Making the switch from a manual toothbrush to an electric one can improve your overall oral health by nearly 30%. With all of the options out there, how do you pick the right toothbrush? This guide will compare the features of Sonicare 2 v the Sonicare 3 to help you decide which one will be the right choice for your needs.
Things to Consider About Electric Toothbrushes
Before you invest in a new toothbrush, there are a few things to consider first. These are some of the things that surprise people about electric toothbrushes:
| BEST VALUE | ||
|---|---|---|
| Series 2 | Series 3 | |
  |   | |
 |  | |
| Brush Heads | 1 | 1 |
| Modes | 1 | 3 |
| Technology Used | Sonic | Sonic |
| Battery Life and Voltage | 2 Weeks | 3 Weeks |
| Pressure Sensor |  | |
| Mouth Quadrant Timer | |  |
| 2 Minute Brushing Timer | | |
| Extra Features | None | None |
| Accessories | Charger | Charger/Travel Case |
| Price |  | |
Sonicare 2 Series Electric Toothbrush
 |   |
|---|---|
| Brush Heads | 1 |
| Modes | 1 |
| Technology Used | Sonic |
| Battery Life and Voltage | 2 weeks (110-220 volts) |
| Pressure Sensor | |
| UV Sanitizer | |
| Tongue Cleaning Mode | |
| 2 Minute Brushing Timer | |
| Mouth Quadrant Timer | |
| Brush Head Replacement Indicator | |
| Accessories | Charging Stand |
| International Usage | |
| Price | |
- Simple and easy to use
- Power slowly builds up to adjust your gums
- Compact
- Convenient for travel
- Battery last a long time
- Brush head is easy to remove
- Can be noisy during use
- Not powerful enough
- Only has one cleaning mode
This is an affordable and easy to use electric toothbrush. It comes with strong cleaning power yet is simple. These are some of it’s great features to help you decide if this is the toothbrush for you.
Powerful Cleaning Power
Sonic toothbrushes are known for their powerful brushing. This toothbrush comes with p to 31,000 brush strokes per minute, depending on how long you’ve been using the toothbrush. This power is more efficient at breaking up plaque and bacteria off your teeth so that you can have healthier teeth and gums.
2-Minute Timer
Dentist recommend a minimum of 2 minutes of brushing each time. If you brush your teeth for less than this, then you won’t break the bonds that hold the bacteria and plaque onto your teeth.
This toothbrush comes with a timer that shuts off the toothbrush after you’ve been brushing for 2 minutes. It also has a quad spacer that Beeps every 30 seconds to let you know when to switch quadrants.
Easy Start
This feature slowly increases the power of the toothbrush over the first 14 uses. This is a great feature if you have sensitive or bleeding gums. It will gradually adjust your gums to more power so that they can get used to a stronger toothbrush. This slow adjustment will help your gums to not bleed when the toothbrush goes to a higher speed.
ProResults Plaque Control Brush Head
This brush head is specially designed to remove plaque from your teeth. The bristles are curved to fit the shape of your teeth and the bristles at the tip are able to get the hard to reach areas. The blue bristles start to fade to let you know when it’s time to change your brush head.
Long Battery Life
The battery takes a full day to charge but it’ll last up to 2 weeks on just one charge. This makes it easy to take it when you travel or if you go to an area where there are no power outlets.
Compact Charger
The charging base is only slightly bigger than the toothbrush handle. This compact and convenient storage is a great feature if you have little countertop space. It’ll take up minimal space while charging. The toothbrush can also be stored upright to prevent germs from getting to the brush head.
Comes in Different Colors
The handle comes in several different colors. You can customize your toothbrush and pick from a color that matches your taste. Choose from white, coral, steel blue, black, and guacamole.
Philips Sonicare 3 Series Electric Toothbrush
|   |
|---|---|
| Brush Heads | 1 |
| Modes | 3 |
| Technology Used | Sonic |
| Battery Life and Voltage | 3 weeks (110-220 volts) |
| Pressure Sensor | |
| UV Sanitizer | |
| Tongue Cleaning Mode | |
| 2 Minute Brushing Timer | |
| Mouth Quadrant Timer | |
| Brush Head Replacement Indicator | |
| Accessories | Charging Stand/Travel Case |
| International Usage | |
| Price | |
- Lightweight
- Quiet during operation
- Battery last a long time
- Great for camping or traveling
- Comes with a hard travel case
- Timer helps you brush long enough
- Has 30 second quadrant timer so you know when to switch spots
- Not enough power
- Battery can wear down quickly
- Takes awhile to get used to vibration
This is another great option if you’re wanting to purchase an electric toothbrush. It has several features that you’ll find convenient. Here’s a guide to the Sonicare 3’s features to help you decide if this is the right choice for you.
Long Lasting Battery
The battery will take up to one full day to charge or at least overnight. After it’s fully charged you can expect it to last about 3 weeks. If you travel a lot then you won’t have to worry about bringing a charger. This is also convenient if you travel to places that don’t have electrical outlets such as if you go camping or backpacking.
Compact Design
The toothbrush can be stored upright to prevent germs from getting to the brush head. It also takes up just a small amount of space on your counter. Since you don’t have to worry about charging that often, you can even store the charger under the sink. This is a great option if you have a small bathroom or minimal counter space.
2-Minute Timer
Most people don’t brush long enough which will lead to poor oral health. Dentist recommend 2 minutes of brushing at least twice a day to help break up and remove bacteria and plaque from your teeth. The 2-minute timer will shut the toothbrush off when you’ve brushed long enough.
It also has a 30-second quad spacer that will beep to let you know when to switch quadrants in your mouth. This will ensure you brush all of your teeth for an equal amount of time.
ProResults Gum Health Brush Head
This brush head is specially designed to gently remove plaque from your gumline. It also provide for gentle cleaning of your teeth and gums. This is an added benefit for those that suffer from bleeding, sensitive gums.
Travel Case
The toothbrush comes with a hard travel case to store it in. This makes it more convenient to travel with your toothbrush. Also, the hard case will protect your toothbrush if you travel a lot.
3 Intensity Settings
Choose from low, medium, and high for your different needs. If you have sensitive teeth and gums, then you should start off at the low setting. The different levels of brushing power makes it so you can gradually work your way up to higher intensity while brushing. This is a great feature if you suffer from bleeding gums since you can slowly adjust your gums to more brushing power.
Similarities Between These Toothbrushes
When comparing the Sonicare 2 v the Sonicare 3 you’ll notice that they are similar in many ways. Here are some of the convenient features that both of these toothbrushes have in common.
Battery Lasts A Long Time
One of the most loved features of these toothbrushes is that they have a long battery life. You charge it for a full day and then you can expect the battery to last 2-3 weeks or even longer. This is a great feature for those of you who travel a lot. You won’t have to worry about charging your toothbrush while you’re gone.
Timer to Help You Brush Long Enough
In order to completely remove bacteria and plaque from your teeth, you need to brush a minimum of 2 minutes per brushing. However, studies show that most people who use a manual toothbrush greatly overestimate how long they brush for. One of the most liked features of both of the Sonicare 2 and Sonicare 3 is that they come with a 2-minute timer.
This will help you brush your teeth long enough to effectively remove plaque and bacteria. Over time, you’ll notice that your teeth and gums are healthier.
Powerful Cleaning
Both of these toothbrushes have powerful cleaning abilities with up to 31,000 brush strokes per minute. A manual toothbrush can only do about 400 brush strokes per minute or less, depending on the user. You can see how much more powerful these toothbrushes are and can more effectively clean your teeth.
Compact Design
Both of these toothbrushes take up little space on your counter. They would be a good choice if you have little counter space or if you share your counter space with several other people. The toothbrushes can also be stored upright to prevent germs from getting to the brush head.
Differences Between These Toothbrushes
When you compare the Sonicare Series 2 and the Sonicare Series 3, you’ll notice that they share most of the same features. This can be difficult if you’re trying to pick out a toothbrush. Here you can see what features are different between the two.
Gradually Adjust Your Gums with Easy Start
The Sonicare 2 has an Easy Start feature. This means that the toothbrush will start off with much less power and then gradually increase the brush strokes per minute over the course of 14 days. This will help your gums slowly adjust to more powerful cleaning and reduce gum soreness.
Different Power Settings for Sensitive Gums
If you have sensitive teeth and gums then the Sonicare 3 has 3 different power settings. You can choose between low, medium, and high depending on your brushing needs. This is a great feature for those that get sore gums after brushing or have bleeding gums.
Travel Case If You Travel A Lot
If you travel a lot then the Sonicare 3 has a hard travel case that makes travellng a little more convenient. The case is hard, which is a great feature to protect your toothbrush during those flights. The case also protects your brush head from getting dirt or debris on it while it’s packed away.
Which Toothbrush Is the Best?
Both the Sonicare 2 and the Sonicare 3 share some great features that will make having better oral health a little easier. If you have sensitive teeth then you should go with the Sonicare 3 since it has 3 different intensity settings for you to choose from. The Sonicare 3 also comes with a convenient travel case for those that travel a lot for work or leisure.
The Sonicare 3 has several more popular features and is an affordable option for those looking to make the switch to an electric toothbrush. These are a few of the reasons that most people would agree that the Sonicare 3 is the better choice when having to pick from the Sonicare 2 v Sonicare 3.
The Different Kinds of Electric Toothbrushes
If you’ve decided to make the switch from a manual toothbrush but are overwhelmed with all of the options, the first thing you should do is see which type will work for you. These are the main types of electric toothbrushes available:
How to Pick Out an Electric Toothbrush
If you’ve decided to make the switch to an electric toothbrush for better oral health then great! But, how do you sort through the endless options to find the right one for you? Here are a few questions you should ask yourself to figure out which one is right for you:
Is an Electric Toothbrush Better Than A Manual One?
There have been over 30 clinical studies done on the effects of an electric toothbrush and they all share the same conclusion-electric toothbrushes are better at cleaning your teeth than a manual one. There are a few reasons why an electric toothbrush is better than a manual one.
Removes More Plaque
Electric toothbrushes are much more efficient at breaking apart plaque. They are able to do this because of the 1000’s of brush strokes they produce per minute. Studies have found that when compared to a manual toothbrush, those who used an electric toothbrush had 21% less plaque build up.
Decreases Gingivitis
These same studies also found that those who used an electric toothbrush had 11% less gingivitis than those who used a manual one. That’s because an electric toothbrush is much more powerful and can help break the bonds that hold bacteria to your teeth.
It’s also most likely because it takes a minimum of 2 minutes of brushing to help break up bacteria and plaque off your teeth. Most people who use a manual toothbrush don’t brush for the recommended amount of time. Most electric toothbrushes come with a 2-minute timer to help you brush longer.
Does the Work for You
Many people have a hard time cleaning their teeth because they simply don’t have the strength to brush their teeth. An electric toothbrush does all the work for you. All you have to do is hold it in place and move it around so that it can clean all of your teeth.
Will an Electric Toothbrush Whiten My Teeth?
Many people have noticed a whiter smile after making the switch from a manual toothbrush to an electric one. In fact, when used with a good whitening toothpaste, you can expect to whiten your smile by 1 to 2 shades. Keep in mind that any type of whitening product will only work on extrinsic teeth stains.
These types of stains are only on the outer layer of your tooth called the enamel. They are caused by food, drink, and tobacco use. Extrinsic stains are typically yellow so if you have brown or grey teeth then talk to your dentist to see if there are any whitening options for you.