brush head can be paired with the Sensitive mode. The handle is compatible with all the other brush heads available from Oral B, too. Later, you could purchase more brush heads for your Pro 7000 like the FlossAction or Deep Sweep.

For the Flexcare Platinum, there are 2 brush heads. There’s the AdaptiveClean brush head, and the InterCare brush head. These brush heads are meant to remove plaque and get hard-to-reach areas of the mouth for superior cleaning. You can pick a brush head and mode that fits your needs. The Flexcare handle is compatible with other brush heads from Sonicare, too.

Pressure Sensor

The Pro 7000 has a sensor alert that tells you through the app that you are brushing too hard. On the handle itself, the light will flash to alert you to scrubbing. You never want to scrub your teeth to remove stains or plaque. The brush should be allowed to do the work.

The Sonicare Flexcare Platinum has a location sensor as well as a pressure sensor that works with the app. You’ll be able to see when you’ve been brushing too hard. There are Scrubbing and Pressure sensors, so you don’t press too hard on your teeth, too. It ruins the enamel and scrubs it away.

Real-Time Feedback

The Oral B Pro 7000 connects to your smartphone with Bluetooth technology. Download the app to track your brushing habits. It’ll gather data that you can use immediately, or you can take that data to your dentist. It can store up to 6 months of data to track your oral hygiene over time.

The Flexcare tracks brush head effectiveness over time. As your toothbrush head wears down, you’ll see less effectiveness, which is a problem. This toothbrush will tell you when performance has been compromised. The location sensor tells you where you’ve missed areas, and the TouchUp feature can fix that. There’s a customized 3D mouth map, too.

Both toothbrushes have real-time feedback and data that is vital for a clean mouth. This seems to be a tie as well.

Charger, Travel Case, and Battery Life

The Oral B 7000 has a deluxe travel case, but so does the Sonicare Flexcare Platinum. The cases will hold toothbrushes as well as provide a place for charging. You could also charge before you leave home. The battery life of the 7000 is just 10 days while the Flexcare will give you 3 weeks of daily brushing.

Overall the winner between these two is the Oral-B Pro 7000. The intensity gives you an incredibly clean mouth.

FeaturesOral-B Genius Pro 7000Philips Sonicare Flexcare Platinum HX9111/12
Brushing Stokes40,000 pulsations and 8,800 oscillations31000
Brushing Modes53
Battery lifeUpto 10 daysUpto 3 weeks
Voltage110 V110-220 V
Bristle IndicatorYesNo
Brush head includes31
ColorsBlackGrey
Bluetooth technologyYesNo
Price Check price Check price

Oral-B Pro 5000 vs Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite HX8911

These two toothbrushes are reasonably priced and provide a great clean while focused on one feature. For the Pro 5000, it’s healthier gums. For the Sonicare HealthyWhite, it’s a white smile.

Oral-B Pro 5000 vs Sonicare HealthyWhite

Healthy Gums

The Oral B Pro 5000 focuses on an interdental clean, which is a flossing action that removes plaque. It works around the gum line as well as between teeth. When plaque is removed from your gums and edges of teeth, it improves your gum health. It does this with a Floss Action brush head.

The Sonicare HealthyWhite uses a DiamondClean brush head to remove plaque, too. The same brush head that removes stains also removes plaque. It focuses on the gum line with its 31,000 brush strokes. That’s more brush strokes than you’d get in a month of manual brushing.

White Smile

When it comes to a bright smile, the Pro 5000 has a Whitening mode. It works with the whitening brush head if you want to buy that one separately. It’s not included with this handle. The Whitening mode works by changing speeds, which polishes and removes stains.

The Sonicare is focused on whitening as a special feature. It removes almost 100% more stains than manual brushing. The DiamondClean brush head has bristles shaped like diamonds that is proven to remove stains. Whitening comes from stain removal, and this brush head along with the Whitening mode achieves its goal.

Pacer and Timer

The Oral B 5000 doesn’t have a pacer or a timer. It does have the ability to time and track your brushing through the app. You’ll have to be watching your brushing in real time to see pacing and timing recorded. Otherwise, you’ll have to time your brushing yourself with a watch or other kind of timer of your choosing.

The Sonicare toothbrush has a Quadpacer and Smartimer for tracking the time you brush. As we all know, dentists recommend that you spend at least 2 minutes brushing. The Quadpacer divides your mouth virtually into 4 quadrants. It’ll alert you after 30 seconds has passed, so you can move to the next area. After the 4 quadrants have received attention, the Smartimer will alert you that 2 minutes has passed.

Modes and Settings

The Pro 5000 has 5 modes. There’s a Daily Clean and Deep Clean mode. Daily Clean is meant for your everyday brushing. Deep mode is for intensive brushing. There’s also Gum Care for massaging and cleaning gums properly. The toothbrush comes with Sensitive mode and Whitening mode. Sensitive features lower speeds for less intense power. Whitening will remove stains for a brighter smile.

Sonicare HealthyWhite+ has 2 cleaning modes. There’s daily clean and whitening mode. Along with the whitening and basic cleaning modes, there’s also 3 intensity settings. You can pair the 2 cleaning modes with a low, medium, or high intensity for personalized cleaning. It gives you more customization in your brushing.

Brush Heads

The Pro 5000 has one brush head included with the handle. You’ll get a brush holder with the handle. It can hold more brush heads, but you’ll have to purchase them separately. The brush head included is the FlossAction one. All of the Oral B toothbrush heads are compatible with the handle.

The HealthyWhite+ has a DiamondClean brush head with its toothbrush handle. The heads for the Philips Sonicare toothbrushes can be purchased separately. They are also compatible with all the brush handles. You can easily pick and choose the brush heads that you’d like to use with your HealthyWhite+ toothbrush.

Real-Time Feedback

Many Oral B toothbrushes have the capability of syncing with the Bluetooth app. You’re able to track your brushing and ensure that you’re not brushing too hard with the pressure sensor. It’ll tell you if you’re scrubbing instead of allowing the brush to do the work. There’s focused care where you can get guidance for your specific brushing needs. Dental Care Journeys can be tailored to your hygiene goals. All of the tracking and focused guidance is available through the app.

The Sonicare HealthyWhite+ doesn’t have an app or real-time feedback through Bluetooth like the Oral B. You should be able to use this without the app, though. It has the Quadpacer and Smartimer for tracking the time you’ve been brushing instead.

These are vastly different offerings for toothbrushes. You’ll have to decide what features mean the most to you. Overall, the Oral B has some unique features as well as real-time feedback. But the Sonicare has timers for ensuring that you’re brushing for the right amount of time.

The overall winner here is the Oral-B Pro 5000. There are more cleaning modes and real-time feedback for improved brushing.

FeaturesOral-B Pro 5000Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite HX8911
Brushing Stokes40,000 pulsations and 8,800 oscillations31000
Brushing Modes52
Battery lifeUpto 10 daysUpto 3 weeks
Voltage110 V110-220 V
Bristle IndicatorYesNo
Brush head includes21
ColorsBlueWhite
Bluetooth technologyYesNo
Price Check price Check price

Oral B Pro 3000 vs Philips Sonicare 3 Series

The Oral B Pro 3000 and the Sonicare 3 Series are bare bones toothbrushes that deliver all the fantastic features of these two powerhouse toothbrush companies. One of them is focused on whitening while the other focuses on gum health.

Oral-B Pro 3000 vs Philips Sonicare 3 Series

Gum Health

The Oral B Pro 3000 has brushes with round brush heads. It also has Gum Care mode for stimulating and cleaning the gums properly. Massaging the gums helps to keep the gums from being too sensitive. It can reverse gingivitis, too.

Philips Sonicare 3 Series is focused on gum health. It has a brush head focusing on gum health specifically. The ProResults gum health brush head is what’s included in the box when you get this 3 Series toothbrush. Massaging the gums and focusing on that area can reverse the signs of gingivitis. The ProResults brush has soft bristles and a soft tuft at the end to reach the back of the mouth.

Whitening

The Oral B Pro 3000 has a toothbrush head that polishes your teeth for a whiter, brighter smile. While the round brush head surrounds each tooth, the polishing cup shines the enamel. From the first day, you’ll be able to see a huge difference in the whiteness of your smile.

The Sonicare 3 isn’t particularly focused on whitening. It has the ability to be paired with a whitening brush if you are concerned about removing stains. The removal of plaque will naturally brighten your teeth since it will also remove yellowing stains.

Cleaning Modes

Not all toothbrushes from Oral B or Sonicare have a ton of cleaning modes. The Oral B Pro 3000 has 3 modes of cleaning. There’s the Daily Clean for everyday cleaning. This is what you’ll use on a regular basis. There’s Gum Care for stimulating and massaging your gums. It’ll help remove plaque near the gum line to ensure that you’ll have a healthy mouth. There’s also Sensitive Mode, which is a lower speed for gently cleaning without the intensity of the regular brushing.

The Sonicare Series 3 has one cleaning mode. That one cleaning mode is available with 3 intensities, though. There’s a slow, medium, and high intensity. You’re basically getting a sensitive mode if you’re using it in slow mode. For high intensity, you’re getting a deeper, more complete clean, too.

Brush Heads

The Oral B Pro 3000 comes with one round brush head with polishing cup on the interior of the bristles. While it only comes with one brush head, it’s compatible with all the Oral B brush heads. You can simply purchase a separate brush head for the focus you want. Whether it’s plaque removal or flossing action, there’s a brush for your specific needs.

The Sonicare Series 3 comes with a ProResults brush head. It’s meant to focus on gum health. The brush head is curved to hit the entire surface of your teeth for a focused clean. It’s gentle for orthodontics yet it’s powerful enough for removing plaque from the gum line. The Series 3 comes with just one brush head, but the other brush heads are compatible.

Timer and Pacer

Oral B toothbrushes don’t always have a timer. This Pro 3000 has a timer built into the handle that will alert you every 30 seconds. Each time the alert sounds, you’ll want to focus on a different area of your mouth. When you’ve hit the two-minute mark, there will be another alert to let you know that you’re done.

The Sonicare Series 3 has the company’s patented timer and pacer. The Quadpacer will alert you every 30 seconds to switch quadrants of your mouth. This allows you to get the right amount of cleaning in each area of your mouth. The Smartimer ensures that you will hit the recommended two minutes of brushing.

Battery Life and Travel

The Oral B Pro 3000 has a stand that is great for charging and storing in a space on your counter. There’s no travel case for this toothbrush. If you want to take this one the road, you’ll have to charge it before you leave, or bring the entire stand with you. The average time of the charge for this Ni-MH battery is 28 minutes. That can give you approximately 14 days of brushing if you use it twice a day for two minutes.

Sonicare usually has an advantage over Oral B in terms of brushing time. The Lithium Ion battery has an average life of 84 minutes. That gives you approximately 3 weeks of brushing if you use it twice per day. This comes with a travel case, too.

The overall winner here is the Sonicare Series 3. It has a better battery life for travel. It has cleaning modes along with added intensities for a more personalized cleaning.

Oral b Pro 3Sonicare series 3
Brushing Stokes40,000 31000
Brushing Modes 33
Battery life 7 days3 weeks
Voltage110 V110-220 V
Effective for Remove stains, Gum Health Gum Health, plaque control
Brush head21
Bluetooth YesNo
Colors22
Travel CaseNoYes
Price Check price Check price

Oral-B Black Pro 1000 vs Philips Sonicare 2 Series Plaque Control

The Oral B Black Pro 1000 and the Philips Sonicare 2 Series are both focused on plaque removal. Each toothbrush has a cleaning mode and brush that is meant to remove plaque in areas between teeth and at the gum line.

Oral-B 1000 vs Sonicare 2 Series

Plaque Removal

The Oral B Pro 1000 has CrissCross bristles for getting between teeth and along the gum line. The bristles are directed to ensure that they brush slightly under the gum line. The CrossAction brush head powers away food and debris that can build up between teeth, too.

As far as the Sonicare 2 Series for Plaque Control, everything about this toothbrush is focused on that one purpose. The ProResults plaque control brush head works to remove all the built up food, debris, and bacteria. The Series 2 removes more than 6x the amount of plaque you’d get from a manual toothbrush.

Pressure Sensor

The Pro 1000 has a pressure sensor that will alert you to the fact that you’re brushing too hard. You never want to scrub your teeth to remove food or bacteria. That’s especially true along the gum line. You could do serious damage to your enamel and create microscopic scrapes in the gums. That can lead to more serious issues like infections.

The Sonicare 2 Series doesn’t include a pressure sensor. It’ll be important that you keep a handle on the pressure you’re placing on your teeth. Allow the electric toothbrush to do all the work. Instead of scrubbing, the bristles and vibrations will remove food and plaque on their own.

Timer

The Oral B 1000 has a quadrant timer that will alert the user when 30 seconds has passed. Once you hear the timer, you can easily switch from one part of your mouth to the next. The handle will also alert you when 2 minutes has passed. That’s the amount of time that dental professionals recommend.

For the Sonicare 2, you’ll find the Smartimer gives you a 2-minute warning when you’ve brushed for the required time. That’s a standard feature in many of the Sonicare’s toothbrushes.

Easy Start

Oral B doesn’t have Easy Start as a feature in their toothbrushes. It’s a feature that you’ll find with Sonicare, though. When someone wants to start using an electric toothbrush for the first time, it can be a bit intense. The pressure and vibration can be started slow to give the person time to get used to it.

The Sonicare Series 2 has Easy Start for those who are new to sonic technology. For the first 14 uses, the brush will slowly increase in speed as well as intensity. It’s perfect for new people to the electric toothbrush experience.

Battery Time and Travel

First, we’ll cover the Oral B Pro 1000. The Ni-MH rechargeable battery is good for 28 minutes of brushing. If you brush twice a day, as you should, the battery will last 7 days. That can be a good amount of time if you’re going on vacation or a work trip that will last a week. There’s no travel case or portable charger for this toothbrush.

The Sonicare 2 Series has a travel charger, but the Lithium-Ion battery lasts 56 minutes. That’s about 14 days of brushing if you use it the required two minutes twice a day.

In terms of battery, Sonicare seems to have more battery life than their competitor Oral B. Keep that in mind when researching if you need the toothbrush to travel with you for vacations or business travel.

The overall winner here is the Sonicare 2 Series. There’s a travel charger and a longer battery life for travel. It has Easy Start technology for beginners, too.

FeaturesOral-B Black Pro 1000Philips Sonicare 2 Series
Brushing Stokes40,000 pulsations and 8,800 oscillations31000
Brushing Modes11
Battery lifeUpto 10 daysUpto 2 weeks
Voltage110 V110-220 V
Easy startNoYes
ColorsBlackWhite, Coral, Steel Blue, Guacamole, Black
Price Check price Check price

Oral B Kids Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush vs Philips Sonicare for Kids

In an adult toothbrush, you’re looking for features that will reverse gingivitis or whiten teeth. For children, you’re trying to develop good brushing habits. As a parent, you want to be sure your child is taking care of their teeth for the future. Buying a good electric toothbrush for them now can help you avoid costly dental work in the future, too.

The Oral B and Philips Sonicare line of toothbrushes have features that parents will love. They also have fun features that will keep kids busy brushing their teeth. Children need to brush for the required 2 minutes, which can be tough for some kids.

Oral B Kids vs Philips Sonicare Kids

Interactive App

The app that you can use for the Oral B toothbrush features Disney characters. The handle has a certain amount of songs to keep your child entertained while brushing, too. They can win stickers with the app based on rewards for brushing two minutes. They can brush and discover pictures based on the amount of time they brush. It’s another reward for two-minute brushing.

The Sonicare for Kids app is full of fun activities. The app is connected to the brush itself with Bluetooth wireless technology. You can download the app to a phone or tablet. It’ll depend on the device you want near the bathroom sink. There are interactive activities like chasing bacteria around their mouth while brushing each quadrant.

Track Brushing Habits

The Oral B has a brushing calendar as well as the sticker rewards, so children can see their progress. You’re developing brushing habits for the future. Not every child is great at brushing, so an electric toothbrush with a tracking device is incredibly helpful for parents and children.

Kids are educated about brushing while using the Sonicare for Kids app. They can track their progress with the Brushing Coach, too. All that information can be gathered for the parents and the dental professional.

Kid Timer

Adults and children should be brushing for the required 2 minutes. The Oral B toothbrush has songs that will keep your child occupied for 2 minutes. If you use the app, there’s a timer attached to many activities. In fact, the stickers are rewarded for 2-minute brushing. They can keep track of stickers, or show the stickers to mom and dad. The stickers prove that the child brushed for the required time.

Like other Sonicare toothbrushes, the Kids Rechargeable Toothbrush has a timer. The Kid Timer is built into the toothbrush itself. It doesn’t have to be accessed by the app. There might not always be a way to use the app in the bathroom. Especially if you’re running late in the morning.

Brush Heads

The Oral B brush head for the Disney toothbrush has incredibly soft bristles. You don’t want to overpower your child with a hard, intense electric toothbrush. The circular toothbrush head is the perfect size for little mouths.

Sonicare for Kids has a toothbrush head that will look familiar to your child. It’s shaped like a manual toothbrush, so they’re used to it. It won’t be scary or intimidating even if it vibrates. The brush will give your child 500 brush strokes per second. That’s a vast difference between electric and manual strokes.

Overall, these are two good choices for children. The Sonicare kids will grow with your child beyond their taste for Disney characters, though. It has features that are accessible without having the app handy, too. Your child might not always have the app handy each morning for brushing.

FeaturesOral-B KidsSonicare Kids
Battery lifeUpto 5 daysUpto 10 days
Special for KidsExtra-soft bristlesHead designed for kids
Voltage110 V110-220 V
Brush head includes11
TimerMagic Timer (app)KidTimer
Price Check price Check price

Oral B Brand History

Oral-B logo

The Oral B brand began its life as a patent application for the “Hutson Toothbrush” filed by Dr. Robert W. Hutson. He was granted a patent for his toothbrush design in 1950.

Over the years, he improved upon his initial concept. In 1958, the California periodontist was given another patent for what was called a mouthbrush. It had a number of nylon bristles that he claimed were ideal for massaging gums without being abrasive. His Oral B 60 was the first product with the brand name.

In the 60s, he sold his interests and went back to his practice. In 1984, the brand became a part of the Gillette group. Around that time, the electric toothbrush was a featured item from the company. It wasn’t until 2006 that the company became a part of its current parent company; Procter & Gamble.

Oral B has been given quite a few awards including the Edison Award in 1991 for their bristles that indicate wear. As the bristles are used, they fade and indicate when the brush head should be replaced. Check the more details here.

Philips Sonicare Brand History

Philips Sonicare logo

Philips started out as a company that made lamps. They moved on to innovative products like the radio and x-ray tubes for x-ray equipment. Over the years, they’ve created electronics like televisions and mobile phones.

In 1987, a man named David Giuliani met with two professors at the University of Washington named Dr. David Engel and Dr. Roy Martin. Together, they created a company called GEMTech. They wanted to promote their new toothbrush that featured a piezoelectric multimorph transducer. This was the beginning of the technology behind the Sonicare line.

GEMTech became Optiva, which was eventually purchased by Philips. With Philips’ history of advanced expertise in electronics, it was a natural fit for them to purchase and improve on the original concept.

Difference between Oral B vs Sonicare

Let’s discuss some noticeable differences between these two brands.

  • Stroking action and technology

Oral-B bristles moveThe core differences between Oral B and Sonicare come down to the fact that they use very different methods to clean teeth.

Sonicare uses vibration to produce 31,000 strokes per minute. The vibrations produce a side-to-side movement that pushes oxygenated bubbles and water between teeth. While the brush is vibrating, it moves along the surface of the enamel for cleaner teeth. The sonic vibrations are incredibly fast.

Oral B has a rotation and oscillation action known as rotary technology.Philips Sonicare bristles move Unlike the side-to-side sonic movements of the Sonicare, the Oral B’s brush head spins while turning slightly.

Out of the two, Sonicare’s sonic vibrations produce more brush stroking action than the Oral B’s oscillation.

  • Models and brush heads

The Oral B brush heads are circular, so they resemble a brush you’d find in a dentist’s office. For this reason, some people might believe that the Oral B has a superior advantage. The brush has more bristles than the Sonicare because the square footage of the brush’s surface is bigger.

Each brush head has a certain function. The Cross Action removes more plaque with angled bristles. The Precision Clean brush head focuses on each tooth for more plaque removal. The FlossAction head is meant to get between teeth. 3D White head has a polishing cup that will remove stains and whiten teeth. Sensitive Clean is meant for sensitive gums with its soft bristles.

The Ortho Care head is perfect for those with braces. The Deep Sweep is meant for deep cleaning. Dual Clean has 2 moving heads that will get to hard-to-reach areas.

Sonicare has brush heads that resemble more traditional toothbrushes. Many people find those easier to use. When a person is more comfortable using a toothbrush, they’ll get more benefits from brushing.

The Premium Plaque Control brush removes plaque in hard-to-reach areas. The Premium Gum Care brush head is meant to focus on the gums. The Premium White brush head removes built-up stains. The DiamondClean also removes stains as well as whitens teeth.

  • Pressure sensor

Pressure sensor

A pressure sensor is available in many electric toothbrushes. It will save you from putting too much pressure on teeth and gums. The bristles of a toothbrush should be skimming the surface of teeth and gums. It shouldn’t bear down with any serious pressure.

Philips Sonicare will give you an alert when there’s too much pressure. Whether it’s your teeth or gums, the alert sound will tell you that you’re brushing too hard. That sound will tell you to back off and go light on your brushing.

Oral B has a pressure sensor, too.  Their pressure sensor is in the form of a light. It won’t alert you to the fact that you’re applying too much pressure with a sound. You’ll have to be alert for the light on the handle.

  • Brushing modes

The Oral B brand has a variety of modes that can be used with the variety of brush heads the toothbrush has. The first is Daily Clean, which is the basic cleaning mode. The Gum Care and Tongue Cleaner Modes focus on those specific areas. The Whitening Mode cleans surface stains. Pro Clean is a deep cleaning that removes plaque and debris. The Sensitive Mode is gentle for those who need extra soft care.

Philips Sonicare toothbrushes have a variety of modes depending on the type of toothbrush chosen. There’s a Clean Mode for standard cleaning. There’s a White Mode for removing stains from the surface of the teeth. Polish mode can add a bit more whitening as a finish to the White Mode.

There’s also Gum Health for extra massaging and healthier gums. The Sensitive Mode is for those who have sensitive teeth. Deep Clean delivers a serious cleaning.

  • Bluetooth connectivity

Bluetooth connectivity

Oral B has Bluetooth connectivity with many of their toothbrushes. One of the benefits is that you’ll be able to track your brushing technique. It’ll help you find flaws in your brushing that could lead to dental problems later.

The Sonicare toothbrushes don’t normally come with Bluetooth connectivity. The FlexCare Platinum is the exception. It has sensors that will report to the app through your smartphone. It’ll help the user focus on trouble spots.

  • Smartphone application

The Oral B toothbrushes with Bluetooth connectivity track data. The data is gathered into an app. That app can be accessed to figure out problems areas you miss during brushing. You can bring the data to your dentist, too. The app can be downloaded through the store associated with your smartphone.

The FlexCare Platinum has an app, too. There’s a scrubbing, location, and pressure sensor that monitors brushing. The app can be downloaded easily. It’ll report on focus areas that you’ve entered to be monitored. It’ll give you a progress report over time, too.

  • Battery life

The Oral B line of electric toothbrushes will charge with an included cord. The charging time and amount of brushing you’ll get will vary. Charging time can be approximately 15 to 20 hours. That charge will hold you through 7 to 10 days.

The Sonicare toothbrushes have a few ways to charge. There’s a power cord that makes charging easy. There’s also a charging glass that looks like a drinking glass. It’s a lovely way to store the toothbrush as well as charge it. The battery takes 24 hours to charge. It should last 2 to 3 weeks with one charge.

  • Noise

The noise from the Oral B can reach decibel levels around 70 while the Sonicare brand of toothbrushes reaches approximately 50 decibels. The Oral B’s noise can be a problem when you’re brushing your teeth in the morning. While the rest of your family is asleep, you don’t want to wake them by simply brushing your teeth. Most electric toothbrushes do make noise, you’ll have to decide what kind of noise is tolerable for you.

  • Design

The handle and brush head of the two toothbrushes are stylish and advanced looking. The head of the Oral B brand is round and reminds people of a brush from the dentist’s office. That can be an advantage. On the other hand, it could deter some people who don’t want to be reminded of a dental office. The handle itself is sleek and ergonomic.

The Sonicare brush head looks like a manual toothbrush. It’s a comfortable shape that everyone is familiar with as a toothbrush head. It won’t feel foreign and weird in a person’s mouth like some other brush heads. The handle is slim and won’t fall from your hand easily even if it’s wet.

  • Price

The Oral B and Sonicare brand of toothbrushes vary in price depending on the model chosen. When comparing features, you’re getting more benefits from Sonicare. It comes at a higher price, though. For most people, the budget option makes more sense. But, if you choose a budget toothbrush, it’s not going to have all the brushing modes.

Similarity between Oral B vs Sonicare

  • Display

The handle of the toothbrushes have displays that will tell you things like how much battery is left. Both toothbrush handles have mode indicators that light up when a mode is chosen.

For example, if you choose whitening that mode is illuminated on the handle. That goes for all of the modes on both toothbrushes. You’ll be able to see exactly what mode is in play.

  • Two-minute timer

The toothbrushes have timers that will alert you when you’ve brushed for the required two minutes. This is the time that dentists say is needed to get a fully clean mouth during the day. After meals and before bed are the times when dentists say you should brush thoroughly for 2 minutes.

Some of the toothbrushes from Oral B and Sonicare come with pacers and timers. The pacer will ensure that you’re brushing each quadrant of your mouth equally.

  • Dual charging system

Dual charging system

The Oral B brand of toothbrushes has a dual-charging system as does the Philips Sonicare. That means there are two ways to charge your new toothbrush. For many, it involves charging in the base with a stand. In the case of Sonicare, that stand is a clear rinse glass that uses conductive charging. The other way they charge is through a cord for travel.

  • Warranty & guarantee

The Oral B warranty lasts from the date of purchase to the 2-year mark. The warranty doesn’t cover normal wear and tear, though. Cosmetic damages or those done by the consumer are not often covered. If you fail to care for the toothbrush, you’re not covered.

Sonicare has a 2-year warranty on many of their toothbrushes except for the battery-powered model. It won’t likely cover normal wear and tear the same as Oral B. You’ll have to take care of your toothbrush to avoid a problem that the company won’t cover.

  • Charging option

The charging options will depend on the kind of toothbrush you purchase. If you want one focused on travel, it should have a USB travel charger for use with your other devices. If you want it to sit beautifully on the counter, it should have a lovely stand for charging that won’t take a ton of counter space.

Both Brands Have Some Unique Features Too

  • UV sanitizer

UV sanitizer

Sonicare is the only toothbrush that has a UV sanitizer for some of their brands. It uses UV lights to remove all the bacteria that comes from cleaning your mouth. It works with Sonicare ProResults as well as some of Oral B’s line of toothbrushes. It’s made for Philips, though. Each sanitizing cycle runs for 10 minutes. This is a great addition to your electric toothbrush since it means you can keep the heads sanitized and clean.

The Philips Sonicare FlexCare Whitening Edition and Philips Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected come with the UV Sanitizer. You don’t have to worry about purchasing separately.

  • Tongue cleaning mode

The tongue cleaning mode of the Oral B will remove bacteria and food debris. Most debris left over from eating can cause bad breath. It doesn’t exist only on the teeth and between them. It can bury itself in the parts of the tongue that harbor food. Those taste buds that give you such pleasure can be hiding bacteria. The Oral B Precision 7000 and the Oral B Genius Pro 8000 have a Tongue Cleaning mode that can be used to reverse bad breath.

  • Real time feedback

Real time feedback

The smartphone app will provide real feedback, so you can adjust your brushing. When you’re brushing, you’ll want to see what’s being missed. All the data can be brought to your dentist. He or she will be able to evaluate your brushing habits. It’s important to have up-to-date information for brushing, though.

That’s where the Oral B Genius Pro 8000, Pro 7000, and Pro 600 really shine. These models have an app to provide feedback during teeth brushing. The Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart also has real-time feedback available with its toothbrush.

  • Position detection technology

Position detection technology

The detection technology means that all the data will be available on the app. It’ll detect the position of your brushing to make sure that all your teeth get an ample amount of brushing. While the pacer and timer will help, the position detection will alert you when you’ve missed spots.

Purchasing the Oral B Genius Pro 8000 remains the only method of Position Detection from both companies.

  • 360° smart ring

The Smart Ring is an illuminated part of Oral B’s handle. It has a lighting system with 12 lights for customization. The light colors can be changed in the app, so you can personalize your brushing experience. The Smart Ring on the Oral B Genius Pro 8000 and the Pro 6000 lets you see feedback regarding the pressure sensor as well as the Bluetooth connection.

  • Smart guide

For those toothbrushes that don’t connect to an app, you might be able to use a SmartGuide. It has a brushing timer and quadrant indicator that is independent of the brush itself. It won’t track real time data or record, but it can be used as a timer and clock. It will indicate whether you’re using too much pressure on your teeth, too. This device only comes with the Oral B Pro 7000 and the Pro 5000.

  • Illuminated display

Sonicare has an illuminated display on the handle that will light up to tell you what mode you’re using. With the press of a button, you can change from one mode to the next. It’s available in Sonicare DiamondClean and the DiamondClean Smart. A quick glance at the display will tell you what mode is in use like Clean, White, or Gum Care, for example.

  • Automatic power off

The automatic power off feature will shut down the toothbrush after you’ve brushed for the required two minutes. That doesn’t mean you have to stop brushing. You simply want to turn it back on to brush past the two-minute timer. This feature is one that can only be found on the Sonicare models.

  • Easy Start

When first starting to use an electric toothbrush, Sonicare is the only company that understands that it can feel incredibly powerful. They’ve put an Easy Start option in their toothbrushes. It starts you off on an easier mode for the first two weeks. Over that amount of time, it’ll slowly increase power and speed. You won’t be overwhelmed if this is your first time using an electric toothbrush.

  • BrushSync replacement reminder

The replacement reminder is only available through Sonicare toothbrushes. It’ll remind you that it’s time for a replacement of your toothbrush head. If you don’t replace them regularly, you are leaving yourself vulnerable to bacteria build up in the bristles.

Oral B or Sonicare: Which One Should You Buy?

The one you should buy will depend on your needs and requirements. There isn’t a clear winner between Oral B and Sonicare. In each category, one outshines the other in terms of technology and features.

Overall, we’d recommend the Oral-B Pro 7000 if you like the oscillations and motion of that brand. This toothbrush is one of the best medium-priced electric toothbrushes available in the market. The 7000 has real-time feedback for improved brushing as well as a tongue cleaning mode for freshening breath.

For those who like Sonicare, the DiamondClean Smart is one of the best choices among their toothbrushes. It has an illuminated display, real-time feedback and Easy Start for beginners.

Conclusion

In the comparison of Oral B vs Sonicare, it’s a tough call. It’s likely that’s the reason you’re doing such intense research. You want to make the right choice based upon your needs. We’ve done an in-depth review for you as well as giving you some information you might not have considered previously.

Personally, I would prefer Sonicare. What lures me to toward Sonicare? Its impeccable cleaning capability, comfortable brushing experience, and outstanding battery life. Surely, Sonicare won’t fulfil your satisfaction if your intention is to take advantage of many technical features and at the same time save couple of bucks. In that case, Oral-B is the perfect choice. Both brands offer great value and if you choose wisely, you won’t get disappointed.

Thank you for reading this far.

Comment below if you have any more queries.

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