Sonicare 4100 Electric Toothbrush (Full Review)
Dentist Tested and Reviewed

Looking for a toothbrush that’s easy to use and delivers exceptional cleaning performance?
Look no further than the Philips Sonicare 4100 electric toothbrush!
This toothbrush is designed to make your brushing routine a breeze. It has a pressure sensor that alerts you when you’re brushing too hard and a two-minute timer.
As an experienced dentist with years of experience, I’ve tested and evaluated 300+ dental products. I strive to find the best products for achieving excellent oral hygiene, so let’s take a closer look at the Sonicare 4100 Electric Toothbrush from a dentist’s perspective.
[icon type=”fas fa-arrow-right” color=”#5d9ee1″] Recommended Reading: Philips Sonicare Buying Guide | The Ultimate GuideTop 10 Rankings
- Philips Sonicare 9900 | 10/10 $$$$
- Philips Sonicare 9500 | 9.9/10 $$$
- Philips Sonicare 9750 | 9.9/10 $$$$
- Philips Sonicare 9300 | 9.8/10 $$$
- BURST Pro Sonic | 9.7/10 $
- Philips Sonicare 9000 | 9.7/10 $$$
- Philips Sonicare 7500 | 9.6/10 $$
- BURST Original Sonic | 9.5/10 $
- Philips Sonicare 6100 | 9.5/10 $$
- Philips Sonicare 6500 | 9.5/10 $$
Removes up to 5x-7x more plaque vs. a manual toothbrush.
A pressure sensor and two intensity settings protect sensitive gums from overbrushing. 2-minute SmarTimer with QuadPacer ensures Dentist-recommended brushing time
A brush head replacement reminder ensures your brush head is always effective. Long battery life with battery light indicator: One charge lasts for 2 weeks.
Dentist Thoughts
As a seasoned dentist, I’ve used countless dental products.
However, the Philips Sonicare 4100 electric toothbrush has quickly become a standout in my book.
From the moment I opened the box, I was impressed by the toothbrush’s sleek design. By the way, I’ve opened many toothbrush boxes!
The Philips Sonicare 4100 electric toothbrush has a charging base, a brush head cover, and a single C2 “plaque removal” brush head.
The toothbrush’s charging base is compact and easy to use. Its simple plug-and-play design makes it easy to charge the toothbrush.
After charging the toothbrush for the recommended 24 hours, I put the Philips Sonicare 4100 electric toothbrush to the test.
I used the toothbrush for one week and observed that its bristles were soft and gentle on teeth and gums.
While the brush head of the toothbrush was a perfect small size, I did notice that it lacked variable-length bristles and a tongue cleaner. It would have been great to have these features as they can help to provide an even deeper clean and improve overall oral hygiene.
The toothbrush’s 31,000 vibrations/minute motor is powerful yet not too intense, making it suitable for users with sensitive teeth and gums.
[icon type=”fas fa-arrow-right” color=”#5d9ee1″] Recommended Reading: Philips Sonicare 2100 vs. 4100 Electric Toothbrush Review 2025In addition, with its automatic shut-off after two minutes and a specific vibration every 30 seconds, the toothbrush ensures that users brush for the recommended two minutes and brush all areas of their mouth evenly.
[icon type=”fas fa-arrow-right” color=”#5d9ee1″] Recommended Reading: Best Sonicare Replacement Brush Heads 2025 (Ultimate Guide)Overall, the Philips Sonicare 4100 electric toothbrush is a reliable, effective, and user-friendly option for anyone looking to improve their oral hygiene routine.
Pros
Cons
Innovative Features
The Philips Sonicare 4100 Electric Toothbrush has exceptional innovative features. Check out what features set this toothbrush apart from a dentist’s perspective.
Key Features
- Advanced Sonic Technology: Philips Sonicare’s technology effectively pulses water between teeth, removing plaque for a superior clean.
- Long Battery Life: The Sonicare 4100 lasts up to 14 days on a single charge, perfect for on-the-go use without frequent recharging.
- C2 Brush Head: The C2 Optimal Plaque Control head is ideal for daily plaque removal and maintaining oral health.
- Pressure Sensor: Alerts you when brushing too hard, protects gums, and improves brushing habits with a pulsing sound reminder.
- Smartimer and Quadpacer: A 2-minute timer ensures recommended brushing duration, while the Quadpacer signals when to switch mouth quadrants every 30 seconds.
- BrushSync Technology: Tracks brush head usage and brushing pressure, reminding you when it’s time for a replacement.
- Easy-Start Technology: Gradually increases brushing intensity over 14 sessions, easing new users into the electric toothbrush experience.
- 2 Brushing Modes: Offers “clean” and “gentle” modes, with the gentle mode being ideal for sensitive gums.
Dentist Review
After using the Philips Sonicare 4100 electric toothbrush is clearly highly effective at removing plaque and promoting overall oral health.
The toothbrush comes with a C2 brush head, designed to be gentle on teeth and gums while still providing a deep clean.
The C2 brush head is designed to be more effective than the C1 brush head, which is included with some other Sonicare models.
The Sonicare 4100 toothbrush uses sonic technology to clean teeth, which means that it vibrates at high speeds to break up plaque and bacteria.
This technology is highly effective, and it is clear that the Sonicare 4100 toothbrush is able to clean teeth more thoroughly than a manual toothbrush.
In fact, according to Philips, this toothbrush can remove up to 7 times more plaque than a manual toothbrush.
In addition to its cleaning power, the Sonicare 4100 toothbrush also has a built-in pressure sensor that alerts users when they are brushing too hard.
[icon type=”fas fa-arrow-right” color=”#5d9ee1″] Recommended Reading: Philips Sonicare 1100 vs. 4100 Electric Toothbrush Review 2025This feature is important because brushing too hard can cause damage to teeth and gums over time. The pressure sensor is a helpful reminder to be gentle while brushing.
Overall, the Philips Sonicare 4100 electric toothbrush is a highly effective tool for promoting oral health.
Its sonic technology and small-size C2 brush head work together to provide a deep, gentle clean on teeth and gums. The built-in pressure sensor is an added bonus that helps users brush with the right amount of pressure.
Alternative Options
Philips Sonicare offers a variety of electric toothbrush options to cater to different preferences and needs.
They have a kids’ electric toothbrush designed specifically for children, power flossers, premium electric toothbrushes and battery-powered toothbrushes.
Need Dental Advice? Name Your Price!
Additionally, Sonicare offers various brush heads ranging from gentle to whitening and everything in between. Thousands of dentists trust Philips Sonicare globally and is a one-stop shop for all dental care needs.
For users interested in tracking their brushing habits, Quip’s smart toothbrush features Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to connect to the Quip app and monitor your brushing patterns, duration, and frequency.
With Philip Sonicare’s diverse range of electric toothbrushes, you will surely find one that suits your lifestyle and oral care goals.
Full Reviews
- Philips Sonicare 1100 Full Review
- Philips Sonicare 6100 Full Review
- Philips Sonicare 6500 Full Review
My Experience & Expertise
The Sonicare 4100 is a great option for those with sensitive teeth and gums. Its gentle brushing action and pressure sensor help prevent over-brushing and potential damage to the teeth and gums.
While other electric toothbrushes have more features, the ProtectiveClean 4100 provides a solid and reliable brushing experience at an affordable price point.
Overall, the reviewer would highly recommend the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100 electric toothbrush to anyone looking for a simple and effective way to improve their oral hygiene routine.
Removes up to 5x-7x more plaque vs. a manual toothbrush.
A pressure sensor and two intensity settings protect sensitive gums from overbrushing. 2-minute SmarTimer with QuadPacer ensures Dentist-recommended brushing time
A brush head replacement reminder ensures your brush head is always effective. Long battery life with battery light indicator: One charge lasts for 2 weeks.
Electric Toothbrush Overall Rankings
- Philips Sonicare 9900 | 10/10
- Philips Sonicare 9500 | 9.9/10
- Philips Sonicare 9750 | 9.9/10
- Philips Sonicare 9300 | 9.8/10
- BURST Pro Sonic | 9.7/10
- Philips Sonicare 9000 | 9.7/10
- Philips Sonicare 7500 | 9.6/10
- BURST Original Sonic | 9.5/10
- Philips Sonicare 6100 | 9.5/10
- Philips Sonicare 6500 | 9.5/10
- BURST Curve Sonic | 9.4/10 $
- 7am2m Electric | 9.4/10
- Philips Sonicare 5300 | 9.4/10
- AquaSonic Black | 9.3/10
- AquaSonic Vibe | 9.3/10
- Philips Sonicare 5100 | 9.3/10
- SNOW LED Electric | 9.2/10
- Brio (Ollie) SmartClean | 9.1/10
- Philips Sonicare 2100 | 9.1/10
- Bitvae Smart S3 | 9.1/10
- Philips Sonicare 1100 | 9.1/10
- Philips Sonicare 4100 | 9.0/10
- Bitvae S2 Ultrasonic | 8.9/10
- Bitvae D2 Electric | 8.8/10
- Oral-B 1500 Electric | 8.8/10
- Oral-B Pro 1000 | 8.7/10
- Bitvae R2 Rotating | 8.5/10
- Quip Electric | 8.5/10
- Colgate Hum Electric | 7.5/10
Need a second opinion? We can help! Learn more. Knowledge is power when cultivating healthy dental habits. The more informed you are, the better positioned you’ll be to prevent avoidable and potentially costly dental procedures for you and your family. Watch for future blog posts, where we’ll continue sharing important information, product reviews and practical advice!
About the Author
Dr. Matthew Hannan, also known as “Dr. Advocate,” is a board-certified dentist on a mission to provide accurate dental patient education. He attended Baylor University before completing dental school at UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry. He now lives in Arizona with his beautiful wife and 4 kids. Dr. Hannan believes everyone should access easy-to-read dental resources with relevant, up-to-date dental research and insight to improve their oral health.
Connect with Dr. Hannan!
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