A grey slider switch just under the head of the nozzle allows the jet of water exiting to be changed from either a continuous and more powerful jet of water or a softer, rotational flow of water. It is the light lue bristles that are the ‘indicator bristles that fade over time as the brush head is used. These heads are designed to reach and clean around hard to reach areas in the mouth. Examples of when they are ideally suited are for cleaning dental implants, braces and misaligned teeth.

You may have noticed in the picture above that each toothbrush has at least one cluster of light blue bristles. These bristles are called indicator bristles with use will fade over time. The green bristles are the same height as the inner white bristles and the dark blue sit slightly taller. All of these bristles are angled at 16 degrees.

These clusters are called ‘petals’ by Oral-B. They are made and positioned in such a way that there is a slight sweep and curve to the bristle clusters on the outer ring. Using the correct brush head with the most appropriate cleaning mode can result in a more thorough and suitable clean for your teeth and oral health conditions. If ever in doubt it is worth speaking to your dentist to find which is the best combination for you. Now, there is no doubt that the FlossAction gives a great clean, but during testing, we failed to notice that the area between our teeth was any cleaner than brushing with a different Oral-B head using a proper technique. Up close you can see how the tuft of bristles in the middle of the outer bristle tuft is actually slightly taller/longer to achieve this.

The brush head is small and round with tufts angled at 16 degrees to be most effective in the clean, but to also sweep away plaque from the gumline. The testers who loved the Dual Clean commented on how they could work each individual tooth with the round head while the side action head below worked on the gum line and in between the teeth. One tester went so far as to say it was the best clean he had ever had. Oral-B PRO 3 and brush heads are designed to work together for an optimal clean. From CrossAction to Precision Clean, to 3D White, to Floss Action, Oral-B brush heads deliver a superior clean vs. a manual toothbrush.Out from the white bristles are 2 clusters of very dark blue coloured bristles. The formation of these bristles are wider and slightly thinner than a normal cluster and are positioned in such a way that there is a gentle arc to them. If you were to put the Deep Sweep side by side with your manual toothbrush you would notice that the brush head is nearly identical in size. There are a select number of brush heads, notable CrossAction and FlossAction that have ‘Bacteria Guard Bristles’.

The brush heads shown in the table below will work with any Oral-B brush handle, apart from the Stages Power Kids and the Oral-B iO series. A round Oral-B brush head, the FlossAction configuration is a bit unique in the fittings within the head itself.

However, for those looking to achieve specific results or have special brushing requirements, Oral-B does offer a little more choice. Whilst a regular rinse and air drying of the brush head should be enough to prevent excessive bacteria buildup, this is another approach to help prevent bacteria developing on the brush head. Different users

Despite the wide selection of bristle styles, lengths, and shapes across the Oral-B brush head range, they all have one thing in common. Personal opinion is most certainly going to influence the thought about each. You might get different feelings and results when compared to my everyday use. Many are focused on getting a ‘whitening’ effect on their teeth, therefore opt for 3D White. But, in reality, this can be achieved with the CrossAction and other brush heads. Note: The now discontinued Oral-B sonic range and other older models may not be compatible with the modern range of toothbrush heads. Where to buy Oral-B Brush HeadsThe promise of a naturally whiter smile just by purchasing a brush head is what we have from Oral-B on this one! Really!? That’s a bold statement! Unique MicroPulse bristles are designed to reach and clean deep between the teeth to give a floss like clean whilst other bristles focus on the tooth surfaces and the gum line to help lift and remove plaque. Looking quite different to most other brush heads, 3 outer bristle tufts sit around a single inner tuft. The 3 outer tufts are blue in colour, longer in length and angled to create a kind of tip as they lean into the centre of the round brush head where you find the cluster of white bristles. That central cluster of bristles is slightly longer than the outer blue ones. While the yellow wedges may not have succeeded between the teeth, they seemed to work wonders along the gum line. During testing, we found that the indicator bristles worked remarkably well and with proper brushing technique (not pressing down too hard), lasted almost 3 months to the week.