Oral-B Pro 650 Review

Design, usability, clean & general use

For me, the Pro 650 is one of the nicest looking brushes on the market today. Personally I am drawn to the black rubber grip that runs down the main body, perhaps a little masculine compared to the more unisex silver, whites and blues we see on some other brushes.

However, female readers do not be put off by the colour as this is a lovely slim and comfortable brush when in the hand.

The slim profile does have a knock on effect on the battery life, but more on that later.

Around the main chassis are strategically placed grips. Regretfully, a little less of the more premium rubber is used, instead plastic raised grips or contours are prominent, but the band of Black rubber that runs down the front provides quite a high level of grip, so I am being a little picky.

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.​

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.

Turn the brush around and the smooth white plastic rear panel is home to an increasing number of raised grips which are practically placed and functional.

Unlike the slightly more premium Pro 2 2000 the Pro 650 does not have a pressure sensor built into this and this is another area that keeps the cost down. A pressure sensor illuminates when too much force is applied to the teeth through the brush. If you feel you would like such a feature then you must take a step up to the Pro 2 2000.

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.

Measuring just 2.5cm wide and 3cm thick and no more than 127g this is a comfortable brush to hold.

No brush would be complete without a brush head and with the Pro 650 we have on test here is a CrossAction head. A more recent addition to the Oral-B range this head has a series of angled bristles which are designed to effectively remove plaque but also ensure they clean deep between the teeth and provide a good coverage over teeth surfaces.

Speaking from experience I can say that even after years of using an Oral-B floss action head, I noticed the difference with the CrossAction. The clean and the way it brushed the teeth was different.

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 Floss Action to Interspace heads there are a variety of options. You need not be stuck with one.

You may wonder how such a brush can boast to remove up to 100% more plaque than a manual brush?

There are a variety of things behind this claim.

The smaller brush head in comparison to most manual brushes, is scientifically engineered to ensure you get the best clean. Being smaller, you are able to easily reach more areas of the mouth. The addition of the 3D technology which rotates, oscillates and pulsates means that the brush head achieves a motion and cleaning pattern that is just not possible when compared to a manual brush.

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 and at 30 second intervals, you will hear the sound from the brush change as the oscillation of the brush head changes ever so slightly to indicate to change quadrant.

At the end of the 2 minute cycle, the head will again change its oscillation to give another tone to confirm the cycle has ended.

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

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.

If you want a visual clue or a dedicated timer in the form of a clock, then you will need to opt for the significantly more expensive brushes on the market or use the ‘Sound Connectivity’ option explained a little later.

Once you have completed the two minute cycle, the brush will continue to operate unless you press the power button again.

The fact that you use a toothbrush in the mouth and in a bathroom means the brush will get wet. The Pro 650 has been designed to live up to the moisture and toothpaste it will come into contact with. It will get dirty, but a good rinse and a wipe down with a cloth soon gets rid of this. The main buildup of grime I found is at the top of the lip on the brush head, just before the brush head connects to the main brush body.

Whilst you have the charging stand, this limited edition Pro 650 also comes with a travel case, which will accommodate the brush and at least one head and protects it from damage and inadvertent activation when in a bag.

Another little feature which gives this brush a bit of an edge is the ‘Sound Connectivity’ feature.

What you need to do is download the app (click here for Android, or here for iOS) onto your device from the App Store. It is called ‘Oral-B App’ and make sure in the settings that ‘Toothbrush Sound Recognition’ is switched on.

Providing you then have the app open on your smartphone or tablet when you go to clean your teeth, the built-in microphones will listen out for the sound of the brush.

As it does, it begins a timer on-screen and logs your clean in the app.

The idea is great but there are a few issues in my mind.

1. Not all that many of us may have a phone or tablet to hand as we are cleaning our teeth
2. The app does not automatically load or begin timing unless you have opened it up
3. The whole app is engineered for the more premium Smart Series brushes, which the 650 is not a part of.​

If you are really keen on logging your toothbrush activities then this has some benefit. It may be more interactive for children, as it does have some nice graphics; but the whole process feels like a bit of a hassle. In my mind, if you are really keen on logging your toothbrush cleans, you are likely going to be opting for a more premium brush.

Do not rule the 650 out because of it, you do not have to use this feature, but if you do, just be aware of the conditions of use.

Inevitably the battery will run down on the Pro 650. With approximately 28 minutes of cleaning time. When power is low, the battery status icon on the front of the brush will illuminate red to notify you of this.

You do not get the battery status light come on all the time, it just illuminates red a day or so before the battery is actually likely to fail. When charging on the dock, it will flash green.

Having used a wide variety of electric toothbrushes I do believe the power and clean offered from the Pro 650 is as good as any of the more premium brushes, it just does not offer the range of cleaning options for those serious about oral hygiene.

When switching from a manual brush the experience is a little different. You need to be aware that the Pro 650 will possibly feel a little harsh for the first few cleans. This will be most obvious when the brush hits the gumline. You may find your gums become inflamed and bleed. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Generally speaking, this will be because your existing cleaning regime is not up to standard and the gums are sensitive. This will generally fade after about a week, but if it continues you should consult your dentist as you may have sensitive gums.