Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300 Review

An affordable sonic toothbrush from a recognised brand, the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300 toothbrush has several very useful features. Is the Sonicare brush effective, or should you look elsewhere for your next toothbrush?

First Glance

The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean comes with a convenient travel. It has a pressure sensor, two-week battery life and brush head replacement alerts. It also includes a two-minute timer, split into 30 second intervals.

Pros

• Smart brush head replacement alert
• Pressure sensor and brushing timers
• Convenient travel case for when you spend time away from home

Cons

• May not clean as effectively as other electric toothbrushes
• Expensive replacement toothbrush heads
• Unreliable charging

About the brand

Founded in 1892, Philips is far from being a newcomer to the consumer technology market. Over the years, the brand has put its name to all sorts of technology equipment. You may have owned Philips TVs and music players, smartphones, shavers and grooming products, and even Philips lightbulbs for your home.

Sonicare toothbrushes were originally created by the Optiva Corporation. Philips took over in 2000.

Today, you can choose from a range of Philips Sonicare brushes. Some of the most basic brushes start at roughly £35, whilst their more expensive ones have an RRP of around £350. The more you pay, the more features your toothbrush will have.

You’ve probably trusted Philips products for years. Is a Philips Sonicare toothbrush another product worth having in your home?

What’s in the box?

Inside the box, you’ll find your toothbrush and the charging stand. You’ll also find a travel case that you can use to protect your toothbrush when you’re going away for the weekend.

The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean charger features a 2-pin shaving plug. This is typical for electric brushes, though it does mean that you might need to buy an adaptor before you can use it.

You’ll only get one Philips Sonicare brush head with your brand new toothbrush. You’ll need to replace your brush head roughly every few months, and there’s a smart system to show you when to do that. New brush heads cost almost £25 for a pack of four, which is significantly higher than replacement brush heads for many other electric toothbrush brands.

Look and Feel

The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300 is available in three different colours. You can buy it in black, light blue or pink. The brush is slim and stylish, and certainly looks the part. All three colours will look great on a bathroom shelf, though it is worth noting that whichever colour you buy the toothbrush heads that are provided are white.

The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean is also relatively slim. This makes it very easy to hold and comfortable when used for several minutes.

Effectiveness

If you’ve owned a toothbrush with oscillating brush heads, the Philips Sonicare may disappoint you. Oscillating brushes use circular motions to clean your teeth very effectively. Sonic toothbrushes use side-to-side vibrations, and these have a habit of not working as well to clear the plaque from your teeth. Even a solid brand, like Philips, seems to fall short with their sonic toothbrush.

Many people that use the Philips Sonicare say that it leaves their teeth fuzzy, or that they need a more thorough clean when they next visit their dentist.

Two different cleaning modes give you an element of choice. One, however, seems incredibly weak whilst the other seems a bit overpowered. Even with the overpowered option, you might struggle to do a good job.

The Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush features a pressure sensor. Your toothbrush stops automatically if you’re applying too much pressure. Whilst this protects your gums, you’re likely to find that you should barely touch your teeth at all. Even the slightest pressure on your teeth and gums will cause this brush to cut out. The idea is to only very gently rest the bristles on your teeth.

A two-minute timer helps you to make sure that your cleaning for as long as you should. Split into 30 second segments, it also helps with brushing each quadrant of your mouth for the right amount of time.

The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean is certainly better than cleaning with a manual brush, though you’re likely to find that it isn’t as effective as you’d hoped.

Battery Life

The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300 advertises a two-week battery life. Many people find that this is accurate, when the toothbrush is new. However, over time the battery will degrade and the brush will need charging more often.

After a few months of use, you’re likely to find that your Sonicare isn’t holding charge. You may need to charge your toothbrush twice a week. After a year or two, the brush may stop charging completely.

The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean brush isn’t particularly cheap, which means that battery problems could come as a nasty surprise. The price doesn’t make this a disposable option, so problems with charging will need to be factored into your decision to buy.

Price

The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300 is far from the most expensive toothbrush on the market. It has an RRP of £139.99, though you can typically find it on special offer for about £60.

Whilst the Sonicare isn’t especially expensive, it also isn’t particularly cheap. There are many other sonic toothbrushes that do a similar job for a fraction of the price, so it could be argued that with this brush you’re paying for a well-known brand name. You don’t get many features, only two brushing settings and just a basic travel case in the box.

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You’ll want to factor in the cost of replacement toothbrush heads. They’re almost double the price of most others, which can really add to ongoing maintenance costs. Expect to pay somewhere around £23 for a set of four replacement brush heads, unless you choose to buy compatible heads from a cheaper manufacturer.

Though you won’t spend a fortune on the Sonicare ProtectiveClean, arguably you could look elsewhere to get a lot more for your money.

Using the Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300 with clear aligners

The Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300 won’t just clean your teeth, but can also help to clean your aligners if you’re going through teeth straightening treatment. It’s important to clean your aligners every day so that they stay free from bacteria and germs that could make you ill or damage your gums. Regular cleaning also helps to keep your aligners stain-free.

Different providers of clear aligners provide different cleaning recommendations. Some will suggest that you just use water and others will suggest a mild soap. Be sure to follow the recommendations, and not to use water that’s too hot as your aligners might change shape. Using an electric toothbrush ensures efficient cleaning without force that could damage your aligners.

In very rare cases, providers recommend that you clean aligners with a manual toothbrush. This is important if your aligners are softer. Some aligners might break if an electric toothbrush is used. If you’re in doubt, contact your aligner manufacturer.

Final Verdict

There’s nothing particularly impressive about this Philips Sonicare toothbrush. Whilst it’s a great step up from a manual brush, there are far better options available. The sonic toothbrush technology isn’t all that effective, and the price of this toothbrush is quite high. Whilst you might be willing to sacrifice some cleaning power for a cheaper toothbrush, you may not be so happy with sub-par cleaning when you’ve spent so much on the Sonicare.

The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300 is a great-looking brush, and the travel case is a convenient and useful addition, though you’re likely to find that the advertised battery life isn’t really all that achievable. So, if you are going on holiday, remember to pack your charging stand.

The Sonicare has several useful features. You’ll get reminders when it’s time to change your toothbrush head, and the two-minute timer includes 30-second quadrant intervals. That said, the brush’s pressure sensor means that your toothbrush will often cut out if you press it to your teeth. Rather than being a useful feature, this can lead to frustration in the morning.

Shop around. Consider a cheaper sonic toothbrush without the Philips name attached, or look for a toothbrush with oscillating heads for a more effective daily clean. Most people will find that there are better brushes than the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300.