Having a smile you feel confident behind can be one of the greatest feelings in the world. Many visit their orthodontist in pursuit of getting a straighter smile. Of course if you’re on this page, you already know that their weapon of choice, is typically braces. In effort to keep your mouth sparkling clean, we’ve answered the very common question of, what the best toothbrush for braces really is.
The bad thing about braces, is that it means there are more places for food to hide. This of course, can lead to bad breath among other dental issues. Let us first introduce to you, our minty-fresh, super-clean oral wizard – even with braces; the Philips Sonicare 4100.
How Sonicare Means Best Toothbrush For Braces
If you’ve spent any time looking at different electric toothbrushes for braces, I’m sure you’ve come across several models by Philips. Philips is one of the leading brands in dental care products. They offer Sonicare technology which sets them apart from the other options that are available.
Sonicare technology creates vibrates within the toothbrush handle that equal about 31,000 brush strokes per minute. That is not a typo. Not only is that more brushing that you would ever be able to do by hand, it creates bubbles. These bubbles, mixed among the water and toothpaste you use, go deeper into the crevices of your mouth and gums, fighting plaque. It can easily reach and push out any debris stuck in and around dental braces.
Sounds great right? But what if that’s TOO much power inside a toothbrush?
Pressure Sensing
Given the details of Sonicare, some are often concerned that it might be too much power, especially if they’ve had sensitive teeth or gums in the past. Sonicare is actually designed to do all of the work for you. What we mean by this, is that if you apply too much pressure from your hand against your mouth, you will hear an audible tone. This prevents you from holding the toothbrush too close to your teeth or gums. It also stops from brushing too intensely, which can happen on occasion with other toothbrush models. We’ve read through the reviews on Amazon and tested it ourselves. The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean not only works great on folks with braces, but for those with sensitive mouths too.
Battery Life
How many times have you been in the middle of doing something and you had to stop because you needed more power? Cordless toothbrushes are no different. This particular model has one of the best battery lives we’ve found. It can hold a charge, combined with daily use, for over 14 days.
So, Is This Model Really The Best Toothbrush For Braces?
We never want to mislead. There are definitely higher-end models within the Protective Clean product line. They even have “elite” Diamond Clean product line. We’ve found that for the majority of people however, these extras aren’t really used. Nobody wants to spend extra money on features they will never use, right?
The main features that are not included with the Protective Clean 4100, that some of the higher-end models include:
- Multiple brushing modes
- Additional brushing tips
- Mobile app
- Travel case
If these additional bells and whistles aren’t that appealing to you, why spend in some cases, 2-3 times the price?
Alternative Options
Sometimes finding the best toothbrush for braces might not be the best option after all. Maybe you’ve heard of a Waterpik? Electric water flossers are another very common tool to keep your oral hygiene at its best while wearing braces. Not only can they get in those harder to reach areas around braces, but you can keep your gums cleaner too.
The Waterpik WP660 is a great option that sits nice on a countertop and is suited for the whole family. Need something that’s portable, perhaps for traveling or a college dorm? The Waterpik WP560 is yet another great option.
Decisions, Decisions…
From everything we’ve shared with you so far, hopefully it’s clear. The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100 really is the best toothbrush for braces, for most people. Philips as a brand has been around for many, many years. They offer a 2-year warranty on all of their products. You can also find support both online or from their dedicated customer service line.
