Philips Sonicare has a wide selection of toothbrushes that fit everyone’s budget, and the 4100 is a good example of what you can get if you’re looking for an entry level model. The manufacturer claims that it is capable of removing up to 7x more plaque than a manual toothbrush thanks to its use of sonic technology, which allows it to register up to 62,000 movements per minute. The electric toothbrush also boasts of a battery life that lasts up to 14 days, and a battery indicator that starts beeping when the charge is running low. Right above it is another indicator that lets you know whenever it’s time to get a new replacement brush head. All these smart features mean the Sonicare toothbrush is a serious contender when it comes to oral health, but does it measure up to be the best electric toothbrush for you?
Why We Like It – Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100
As far as electric toothbrushes go, the Philips Sonicare 4100 stands out since it tries to keep things easy and straightforward. It comes with just 1 cleaning mode, plus a couple of smart features like BrushSync technology to remind you to get a new brush head, and a pressure sensor so that you don’t brush too hard.
- BrushSync Technology
- Built-in timer
- Pressure sensor
- 1 cleaning mode
- No extra brush heads included
Performance
This rechargeable electric toothbrush is really one of the easiest to use. It has a single cleaning mode just like our Philips Sonicare Essence Toothbrush, though the smart brush does come with a couple of additional features to help you keep your teeth clean. There’s an in-built timer that helps you stick to two minutes as your brushing time, and a Quadpacer that momentarily pauses the Sonicare brush after every 30 seconds for you to switch to a different quadrant of your teeth. The Sonicare ProtectiveClean brush also utilizes BrushSync technology to let you know when it’s time to switch brush heads which is critical especially when you have sensitive gums. Take a look at our Philips Sonicare Essence Toothbrush review for a toothbrush that comes with additional features.
Design
This Sonicare Protective Clean toothbrush definitely looks quite similar to the Oral-B 7000 SmartSeries Toothbrush, but don’t be quick to confuse the two – the latter has 2 buttons on its handle. It’s power button also isn’t hard to spot since it’s the only button it has. In terms of color, we prefer getting the toothbrush black but it can also come in pink or white. Out of the box, the brush doesn’t come with any extra replacement brush heads, neither does it have a travel case included. This causes it to drop a little on our list of the best electric toothbrush, but we assume they’ve not been included to keep the price low. Check out the Pro-Sys Variosonic Electric Toothbrush review for a toothbrush with the best battery life.
Value
Unlike the Fairywill Electric Toothbrush, you don’t get to choose from different brushing modes with the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean brush, so if you have sensitive teeth or bad gum health, what you’ll have to do is look for the ‘Sensitive’ brush head. The same also applies whenever you feel like the brush head you’re currently using isn’t up to task, as there are up to 7 different types of heads to choose from. They include Optimum Plaque removal (for complete plaque control), Optimal Gum Care, Diamond Clean and Premium White – more than enough to step in for the lack of different cleaning modes.
Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100 Wrap Up
We think the title of the best electric toothbrush would have gone to this Philips 4100 if it would have at least included a gum care brush head in its package, but even without, it still stands pretty tall among the wide range of Sonicare brushes that Philips offers. All you have to do before you use it is make sure your teeth or gums don’t need any medical attention, and you’ll be perfectly fine.
