To be frank, there’s little difference in the clean from some of Oral-B’s more expensive models – once you move up the price range, you’re mainly paying for the extra features that help you get the best clean that you can. The worst thing you can say about this brush is that it’s noisy, and even then only the Whitening mode is unusually so. Without moving up to the iO range and its more advanced motor system, you’re not going to get much better. Whilst power is far from the most important factor in achieving good cleaning results, I am often asked how many oscillations and pulsations models offer.

This is a result of the brushless magnetic drive system used exclusively in the iO Series. It directs the cleaning energy to the bristle tips along with what is known as micro vibrations. An intentional design choice, it does make for a more enjoyable experience. You need to press the power button 3 times, each and every time you use it, if you want whitening mode. If you know you have a habit of brushing with too much force, the Pro 3 will help you rectify this. Its brush heads are made from petroleum-based plastic, which uses up the planet’s finite resources compared to using plant-based plastics. Applying excessive force when you brush can be damaging to the teeth and gums, but too little pressure can result in less effective cleaning.

Great cleaning, useful features and superb battery life – this is the best affordable electric toothbrush

This feature protects your gums by signalling you if you're brushing too hard. The 360° pressure sensor turns red and automatically slows brush speed. weeks is the claimed usable life of the Lithium-Ion battery sealed inside the brush handle, based on 2 cleans per day each 2 minutes in length. I achieved 19-20 days and have noticed much more consistent battery performance than the iO Series brushes. Don’t worry if you brush too hard. When detected, the motor will slow the brush head movements until the pressure is relieved. Included in the box is a single brush head. Oral-B’s oscillating-rotating brush heads are smaller than the sonic ones from the likes of Sonicare and can feel quite aggressive in comparison. They do make it easy to reach the tightest of spaces, though. It feels solid and is well balanced. It stands upright on a countertop and doesn’t roll when laid on a flat surface.

A positive consequence is the water resistant handle can be rinsed under the tap and easily cleaned off. You don’t get grime building up as it did in the contoured rubber grips. READ NEXT: The best toothpastes to keep your mouth clean Oral B Pro 3 3000 review: How long does the battery last? Scrubbing and using lots of force as you brush will damage the teeth and gums over the long term. Oral-B has for many years built pressure sensors into their toothbrushes and the Pro 3 is no exception. Oral-B brushes are far more noisy than most electric toothbrushes, but the iO Series handles are quieter. Unlike the Smart 5 5000 and older models from Oral-B, the Pro 3 doesn’t have any large rubber panels on the handle to aid with grip. There’s a small section around the power button, but the result is a much cleaner look to the handle.Daily Clean is my preference and the one I recommend most people use. But, the option of Sensitive is great for those who want to enjoy a less intense cleaning action, or for those days your teeth or gums might feel a little more tender. Like many brushes today, I anticipate that in 5 or more years, this could still easily be your daily toothbrush, there isn’t a need for regular replacement. There are no gloss plastics here. Instead, there is a matt finish to the plastic body that somehow feels quite grippy to the touch despite the reduced number of textured surfaces and gripping points compared to models like the Vitality Pro. The PRO 3, on top of the Daily clean and Sensitive modes, comes with a specialized whitening clean mode.

As soon as you power on the iO3, the 2 minute timer and pacer are activated. The pacer momentarily pauses the brushing action every 30 seconds to tell you to move on to the next part of the mouth. After 2 minutes the alert changes slightly to tell you that you have brushed for long enough. If you have a perfectly functional toothbrush already. It’s not enough of a difference to justify the switch alone. The iO heads are still fairly small and round, but they are marginally taller, which might, for a small minority, pose a bit of an issue reaching some spaces in the mouth. The brush isn’t slippy in hand by any means. It feels solid and generally secure. But, some might not be quite so enamoured with the more minimal look. This is a fantastic price given the cleaning performance and dentist recommended features it boasts. It really is a must buy.It removes up to 100% more plaque than a standard manual toothbrush for healthier gums and it starts making your smile whiter as of the first day of brushing by removing surface stains. Not only this, but the toothbrush helps you protect your delicate gums with the 360 ̊gum pressure control technology that reduces brushing speed and alerts you to be gentler if you brush too hard. There are cheaper alternatives from Oral-B and other lesser known brands but these come with compromises. Our dentists don’t have the most extensive list of must have features, but the iO3 does have those that they feel are most beneficial: a pressure sensor, timer and pacer. The pacer encourages even brushing As standard, you get a 2 year warranty but for the sake of a few minutes of registering the brush online, you can gain an additional year for free. No other leading brands are doing this.

I would say they are about 10 percent larger than non-iO heads. What you get in the box with the standard iO3 (for illustration purposes) It’s not as quiet as many other brushes, but far less noisy than non-iO modelsIf you are sensitive and don’t like such a powerful clean, the softer Sensi UltraThin brush head and the lower powered cleaning mode can be beneficial. This is common amongst electric toothbrushes, but it has not been designed to be easily repaired by yourself. Trying to replace parts like the battery will likely break the brush. This makes it more likely to be discarded rather than repaired if broken.