Oral-B Pro 700 review

How the Oral-B Pro 700 looks, feels and works

The Pro 700 really grabs my attention, perhaps it is the strong black coloured grip, that contrasts with the white plastic body of the handle. I am a fan of black and this is a classic colour combination.

Unfortunately the 700 does not come in any other colour options, so if you want a little softer colours, you will need to look at the likes of the Pro 500, which is identical to the 700.

The handle weighs in at approx. 130g and is no more than 3cm thick. It feels durable and well built and the design allows for easy retention of the brush even when wet.

This is thanks in part to the strategically placed grips. The most notable being the large grip on the front.

Compare this to the rear of the handle which has raised plastic contours in the brush body. They do a similar job but feel a little harsher to the touch.

Above and below the power button are a number of raised grips which your thumb naturally catches on.

The single power button sits in a slight recess, but itself is pronounced and gives a tactile feedback.​ You know when it has been pressed.

Take a look at the lower third of the brush find the battery power icon, above which is a small amount of branding, which is barely noticeable, embossed into the rubber.

Unlike the slightly more premium Pro 2 2000 the Pro 700 does not have a visible pressure sensor built-in.

A common mistake particularly when using a manual brush is applying too much pressure.

The bristles of the brush should virtually skim the surfaces of the teeth. Some brushes have a pressure sensor built-in. The Pro 700 does, but it is not a visible sensor.

When applying too much pressure the speed of the brush head is automatically adjusted to ensure that minimal damage is done.

You should be able to hear the brush motor sound change if you are applying too much pressure. It will sound like it is staining.

When relieved, the motor will increase the brushing speed again.

This is where the likes of the Pro 2 2000 come into their own. It has this pressure sensor, that will not only slow the motor, but alert you to via a red warning light on the back of the brush handle. It is just a bit more user friendly in my opinion. Red often equals a warning and the red light catches te eye.

On the very bottom of the brush is a recess into which the charging stations prong will sit into to transfer power without a physical connection to the brush and in turn keeps the brush stable on the stand.

The rechargeable battery within this brush is built-in and is not designed to be user removable.

Such a design allows the Pro 700 to be classed as water resistant. So, whilst you don't want it to act like a submarine at the bottom of the sink or bath, a rinse under the tap or in the shower should be fine.

No brush would be complete without a brush head and with the Pro 700 you get a single CrossAction head included.

Subject to the colour option you have chosen that will either be white or black in colour. Either colour option can be purchased seperately.

This small round brush head cleans the teeth really well. The head moved back and forth in a circular motion. The bristles are angled at 16 degrees to help deliver an effective clean.

As you may be aware, the benefit with Braun electric toothbrushes is that you can actually opt for different brush heads to suit your needs. From FlossAction to Gum Care there are a variety of options. You need not be stuck with one.

All of the heads are interchangeable with the Pro 700, just slide one off and push the replacement on.

Each brush head should be replaced after 3 months to ensure you get the most effective clean.

The blue bristles on the head will fade to a pale blue/white colour acting as a visual indicator to you that it is time to replace the head.

More details on all the brush heads available can be found in our comprehensive brush head guide for Oral-B.

When you power on the brush with a single press on the power button, you launch straight into the only cleaning option on the brush, the daily clean mode.

This lasts for two minutes in total, the dentist recommended brushing time.

Another area in which the Pro 2 2000 is potentially a bit better is with the cleaning action.

Both offer a 3D motion from the small round brush head. However, the brush motor in the 2000 is a bit more powerful.

Now in truth, the differences are not massive and it is not a case that the Pro 2 will clean the teeth radically better. However, if you were ever to use the two side by side you would likely notice the difference.

Those extra few movements can potentially give that extra boost to the cleaning performance. It does come at a cost, but given that you are generally investing in the brush to last a good few years, the premium could well be worth it.

Built into the Pro 700 and connected to the press of the button is the timer.

At 30 second intervals, the brush head will pause twice briefly causing a change in brushing sensation and the noise the brush produces. This is the quadpacer or 30 second timer kicking in.

It is a notification for you to change from one quadrant to another.

The idea is that to ensure you clean your teeth effectively you spend 30 seconds cleaning the 3 surfaces of each tooth in each section of the mouth.

The 4 sections or quadrants are the upper right, upper left, lower right and lower left.

Follow the pacer and you will get an even clean. At the end of the 2 minute cycle, the head will again change its oscillation to give 3 brief pauses to confirm the cycle has ended.

The brush does not automatically power off, you will need to press the button to turn it off.

The built-in timer in this brush is, in my opinion, a highly underrated feature. It is all too easy to think we have been brushing for longer than we have, as many of us get bored when completing a mundane task like cleaning the teeth. This built-in timer makes it simple. There is no excuse not to achieve the full 2 minutes.

A good oral hygiene routine will include at least 2 of these cleans each day.​

Whilst you have the charging stand, included in the box, this edition of the Pro 700 also comes with a travel case.

A fiarly basic but functional case it holds the handle and up to 2 brush ehads.

It protects both from damage when in a bag and also stops the brush handle from being activated by mistake.

This is a great accessory if you travel frequently be that for a few days or longer time periods.

Just do be aware that the 7 days of battery life is a bit of a limitation for more regular travellers, so you might want to be aware of this and the impact it might have.

Whilst I have no reason to believe the Pro 700 is unreliable, as standard, a 24 month warranty is provided with the Pro 700, giving you a bit of peace of mind, should anything go wrong.