With 3 cleaning modes only the Oral-B Vitality 100 offers that in this comparison. The Oral-B Pro 1 has only one cleaning mode. Some brushes (notably Sonicare) have a pacer set to 20 second intervals. This results in 6 sections of the mouth. They are as follows: The handle houses all the electronics. They are sealed inside. It has a pretty nice design overall. We are all for innovation if done well. On paper the Waterpik Sonic-Fusion reads like a great idea. It is a combination of water flosser and sonic toothbrush. 2 in 1 products can take up less countertop space, whilst delivering multiple benefits. In reality, it is expensive and impractical. You don’t get the choice of different tips like you do with a normal water flosser. Water is fed through the brush head, making angling and positioning more difficult. The battery life of the toothbrush itself is poor. And the noise it makes is quite irritating. It is a shame as Waterpik’s Complete Care range is pretty good. It’s also proof that a separate water flosser and toothbrush is the answer. This shortcoming is somewhat made up for by how incredibly grippy the handle is. It is suitable for children, adults and seniors.

I believe it is in part to offer different products at different price points so you and I as consumers have a choice.

The act of regular brushing, with the correct technique, is more important than what you pay. Additional cleaning modes All the modes last for 2 minutes, during which time the 30 second pacer is active to encourage you to brush all the teeth in the mouth evenly.

It’s recommended that you replace your brush head every 3 months. If you follow that advice you’ll need 4 brush heads a year. Far from obvious but built into the handle too is an internal pressure sensor. This slows the brush head movements when excess force is detected. The idea being it limits the damage. It does this until the pressure is relieved. Unfortunately, it is impossible to tell if it has been activated as the sound change is minimal and there are no visuals to alert you. Holes in the white plastic body of the case allow the handle and heads inside to remain ventilated and help dry out any moisture. The blue bristles within the head will fade over time to a pale blue/translucent colour. This is a cue for you to change.

Where are the differences?

Unlike some toothbrushes, Oral-B does not automatically turn itself off after the 2 minute cleaning cycle is complete. You will need to do this. In-built timer– Helps you brush for 2 minutes, and notifies you every 30 seconds to change the area you are brushing. So, as you can probably now see from this explanation, there really is barely any difference between each model. So whilst it is a useful feature, the fact that it is hard to spot or realise it is even activated is a negative. The Pro 3 3500 has the visible sensor, which is much easier to detect. The more premium brushes offer additional cleaning modes which are suitable if you have more advanced oral healthcare needs or are looking for a particular programme such as whitening.