You don’t need to spend lots of money to get a good electric
toothbrush and the Sonicare 1100 Series is a great example of this.
It is slim and simple to use. And of course it cleans the teeth well.
Hey, it’s Jon from Electric Teeth here.
Having tested lots of electric toothbrushes, we believe the essential features you need
in your brush are, a 2 minute timer, 30 second pacer and a pressure sensor.
Unfortunately quite a few brushes don’t have a pressure sensor, and the 1100 Series is one
such example. There is no way of knowing if you are brushing with too much force.
It is disappointing, but this negative is countered by the affordable price of
this toothbrush. You should be able to buy it for around 25 dollars or pounds.
Clinical efficacy and quality are built into the 1100.
Just be sure to allow the bristles to skim the teeth, no need to scrub.
The handle of the 1100 is very similar to a few different models within the Sonicare range,
but with fewer features, and that is a good thing.
A no nonsense approach, press the power button to activate the one and only cleaning mode.
As soon as the brush is activated, so to is the built in 2 minute timer and 30 second pacer.
These encourage you to brush all the teeth in the mouth evenly and for the right amount of time.
The 1100 actually automatically powers off after 2 minutes,
making it very clear you have brushed for the required time.
As you would hope and probably expect, this brush cleans the teeth really well.
But, something to be aware of is that the 1100 Series motor is configured differently
to the more premium models. As a result,
the cleaning doesn’t feel as powerful or intense as other Sonicare toothbrushes.
It isn’t all that easy to feel or see this difference, but it does exist.
You don’t get the ultimate Sonicare cleaning experience.
Let me be clear though, the cleaning results and performance are more than satisfactory.
Provided in the box is a single brush head, this is usually the C1 Simply Clean head.
It, like the handle itself is not BrushSync enabled.
If you are not familiar with BrushSync, this video explains all.
The benefit here is that the heads tend to be better value.
You can still use BrushSync enabled heads, you just won’t benefit from tracking they offer.
Despite a lack of gripping points on the brush handle,
the matt finish results in the brush feeling more secure in the hand than anticipated.
The handle is easy to wipe clean and helps prevent the buildup of gunk
and toothpaste residue which is often inevitable.
The handle colour is usually white, accented by a coloured power button.
One of the compromises of the slimmer handle is the battery life.
It achieves a little over 2 weeks, compared to many other Sonicare models
that typically offer 3+ weeks. But, compared to Oral-B models, battery life is nigh on identical.
When the battery does need recharging you can use the new USB charging stand. It offers
more versatility than most charging stands and is particularly convenient for travel.
The downside for many though is that you don’t get a USB plug adapter,
you will need to source your own.
If it helps, the 1100 will work with Sonicare’s traditional charging stand
if you own one of these already.
There is no denying that the 1100 is a very good choice for those on a budget,
particularly as it is manufactured by a leading brand.
The construction and materials of the brush reaffirm this.
But, factor in the cost of replacement brush heads, which are typically more expensive than
Oral-B equivalents, and the 1100 becomes a more expensive option over the life of the brush.
Unless you are particularly brand loyal, you might want to consider the Oral-B Smart 1500
if you are in the USA or the Pro 2 3000 for UK and European residents.
For a more detailed written review, or to buy the 1100
and my recommended alternatives, click the links in the description.