Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige Electric Toothbrush, 1 Brush Head, Blue

Why it's worth it

Philips's flagship sonic brush drives up to 62,000 bristle movements per minute and uses SenseIQ to read pressure, motion, and coverage up to 100 times a second. When you push too hard, it dials itself back instead of just blinking at you.

Sonic brushes feel completely different from Oral-B's, and for some people that's the whole argument. Instead of a head that twists tooth by tooth, you get a high-frequency buzz that drives toothpaste and saliva between your teeth and along the gumline. Philips calls it Fluid Action. If you've tried an oscillating brush and found the sensation too aggressive on your gums, this is the one to try next.

SenseIQ is the smartest pressure system in this lineup. Most brushes flash a light and leave the correcting to you. The 9900 Prestige actually reduces its own intensity when you bear down, then lights a ring at the base of the handle so you know why. For anyone with receding gums or a heavy hand — the group most at risk of abrasion — automatic correction beats a warning you can ignore.

From our review of 8 dentist-recommended electric toothbrushes, by Eleanor Vance, Health & Beauty Editor

What we like

• +Sonic brushes feel completely different from Oral-B's, and for some people that's the whole argument
• +SenseIQ is the smartest pressure system in this lineup
• +You get five modes and three intensity levels, which works out to 15 combinations, and a travel case that charges the brush…
• +The A3 Premium All-in-One head is a sensible default

What to know

• –Durability is the real worry here, and we won't soften it
• –Some of the interface leans too hard on the app