The Sonicare HX6817, also known as the ProtectiveClean 4100, is probably the best Sonicare electric toothbrush on the market. This model absolutely packs the features in. Sure, there are a couple of shortcomings with the toothbrush, but nothing that outweighs the plethora of benefits that the Sonicare HX6817 brings to the table.
The Battery
At the heart of any quality rechargeable toothbrush is the battery. Get the wrong battery inside an electric toothbrush and you are opening up a can of worms. Poor quality batteries lead to long charging times. They can deal with less usage before needing to be charged again. They also tend to die a whole lot sooner. Not an issue with this Sonicare electric toothbrush.
This toothbrush contains a Lithium-Ion battery. On a single charge you should be able to get 14-days of use out of it. That is 28 brushes. However, since this is a Lithium-Ion battery, you do not have to wait until it is fully drained before you can charge it. Since Lithium-Ion batteries do not have the ‘memory effect’ which is the downfall of most batteries on the market, you can put it on charge whenever you want. It isn’t really ideal, but it can be done. In either case, Lithium-Ion batteries will last a whole lot longer than batteries found in a lesser rechargeable toothbrush.
Best Sonicare Toothbrush Technology
People pick up a Sonicare electric toothbrush because they want to benefit from Sonicare technology. It is this technology which seems to give the best possible clean out of competing products on the market.
When you use the HX6817, the toothbrush will swish a small amount of water around your teeth. This produces a better clean, as the water moving around will have a sort-of ‘flossing’ effect on you. It will get down there in your gums and between your teeth. Areas that a brush may struggle to reach. This provides a deeper and far-better clean.
Tons of Brush Heads Available
Yes. You will only have one brush head available in the box, but it is easy to get your hands on various other products in the Sonicare range. Every single brush head released by Phillips for this range will fit in your shiny HX6817. These brushes will do so much more than just give your teeth a quick scrub too. This includes brushes for dealing with major plaque and gum issues. There are also some options for whitening teeth.
Each brush head you buy comes complete with ‘BrushSync’ technology. This means that the brushes have a microchip in them. When you plug the brush in, the Sonicare HX6817 will recognise the brush. Throughout use, the toothbrush will be sending a signal of how long it has been used for, as well as how much pressure you’re using. There will be a handy indicator on the side of your electric toothbrush which will tell you whether your brush needs replacing or not. This is all based upon how you use your brush. It is personal to you.
Do bear in mind that because of the BrushSync technology, the cost of a brush for your Sonicare electric toothbrush will probably be a little bit higher than other products out there. However, they also seem to last longer than other brush heads. Unless you are brushing really hard, we doubt you will get through more than 4 of the heads in a year.
Makes Brushing Easy
The HX6817 has been designed to make brushing as easy as possible. There is an in-built pressure sensor which ensures that you will not ‘over brush’ and damage your teeth and gums. Included as well, is a handy little pacer built in. This pacer will beep every 30-seconds. This way you will know when you are done cleaning a quarter of your mouth. All of this contributes to a better and far more effective clean.
Perfect for Orthodontics
If you have used other electric toothbrushes before, you will know that not all of them are safe for dental work. Sometimes they will put a little bit of extra pressure on the teeth. Sometimes the brush heads are not designed all that well. They don’t feel good to use at all. They just cause pain. Thankfully, this isn’t an issue with the Sonicare HX6817. While it is not an electric toothbrush which has been specifically designed for those who have orthodontics in their mouth, it still works. The Sonicare HX6817 is extremely gentle on the teeth, all down to that awesome Sonicare technology that comes packed into every unit.
As a note; if you do want to ensure that this electric toothbrush will give you the best possible clean if you are wearing orthodontics, we suggest that you pick up a couple of extra brush heads. There are specific orthodontic ones which will make the cleaning process so much easier for you.
Best Sonicare Toothbrush Downsides
The only ‘major’ issue with the Sonicare HX6817 is that the vibrations of the toothbrush can take a while to get used to. For some reason, this Sonicare electric toothbrush feels like it vibrates a little bit more than it’s competitors. If you think it might be an issue for your child, checkout this kids electric toothbrush. For a quality clean like this though, we are willing to put up with a little bit of vibration.
That being said, you probably won’t even notice the vibration. The Sonicare HX6817 comes equipped with an ‘easy-start’ mode. This mode is designed to be used for the first few days of owning the electric toothbrush. Each day, the toothbrush will increase the amount of vibration it makes. This ensures that you have ample opportunity to get used to the idea of using a toothbrush like this.
Is This Really The Best Sonicare Toothbrush?
Absolutely.
The Sonicare HX6817 is definitely one of our best toothbrush picks. Yes. It does vibrate a little bit more than other options. However, it can hold a charge for 14-days. The battery inside will last years. It can be used with multiple well-designed brush heads and feels great in your hands. You will be hard pressed to find a deeper or better clean. This all combines to make this the best Sonicare electric toothbrush on the market.
