Out from the white bristles are 2 clusters of very dark blue coloured bristles. The formation of these bristles are wider and slightly thinner than a normal cluster and are positioned in such a way that there is a gentle arc to them. This is a result of the brushless magnetic drive system used exclusively in the iO Series. It directs the cleaning energy to the bristle tips along with what is known as micro vibrations. An intentional design choice, it does make for a more enjoyable experience. The sensitive brush head is best suited to the sensitive and gum care cleaning mode whilst the 3D white brush head is best partnered with the whitening cleaning mode. Not strictly a brush head, this is a special type of attachment designed for Oral-B’s range of water flossing units, OxyJet and Aquacare.

To summarise, the Ultimate Clean and Gentle Care heads are essentially the iO equivalents to the CrossAction and Sensitive Clean that are our recommended choices. These heads are designed to reach and clean around hard to reach areas in the mouth. Examples of when they are ideally suited are for cleaning dental implants, braces and misaligned teeth. Circular in shape, it’s wider and deeper than a normal charger. It doesn’t have the prong on top the brush fits on. Instead, a slight convex zone in the centre aligns with the concave base of the iO8’s handle. Yet the app or brush doesn’t do this. It relies on you to move the brush from zone to zone as and when you like. The best pressure sensor on a toothbrush today In the centre of the brush head, are a further 7 tufts, 6 of which are grouped around a single tuft right in the centre.

To achieve healthy teeth you need to give all of them fairly equal attention, not just the ones at the front that are visible when you smile. Hardwired into it is a 2 pin UK power adapter (suitable for UK bathrooms). The cord is about 1.2 metres in length. The stand supports 100-240 volts, unlike the 220-240 volts of the standard charger. This is better for you if you travel internationally regularly. With that covered you have another slight consideration to make. What bristle configuration do you want? I’ve buying links to the various brush heads so that you can be sure you’re choosing the right one. Comparison Table

How effective this brush head is at whitening your teeth is dependent upon your teeth and the level of staining. When used with a good toothpaste it can remove extrinsic staining, i.e. the staining that builds up due to use of tobacco, drinking coffee or red wine. But, the effects and change in tooth colour may be little if you already have good oral hygiene and little tooth staining and the overall colour of the tooth will not be whitened. Compared to many existing brushes, the iO Series uses an entirely new motor that makes use of a magnetic drive system. I would say they are about 10 percent larger than non-iO heads. What you get in the box with the standard iO3 (for illustration purposes) It’s not as quiet as many other brushes, but far less noisy than non-iO models Whilst not as soft as the Sensitive brush head, the bristles have more movement and are not as stiff as the CorssAction head.

I am an advocate for the intention behind the approach. But you need to be committed and see past the quirks. If you are, you can take immediate corrective action, which will likely improve your oral health long term. The light isn’t always easy to see unless you brush in front of a mirror. If using the app, it will alert you on the screen. Therefore, if you have an iO Series 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 electric toothbrush then you will need to ensure the heads you buy are compatible. Coloured rings are fitted to the heads. Just remember the colour ring of yours and providing other users have different colours, you will easily know which is yours.

If you currently do or have previously used an Oral-B brush you will notice how the cleaning action of the iO3 is similar but feels more gentle and less aggressive on the teeth and gums.If the iO3 is potentially your first electric toothbrush you will notice the deeper and more effective clean it offers compared to a manual toothbrush. Do learn about the correct technique though, as it is different from a manual brush. It’s not as harsh on the teeth and gums as other Oral-B models If you have a perfectly functional toothbrush already. It’s not enough of a difference to justify the switch alone. Inside the outer edge are what Oral-B calls the ‘polishing petals’. They are not nylon bristles they are instead made of a rubber/silicone type material. They have a wider profile to them, with a tapered tip. They are designed to mimic the polishing cup found on professional dental tools to help give that brighter shine to the tooths surface. A grey slider switch just under the head of the nozzle allows the jet of water exiting to be changed from either a continuous and more powerful jet of water or a softer, rotational flow of water. Up close you can see how the tuft of bristles in the middle of the outer bristle tuft is actually slightly taller/longer to achieve this.

Oral-B has published impressive clinical results and the iO Series. It has not yet been tested and approved by any UK organisation, such as the Oral Health Foundation, but has been awarded the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance, confirming it meets the claims made by the manufacturer. The round head is small enough to get into tight gaps, but bigger than non-iO heads Yes, some may have a display built-in; the iO3 doesn’t. But it does mean the Series 3 looks much more premium and desirable than some of the more affordable models from Oral-B. There are of course the more specialised Ortho and Power Tip/Interspace brush heads which should ideally be used by those with braces, teeth implants or dental crowns.Don’t worry if you brush too hard. When detected, the motor will slow the brush head movements until the pressure is relieved.