Burst Oral Care vs Sonicare & Oral-B

Electric Teeth verdict

If you like the idea of new brush heads being delivered to your door, right when you need them, then the Burst toothbrush is the one to go for.

The Oral-B and Philips brushes are the 'better' options all things considered in our opinion, delivering great features and value for money.

You can check out our best electric toothbrush recommendations here.

For an even closer look at Burst, see our Burst Toothbrush Review.

Burst vs Sonicare & Oral-B: the short answers

I know you might be short of time and want simple answers to help make your purchasing decision.

I have therefore answered 12 commonly asked questions below, to give you a quick reference point as to which brand might be for you.

• Which has the best brushing technology? Oral-B
• Which has the best design? Sonicare
• Which offers the most features? Sonicare
• Which is quietest? Sonicare
• Which has the most accessories? Oral-B
• Which has the best battery life? Burst
• Which is the most innovative? Sonicare
• Which is the best quality? Sonicare
• Which is the cheapest? Oral-B
• Which is best for families? Oral-B
• Which is best for travelers? Sonicare
• Which has the best warranty? Burst

Please note: At the time of writing, Burst offer just one model of toothbrush, whilst Sonicare and Oral-B have many different models. This article is not a comprehensive model by model comparison, but instead a higher level overview as to how newer brand Burst competes with the well known Sonicare and Oral-B, in an effort to aid you in your decision-making process.

Every effort is made to be impartial, but the questions answered inevitably lead to some personal opinion being considered. The answers are subjective and really don’t tell the whole story. It would be worthwhile to read the remainder of the article to really decide which is best for you.

Burst vs Sonicare & Oral-B: which is best?

Oral-B is the best.

Ok, so this is probably not the answer you were expecting, particularly if you were to count the number of times I listed Sonicare as the answer to the questions above.

You might also be thinking Burst is somewhat useless only being selected for 2 of the 12 answers.

The reality of the situation is that the answers as not quite as black and white as it first appears.

The answers to the questions above are don’t necessarily tell the whole story and much depends on your personal circumstances and opinion.

Burst, Oral-B or Sonicare, they all make a pretty decent toothbrush, that for the vast majority will do an excellent job of maintaining, if not improving your oral health.

Having created back in 2015, over the last few years I have learned what the public, from all different backgrounds and with all manner of circumstances are looking for.

Of course not all, but most people want a toothbrush that cleans well, looks good, is simple to use and doesn’t cost too much.

Based on this Oral-B is the overall winner, as more often than not their brushes and offerings tick the boxes for the majority.

Subscription vs outright purchase - the big differentiator

Burst, like Quip, is centered around a subscription-based model.

Unlike Oral-B and Sonicare toothbrushes that you buy outright and then buy replacement brush heads as and when you need, the subscription model is different.

You still pay an initial one-off fee to acquire the brush handle, but unless you explicitly opt out, you sign up to make regular payments for replacement brush heads.

These brush heads are then dispatched to you are predetermined intervals, usually every 3 months.

The concept is that you set it and forget it. You can then rely on regular deliveries of new brush heads just when you need it.

Oral-B and Sonicare rely on the more traditional model of you going out and getting the brush head as and when you need it. You need to take action. Let’s face it, we can all forget to replace the brush head and it will get pushed down our list of things to do.

The value of such a service that Burst offers is really quite hard to justify and is certainly personal.

Both have their pros and cons and one may appeal to you more than another.

In this guide, I present as much information as possible for you to become better informed on which brand is more suited to you and why.

Burst vs Sonicare & Oral-B: which brushes in each range are equivalent?

Sonicare and Oral-B each offer many different electric toothbrushes.

Their ranges are quite confusing at first glance.

It is because of this confusion, that Electric Teeth came about in the first place.

Thankfully Burst makes things a little simpler.

At the time of writing, they have just one model.

The model is available in different colors, but technically there is no difference.

Due to the vast array of choice, it would make for a very difficult article to compare Burst with all of Oral-B and Sonicare’s range.

Therefore, the majority of this article gives a higher level overview of the main differences and makes a few generalizations.

If you would like to know the differences between Burst and any other specific model from Sonicare or Oral-B, I can happily help, if you leave a comment at the end of this article or you contact us.

To try and add a little focus, it is worth noting that in my opinion, the most closely aligned models are the Oral-B Pro 3000 and the Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100.

This article will make reference to these models throughout.

Burst vs Sonicare & Oral-B: the long answers

Whilst I gave my answer to each of the questions presented earlier, the reality is that for some of those questions it is not quite as simple as selecting just one brand that is better.

Personal opinion, experience, need and wants all come into play, making giving a precise answer more difficult.

Why do some people drive a Dodge and others a Ford? Why do some people go for designer label clothes over unbranded products?

The reality is there are different driving factors for us all in the decisions we make from quality to budget, to need and wants.

I wish now to explain each answer with detailed reason so that YOU can make YOUR OWN conclusions with some facts and data to support.

Which has the best brushing technology?

In my short answers, I said Oral-B.

Oral-B uses a different type of cleaning action to Sonicare and Burst.

Without going into lots of detail, the fundamental difference is the way the brush head moves.

Burst and Sonicare have a sonic cleaning action which has the bristles of the brush head sweep side to side at a very rapid pace.

Oral-B, on the other hand, has the bristles of the brush head move at a very rapid pace, but the head is round so the bristles move in more of a circular motion, in what is called an oscillating-rotating cleaning action.

In addition, there is a third dimension to the cleaning action which adds pulsations to aid with the clean.

Sonicare and Burst have larger brush heads, which are more rectangular/oval in shape compared to the small round heads of Oral-B.

My own preference having used all three brands is Oral-B.

After every clean, my teeth just feel cleaner. Some argue the clean is more aggressive than Sonicare and Burst and to be fair they are not wrong.

The sonic cleaning action is more gentle and more pleasant for most, but some can find it gives an unbearable tickling sensation.

There is an argument that the clinical testing is the best judge of which is best and if we rely on that, Oral-B takes the crown as the clinical evidence supports the case their cleaning action is best.

In fairness to Burst, although they have sponsored their own studies, that prove the plaque removal and gum health benefits, I do not believe any studies have as yet taken place, comparing their cleaning results to Sonicare and Oral-B.

Sadly for Burst, they also do not have yet the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of acceptance for this brush, as Sonicare and Oral-B do for many of theirs. (I think this might be a cost related issue to the approval process rather than it not technically being capable of achieving the seal).

I will be the first to tell you that more important than the brush itself is the act of brushing. Most dentists would agree.

What I am saying is whether you use Burst, Oral-B or a cheap manual brush, any brushing is better than none at all.

The electric toothbrush brings many benefits however, the biggest being the efficacy with which it cleans.

So, if you are going to take advantage of the improved cleaning power, you might as well use the brush best able to remove that plaque and bacteria right?!

It is at this point, I think it is worth mentioning a few other factors.

The Burst toothbrush offers 3 cleaning modes. These are whitening, sensitive and massage.

Whitening is the most powerful mode at 33,000 brush strokes per minute, 2,000 more than Sonicare brushes.

The Pro 3000 from Oral-B and the 5100 ProtectiveClean from Philips offer similar modes.

However, cleaning modes are often overrated and on the scale of needs are really low.

To put it into context, the sensitive mode on Burst, it is just 2,000 movements less than the most powerful whitening mode. There is a difference, but it is barely noticeable.

Thus, the cleaning modes should not be a deciding factor, a brush with just one mode is fine.

Going against Burst is their toothbrush bristles.

The bristles here are made from polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) rather than the more common nylon found on Oral-B and Sonicare heads.

Cheaper and more durable than nylon, they are not as soft or flexible and in brushing the teeth.

When brushing I experienced a stabbing sensation at the gumline from the bristles which are cut at varying heights.

In addition, the bristles are infused with charcoal, which is, in my opinion, a bit of a ‘fad’ at the moment within the oral healthcare industry.

Activated charcoal has chemical properties that may help people whiten their teeth and this is used as a sales pitch by many. The reality is there is little if any benefit.

So, ultimately all can clean the teeth well, but Oral-B stands out, followed by Sonicare and Burst.

Which has the best design?

In my short answers, I said Sonicare.

Design and style are personal. What I like might not be to your taste.

Whilst each brush ultimately looks very similar to what you might expect of a toothbrush, they are all individual in their own way.

Burst has a subtle elegance to their handle as it is accented with this diamond-esq pattern that adds a grippy texture and unique look.

At this price point, Oral-B brushes tend to have a little more gloss white plastics than Burst and Sonicare, which actually tends to make Oral-B brushes look cheaper and less appealing.

Sonicare takes the design crown ultimately because of the way they make each brush unique but also make it look and feel more premium.

The handles are normally plastic construction, but the matt paint finish not only looks good but adds a slight texture to the handle that stops it feeling slippery in hand.

It is hard to describe, but the handles tend to have a minimal yet elegant and functional design.

This design theme demonstrates itself best when you take a look at the charging glass and travel case that comes with the DiamondClean series. Burst and Oral-B are in my opinion way behind here.

All three brands offer select brushes in different color options.

Burst is available in black, white and rose gold.

Oral-B’s Pro 3000 is generally only ever available in white, whilst the ProtectiveClean 5100 comes in 2 color options, white and mint and black gray.

Which offers the most features?

In my short answers, I said Sonicare.

This is, of course, a bit of a sweeping generalization as it ultimately depends on what Sonicare model you are comparing to Burst, but if you compare it to the ProtectiveClean 5100 I suggest then this answer remains true.

In fact, both Oral-B and Sonicare offer way more than Burst.

This sounds like a negative and it can be if you particularly need or want features, but in reality, for most people, the less features the better.

The Pro 3000 from Oral-B has Bluetooth, which some might think is better than what is on offer from Sonicare, but I actually think in this instance, the tech in the 5100 is more useful to more people and doesn’t require as much user buy-in.

Features such as pressure sensors, multiple cleaning modes, and Bluetooth connectivity can all add to the experience and can improve your general dental health if used correctly.

However as statistics show, many Americans are struggling with oral health basics, so these added features don’t necessarily help and may even over-complicate the situation.

All three brands offer as standard a 2 minute timer and quadpacer, which are extremely important in the journey to establishing a good basic standard of oral health.

Oral-B and Sonicare do too have a pressure sensor built in. When activated, this slows the speed of bristle movement, until the pressure is reduced, to avoid doing damage to the teeth and gums.

Documentation supplied with Burst intimates the brush has such, but I couldn't detect it during use.

The Pro 3000 also has a very obvious red LED that shines when the sensor is activated, catching the eye for an extra obvious alert.

A particularly innovative feature found on only Sonicare, and not Burst or Oral-B is the brush head tracking technology they have, better known as BrushSync. I explain this more in the innovation section.

Which is quietest?

In my short answers, I said Sonicare.

It is definitely a close call between Sonicare and Burst. Because they use the same cleaning action and offer a similar number of brush movements, they are very closely matched.

Almost silent in operation, you get an audible humming sound from the handle.

Oral-B, on the other hand, is much louder, it is a bit lick a noisy jackhammer in comparison.

OK, I might be exaggerating a little, but Oral-B brushes produce a much louder, more mechanical sound that means if you are brushing your teeth in an adjoining bathroom whilst your partner sleeps, you will want to close the door to avoid waking them.

Which has the most accessories?

In my short answers, I said Oral-B.

As you might expect, this does vary depending on which model you opt for.

As a rough rule of thumb, the more premium the brush, the more accessories you get.

The ProtectiveClean 5100 comes with a travel case included, the Burst brush does not.

The Pro 3000 does not come with a travel case either, but does have Bluetooth connectivity, a feature neither Burst or Sonicare offer at this price point.

All three brands naturally offer spare/replacement brush heads.

Burst does offer a travel case, color matched to the brush handle, but this must be purchased seperately.

They do too offer ‘Burst Bands’ to help distinguish between users brush heads, more on this in the family section.

Travel cases are the accessory that most people desire that does not always come in the box.

Charging stands and cables always come supplied.

Oral-B, compared to Sonicare and Burst offer the widest range of accessories including storage compartments/trays for spare/replacement brush heads, smartphone holders and wireless timers.

In many instances these accessories are not needed to be able to complete the core function of the brush, cleaning your teeth.

Which has the best battery life?

In my short answers, I said Burst.

This is a closely fought race between Burst and Sonicare.

If you actually compare the manufacturer claimed battery life, Burst wins. They advertise 4 weeks, whilst Sonicare suggests on average 2-3 weeks.

In reality, I have found that the ProtectiveClean range has lasted up to 5 weeks, matching that of Burst.

It can depend on the exact model and the cleaning mode selected, but both excel in comparison to Oral-B models which max out at about 16 days.

The Pro 3000 mentioned is actually even worse at just 7 days...

Oral-B is certainly falling behind here and this is because of the battery technology.

Burst and Sonicare are invested in Lithium-Ion batteries.

Oral-B has begun using these on newer models, but the current Pro 3000 uses the older Nickel Metal Hydride option.

Whilst all brushes come with a charging stand to replenish the built-in rechargeable batteries, Burst pips the market leaders to the post here too with the fact it has a USB charger.

Whilst each charging stand is proprietary in its design and fit to the brush handle, Oral-B and Sonicare have regular 2 pin power adapters.

A USB to 2 pin power adapter is included in the box with Burst, but you can charge it from a computer or battery bank, something you can’t currently do with the equivalent Sonicare and Oral-B models.

All 3 brands do provide some sort of battery charge feedback via LED indicators on the brush handle.

Which is the most innovative?

In my short answers, I said Sonicare.

I think Sonicare take the crown, with Oral-B very close behind.

Burst is perhaps the least innovative, which isn’t actually as bad as it might sound.

Burst have opted for the subscription model, which in itself is more innovative than the more traditional sales model of Oral-B and Sonicare, but they have not really added features or touches to the brush that stand out as particularly innovative.

However, one must remember, at the core, a toothbrush has to brush the teeth and innovations are all well and good, but until they really help with that job then is there a place for them?

Oral-B were the first brands to really push Bluetooth connectivity and pairing to a smartphone, something Sonicare now does, but I actually think Sonicare have perfected their app and technology implementation a little better.

Oral-B actually has a cleaning technology that outperforms Sonicare and Burst, so is this the best example of innovation?

Burst does make use of a USB charging stand that Sonicare and Oral-B do not. A more ubiquitous standard worldwide this is arguably an innovation.

Sonicare ultimately has the edge, for one reason in this instance.

BrushSync. Explained in detail here, there are two parts, but the most useful is the brush head replacement reminder system.

Via an RFID chip in the head and technology in the handle, it tracks how long the brush head has been used for and illuminates an LED on the brush handle when it is time to replace the head.

The general advice from dental professionals and dental bodies is to replace the brush head every 3 months.

Sonicare and Oral-B have fading bristles that act as visual reminders, but I have yet to see an approach better than the LED on the brush handle that reminds you to do this, based on the specific use of your brush head.

To be fair to Burst, their subscription plan will have a new head arrive at your door every 3 months, which is a pretty strong reminder to switch.

Which is the best quality?

In my short answers, I said Sonicare.

Now, to be honest, quality is subjective.

How do you judge quality?

All three brushes in my testing have proven capable and reliable.

Whilst materials do differ none have felt really cheap, weak or given me a reason to question build and reliability.

The textured handle of the Burst brush actually makes it feel more premium than it perhaps is.

Close inspection will highlight how parts are made to a budget and the previously mentioned ‘cheap’ alternatives to nylon bristles are a bit of a concern.

However, if I had to pick a brand for their quality it is Sonicare. You really only appreciate this when you see, feel, and use the toothbrush, but there is a certain something about their products that feel better.

Oral-B and Sonicare tend to come with a 2-year warranty, where Burst offers a lifetime warranty whilst you are subscribed, so is this quality better because of that support?

Which is the cheapest?

In my short answers, I said Oral-B.

Prices and offers are forever changing, as could the particular brush models you compare, so this is yet again a tricky question to answer.

But, taking into account the closest brushes from each manufacturer, the pricing stacks up as follows.

Whilst prices are always subject to change, at the time of writing it works out as follows:

• Burst
  • $70 for a plastic handle + $6 every 3 months for a replacement head - $136 over 3 years
• Oral-B
  • $65 for the Pro 3000 + $5 every 3 months for a replacement head - $120 over 3 years
• Sonicare
  • $80 for the ProtectiveClean 5100 + $8 every 3 months for a replacement head - $168 over 3 years

So at typical selling prices, Oral-B is cheapest.

All told, whilst the price premium for Sonicare is noticeable, the difference between Burst and Oral-B is negligible.

Of course, there is some added value in the doorstep deliveries of Burst brush heads.

However, bear in mind the quality and cleaning performance. What is worth more to you?

Which is best for families?

In my short answers, I said Oral-B.

I stand by this because Oral-B amongst all others has a very clever little feature that really appeals to families.

Each brush head comes with a colored ring fitted to it.

This ring is the identifier between heads.

User 1 might have a blue colored ring, user 2 a yellow ring and user 3 red.

It makes it super easy to tell whose head is whose.

Burst sell ‘Burst Bands’ which can be fitted to the brush heads and work in a similar vein, but they don’t come included.

Sonicare has nothing to compete here.

Sharing a brush handle (not the heads) is one of the best ways to get extra value from your toothbrush.

Each time a family member needs to use the brush, just swap the brush head.

The Pro 3000 I have spoken about, sadly does not come with a brush head storage compartment but these can easily be purchased to offer a home for the spare/replacement heads.

Burst doesn’t make their own brush head stand, but there are many third party options that will suffice.

For me, it is not a make or break issue, but the better battery life of the Sonicare and Burst models do make them more appealing in a family environment, particularly when their usage time is much better than Oral-B.

If the price of replacement brush heads is an overriding factor for families the lower cost of Oral-B’s brush heads would be attractive too. There is approximately $1 to be saved on each head compared to Burst and $3 per Sonicare.

Which is best for travelers?

In my short answers, I said Sonicare.

Like many of the other categories, I have used to judge these toothbrush brands by, this is another difficult one to conclusively answer, as everyone has different needs and wants.

The needs of a traveler taking nothing more than a backpack will be different from that of a traveler taking 3 large suitcases with them.

Portability and battery life stand out as important considerations.

Sonicare brushes tend to have the best battery life and many models do come with or there is the option of a travel case to protect the handle and the brush head.

In addition, most, if not all Sonicare brush handles come with a charging stand that supports 100-240v. This means international travelers need only worry about plug adapters and not voltage adapters too.

There are also select Sonicare models that allow the brush handle to be charged in the case using a USB cable.

To be fair to Burst is not a million miles behind.

You do have to buy a travel case separately, but you get the great battery life.

Plus, because the brush charges via a USB cable, it is more practical when traveling internationally. There is less need to plug and voltage adapters as you can use most USB plugs or sockets.

Oral-B with 1 week of battery life and no travel case is poor for a traveler.

Even if you were prepared to take the charging stand with you, it is not much more useful.

Supporting only the 100v US power supply, if you were to travel to the UK, you would need a plug and voltage converter. It would be cheaper and easier to buy a whole new charging stand suitable for the UK.

If travel is a big factor for you, it’s worth also checking out our article on the best travel toothbrushes.

Which has the best warranty?

In my short answers, I said Burst.

Providing you remain subscribed to their brush head deliveries, the brush handle is eligible for a lifetime warranty.

Can you pick fault with that?!

Sonicare and Oral-B normally offer a 2 year warranty only.

Whilst I have not had to test with Burst, it certainly seems that dealing with a defective brush is also much easier.

There are fewer layers and customer service reps to go through. It appears to be less painless and genuinely easy to handle.

Both Oral-B and Sonicare make the process a little more complicated and time-consuming.

Additional factors

Theoretically, there could be many categories and questions that I could have used to compare Burst to Sonicare and Oral-B.

However, to keep things simple, I kept to the 12 different questions that I used when comparing Sonicare to Oral-B.

I believe these, for the vast majority, give the insight and information desired by most.

Of course, it is quite possible that you have a specific question or model you want comparing, so please do leave a comment below or get in touch and I will do what I can to help in your particular circumstances.

All being well though, the information provided has gone a long way to help you take a step closer to your decision.

A few additional noteworthy points….

All three companies offer a money back guarantee/trial period. Oral-B is 60 days whilst Sonicare and Burst is an impressive 90.

All three brushes are designed to resist water and can safely be rinsed under the tap, you can in most cases use them in the shower also.

None would really recommend or advise prolonged exposure to water and certainly advise against immersion/submersion in water.

All three brushes have a 2 minute timer and quadpacer built in, which I see as extremely important factors when selecting an electric toothbrush. Further explanation of specific toothbrush features can be found in my electric toothbrush buyers guide.

Which one to buy?

Only you can ultimately answer this question, but for many Oral-B models are a great option.

You need to pick the brush that suits your needs and wants best.

I hope the information in this article helps you make a more informed choice, that is my intention after all.

Conclusion

Whilst Burst has not come out as the winning brush in this comparison, it is still one of the best subscription toothbrushes you can get in the USA.

Compared to a manual brush there are benefits and used correctly, subscribers to Burst will likely see an improvement to their oral health, whilst also enjoying the regular brush head deliveries and the convenience that brings.

Burst might not have the infrastructure and financial clout of Oral-B and Sonicare, but don’t let this put you off if it's a subscription toothbrush that you're interested in.

If you're not that interested by a subscription, sticking to a Sonicare or an Oral-B may be better.