Philips Sonicare brushing modes explained

Choosing an electric toothbrush is far from simple.

Some brushes come with just 1 cleaning mode, but the most premium models come with as many as 5!

Here at Electric Teeth, we try to simplify the process of deciphering the range and choosing one.

In this article, I explain the different cleaning modes available on Sonicare electric toothbrushes.

Which ones do you need and why are they important? Let me explain.

The cleaning modes available on sonicare toothbrushes

At the time of writing, there are up to 8 different cleaning modes offered on different Sonicare electric toothbrushes.

These available modes are:

1. Clean Mode
2. White/White+ Mode
3. Deep Clean/Deep Clean+ Mode
4. Gum Health/Gum Care Mode
5. Sensitive Mode
6. Tongue Care Mode
7. Refresh Mode
8. Massage Mode

Whilst I have listed 8, of these, 2 (Refresh and Massage) are being phased out by Sonicare and you tend to see these only on their older electric toothbrush models.

The names of particular modes have also changed or updated over the years.

For example, on some models, you have 'White' as a cleaning mode, whilst on others, it is labelled as 'White+'.  They are the same mode, just with a different name as far as I understand.

Why the new or different names for the same mode?  Your guess is as good as mine!

Which modes should you opt for?

Any electric toothbrush is going to come with at least 1 cleaning mode, and the default is ‘Clean’.

For the vast majority, this 1 mode is perfectly adequate and you will not need extra modes.

Cleaning modes are not something that we particularly take into account when choosing our best electric toothbrush recommendation.

Yes, as strange as this might sound in reality there is little actual need for all of these extra modes.

Each of these extra cleaning modes does offer something different and can potentially have benefit for you. But, don’t strive to buy a brush that might be outside of your budget, just because it has White mode for example.

Out of all the other modes available, it is the gum health and/or sensitive mode that in my opinion will be the most beneficial.

Therefore, if you can get a brush that fits your budget and requirements and has this mode, then it is a bonus.

What each cleaning mode does

Philips Sonicare themselves seem to alter the description and explanation behind each cleaning mode, depending on what documentation or user manual you are reading.

The explanation of the mode can be quite brief or not particularly clear on what it does, how it works and why you would want to use it.

For example on the Sonicare DiamondClean Smart product page, ‘Clean’ mode is described as ‘for exceptional everyday cleaning’, whilst ‘Deep Clean+’ is described as ‘For an invigorating deep clean an invigorating deep clean’.

Therefore I hope the following is a little more useful.

Clean mode

• This is the standard mode for daily teeth cleaning.
• The cleaning cycle lasts for 2 minutes.
• Ideally suited to most users, to use on a daily basis any time of the day or night.

White/white+ mode

• The cleaning mode lasts for 2 minutes and 40 seconds.
• During the first 2 minutes, the brush alternates the speed of the motor from a low to high power as you complete regular brushing.
• The additional 40 seconds is to be spent polishing the outer surface of upper and lower teeth. Spend 20 seconds cleaning each.
• The polishing motion used in the last 40 seconds of this mode will feel and sound different from the first 2 minutes.
• Ideal for those wanting to get the best shine and really do away with any surface staining.
• Some models refer to this mode as just White, whilst on others, it is labelled as White+.  It is the same cleaning action, just with a different name.

Deep clean/deep clean+ mode

• The cleaning mode usually lasts for 3 minutes.
• If the brush handle has Bluetooth connectivity and is connected to a smartphone the mode will last for just 2 minutes.  If there is no active Bluetooth connection, the mode will run for the longer 3 minutes.
• The motion and speed is adjusted to really massage the teeth and gum tissues and push the cleaning motion through bacteria and stubborn stains that may exist
• Ideal to use when you want to spend a bit of extra time on your teeth and really make sure you are doing the best you can to keep them clean and healthy.
• Some models refer to this mode as just Deep Clean, whilst on others, it is labelled as Deep Clean+.  It is the same cleaning action, just with a different name.

Gum health/gum care mode

• The cleaning mode usually lasts for 3 minutes.
• On some models, notably DiamondClean Smart, the mode runs for an additional 20 seconds.
• During the first 2 minutes, the brush runs the standard clean mode.
• The remaining minute uses a slower and less powerful sensitive/massage mode to stimulate and massage the gums, to improve their health.
• It is a bit of a crossover mode between Clean and Sensitive.
• Ideally suited to those who have mild sensitivity in their gums, with occasional bleeding and are getting or recovering from gum disease treatment.
• A useful mode to also use fairly regularly to give your gums a little extra attention and keep them in good shape.
• Some models refer to this mode as just Gum Health, whilst on others, it is labelled as Gum Care.  It is the same cleaning action, just with a different name.

Sensitive mode

• This cleaning mode lasts for 2 minutes.
• It uses a lot less of the brush motors power to be more gentle on the teeth and gums.
• Ideally suited to those with very sensitive teeth and gums, but want to benefit from the additional cleaning power and efficacy of an electric toothbrush.
• Those experiencing gum disease or gum recession will likely find this mode most useful.

Tongue care mode

• This cleaning mode lasts for 20 seconds.
• Designed to provide adequate time to brush the tongue.

Refresh mode

• This cleaning mode lasts for 1 minute.
• Touch-up for a quick clean.
• Ideally suited for those who want to freshen up and are cleaning their teeth at additional times during the day.
• This mode is being phased out.

Massage mode

• This cleaning mode lasts for 2 minutes.
• It uses a lot less of the brush motors power to be more gentle on and to stimulate the gums.
• This mode has essentially been replaced with the Sensitive mode.
• Ideally suited to those with very sensitive teeth and gums, but want to benefit from the additional cleaning power and efficacy of an electric toothbrush.
• Those experiencing gum disease or gum recession will likely find this mode most useful.

You should note, that with most Sonicare electric toothbrushes the brush will turn itself off automatically at the end of the cleaning cycle.

The vast majority of brushes also have a quadpacer/30 second timer built in that works in conjunction with the 2 minute timer to encourage you to brush evenly around the mouth.  For longer cleaning modes, this pacer may kick in at different times.

Most Sonicare brushes will when turned on default to the last cleaning mode used on the brush unless you manually change it or the fitting of a BrushSync compatible head forces a mode change.

Sonicare cleaning mode comparison chart

The following chart summarises the information provided above.

An explanation of power delivery: the number of brush strokes and movements

Sonicare electric toothbrushes use a ‘sonic’ cleaning action, which is slightly different to the oscillating-rotating technology that the likes of Oral-B use.

This kind of toothbrush uses 2 methods to clean the teeth.

The first is a mechanical side-to-side cleaning motion of the bristles to remove plaque by essentially sweeping and scrubbing the surfaces, like a manual brush (although the motor moves the bristles, not you).

The second is a non-contact approach that uses the sonic technology to disrupt plaque beyond the tips of the bristles.

To be a sonic toothbrush, the motion or vibration from the brush has to be quick enough to produce a ‘humming’  sound that is within the audible range of the human ear (20 Hz to 20,000 Hz).

This intense vibration agitates fluids that surround the teeth and can loosen and remove dental plaque in locations that are beyond the physical touch of the toothbrush.

It was Philips, under the Sonicare brand, that first brought this to market in 1992, although others like Colgate & Omron now use this technology too.

In theory, the more speed the motor has the more effective the clean is, because the bristles move more frequently over the tooth and gum surfaces.

However, it is not all about speed, the technique has a big part to play, but that is a different topic, for another article.

The vast majority of Sonicare models offer 31,000 brush strokes and 62,000 movements. There are some exceptions to this though.

31,000 brush strokes/62,000 movements

A really important point to pick up on and explain is the 31,000 brush strokes and 62,000 movements. Sonicare often refers to these when they talk about the speed and performance of their brushes.

For many years Sonicare stated 31,000 brush strokes, this has changed in more recent times to instead quoting 62,000 movements within their sales documentation.

62,000 sounds better than 31,000 doesn’t it?

I wouldn’t blame you for thinking it was better and maybe a newer technology.

As we understand it, they are essentially the same thing. 1 brush stroke is equal to 2 movements. (31,000 x 2 = 62,000).

But, there is a bit of a catch.

Some newer brushes, such as the 1100, 2100, 3100 and 4100 Series are listed as having 31,000 brush strokes only. They don't achieve the 62,000 movements.

This is because the motors are configured differently.

Sonicare doesn't share the technical explanation, but premium Sonicare models are programmed with an extra dimension to the brushing experience that allows the 62,000 movements to be achieved.

As a result, certain models, do give a brushing sensation that feels less intense compared to some other Sonicare toothbrushes.

Technically, more power or movements does mean better cleaning results.  But, it isn’t quite as simple as this, there are more factors at play.

The lesser power on offer here isn’t immediately obvious. Even for me and I have tested hundreds of brushes. The brushing sensation is slightly different. It is most noticeable if you have used other premium Sonicare toothbrushes before

It is easy to get led by the numbers. Whilst they can have a bearing, for most it isn't that significant.

Power delivery and cleaning modes

From my very own hands-on testing, it is clear that the 'power' of the brush differs, depending on what mode you have selected.

Sonicare themselves acknowledge that the Sensitive cleaning mode, for example, is more gentle than the clean mode.  

I was therefore keen to know if the clean mode makes use of all the power from the brush motor (31,000 brush strokes per minute/62,000 movements), how much power do all of the other cleaning modes use?

To me, it seems like the Sensitive mode operates at about 15,000 strokes per minute.

Naturally, Sonicare deems a lot of this information to be confidential and getting a clear answer hasn't been possible.

However, I have gained some useful insights to better understand how the 'power' differs with each mode.

What I call 'power' is actually made up of 2 different variables. They are amplitude and frequency.

• Amplitude is the maximum distance covered (or the sweep angle) by the power toothbrush bristles during their cycle of movement. This is usually defined in terms of mm (distance) or degrees (angle).
• Frequency is defined as the number of cycles the power toothbrush bristles move within a unit of time (i.e. 1 Hz: 120 strokes per minute)

Sonicare technology is based on the unique movement (disclosed in the famous original Sonicare patent) thanks to an optimal combination of high frequency and high amplitude.

By changing either the amplitude or the frequency; or varying one or both of them during the brushing cycle, the different cleaning/brushing modes are achieved. E.g. Gentle/Sensitive modes will operate at a lower amplitude than Clean mode.

Brushing intensity

It should be noted that some Sonicare models have the option to change the intensity of the brushing motion.

Depending on the model this can vary between 2 or 3 different power intensity settings.

You will either have a low and high setting or a low, medium and high.

Many models will have an LED indicator to help clearly show what intensity has been selected.

• Low: 1 LED indicator light.
• Medium: 2 LED indicator lights.
• High: 3 LED indicator lights.

The user manual will advise what intensity achieves the best effect on each cleaning mode.

In the case of BrushSync handles and heads, the intensity will automatically be set for you.

However, you have the ability to change the intensity allows you to find a brushing sensation that is best for you.

Depending on the model, depends on how exactly this is done. There is often a separate intensity button, or the power button is used to change this, once powered on.

Easy-Start

A very neat feature, that appeals to new electric toothbrush users, is the Easy-Start technology that Sonicare builds into brushes.

The Easy-start feature gently increases the power over the first 14 brushings to help you get used to the brushing with the Philips Sonicare toothbrush.

Providing each of the 14 brushing sessions last for at least 1 minute, the brush will properly advance through the Easy-start ramp-up cycle.

At the end of the 14 days, the brush will operate at full intensity, unless you alter this, or switch off the easy-start feature sooner.

You don't need to use special brush heads

Theoretically, you can use any Sonicare brush head on any of the cleaning modes.

Technically there is nothing stopping you using the Tongue Care+ brush on the Deep Clean mode or a DiamondClean brush head when using the Tongue cleaning mode.

Most brush heads on any mode are going to deliver a good standard of cleaning and be far better than a manual brush or nothing at all!

However, certain brush heads are better suited to certain modes.

For example, the W2 Optimal White brush head will deliver the best results when used on the White/White+ cleaning mode.

Check out our guide to Sonicare brush heads to learn which heads are best suited to which mode, but the following graphic gives you a quick reference point.

You should be aware that if you are using a Sonicare toothbrush that has BrushSync technology depending on which brush head is fitted, the brush will automatically select the ‘best’ mode unless overridden by you as the user.

	A3 Premium All-in-One	C1 ProResults	C2 Optimal Plaque Defence	C3 Premium Plaque Defence	G2 Optimal Gum Care	G3 Premium Gum Care	W2 Optimal White	W3 Premium White	T1 TongueCare+
About	The only brush head you need. 20x more plaque removal than a manual brush. Triangular tipped bristles whiten teeth and side bristles encourage healthier gums.	All round cleaning with contoured profile to naturally fit the profile of the teeth and improve overall plaque removal.	Optimal plaque removal, 7 times more effective than a manual brush the specially curved power tip makes reaching the teeth at the back of your mouth a breeze.	Deepest clean with flexible sides and unique bristle pattern. 4 times more surface contact. Automatically selects optimal cleaning mode for the best results.	Densely-packed, high-quality tufts easily reach teeth at the back of the mouth. Also features a gentle trim profile to cushion teeth for an extra gentle brushing experience.	Absorbs excess cleaning pressure to protect the gums. 2 times more surface contact. Automatically selects optimal cleaning mode for the best results.	Effective surface stain removal offers up to a 100% whiter smile in just 7 days thanks to the Diamond shaped bristles.	Helps whiten teeth in just 3 days by removing plaque and surface stains. 4 times more surface contact.	240 microbristles for a gentle deep clean of the soft and porous surface of the tongue.
Everyday brushing solution	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Specialty brushing solution?					Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Cleaning modes best suited	Clean	Clean, DeepClean+, DeepClean	Clean, DeepClean+, DeepClean	Clean, DeepClean+, DeepClean	Gum Health, Sensitive, Massage	Gum Health, Sensitive, Massage	White+, White, Polish	White+, White, Polish	TongueClean, Clean
BrushSync compatible*	Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Compatible with all handles**	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Sonicare brushes are labelled with the cleaning modes they have

Unlike Oral-B who use a series of icons on their brush handle as labels for their cleaning modes, Sonicare brush handles usually have the name, written in text on the brush handle.

As the mode is selected, it is normally lit up/illuminated by a light within the handle, so it is very clear and easy to see exactly what mode you have switched on.

Comparing Sonicare electric toothbrushes and the modes they come with

The following Sonicare electric toothbrush comparison chart shows the main brushes available and how they compare. 

You can see which brushing modes each toothbrush has as well as checking whether or not it has a two minute timer and pacer.

Our Sonicare toothbrush comparisons page also features in depth articles comparing popular brushes to one another.

Number of cleaning modes
Clean
Sensitive
Gum
White
Deep Clean
Tongue
Other modes
Brushing intensities
Timer
Pacer
Pressure Sensor
Pressure Sensor Additional information
BrushSync
Battery life
Travel case included
Charging travel case
Bluetooth connectivity
Position tracking

Philips Sonicare 1100 Series	Philips Sonicare 2100 Series	Philips Sonicare 3100 Series	Philips Sonicare 4100 Series	Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300	Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100	Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6100	Philips Sonicare ExpertClean 7300	Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000	Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9700	Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9900 Prestige
1	1	1	2	1	3	3	3	4	5	5
-	-	-		-	-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-			-
-	-	-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-		-
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	2	-	3	3	3	3	3
30 second quadpacer	30 second quadpacer	30 second quadpacer	30 second quadpacer	30 second quadpacer	30 second quadpacer	30 second quadpacer	30 second quadpacer	20 second sextants	20 second sextants	20 second sextants
-	-
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
-	-	Brush head replacement reminder	Brush head replacement reminder	Brush head replacement reminder	Brush head replacement reminder	Brush head replacement reminder & brush head mode pairing	Brush head replacement reminder & brush head mode pairing	Brush head replacement reminder & brush head mode pairing	Brush head replacement reminder & brush head mode pairing	Brush head replacement reminder
14 days	14 days	14 days	14 days	14 days	14 days	14 days	14 days	14 days	14 days	14 days
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

The most popular models have been included in the table above — other variants exist.