If you’re buying an electric toothbrush, you will definitely want to consider getting one with a pressure sensor. We explain why in the sections below, but first of all here’s a list of those that do come with a pressure sensor.
Sonicare brushes with a pressure sensor
Within the Sonicare range, there are several brushes that come with a pressure sensor.
The brush that we recommend as the best overall Sonicare electric toothbrush, the Sonicare 4100 Series, does include one, and we've also included a list below of others that include one.
These are the brushes in the Sonicare range that do include a pressure sensor. Click on one of the names below to read our review and see buying options.
- 3100 Series
- The handle vibrates and a small LED on the handle (not that visible) lights up.
- 4100 Series
- The handle vibrates and a small LED on the handle (not that visible) lights up.
- ProtectiveClean 4100
- The handle vibrates and a small LED on the handle (not that visible) lights up.
- ProtectiveClean 5100
- The handle vibrates and a small LED on the handle (not that visible) lights up.
- ProtectiveClean 6100
- The handle vibrates and a small LED on the handle (not that visible) lights up.
- ExpertClean
- The handle vibrates and a small LED on the handle (not that visible) lights up. The smartphone app shows on screen, if used at the same time.
- DiamondClean 9000
- The handle vibrates and a small LED on the handle (not that visible) lights up. The smartphone app shows on screen, if used at the same time.
- DiamondClean Smart
- The handle vibrates. The visible light ring at the bottom of the brush handle is lit with a purple light. The smartphone app shows on screen, if used at the same time.
- 9900 Prestige
- The handle vibrates. The visible light ring at the bottom of the brush handle is lit with a purple light. The smartphone app shows on screen, if used at the same time.
The downside to Sonicare pressure sensors is that few are as visible as those on Oral-B brushes. The exception is the DiamondClean Smart and Prestige, which lights up when you brush too hard, but that is at the top of the price range.
Most Oral-B brushes have a colored ring that lights up when you brush too hard, as shown in the photo below.
If you find it useful to have a visible indication of when you are brushing too hard, it may be worth considering Oral-B over Sonicare.
Whilst this approach remains on the vast majority of brushes, with the introduction of the iO though, comes a slight rethinking and working of the pressure sensor.
Dubbed the 'smart pressure sensor', this sensor will light up red when too much pressure is applied. However, it will also shine a green light when the correct pressure is being applied.
The correct pressure is an indicator that you are using just enough force in conjunction with the brush head movements to clean away plaque.
Therefore you actually want a green light to be emitted from the LED ring when brushing.
The red light still highlights excessive pressure.
With this new design, the sound of the brush motor does not change, so you have only a visual alert.
Oral-B brushes with a pressure sensor
Below is a list of Oral-B brushes that come with a pressure sensor. Click one of the names to read our review and see buying options.
A good entry-level Oral-B brush that does come with a pressure sensor is the Smart 1500. This is comparable to the Sonicare 4100 that we recommend above and it is our best Oral-B toothbrush.
As we note above, the Oral-B pressure sensor is located just below the brush head, and is highly visible when activated.
- Pro 1500
- Smart 1500
- Pro/Smart 3000
- Pro 5000
- Pro/Genius 6000 / 6500
- Pro 7000
- Pro 7500
- Genius Pro 8000
- Genius Pro 9600
- Genius X
- Guide
The following models light up to show insufficient, correct and incorrect pressure using different LED colors.
What is a pressure sensor and why is it important?
A pressure sensor, with respect to electric toothbrushes, are small components inside the brush handle that detect when you are applying too much force during your brushing routine. When it detects the use of excessive pressure, the brush will in turn do something. What it does depends on the model.
The following video I created, explains and demonstrates this a little more.
The bristles should skim the teeth
The bristles of the brush should skim the tooth surfaces to sweep away, bacteria, food debris and plaque. Hard and aggressive brushing will not normally help, hence the pressure sensor to alert you to these instances where you do apply too much force.
Professor Peter Heasman of Newcastle University says “You could actually be harming your gums and possibly teeth” – BBC
Whilst Jay W. Friedman remarks “Too much pressure and too frequent brushing can abrade enamel, or the root if the gum has receded.” This abrasion, he says, can cause teeth to become hypersensitive to hot and/or cold” – Consumer Reports
What happens when I brush too hard?
The effects on your teeth and gums may not be instant. It depends on how much pressure, for how long and your mouth as to how your body will react.
Needless to say, a brush head that is moving at a reduced speed is not as effective as cleaning and if it is fighting against the pressure it can be rubbing against the tooth and gum rather than the desired skimming, which can only cause potential damage to the teeth, wearing away the enamel.
Exactly what happens to your toothbrush when you brush too hard depends on the brand and model of brush you have.
The most basic electric toothbrushes do not have a pressure sensor and do nothing, so if you are brushing too hard, you could be doing damage.
Some basic brushes do have a pressure sensor that when activated will reduce the amount of power delivered to the brush head in order to reduce the chances of ongoing damage to the teeth and gums. If the excess force is removed, the motor will power back up to a fuller speed and perform as normal. This change can happen within split seconds.
More advanced models will not only reduce the motor power but will alert the user by switching on a light on the brush, quite often a red warning light found at the top of the brush handle. This comes on as soon as too much pressure is detected. It remains on until such time as the pressure is reduced.
The most advanced will change the motor speed, illuminate a warning light whilst also sending a message to your smartphone application which is tracking your tooth cleaning. These Bluetooth enabled brushes will often log the amount of time too much pressure was applied for and use it as a way of coaching you to achieve better oral health.
In all instances, if you listen you will hear the brush motor change when you apply too much pressure. Perhaps try it briefly just to get yourself used to the different sound of the motor. You will then subconsciously recognize if you brush too hard and stop because you may not only hear the motor straining but subject to your model will likely get some form of alert.
Do I get an audible warning?
To date I have only come across 1 toothbrush, the Shyn brush, that offers a true audible warning like a beep.
Oral-B models do change the sound when activated, there is a different pitch from the motor or the brush.
Will I learn to stop brushing too hard?
Yes, you should do.
Brushing your teeth should be relatively effortless. When using an electric brush, let it do the work, you just move it to the correct position, as highlighted in our article how to clean your teeth.
Normally, if you are finding you are brushing too hard and have a brush that alerts you, then within a few days you can usually break that bad practice. For some it may take longer, it’s just a case of learning and reacting.
Often within a few weeks you will learn how much pressure you need to apply, and the feature could be considered redundant after this time.
Can I get an add on pressure sensor for my brush?
No. This is built into the brush at the time of manufacture. There is no way to add one on.
Besides Phillips and Oral B, which toothbrushes have pressure sensors?
I've found Philips Sonicare and Oral-B to have the better pressure sensors, and few others include them. The ones I can think of that do are: - Oclean X Pro Elite - Bitvae R2