Oral-B ProfessionalCare SmartSeries 4000

Clinical studies demonstrate that Oral-B's rotating/oscillating/pulsating motion cleans teeth more effectively than the methods employed by other types of electric toothbrushes. The Oral-B ProfessionalCare line is especially popular with experts and users alike, thanks to its two-minute timer and built-in pressure sensor, which warns users when they are brushing too hard. The SmartSeries 4000 replaces the popular Triumph 9400. While the SmartSeries 4000 includes a couple of upgrades over the outgoing Triumph (an additional whitening mode and three brush heads instead of one), it otherwise carries over the same technology. Reviewers commend the long battery life, which lasts more than two weeks between recharges. The step-up Oral-B ProfessionalCare SmartSeries 5000 (*Est. $135) adds a separate wireless display that shows you your brushing time, remaining battery life and signals when you are brushing too hard. If you prefer a more affordable electric toothbrush, the Oral-B Vitality (*Est. $18) is also highly rated by experts and users.

The Oral-B ProfessionalCare SmartSeries 4000 is too new to market to have received many reviews, but we found abundant praise for its predecessor, the Triumph 9400, which is nearly identical and, as previously noted, relies on the same technology. The most reliable review comes from Which? magazine, a British publication that tests 12 electric toothbrushes and finds the European version of the Triumph to be the best performer. The clinical studies we found presented testing data well, but are less reliable because they were funded by Procter & Gamble, the manufacturer of Oral-B toothbrushes. User reviews at Amazon.com give good insight into real-world experience.