Sonicare vs Oral-B. The two big names in electric toothbrushes. Which should you get? There are more than just budget considerations to look at here. We’ve compared the two most popular models in each of these product lines to see how they shape up. First up, the Philips Sonicare Essence 5300.

Sonicare Essence

This is the most popular model in the Sonicare electric toothbrush range, although not the most featured or expensive one. For those who just want a great, functional electric  toothbrush without the bells and whistles and specialty features that inflate the price of the Essence 5752 model and the Flexcare series, this is a great unit. It comes with all the features you’ve come to expect from a top of the range electric toothbrush, including the 2 minute timer, high speed bristle operation and a wonderfully thorough cleaning action. The deep cleaning offered by this brush really is one of its standout features.

The slender heads used by this product makes moving it around inside your mouth very easy, and they last a good long while (up to 6 months). To help a new user get used to the motion of the brush, the brush gently increases power over the first 12 uses, which is handy as the full vibration takes a little bit of getting used to.

One charge typically lasts around 2 weeks, which makes this a good brush for travelling, but it’s probably safer to take the charger along.

This toothbrush usually clocks in at around the $60 mark, but Amazon sometimes runs a special on it for around $49, making the legendary Philips quality much more affordable.

Let’s look at the Oral-B unit before we reach a verdict.

Sonicare vs Oral-B: The Oral-B Vitality Precision

The big selling point of the Oral-B products is their price.

Usually selling at around $40, they are slightly cheaper as an initial investment than the Sonicare units, although the latter has a reputation of lasting considerably longer. If you’re in a budget squeeze right now though, the Oral-B will obviously attract your attention.

The Oral-B electric toothbrush also offers a 2 minute timer, but unlike the Sonicare it doesn’t shut off, but simply buzzes. So, if you still want to clean up a  few spots, you can happily continue.

The motion of the brush is different from the Sonicare as the entire head rotates, compared to the Sonic technology on the Sonicare where the individual brushes are in motion.

Overall the Oral-B electric toothbrush does a great job of cleaning the teeth, and it is a great investment to make in your dental care.

Sonicare vs Oral-B: Comparison & Verdict

For its price, the Oral-B remains a sound investment. The considerably shorter battery life gives it a major disadvantage though, and therefore we still opt for the Sonicare as the best electric toothbrush, if it is within your budget. The cleaning action feels more thorough than the Oral-B, the longer battery life is great and the build quality is just that few notches better.

If budget is of no concern, the Philips is a great long term investment. If you’re a little strapped, the Oral-B Vitality is decent enough. Aesthetically, if that’s important to you, the Sonicare is also a much classier looking unit.

And that’s a wrap for Sonicare vs Oral-B toothbrushes.

When it comes to choosing the best electric toothbrush, there are no clear cut answers. The only thing we can do is point you to the two most popular and best rated electric toothbrushes, and also give you some tips to help you decide which one will be best for you.

The two best electric toothbrushes, or at least the most popular ones available at the moment are the Oral B Vitality and the Philips Sonicare Essence. It is a fiercely contested battle with each of these brands having their own group of loyal users. You can’t go too far wrong with either of them as they are both excellent brushes, but here are some of the factors you should consider before choosing.

Best Electric Toothbrush – Considerations

Price

Philips has made a name for themselves for producing reliably electronics, and the Sonicare range remains the most durable electric toothbrushes money can buy. However, they are also generally more expensive than Oral-B. Expect the most popular Sonicare model, the Essence 5300, to set you back between $50 and $60, with the Oral-B Vitality costing around $35 – $40.

Brush Heads

The electronics on your toothbrush will last considerably longer than the brush heads, so these need to be replaced. This is a running cost that is part and parcel of an electric toothbrush. Obviously you need to take this cost into account if price is important to you. At the moment, replacement heads for the Oral-B cost around $20 for 3, while those for the Sonicare costs $20 for 2. Again, looking purely at budget concerns, the Oral-B looks like the best electric toothbrush, but we’re not done yet.

Cleaning Action

The whole point of using a toothbrush is to get your teeth clean. In an electric toothbrush, the actual cleaning or moving action of the bristles differs from brand to brand. Oral-B generally uses an oscillating action, while Sonicare uses a patented “dynamic” cleaning action that is claimed to be gentler on the gums than an oscillating action, while also forcing liquid between the teeth for a good deep clean. Personally I prefer the Sonicare action, but once again this will be a matter of taste.

The bottom line is, however, that regardless of cleaning action, your teeth will get a good thorough cleaning that will be an improvement on any manual toothbrush.

How Often Do You Have To Recharge?

When you travel in particular, the amount of time which the brush can hold its charge becomes important. Here the Sonicare is the hands down winner, with one charge lasting up to 2 weeks. The Oral-B Vitality on the other hand only manages about 5 days on one charge.

Summary

So, how do you choose the best electric toothbrush? We still favor the Sonicare Essence, especially if you travel a lot of simple appreciate not having to recharge the unit every few days. Philips also offers legendary durability. I know a few people who have been using the same Sonicare brush for over 5 years now.

If budget is more important to you, the Oral-B Vitality is a good toothbrush. It cleans thoroughly, but the charge runs out a little too quickly and you don’t get the same level of durability.

What Are The Best Electric Toothbrushes For Adults

Looking for a more enjoyable way to brush your teeth? Let’s help you find the best electric toothbrushes in order to help you make an informed purchase.

Electric toothbrushes are not just gimmicks for people who are too lazy to brush their teeth manually. Used correctly, they can clean the teeth and gums more effectively than manual brushing. Even simple little details like a timer that goes off when you’ve brushed enough can contribute to better oral health in the long run.

Studies have shown that the best electric toothbrushes are ones using “rotation oscillation”. Don’t worry, that simply means it first rotates one way, then the other.

Our favorites:

The Oral-B Vitality Dual Clean Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush

Where comfort and effectiveness meets economy, that’s where the Oral-B products comfortably make their home.

Clocking in at around $20, this rechargeable model is perfect for the budget and for your teeth. As with most rechargeable models the handle is quite bulky, but that’s easily ignored when you consider that you don’t have to constantly buy batteries for it.

Unfortunately replacement heads tend to be expensive, at around $25 for 4. This is still cheaper than those of the more expensive Philips Sonicare models, so you are looking at a long term saving as well.

After all is said and done though, this is an excellent electric toothbrush that you’d be well advised to give a try.

Click Here for the Oral-B Vitality Dual Clean Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush

Philips Sonicare Essence 5300 Power Toothbrush

You don’t maintain a 4.5 out of 5 star rating across 400+ user reviews at Amazon.com without being something special. This is what the Philips Sonicare Essence 5300 has achieved, establishing it firmly as one of the best electric toothbrushes money can buy.

Yes, it is expensive unfortunately, clocking in at around the $60 mark. Head replacements clocks in at around $25 for a pack of two.

Ultimately your decision between these two brushes will boil down to budget and personal preference. There isn’t much to separate them in terms of effectiveness.

Learn More About the Philips Sonicare Essence 5300 Power Toothbrush