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How to use a Philips Sonicare toothbrush

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In short

Wet the bristles, add a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste and place the head against your teeth before switching on. Hold the bristles at a slight angle towards the gumline, press lightly and glide slowly over each tooth, letting the brush do the work. Move to the next quarter of your mouth when the Quadpacer pauses every 30 seconds, and stop when the two-minute timer ends. Spit, but do not rinse.

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A Philips Sonicare cleans with fast side-to-side vibration rather than scrubbing, so the technique is different from a manual brush and from Oral-B's round heads. If you are new to Sonicare, the strong buzz can feel odd at first, and many people press too hard. This guide explains how to hold the brush, how to move it, what the pauses and lights mean and how to use modes and intensities. It applies to most Sonicare models, from the 3100 to the DiamondClean and Prestige ranges.

Before you start

Charge the handle fully before first use, as the manual describes. Click the head firmly onto the shaft so there is no gap. Wet the bristles and add a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste, which is what the NHS advises for adults.

Put the head in your mouth before you press the power button, to avoid splashing toothpaste around the bathroom. Our article on how long to charge an electric toothbrush covers first charges.

Step by step

These steps follow the general technique Philips describes. Check your manual for details on your model.

Sonicside-to-sideOscillating-rotatingrotates back and forthMakers state the speed as movements per minute; counting methods differ between brands.
Sonic heads sweep side to side; oscillating heads rotate back and forth. Speed is stated in movements per minute.
  1. 1

    Place the bristles against your teeth at a slight angle towards the gumline.

  2. 2

    Switch on.

  3. 3

    Press lightly; the bristles should just touch.

  4. 4

    Glide the head slowly over each tooth in small back and forth movements, holding it for a moment on each tooth.

  5. 5

    When the brush pauses at 30 seconds, move to the next quarter of your mouth.

  6. 6

    Cover outer, inner and chewing surfaces in each quarter.

  7. 7

    When the timer stops at two minutes, spit out the toothpaste. Do not rinse.

The Quadpacer and SmarTimer

The Quadpacer gives a short pause or change in sound every 30 seconds. It is a prompt to move to the next quarter, so you spend roughly equal time on each. The SmarTimer switches the brush off at two minutes, matching the NHS advice to brush for about two minutes twice a day.

If your Sonicare seems to stop after 30 seconds, that is usually the Quadpacer pause, not a fault. See why does my electric toothbrush pause every 30 seconds?.

Pressure: let the brush do the work

The most common mistake with Sonicare is pressing too hard, which reduces the vibration and can be rough on gums. Many models have a pressure sensor; on premium handles a light ring flashes when you press too hard, and on the Prestige 9900 SenseIQ also lowers the intensity automatically.

If the light comes on, ease off until it stops. Our article on toothbrush pressure sensors explains how they work.

Easy-start, modes and intensity

Many Sonicare handles have Easy-start, which builds up the power gradually over the first brushes so you can get used to the feel. Check the manual for how many brushes it lasts and how to switch it off.

Models with modes, such as Clean, White+, Gum Health and Deep Clean+ on the DiamondClean 9000, are changed with a mode button. Models with intensity levels let you pick low, medium or high. Start on Clean at a lower intensity and move up when you are comfortable. Our electric toothbrush modes explained article covers what each mode does.

After brushing

Rinse the head under the tap and switch the brush on briefly in water if your manual suggests it. Pop the head off once a week and rinse the shaft to stop toothpaste building up. Store the brush upright to dry.

Change the head about every three months, as the NHS advises, or sooner if the bristles splay. BrushSync handles remind you when it is time. See Sonicare brush heads explained and how to clean an electric toothbrush.

Choosing a Sonicare

If you are still choosing, our best sonic electric toothbrush guide compares premium Sonicare handles, and Philips Sonicare models compared explains the differences between the DiamondClean, Smart and Prestige lines.

Compare Sonicare brushes →

Frequently asked questions

Should I move a Sonicare like a manual brush? No. Glide slowly and let the vibration do the cleaning; scrubbing reduces its effect.

Why does my new Sonicare feel weak? Easy-start may be on, building power over the first brushes.

Can I use a Sonicare with braces? Many people do; follow your orthodontist's advice. See can you use an electric toothbrush with braces?.

Should I rinse after brushing? The NHS advises spitting out toothpaste rather than rinsing, so the fluoride stays on your teeth longer.

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