ProtectiveClean brushes have fewer cleaning modes than the DiamondClean (between one and three), though most have several intensity options so you should still be able to find one that suits you. Philips Sonicare DailyClean series Brushing for the right duration is one thing, but another is to give all your teeth fairly equal attention. Failing to do so can lead to problems. You need to brush the inner, outer and biting surfaces of the teeth. weeks of use is now common for an electric brush. Whilst Philips doesn’t advertise such usage times, premium models achieve this. It has five brushing modes (clean, white, sensitive, gum care and deep clean), but is only supplied with a single brush head. Too much pressure can cause wear on the teeth and gums and in the long term result in irreversible damage. The 3100’s built-in pressure sensor can help you if you know you brush too hard.

Keeping things simple is the 2 minute timer that turns the brush off automatically when the dentist recommended 2 minutes of brushing time has passed. If you turn the brush off yourself, you haven’t brushed for long enough. Brushing time and technique are more important than any particular toothbrush. It’s therefore worthwhile familiarizing yourself with how a timer and pacer work to get maximum benefit. The pressure sensor helps to stop you from brushing too hard

Yesterday’s battery technology, but good physical design and excellent cleaning save the day

If you haven’t used an electric toothbrush before, the 3100 will still feel intense. But, existing electric brush users may notice the difference. The clean isn’t quite as invigorating. There are several ProtectiveClean brushes, but all have similar specifications. Unlike the DiamondClean, toothbrushes in the ProtectiveClean range have a pressure sensor, and will warn you if you're applying too much force when you brush. This is great for anyone who tends to be a bit heavy-handed, and has been warned that they're at risk of damaging their enamel. Although rounded, the handle isn’t a perfect cylinder and there is a slightly squared design to the handle which works well.

Too often products are more complicated than they need to be. Thankfully the 3100 Series isn’t. You can switch between 2 brushing intensitiesLow is a welcome option and ideal for when your teeth and gums feel a bit tender or inflamed. It’s good for helping first-time electric toothbrush owners get used to their new brush. USB connectivity allows us to take advantage of powering it from more sources such as a computer or portable battery bank. It arguably makes it more travel friendly too It stands upright on a countertop and strategically placed nodules on the rear of the handle help prevent it rolling when laid flat.

Where you get a sizable visible light on many Oral-B brushes, you don’t on the 3100. Technically the BrushSync replacement reminder LED also flashes amber. Given its position and size, it is not the easiest to see.The DailyClean line is the most affordable range of Sonicare toothbrushes. Whether you choose the DailyClean 1100, 2100, or 3100, you'll get a single brushing mode and a timer to help you spend 30 seconds brushing each quadrant of your month. This difference isn’t a reason to avoid the 3100, but something to be aware of. It still does a perfectly good job of cleaning your teeth. The Sonicare DiamondClean 9000, 9300, 9500 and 9750 are Philips's top-end electric toothbrushes with Bluetooth connectivity so you can link the handle to the Philips app on your phone. That might sound like overkill, but it's actually a very handy feature if you want to improve your brushing technique, giving you guidance to help you clean your mouth more thoroughly.

There is no whitening or gum care mode. Despite the common misconception that additional modes bring extra benefits, they rarely do. Minimal and clean design looks good and makes the brush easy to clean The 2 minute timer and pacer encourage even brushing of your teeth The motor has been tuned differently and doesn’t have the 62,000 movements of some of Sonicare’s more expensive brushes. In the hand, the brush feels solid and well built. There are certainly no creaking or groaning sounds from the plastic. There are no gaps or build issues that I’ve seen. With the 3100 you don’t have to remember or diarise when to replace the head. It can alert you providing you are using a Sonicare head with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip built into the base.A new style of charging stand is included. Compared to previous stands with a 2 pin power adapter, this has a USB type A male connector. The cable is hardwired into it and measures 43 inches (110cm) long. The footprint of the stand is smaller too with a more rounded shape.