Included in the box is a single brush head. Oral-B’s oscillating-rotating brush heads are smaller than the sonic ones from the likes of Sonicare and can feel quite aggressive in comparison. They do make it easy to reach the tightest of spaces, though. This is common amongst electric toothbrushes, but it has not been designed to be easily repaired by yourself. Trying to replace parts like the battery will likely break the brush. This makes it more likely to be discarded rather than repaired if broken. Unlike some brushes, the Pro 3 3500 doesn’t power off automatically. This may be a disappointment to some, but it’s not a big issue. The visible pressure sensor will alert you when you are brushing too hard Its brush heads are made from petroleum-based plastic, which uses up the planet’s finite resources compared to using plant-based plastics.

Oral-B's round head surrounds each tooth for cleaner teeth and healthier gums, removing up to 100% more plaque vs. a manual toothbrush

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The pacer momentarily pauses the brushing action every 30 seconds to tell you to move on to the next part of the mouth. After 2 minutes the alert changes slightly to tell you that you have brushed for long enough. When low, the battery notification LED will flash red and you may notice the motor slow. A full recharge takes up to 12 hours. The battery LED will flash green whilst charging, before turning off once complete. There are cheaper alternatives from Oral-B and other lesser known brands but these come with compromises.

The Lithium-Ion battery holds a charge that can last more than two weeks. The charging station is small enough to fit on a bathroom counter or sink. For the vast majority of us, 1 cleaning mode is all we need. I don’t use all 7 modes on my iO Series 9. Typically, my recommended model, the Pro 3 3500 is the same price if not cheaper than the Pro 3 3000.It will stand upright on a countertop and strategically placed raised dots on the rear of the handle prevent the brush from rolling along a flat countertop. We don’t have an extensive list of must-have features, but there are a few that our in-house dentists feel are really worthwhile: a 2 minute timer, a pacer and a pressure sensor. These are included in all but the cheapest of brushes these days. The 2 minute timer and pacer help you clean your teeth evenly Scrubbing and using lots of force as you brush will damage the teeth and gums over the long term. Oral-B has for many years built pressure sensors into their toothbrushes and the Pro 3 is no exception. A positive consequence is the water resistant handle can be rinsed under the tap and easily cleaned off. You don’t get grime building up as it did in the contoured rubber grips.