Comparison Oral-B Vitality Pro D103 vs Oral-B Pro 500 Cross Action

The number of operating modes provided in the device. For flossing systems (see "Type"), this paragraph takes into account the characteristics of the irrigator; data on the toothbrush (if they differ) are indicated in the note.

The mode in this case means the general format of operation, as explained in more detail in the "Modes" section below. It's important not to confuse this parameter with the number of power settings, which are discussed separately in the "Power modes" section. These characteristics are generally distinct from each other. For instance, a toothbrush with one operating mode may have multiple power settings, and conversely, there can be just one power level with several operating formats.

Anyway, the presence of several modes significantly expands the functionality of the brush/irrigator, allowing the device to be used for different procedures (or for several users with different needs in terms of oral hygiene). The flip side of this versatility is the increased cost. In addition, note that with the same number of modes, a specific set of these modes in different models may be different; so before buying, be sure to clarify how the capabilities of the selected model meet your requirements.

Modes of operation supported by the device.

Toothbrushes nowadays offer a wide range of modes beyond the traditional daily cleaning (often referred to as "2D" mode). You can find toothbrushes with options like the advanced 3D mode, as well as programs for gentle and deep cleaning, polishing, whitening, gum massage and tongue cleaning. On the other hand, irrigators typically offer different modes in addition to the standard continuous water jet. These additional modes often include pulsation and spray options.

Here is a detailed description of the most popular options found in brushes:

— Daily cleaning (2D). The "2D" mode of operation in toothbrushes closely resembles the traditional manual toothbrush experience. In this mode, the bristles of the brush move in a single plane, and the exact movement pattern may vary depending on the cleaning technology used. The intensity of brushing is typically medium to high, making it suitable for individuals with relatively healthy and not overly sensitive teeth. The recommended daily brushing time is 2 minutes, with 30 seconds allocated to each quadrant of the mouth. These corresponding settings are usually available in the timer function, if the toothbrush is equipped...with one. While "2D" brushing is somewhat less effective than "3D" (as mentioned below), it's a feature that can even be found in more affordable toothbrush models.

— Daily cleaning (3D). This feature, available in brushes with reciprocating-rotating and reciprocating-sweeping technology, involves bristle pulsation in addition to the standard cleaning motion. The pulsating movement, which goes deep into the brush head and back, enables cleaning in three dimensions simultaneously. This greatly enhances efficiency compared to the 2D cleaning mentioned earlier. These bristles not only address the outer tooth surfaces but also reach the sides and interdental spaces to some extent (though it's not a complete replacement for dental floss). However, it's worth noting that this advanced functionality typically comes at a higher cost.

— Gentle cleaning. The gentle treatment program, typically used for sensitive teeth and gums prone to bleeding, is common in brushes with reciprocating-rotating and reciprocating-brushing technologies. In these brushes, the gentle mode often involves reducing the nozzle's rotation or vibration speed. In sonic and ultrasonic models, gentler treatment is achieved by reducing vibration intensity. Regardless of the technology, this mode aims to minimize discomfort during brushing and the risk of gum damage, even when using standard nozzles. For the gentlest effect, it's advisable to use this function with a nozzle designed for sensitive teeth.

— Deep cleaning. Most often, this name means cleaning with a standard intensity, but an increased duration — for example, 3 minutes instead of the usual 2 minutes (45 seconds for each quadrant of the mouth instead of the traditional 30 seconds). This mode allows you to effectively clean your teeth and remove dirt, for which normal daily brushing is not enough.

— Polishing. A mode for treating relatively clean teeth that do not require a full-length cleaning. Usually, polishing is carried out at a reduced frequency of vibrations (rotations) and takes noticeably less time than conventional processing (for example, 1 minute instead of the traditional 2 minutes).

— Whitening. A special mode for whitening tooth enamel and removing stains, especially from the front teeth, is often an extended version of the regular brushing mode. For example, in a whitening mode, the brush might operate normally for 2 minutes and then switch to increased intensity for 30 seconds. Specific details about this mode, including any contraindications (especially for individuals with sensitive teeth or gum issues), should be checked separately.

— Massage gums. Gum treatment can be offered either as a separate program or as an add-on to the regular brushing routine. In the latter case, it typically involves a standard 2-minute toothbrushing program followed by activating an additional mode. This function not only ensures effective cleaning but also contributes to gum strengthening. It can be beneficial for addressing issues like inflammation and bleeding gums, although consulting a dentist is advisable in such cases.

— Cleaning the tongue. A separate mode for tongue cleaning is available in many electric toothbrushes. Brushing the tongue with an electric toothbrush can often cause discomfort due to tickling, so this mode typically offers a brief cleaning session lasting about 20 seconds. If needed, you can perform multiple sessions. It's important to note that the presence of a tongue cleaning mode doesn't necessarily mean that a specialized nozzle for tongue cleaning is included in the kit (as discussed in the "Nozzles" section), although it's commonly included.

It should be noted that in some toothbrushes, the mode change is carried out due to “smart” nozzles: when such a nozzle is installed, the device recognizes it by the built-in chip and automatically switches to the appropriate programme.

In turn, in irrigators, the features of the main modes are as follows:

— Jet (monoflow). The classic, most popular working format: a constant jet with a constant pressure. Provides sufficient efficiency for most tasks for which irrigators are used, while being extremely simple to implement and can be provided even in the most inexpensive models.

— Pulsating. Water supply with variable pressure. This mode is especially effective for removing dirt from the interdental space, under braces and in other hard-to-reach places.

— Spray. In this mode, a mixture of water and air is fed through the nozzle, due to which, instead of the usual jet, a cloud of small droplets flying at high speed is obtained at the exit. This mode is great for massaging the gums and general cleaning of the mouth.

The brushing technology used by the toothbrush (see "Type").

In today's market, toothbrushes mainly feature cleaning technologies such as a href="/list/420/pr-14372/">reciprocating, reciprocating-sweeping, sonic and ultrasonic. The first two options can also include the additional feature of pulsating technology. The main difference between these methods lies in the nature of the movement of the bristles; Here is a more detailed description of each option:

— Reciprocating. This cleaning technology involves the bristles on brushes with round heads moving in a traditional manner. As the name suggests, the head rotates back and forth at a slight angle during operation. This technology is considered somewhat more advanced than reciprocating-sweeping, particularly because it offers improved cleaning in interdental and similar areas. However, it's important to note that brushes with this technology still don't match the efficiency of sonic and ultrasonic brushes but are generally more budget-friendly.

— Reciprocating-sweeping. Historically, this technology was the first to be used in brushes with oval nozzles. In brushes employing this principle, the bristles oscillate from left to right, resembling the motion of a broomstick—hence the name "reciprocating." Classic reciprocating brushes are characterized by a sim...ple design but are not particularly effective. Consequently, there are few such models available today, primarily found in low-cost devices. Most toothbrushes with oval heads now use more advanced sonic or ultrasonic technology.

— Pulsating. Usually, this term refers to the format of operating, in which the bristles move up and down relative to the surface of the nozzle, in other words, they go deep into the head and move back. This technology is rarely used in its pure form, it usually complements a reciprocating or reciprocating sweeping head, providing 3D cleaning capabilities (refer to "Modes"). But if the 3D mode is not claimed in the toothbrush, it is worth clarifying separately what is meant by pulsating technology. So, in some models, we are actually talking about the whitening mode, when, for maximum intensity of exposure, the device does not work constantly, but in separate pulses; in others, the term "pulsating" actually refers to the sonic or ultrasonic mode of operation.

— Sound. Sonic cleaning technology involves bristle vibrations with a small amplitude at a high frequency, reaching up to 40K vibrations per minute — this speed aligns with audible sound frequencies, hence the name "sonic." This cleaning method is considered more advanced than reciprocating and even reciprocating-sweeping technology. Sonic brushes, thanks to their high vibration speed, create a fine, uniform foam by mixing toothpaste, saliva, and air during cleaning. This foam can effectively penetrate hard-to-reach areas, and the vibrations themselves prove highly efficient at removing plaque, including from interdental spaces. While ultrasonic cleaning is considered even more advanced (as discussed below), sonic brushes are generally more affordable.

— Ultrasonic. Ultrasonic cleaning technology represents a further advancement of the sonic technology described earlier, distinguished primarily by a higher oscillation frequency. It's important to note that not all brushes in this category operate in the ultrasonic range; some models have oscillation frequencies that only slightly exceed 40K per minute, which is still within the range of audible sound. However, the operating frequency of such devices is significantly higher than that of standard sound devices. Ultrasonic technology offers several advantages, including thorough cleaning with access to hard-to-reach areas and a bactericidal effect. Ultrasound is capable of destroying bacteria responsible for plaque formation. However, brushes with this technology tend to be somewhat more expensive than their sonic counterparts.
It's important to mention that ultrasound technology is not as effective as conventional sound vibrations for cleaning braces and similar structures. As a result, some devices in this category incorporate both ultrasonic and conventional sound vibrations to ensure thorough cleaning in all situations.

The frequency of working movements of a toothbrush with a reciprocating-rotating or reciprocating-brushing brushing technology (see above). In modern models, this figure can be from 4 – 5 to 40K movements per minute.

The higher the speed of the toorhbrush, the faster and more efficiently it handles with its task. On the other hand, high speed and intensity of processing is not always desirable — for example, with sensitive teeth or weak gums, such a brush can create problems. Therefore, you need to choose a device according to the frequency of rotation, taking into account the characteristics of your teeth; Ideally, you should consult with your dentist first. However, modern toothbrushes may have several modes, including gentle (see "Functions").

This parameter represents the highest pulsation frequency achievable by the device. It's specified for brushes that support pulsating cleaning technology (as explained above), as well as for irrigators equipped with a jet pulsation mode. In the case of flossing systems (as mentioned in the "Type" section), this section typically provides information about the irrigator's pulsation frequency, and details about the toothbrush's pulsation frequency (if applicable) are mentioned separately in a note to this paragraph.

The high frequency of pulsation (40 000/min and more) in toothbrushes provides high efficiency, allowing you to quickly and efficiently deal with dense plaque and even tartar. On the other hand, too intensive processing is also undesirable — for example, with high sensitivity of the teeth. All this is also true for irrigators — except that the operating frequencies in them are noticeably lower, such devices rarely produce more than 2K pulsations per minute.

In view of all this, it does not always make sense to chase the maximum frequency of pulsations — it is worth considering the individual characteristics of the user. And ideally, before choosing a brush or irrigator with pulsation, you should consult a dentist; this will not hurt even with healthy teeth, and even with problems with teeth or gums, it is highly recommended.

The presence of a pressure sensor in the device — a sensor that monitors the force with which the working nozzle is pressed against the teeth/gums.

This feature is primarily found in toothbrushes, including those that are part of flossing system units (as discussed in the "Type" section), but it can also be included in irrigators. Its primary function is to prevent potential harm to the teeth and gums caused by excessive pressure during brushing. The sensor's response can vary from one device to another; some devices emit a warning signal, while others reduce the bristle movement speed, and some may even shut off entirely in response to excessive pressure.

Having a pressure sensor in such devices can be beneficial not only for individuals with healthy teeth but also for those with heightened sensitivity or gum issues. It's a highly desirable feature for maintaining oral health. However, it's important to note that in many models, the pressure sensor is not integrated into the main body of the device but is instead part of the replaceable nozzle. Additionally, not all complete nozzle options may have this function, so it's essential to verify these details separately when choosing a device.

This refers to the maximum duration a device can run continuously when powered by a fully charged battery or fresh batteries. It's worth noting that this metric may also apply to models designed for mains power, such as flossing systems that include rechargeable toothbrushes, in which case we're referring to the battery life of these toothbrushes.

It's important to note that device specifications typically indicate the maximum runtime under ideal conditions, often in the most energy-efficient mode of operation (and for models with replaceable batteries, using high-quality batteries). The actual battery life can vary depending on specific usage conditions. However, this parameter still serves as a valuable basis for comparing different models. Generally, differences in the claimed operating time correspond proportionally to the real differences in battery life. For example, if one toothbrush has a stated operating time of 20 minutes and another boasts 40 minutes, in practice, their battery life (under similar conditions) will likely differ by approximately two times.

It's important to consider that, for toothbrushes, this parameter can help estimate the number of brushing sessions you can expect on a single charge. Typically, the recommended daily brushing duration is 2 minutes. So, if a toothbrush has an operating time of 30 minutes, it's sufficient for approximately 15 cleaning sessions (or more realistically, around 14 or 13).

The time required to charge the battery from zero to 100% in a device with the appropriate power type (see above). This parameter can vary from 1 – 3 hours in relatively simple and low-power devices to a day in advanced models with capacious batteries. At the same time, the longer the maximum operating time on a charge (see above), the longer, usually, the time required for charging, although there is no hard dependence here.

In general, having fast charging capabilities improves the convenience of a device by reducing interruptions in its operation. However, there is a trade-off to consider: fast charging often means either a smaller battery capacity or a higher price due to the use of specialized technologies to speed up the charging process. When evaluating this parameter, it's essential to think about how you intend to use the device. For instance, if a toothbrush or irrigator is solely used at home by one person and comes with a charging stand, fast charging may not be a critical factor. The device remains consistently charged as it's constantly on the charger, and its battery doesn't deplete significantly during one use. The time between sessions, usually around 8 to 12 hours, is more than enough to maintain a charged battery, even for devices with slower charging. However, if you plan to use the device while traveling, where access to power outlets is sporadic, it's preferable to have minima...l charging time to ensure you can recharge quickly during your trips.

An indicator showing the battery charge level.

This function is predominantly found in battery-powered devices (as mentioned in the "Type of power" section). Implementing a charge indicator with replaceable batteries is challenging but occasionally seen. The specifics of this feature and how it operates can vary. The simplest form of a charge indicator is composed of LEDs. For instance, a green light might indicate a normal charge level, yellow signals a low charge, red signifies the need for charging, and blinking typically indicates that charging is in progress. More advanced indicators exist as well, such as those with their own displays that can show the specific charge level using a battery icon or even as a percentage. Regardless of the design, this feature simplifies monitoring battery status and reduces the risk of finding yourself with a dead battery at an inconvenient time.