Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100 Review

Design, usability, clean & general use

The 5100 is a new brush, that brings features and box contents together not previously offered before, but nothing is completely new here.

This might sound like a negative, but it is actually a good thing.

It means that all of the elements that make up the 5100 are tried and tested and I like tried and tested because the result is the fantastic ProtectiveClean 5100.

It most certainly looks and feels the part and perhaps better quality than you might have expected for the price.

For those that have not used a Sonicare toothbrush before, may not understand me when I say it has a very ‘Sonicare’ feel to it.

There is just something about a Sonicare product.  I am not sure if is the materials, the look and feel or more likely a combination of all of these that give a sense of satisfaction and reassurance.

I mentioned it in my review of the ProtectiveClean 4100, but I feel it is worth mentioning in this review too; Sonicare does a pretty decent job on their packaging.

Let’s be honest an electric toothbrush is not the best for the environment, so it’s great to see that cardboard box and inner tray are recyclable, unlike the polystyrene packaging that comes with Oral-B products.

I am not sure the little plastic bags the brush handle and charger come in are really necessary, but I guess Sonicare have their reasons.

Out of the box and in the hand, the ProtectiveClean 5100 feels great. Solid and well balanced.

At the time of review, it comes in 2 different color options, the white gray and white mint. Hands-on images are of a black colored model, for illustration purposes.

A nice touch, not often seen is that the charging stand and travel case provided color matched.  This is where a little extra finesse and quality shows and often why Sonicare charge a premium.

2 primary parts make up the electric toothbrush, they are the brush handle and the detachable and interchangeable brush head.

Let’s take a look at the brush handle design in detail followed by the brush head and some of the features the pair offer.

So, like most other electric toothbrushes, the 5100 is rounded in its shape and feel in the hand.

It is has a slightly chunky feel to it but can be gripped nicely in the hand.

I am showing images of the black gray color option here which has a more matt look and feel.

Even the white unit has a more matt color finish than the gloss finish that is quite common with such products.

The finish on the plastic is such that it actually feels quite grippy, despite not having additional rubber grips and contours to the handle like some others do.

I think for some people, older children and maybe the elderly, a few rubber grips might have helped just give that extra feeling of security and grip in hand, but the ProtectiveClean does not feel all that slippy in hand.

On the front of the handle, at the top, is the Philips Sonicare logo.

Placed somewhere between a third of the way and half way down the brush handle are 2 buttons.

The upper button is the power button, this turns the brush on and off.

The lower button is the cleaning mode/function button that switches between the 3 cleaning modes available on this brush handle.

A power symbol is embossed onto the concave rubber button and makes for a natural place to rest the thumb.

The cleaning mode/function button has no icon on it and is smooth to the touch.

The buttons are relatively easy to press with a bit of feedback.

Surrounding these buttons is a plastic panel that gives a color accent to the brush handle.

This is a glossy black color on the black gray model shown in the hands-on photos.

On the white and mint color option, both the buttons and the panel have a mint color finish.  The color is duller on the buttons than the plastic panel.

On either color handle, it is a nice accent to give a touch of style.

Sitting below these buttons are the LEDs and names of the cleaning modes.

Running top to bottom you have ‘Clean’, ‘White’ and ‘Gum Care’, with the LED sat above the cleaning mode name.

The LED for the cleaning mode lights up as it is selected.  Press the cleaning mode button to cycle through the modes, until you get to the mode you want.

The mode can be changed before the brush is switched on.

The brush will remember the last cleaning mode used and begin in that mode the next time the brush is powered on.

The LEDs should not be underestimated in their importance.  Oral-B models like the 2000 and 3000 offer multiple cleaning modes, but no easy way to actually know what mode you have selected.  The LEDs do this job nicely.

Right towards the bottom of the brush handle are a further 2 LEDs and icons.

First sits the BrushSync LED and symbol, below that battery LED and symbol

The LED for the battery lights up and flashes in a few different ways.  Check out the ‘Battery Life’ section of this review for more information on that.

The back of the handle is smooth to the touch.  No ridges or extra grips, with the exception of a little protrusion at the bottom of the handle.

It seems a bit out of place and not immediately obvious what it is for.  But, lay the brush on a flat surface, and this raised molding stops the brush rolling about.  Genius!

On the base of the brush handle is a recess into which the prong on the charging stand fits.

The brush will sit upright on a flat surface and does too sit upright on the charging stand.

At the top of the brush handle is the metal shaft that the brush head connect to.  This metal shaft feeds into the motor sealed inside the handle.

Analyze the brush side on and you will see how the brush head fits on at a very slight angle.

Slight it might well be, but it helps angle the brush head for a better reach towards the back of the mouth. A subtle, but important design feature that enhances the overall usability.

Subject to the variant selected, the 5100 comes with either 1 x G2 Optimal Gum Care and 1 x C2 Optimal Plaque Control brush head in the box, or 2 x W DiamondClean heads.

These are just a few styles, from a range of interchangeable brush heads that Sonicare offer. We cover brush heads in more detail in our guide to Sonicare brush heads.

Fitting the brush head is a simple process

Each brush head simply pushes on and pulls off of the brush handle.  The heads fit over the metal shaft at the top. You can usually feel it clip into place.

Almost all brush heads are interchangeable and work on almost all Sonicare brush handles, so you can find the brush head that works for you or that you prefer and use it on your brush handle.

But, with the 5100 there is something you need to be aware of.

The ProtectiveClean has a feature called ‘BrushSync’.  What this does is tells you, via an LED on the brush handle when it is time to change or replace your brush head.

You see, inside the brush head supplied is a small microchip.

When the brush head is fitted to the brush handle, the chip is detected and the warning light will flash 3 times. This acts as confirmation that the handle has detected the head and that the electronics inside the handle will now keep track of it.

As you use the brush head, the handle continues to track how often it has been used.

The handle knows that the brush head should be replaced every 3 months, so once the handle detects that the brush head has been used for this amount of time, the ‘BrushSync’ LED on the brush handle will light up an amber/orange color.  It is at this point you should fit a new head.

But, the brush is cleverer still.

If it detects you have brushed 3 times a day every day or brushed with more pressure, it will activate the BrushSync alert system sooner, as the bristles will have worn out sooner than the typical 3 month time period.

By the same token, it will delay alerting you to replace the brush head.  If you used that head just once a day over 3 months, it would not tell you to replace it until it had been used for an equivalent to 4 minutes a day for 3 months.

Hard not to be impressed!

Using a brush head for longer than 3 months can potentially have negative effects on the teeth and gums, so such an alert helps reduce the chances of this.

Technology such as Bluetooth connectivity found on some brushes is not for everyone.  Not all that many see the point, but I think most people see the point here.

The sensors are smart, unobtrusive and are only trying to help you take better care of your teeth and gums.

Now here perhaps is the kicker when it comes to this tech.

Not all the brush heads Sonicare make have the microchip built-in.

So for it to work, both the brush head and brush handle have to have the ‘BrushSync’ feature.

At the time of writing the heads that have the chips built-in and are BrushSync compatible are:

• I Intercare
• C2 Optimal Plaque Control
• G2 Optimal Gum Care
• W DiamondClean
• C3 Premium Plaque Control
• G3 Premium Gum Care
• W3 Premium White
• T1 TongueCare+

There are then a couple of what I call ‘standard’ brush heads that are similarly named but do not have the microchip in.

The options you have are:

• C1 SimplyClean
• S Sensitive

It is perfectly possible to use a non-smart (standard) brush head on the 5100 as it is perfectly fine to use a smart brush head on a handle that does not offer BrushSync technology.  But, do be aware, the BrushSync will only work when a compatible head is used on a compatible handle.

Such technological advances don’t come for free.

Since they were first introduced in 2017, the price has reduced a bit already, but the BrushSync compatible heads are a little more expensive than the standard alternatives.

Prices vary from one store to another.  I have found them as low as $10 per head, but as high as $23.

An average price is around $13.

A normal brush head for a Sonicare electric toothbrush is on average $10.

You are then paying for this convenience, but I think it is probably a convenience worth paying for.

In line with the electronic brush head replacement reminder that the ProtectiveClean 5100 offers, there is actually a reminder system built into ALL Sonicare brush heads.

Each head has fading indicator bristles.

As the heads are used, the Blue bristles fade to a very pale almost white/translucent color.  When they are this color, it is time to change the head.

It is like a simplified alternative to BrushSync.

The brush heads are not the only clever part of this electric toothbrush.

Essential to any good brush is a timer and quadpacer, in my opinion.  You will then be pleased to read that the 5100 has both.

A simple press on the power button will turn the brush on.  As the motor is kicked into life, the timer is too.

Using the standard ‘Clean’ mode the timer runs for 2 minutes, which is the dentist recommended cleaning time.

At the end of the 2 minutes, the brush actually turns itself off.

The ‘White’ mode runs for 2 minutes and 30 seconds, whilst the ‘Gum Care’ mode lasts for 3 minutes.

The brush does turn itself off at the end of these cleaning modes too.

At the same time, the timer begins working, as does the 30 second timer or quadpacer as it is known.

During the standard cleaning cycle, at 30 second intervals, the brush motor pauses briefly.

This stops the cleaning action and pauses the humming sound and vibration from the handle.

It is this pause that alerts you to the fact that it is time to change quadrant.

Whilst dentists recommend 2 minutes of cleaning twice a day, what this does not help with is ensuring you and I brush our teeth evenly.  This is where the pacer comes in.

The idea is that you break the mouth up into 4 sections.  Upper right, upper left, lower right, and lower left.

You spend 30 seconds cleaning each section, that way over the 120 seconds (2 minutes) of brushing time, you will give a relatively even clean to the teeth and gums.

As you get the pacer alert, you change quadrant to in turn achieve the even clean.

Of course, you don’t have to follow it, but it is good practice.

Spending 2 minutes cleaning just the front teeth or just your top teeth is better than nothing but isn’t great for your oral health.

Therefore the 2 minute timer and 30 second pacer are 2 excellent additions to this handle.

If you use the ‘White’ or ‘Gum Care’ mode, the pacer still functions for the first 2 minutes of cleaning only. The remaining 30 seconds for ‘White’ and 1 minute for ‘Gum Care’ are for focusing on the front teeth and gums respectively.

Electric toothbrushes bring multiple benefits over and above regular toothbrushing.

However, the superior clean they can offer is only achieved when you use the electric brush correctly.

You should not move the brush head back and forth in a rapid manner as you might with a manual brush.  You move the head from tooth to tooth, the motor and bristles do the work.

You should hold the brush head at a 45 degree angle to the teeth and gumline.

Refer to the instruction booklet that comes in the box with the ProtectiveClean and spend time learning how to brush your teeth correctly.  Get this right and you are really helping yourself achieve better oral health.

Irrespective of the cleaning mode used, I have been very impressed with the results and overall performance of this brush.

At no point have I felt the clean to be bad and certainly comparable to Oral-B.

There is clinical evidence that sides with both brands, but the reality of the situation is either are very good.

Personally I prefer the smaller, round brush heads that Oral-B offer compared to the larger more rectangular/ovalish heads of Sonicare.  I find them easier to move around the back teeth.

‘Clean’ is, of course, the standard go to mode, which runs for 2 minutes, but you have ‘White’ and ‘Gum Care’ too.

You need to press that function button to select the appropriate mode.

Sonicare explain the modes as follows:

• Clean mode
  • A 2-minute mode. It gives you a thorough and complete clean and is recommended to be used with the C2 Optimal Plaque Control brush head.
• White mode
  • A 2-minute 30-seconds mode.  2 minutes for normal cleaning and 30 seconds to polish the front teeth. Recommended to be used with the W2 Optimal White brush head.
• Gum Care
  • A 3-minute mode.  2 minutes of normal cleaning and 1 minute to clean and stimulate the gums.  Recommended to be used with the G2 Optimal Gum Care brush head.

We cover all of Sonicare’s cleaning modes in more detail in this post in this post

You can see where the different styles of brush heads mentioned previously can come in use and be helpful in achieving optimum results.

The motor in the brush handle offers up to 62,000 movements per minute.

The ‘Gum Care’ mode is more gentle and does not make use of the full power like the ‘White’ and ‘Clean’ mode do.

Gum disease sufferers or those with generally sensitive teeth will be thankful for the lower powered, less intense clean that the 5100 offers.

As bristles need only skim the surface of the teeth to dislodge bacteria, plaque, and food debris, lots of force is not required to brush the teeth clean.

Brushing too hard over long periods of time can wear out brush heads but also cause gum recession and damage to the tooth enamel.

This is why the 5100 has a pressure sensor built-in.

The handle vibrates to alert you when too much pressure is being applied, the brushing sensation and sound changes too.

The BrushSync replacement reminder LED flashes amber when the sensor is activated.  Given its position, it is not the easiest to see.

It does not have the large visible pressure sensor like the Oral-B Pro 3000 and Sonicare’s own DiamondClean Smart.

Personally I do think the light it more obvious, particularly when most of us tend to brush in front of a mirror. Sadly, the flashing amber light is on the wrong side of the handle for you to really notice,  but you should feel the change in brushing sensation.

However, the vibration is strong enough to make you aware it has been activated.

Reduce the pressure applied to stop the pressure sensor from being activated.  The sensor will kick in every time too much pressure is applied.

Seasoned electric toothbrush users may know how much pressure is appropriate.  I believe it is more useful to first time or new users, but I am sure there are some electric toothbrush uses that brush too hard.

Within a few days, you will get used to how much pressure is appropriate.

Another great feature is something known as EasyStart.

This is a system that gently increases the power over the first 14 brushings to help you get used to brushing with the ProtectiveClean 5100.

A simple, but innovative touch that shows an extra level of attention and care for first time electric toothbrush users.  The full 62,000 movements per minute can seem quite intense on first use. EasyStart eases you in and makes the transition from manual to electric brushing easier.

If you want to go straight in with full power you can turn the EasyStart off.  How you do this is explained in the FAQ’s at the end of this review. It is possible to turn off the pressure sensor and brush head replacement reminder system too.

Fixed inside the handle of the 5100 is the rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery that offers about 2 weeks usage between charges, Sonicare suggest.  I actually achieved 20 days just shy of 3 weeks on the longest mode, ‘Gum Care’.

Thankfully, the battery charge LED provides feedback on the remaining power, so you know when a charge is necessary.  More information is available in the ‘battery life’ section of this review.

Designed to resist water, toothpaste, and saliva, the handle of the 5100 is not designed to be used in the shower or the bath.  A quick rinse of the handle is fine, but don’t go immersing it in water if you can help it.

The handle feels robust and will generally take a few knocks in its life and I have no immediate concerns about the handles reliability.

Sonicare do offer a 2 year warranty that covers any mechanical or workmanship faults, but not user damage.  For your own benefit, go register it shortly after purchase, you get a 6 month extension.

A complaint I had about the ProtectiveClean 4100 was the lack of a travel case.  This comes provided with the dual handled variant of the 5100, not the single handled unit. If you want just 1 toothbrush handle and a travel case, you will need to look at the Protectiveclean 6100.

Made from a thick plastic, the case is hinged on the left side with a clip on the right to securely fasten it shut.

The case holds the 5100 brush handle and up to 2 brush heads.

Not only will it stop the handle or heads getting damaged, it also stops any accidental activation of the brush.

The dual handled variant comes with Sonicare’s UV sanitizer included in the box.

This serves a couple of purposes.

Firstly, the dual handled package comes with 1 conventional charging stand for the toothbrush. The UV sanitizer has a charging stand built-in also, offering a 2nd charging stand for the 2nd toothbrush in the pack.

The other, and main purpose of the sanitizer, as the name implies is to sanitize the brush heads.

The fairly compact sanitizer can accommodate up to 2 Philips brush heads.  

2 little prongs allow the heads to be placed inside and stood upright.  Position so that the bristles face the internal lamp, close the door and press the green button on the top to begin the cleaning cycle.

Lasting 10 minutes the UV bulb produces rays that further kills any lingering bacteria trapped on the brush head.

I really like this idea.  It seems logical and could help long term to reduce the chance of oral health issues.  That said many of us have gone for years without using or needing this.

How frequently you run the cycle is up to you.

It does need to be connected to power for it to run and opening the door mid cycle will stop the process.  You can also press the power button again to end this.

All things considered, the 5100 is a very solid brush.

There is little I dislike about the product itself, my criticism is really with the packages and pricing.

It comes at a price premium over the 4100 and whilst the extra modes will be desirable to some people, not all will see the benefit. Also, the dual handle package is the only once that comes with the travel case.

I believe those with sensitive teeth and gums will find the 5100 to be a good buy as you benefit from that ‘Gum Care’ cleaning mode.

Oral-B’s equivalent offers Bluetooth connectivity, similar to the Sonicare FlexCare Platinum and DiamondClean Smart.  You can log and track your clean through a smartphone app.

As good as the 5100 is, I think it pays to seriously consider the ProtectiveClean 4100 and 6100 instead, to me they are better value options.