Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6500 electric toothbrush

Electric Toothbrushes With Pressure Sensors

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Before you buy an electric toothbrush, ask yourself if you would prefer a model equipped with a pressure sensor. The reason for this is explained below.

But first, let’s look at which electric toothbrushes have a pressure sensor.

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Sonicare Electric Toothbrushes With a Pressure Sensor

Many Sonicare electric toothbrushes come fitted with a pressure sensor.

The best Sonicare electric toothbrush for several years running is the Philips Sonicare 4100 model… and it comes with a pressure sensor.

Philips Sonicare 4100


Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100 electric toothbrush review
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Here is a list of other Sonicare toothbrushes with a pressure sensor. (You can read a full electric toothbrush review by clicking on the link.)

Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100

Brushing with excessive force causes a small LED on the handle to light up, and the handle vibrates as well.

Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100

An LED on the brush handle lights up to indicate excessive pressure. At the same time, the handle vibrates as extra warning.

Philips Sonicare 5300

When you exert too much pressure, a red LED lights up on the brush handle while the handle itself vibrates to warn you to ease up.

Philips Sonicare 6100

This higher-end model also indicates that extra force is being applied when the handle vibrates and an LED indicator light glows red.

Sonicare ExpertClean 7500

In addition to an LED on the handle and the brush handle vibration, this model also notifies you of excessive pressure through a warning message on your Smartphone app that’s linked to your electric toothbrush.

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart

When the pressure sensor is triggered, the handle vibrates and a ring light at the bottom of the handle that glows violet. The app on your paired Smartphone also displays a warning.

Sonicare DiamondClean 9000

This electric toothbrush model also notifies you of extra pressure by a vibrating handle, a glowing LED, and a Smartphone notification.

Sonicare Prestige 9900

In this model also, the handle vibrates and a ring light near the bottom glows purple. The app on your Smartphone, if synched with your toothbrush, will display a notice.

So with any of these Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush models, you will enjoy the protective advantage offered by a pressure sensor.

Pressure Sensors : Comparison of Sonicare and Oral-B

One minor drawback of the pressure sensor feature in Sonicare toothbrushes versus Oral-B is that the display isn’t very visible while you’re brushing.

Notable exceptions are the premium models (Sonicare 9900 and Sonicare DiamondClean Smart) which light up brightly whenever you exert too much pressure on teeth while brushing.

Oral-B electric toothbrush models, on the other hand, indicate excessive pressure through a readily visible colored ring.

If visual cues to pressing too hard matter a lot to you, it may guide your choice towards an Oral-B electric toothbrush rather than a Sonicare.

In fact, Oral-B carries the pressure sensor feature a step further.

As long as you apply the correct amount of pressure, the ring glows GREEN. However, with the ‘smart’ pressure sensor, if you press down too hard, the color changes to red – which readily tells you to ease up, thereby avoiding accidental injury to your teeth and gums.

In almost all of these models, there isn’t any audible warning. So the brush motor continues to buzz in the same way, even when you’re triggering the pressure sensor.

Oral-B Electric Toothbrushes With a Pressure Sensor

Just like with the Sonicare, several models of Oral-B electric toothbrushes also have a pressure sensor.

The best Oral-B electric toothbrush like the Oral-B Smart 1500 model features a pressure sensor.

Oral B Pro 1500

 

Oral-B Pro 1500 electric toothbrush review

Learn more about the Oral B Pro 1500

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With all Oral-B toothbrushes, the indicator light is a ring located just beneath the brush head. This makes it readily visible to a user, which means you’ll react quickly and reduce pressure on teeth, preventing damage.

Oral-B electric toothbrushes with a pressure sensor include the following models. You can read a full electric toothbrush review by clicking on each link.

Worth mentioning is how the Oral-B iO series of toothbrushes (iO 3 to iO 10) all tend to be pretty poor and erratic in implementation of the pressure sensor.

They either are incorrect in warning against high pressure applied on teeth, or use different colored LEDs that cause a fair bit of confusion for new users.

 

Why Does a Pressure Sensor Matter?

A pressure sensor in electric toothbrushes is an internal component that monitors how much force you’re applying while you brush your teeth.

Whenever the sensor detects excessive pressure, the toothbrush responds in various ways depending on the model and its features. This warning is critical to maintain oral health and prevents damage to teeth and gums that can come from brushing too aggressively.

Gentle Brushing Is Important

Effective brushing of teeth should involve gliding the bristles lightly over the tooth surface to remove bacteria, food particles, and plaque.

Pressing too hard does not improve cleaning efficiency. On the other hand, it can lead to potential harm. This is where the pressure sensor comes into play.

A pressure sensor serves as a safeguard against overly forceful brushing.

As dentists point out, “You could actually be harming your gums and possibly teeth by exerting too much pressure.”

Too much pressure and too frequent brushing can abrade tooth enamel, or even injure the root of your teeth, if you suffer from receding gums. This could lead to hypersensitivity every time you eat or drink something too hot or too cold.

Brushing with uniform and moderate pressure helps to avoid long-term oral health issues.

Consequences of Brushing Too Hard

The impact of excessive brushing pressure on your teeth and gums may not be immediately noticeable.

How your body reacts and responds will depend upon factors such as the duration and intensity of the pressure, as well as individual oral conditions and disorders.

However, there’s universal agreement among oral hygienists and dental specialists that brushing too hard can lead to adverse effects on teeth and gums over time.

When you apply excessive pressure, your brush head operates at reduced speed and is less effective at cleaning. It may even cause damage by rubbing against teeth and gums rather instead of just skimming the surface.

Over months or years, this might gradually wear away the enamel, compromising the teeth’s protective layer and leading to dental caries and tooth loss.

Pressure Sensors Help You Brush Better

The specific response of your toothbrush to excessive pressure depends on its brand and model.

Basic models without pressure sensors offer no feedback at all. You are left to safeguard against potential damage caused by hard brushing.

More advanced models (which are often also expensive) include pressure sensors that reduce motor power whenever excessive force is applied. This automatic adjustment minimizes the risk of further harm to the teeth and gums.

Once pressure is relieved, your electric toothbrush will resume normal operation.

Electric Toothbrushes with Pressure Sensors : Advanced Features

Premium model electric toothbrushes not only automatically reduce motor power whenever the pressure sensor is triggered, they also provide visual alerts.

There’s often a warning light that glows red as soon as you apply too much pressure while cleaning your teeth. This visual indication remains active until you decrease the pressure.

The high-end sophisticated models go a step further. They integrate Bluetooth technology and synch your toothbrush with a Smartphone app.

You can use the app to track your brushing habits, and know as soon as you apply excessive pressure. The data and real-time feedback can be used to coach first-time users in better brushing techniques to achieve improved oral health outcomes.

In some cases, a change in the sound of the toothbrush motor serves as an auditory cue that you may be pressing too hard on your teeth. When available, this feature can help you intuitively recognize when it’s time to reduce pressure.

In these ways, electric toothbrushes with pressure sensors help prevent potential damage.

Electric Toothbrushes with Pressure Sensors: Are Audible Alerts Available?

Most electric toothbrush models provide visual (glowing LED light) or tactile (vibrating brush handle) feedback for high pressure brushing.

Only a few offer audible warnings.

These models emit a beep whenever excessive pressure is being applied. Some Oral-B toothbrush models may alter the motor’s pitch to indicate that the pressure sensor is being triggered.

Learn to Brush Gently – With Pressure Sensors

After using an electric toothbrush for a while, most people adapt to the optimal pressure when brushing.

Electric toothbrushes are designed to do all the hard work of cleaning your teeth; all you need to do is guide the brush to the correct positions inside your mouth. In this sense, brushing with an electric toothbrush should be virtually effortless.

For those who initially struggle with applying the right pressure while brushing, electric toothbrushes with pressure sensors can be very useful.

Within a few days or weeks, most users will hit upon the right technique. Pressure sensor feedback helps them adjust their brushing technique suitably. Over time, the pressure sensor therefore becomes redundant as you naturally develop correct brushing technique.

Can An Electric Toothbrush Be Retrofitted with a Pressure Sensor?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to add a pressure sensor to an existing toothbrush.

If your current toothbrush lacks pressure sensing capability, your only option is to upgrade to a different model with a built-in pressure sensor.

Especially for users with sensitive teeth and gums, or those who have prior dental work done, this may be a worthwhile investment as it protects against any injury caused by excessive pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions: Electric Toothbrushes With Pressure Sensors

1. Which Sonicare Electric Toothbrush has a Pressure Sensor?

The following Sonicare toothbrush models come with a pressure sensor:

2. Which Oral-B Electric Toothbrush has a Pressure Sensor?

These are the Oral-B toothbrush models that have a pressure sensor: