Each judge then used the ProtectiveClean 6100 with the standard brush for the recommended two minutes and compared the before and after results to see just how well the ProtectiveClean 6100 did at pulverizing plaque. As with other models, there’s a two-minute timer, with a pulse every 30 seconds encouraging you to move onto the next quadrant.

Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6100 Electric Toothbrush with Travel Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6100 Electric Toothbrush with

This toothbrush did do well in our cleaning assessments, removing the vast majority of the accumulated plaque in our tests, but isn't the most convenient to use and has a mediocre battery life. Press too hard while brushing and you get a pulse through the brush handle warning you to loosen up. Lastly, we ranked and scored the battery life of each toothbrush by running them for a standard cleaning cycle twice a day until they died. We had the same panel of judges skip brushing their teeth in the morning to let a substantial amount of plaque accumulate, then used a chewable plaque disclosing tablet to stain it bright pink. The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6100 finished in the middle of the group overall and just behind the Oral-B Pro 1000.

As with most electric toothbrushes, the ProtectiveClean 6100 has a built-in timer that will pulse every 30 seconds to encourage you to move onto the next quadrant of your teeth. The ProtectiveClean 6100 ships with two of Philips’W2 Optimal White brush heads, which have bristles around the outside for getting in between teeth, and a pad inside for whitening and polishing. In terms of battery life, we found the ProtectiveClean 6100 lasted around three weeks between charges, which - in our opinion - is superb.

Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6100 Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6100

Most of our judges rated this toothbrush very highly, finding it to be solidly comfortable, with even our judges with sensitive gums giving it their stamp of approval. It also has a pressure sensor that will slow the vibrations of the brush down if you are brushing with too much force — something that is surprisingly easy to do. If you start taking it out on your gums, the toothbrush will make a pulsing sound as a reminder to ease off on the pressure.Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year. These record when you attach the brush head for the first time and keeps track of how long you’ve been using it so the toothbrush can then give you a warning when it’s time to switch it out for a new one. The older Philips Sonicare DiamondClean comes with far better accessories, including a charging travel case.