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Published: February 10, 2024

Oral-B Pro 1000 Review

Author: Jon Love (2 Comments)
Oral-B Pro 1000 Review 1

A no nonsense toothbrush that performs well for a very fair price

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The Oral-B Pro 1000 is a good electric toothbrush with most of the dentist recommended features at a reasonable price.

Battery life and the lack of a visible pressure sensor let it down.

Pros

Cons

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Easy to use – single cleaning mode

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No visible pressure sensor

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Minimal design – Easy to keep clean

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10 day battery life

It’s worth considering the Oral-B Smart 1500 if you can afford to spend a little more

If you can afford to spend a little bit more, the Oral-B Smart 1500 is our top choice for an electric toothbrush today.

Similar to the Pro 1000, the 1500 has additional cleaning modes, a better battery life and a visible pressure sensor that will alert you when brushing too hard.

The small round brush head produces good cleaning results

The size of Oral-B’s round brush head is something many users come to really like. Smaller than most, it is able to reach tighter spaces in the mouth and gives a satisfying clean. It can feel more intense and almost aggressive compared to the softer brushing sensation you might get with the likes of a Philips Sonicare toothbrush. 

The Pro 1000 is the cheapest model in the Oral-B range to have a 3D cleaning motion rather than 2D. This means that in addition to the oscillating and rotating action, there are mico pulsations, which add a 3rd dimension to the cleaning effect for better results.

If your toothbrush of choice is currently a manual brush you will really see and feel the difference should you switch.

The Pro 1 will typically come supplied with the CrossAction head. It is one of a number of different brush head styles that are compatible with the handle. You can choose and fit the style of head you prefer, but my recommendation is the soft bristled Pro GumCare or the slightly firmer bristled CrossAction head. Don’t worry too much though, they all do a good job.

Oral-B Pro 1000 stood next to retail box
CrossAction head is most commonly supplied but other styles are available

The timer and pacer help you brush your teeth evenly

It’s all well and good brushing your teeth, but if you don’t give them equal attention, your oral health will suffer. You need to brush the front, back and biting surfaces of all the teeth, not just the ones you show as you smile.

The pacer helps achieve this. It momentarily pauses the brushing action every 30 seconds to tell you to move on to the next part of the mouth. After 2 minutes the alert changes slightly to tell you that you have brushed for long enough. 

Unlike some brushes, the Pro 1000 doesn’t power off automatically. This may be a disappointment to some, but it’s not a big issue. 

Pro 1000 electric toothbrush held in hand
The clean and minimal look is appealing whilst ensuring the Pro 1000 is easy to use

The pressure sensor doesn’t work as you would expect: you won’t know when you are brushing too hard

A pressure sensor is one of the features our dentists recommend is present in a good electric toothbrush. This is because many people have a tendency to scrub their teeth and brush with more force than is necessary. Doing so will damage the teeth and gums over the long term and isn’t as effective at cleaning the teeth in the short term either. 

Oral-B has for many years built pressure sensors into their toothbrushes and the Pro 1 is no exception, but the configuration here isn’t optimum.

Unlike other Oral-B brushes, the pressure sensor is not visible on the handle. Nor is it audible. This means that if you apply too much pressure as you brush, you don’t know about it. Technically the sound and brushing sensation do change when the sensor is active, but you have to be paying attention to notice, it’s easy to miss or ignore.

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When too much pressure is applied, the 1000 will automatically reduce the number of bristle movements to limit potential damage. But if you don’t know whether the sensor is active or not you can’t learn when you are brushing with too much force and make the necessary improvements.

The Smart 1500 on the other hand has a visible sensor, which notifies you when it is activated. This helps you to learn and adjust your technique accordingly.

The lack of a visible pressure sensor isn’t a reason to avoid the Pro 1000 but should be something to think about as you consider your options.

By way of another example, the Philips Sonicare 3100 doesn't have a visible sensor, but the handle will vibrate when you brush too hard. 

Substandard battery life at around 10 days

Sealed inside the water resistant handle of the Pro 1 is a rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery with a claimed battery life of around 10 days. I achieved just this in my hands-on testing, so I can’t really complain.

Most Oral-B brushes actually last 14 days when charged. You’ll need to spend a bit more to get a brush that offers this. However, the vast majority of electric brushes from other brands offer in the region of 3-4 weeks of use on a single charge. Many even last far longer. 

Few of us actually need our brush to last all that long. It’s unlikely to be a major inconvenience if we have to recharge. In fact, many do just leave their brush on the stand when not in use, this is fine.

But, it comes down to versatility. Not all of us have a power outlet in our bathroom for frequent recharging. If you go away on holiday for a week or 2, you don’t really want to have to take the charging stand or worry that your brush will run out of power.

Opt for the Pro 1 and you will have to think about this. If you travel frequently and pack light, the Pro 1 isn’t ideally suited for you.

Unlike more affordable alternatives, the Pro 1 does have a battery notification LED on the handle. It will flash red when the power is running out. A full recharge takes up to 12 hours. The battery LED will flash green whilst charging, before turning off once complete.

Charging stand for Pro 1000 with toothbrush laid flat
A standard Oral-B charging stand replenished the rechargeable NiMH battery sealed inside

The supplied white charging stand has a 3 feet/90cm power cable with a 2 pin power adapter. It supports 110-130v. You would need a plug and voltage adapter should you go on holiday to countries in Europe for example

Very good value for little compromise

You can expect to pay around $50-55 for the Pro 1000, despite the suggested retail price of $70.

This is because Oral-B brushes typically sell at 20% less than retail, so you appear to be getting a ‘deal’.

For $50 you are getting a decent toothbrush and it is far from a bad buy. I wouldn’t recommend paying much more for this brush, though.

The premium featured Smart 1500 series costs $15-20 more and addresses a couple of the shortcomings of the 1000. 

Oral-B brushes are amongst the most affordable when it comes to ongoing ownership costs.

Replacement brush heads cost around $5 each, so over 3 years you will need to spend about $55 on them. This gives a total ownership cost of $105 for the Pro 1000.

Philips Sonicare’s 2100 Series is similarly featured. It’s cheaper to buy initially, but refills are more expensive and costs about $15 more to own over 3 years.

Oral-B’s Pro 500 is cheaper and is our pick for an Oral-B brush on a budget, but you do get a better cleaning action from the Pro 1000, which I believe is worth paying the extra for when you think about the long term benefits.

It’s louder than expected

The Pro 1000, like the majority of Oral-B brushes, makes a fair bit of noise. It is far from silent when in use.

We registered 75 decibels on our noise level meter.

It isn’t a deal breaker by any means, but it does produce a louder and more mechanical sound than the humming noise that a quiet sonic toothbrush produces. Most sonic toothbrushes register at 60-70dB.

If someone tried talking to you whilst you were brushing your teeth it would be more difficult to hear them clearly when using the 1000.

The iO Series 3 is one of the quietest Oral-B brushes at 64 decibels, but something like SURI’s toothbrush is another 10 decibels quieter still at 54dB.

CrossAction head detached from Pro 1000 handle next to which it stand
Replace the brush head every 3 months - sooner if bristles are obviously worn

You’ll need to remember to replace the brush head every 3 months

Quite a few toothbrushes today have electronic mechanisms built into the handle that give visual alerts when it is time to replace the brush head. This can be helpful, but brushes that offer this are more expensive. You don’t get such alerts from the 1000. If you’re trying not to spend too much it’s not a feature worth worrying about

But, you will find that the color of the bristles on the provided CrossAction brush head will change. Known as CleanMaximizer bristles, over 3 months they will gradually fade from green to yellow. They are a visual clue that it might be time to switch the head you are using. 

If the head looks like it has seen better days, replace it. And even if it’s still not in bad shape after 3 months, it should still be swapped out.

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With only 1 cleaning mode, it's easy to use

You get just 1 cleaning mode on the Pro 1000, which is called Daily Clean. It is the mode I recommend most people use.

With no other choices, daily use of 1000 is simple and requires little extra thought.

Brushes like the Series 10 offer a staggering 7 modes. Which do you pick each time you brush? Realistically this is 5 or 6 modes more than you need. There is limited difference between each and it’s nigh on impossible to say one does a better job than another.

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Although 1 mode is nice and simple to use, the option of a second cleaning mode can be beneficial for some. A slower and more gentle sensitive mode would be great for those who want to enjoy a less intense cleaning action, or for those days when your teeth or gums might feel a little more tender. 

Having just 1 mode isn’t a reason to disregard the Pro 1000 as your next toothbrush though.

It’s easier to keep clean than the more affordable alternatives

In daily use, saliva, toothpaste and debris from your mouth will inevitably come into contact with the Pro 1000 brush handle.

This isn’t really a problem though, because as a primarily plastic handle, it is really easy to keep clean. A rinse under the tap or shower gets rid of most stuff, whilst a little wipe with a cloth will help remove more stubborn grime.

Models like the Vitality have large rubber grips that do make the brush feel a little more secure in the hand. But consequently have more points for dirt to build up and make it much harder to clean.

The back of the handle does have a series of small dimples, which do provide a bit of additional grip to the fingertip. They are quite subtle and run the length of the handle. There is also a panel of rubber around the power button that adds a little texture.

Close up of textured grip on back of Pro 1000 handle
Dimpled texture on the back of the Pro 1000's handle helps grip the toothbrush, even when wet

The rounded handle isn’t a perfect cylinder, it is a touch thicker than it is wide, but it stands upright on a worktop. It also doesn’t roll when laid flat due to 2 perfectly placed nodules.

Available in white, black, blue and pink, there is more of a gloss finish to the plastic which I think makes the Pro 1000 look a little less refined than those with a matt finish.

You can’t repair it yourself but have an industry average 2 year warranty included

The Pro 1000 Series has a handle design pretty much identical to the Smart 1500 and 3000.

It is a newer design compared to older models from Oral-B, so there isn’t quite the same proven history and reliability with this particular brush. 

That doesn’t mean there are any reasons for concern. Oral-B have a longstanding history of toothbrush production and know the areas of weakness and have done what they can to mitigate issues.

My own hands-on use has confirmed that the handle is solid and well constructed with limited gaps or weak points. Thus, a long usable life is expected.

By the very nature of the product, they are not immune to failure. 2 years of manufacturer support is provided as standard. I would anticipate 5+ years of service from the Pro 1, with regular care.. 

If for whatever reason you aren’t satisfied from the moment you get the brush Braun offers a 60 day money back guarantee.

Environmental impact

The Oral-B Pro 1000 has limited box contents which reduces its weight during transportation compared to others that come with more items. The box could be made a bit smaller, saving space and resources. 

Positively, it is all paper based and does not have a polystyrene inner tray like Oral-B have used in the past.

Not being a smart toothbrush the total number of components used are less, thus less waste is created when the brush no longer works.

Unfortunately, but not surprisingly it has not been designed to be easily repaired by yourself. Trying to replace parts like the battery will likely break the brush. This makes it more likely to be discarded rather than repaired if broken.

While Oral-B has partnered with schemes such as TerraCycle, it does not yet have its own recycling scheme for used brush heads or faulty products.

Its brush heads are made from petroleum-based plastic, which uses up the planet’s finite resources compared to using plant-based plastics.

Conclusion: Great cleaning results for a good price

The lack of a visible pressure sensor and the lesser battery life do go against the Pro 1000, especially when you consider that the Smart 1500 does have these features and isn’t that much more expensive.

With that said, the Pro 1 does have the dentist recommended 2 minute timer and pacer. It cleans the teeth really well and gives you a choice of 3 different cleaning modes.

Given the cleaning results, minimal design, 2 year warranty and long term value for money, you could do a lot worse. 

Size guide

  • Toothbrush height with head - 23.2cm / 9.1 inches
  • Toothbrush height without head - 19.5cm / 7.7 inches
  • Width - 2.5cm / 1 inches
  • Depth/thickness - 2.9cm / 1.1 inches
  • Weight with head - 123g / 4.3oz
  • Weight without head - 118g / 4.1oz
  • Package weight - 395g / 13.9oz

Noise

  • 73dB

Country of manufacture

  • Germany (handle & head)
Author: Jon Love

Leave a comment

MB
Monica Benites
June 3, 2020

Never mind I finally got it opened - just like the instructions read :)

MB
Monica Benites
June 3, 2020

I'm not certain as to how to replace the batteries - help!

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