An electric toothbrush head is changed every three months, and over two years it is the heads, more than the handle, that make up the budget. Hence the success of “compatible” heads, sold for Oral-B and Philips Sonicare handles. Are they as good as the originals? We sell them (all our compatible heads are here), so we have every interest in saying yes. Here instead is what is known, what is not, and how to avoid buying the wrong head.
What the research says: nothing conclusive
We looked for an independent trial comparing compatible and original heads in the mouth. We did not find one: what circulates are consumer tests on one model or brand arguments. So nobody has shown that a compatible head cleans worse, and nobody has shown that it cleans as well.
What is known, on the other hand, applies to every head: a head wears out, splayed bristles clean less well, and Oral-B, Philips and the American Dental Association (ADA) all recommend replacing it roughly every three months. So the real question is not “compatible or original”, but “is my head the right one, properly fitted, and changed in time?”.
Oral-B: two fittings that do not mix
Oral-B itself distinguishes two families of brush heads, and they do not fit each other.
- The round head, which clips onto a thin metal shaft: Vitality, Pro 1, 2 and 3, Smart, Genius, Professional Care. This is the family of our daily clean heads, our soft heads, our centre-tuft heads and our cross-bristle heads.
- The iO, whose fitting is different: an iO head only fits an iO, and a round head will not hold on it. For the iO you need iO-compatible heads, which the manufacturer lists for the iO 2 to iO 10.
- The Pulsonic takes neither of these families.
To check, read the model name on the handle or its box, then compare with your current head: a round head that clips onto a shaft is the first family. If in doubt, send us a photo before ordering.
Sonicare: any clip-on head, the Philips One apart
At Philips the rule is simpler: all Sonicare heads clip onto all Sonicare handles, except the Philips One, which has its own fitting. The very old screw-on Sonicare models (Essence, Elite, Xtreme, Advance) are the other exception: a clip-on head will not hold on them.
- Our DiamondClean-type heads: W-shaped bristle profile according to the manufacturer, in white or black, for the clip-on series (DiamondClean, FlexCare, HealthyWhite, ProtectiveClean…).
- Our C3-type heads: a soft blue rim frames the bristles and softens contact with the teeth, in white or black, for the same clip-on series.
- Our gum-care-type heads: for gentle brushing along sensitive gums, in white, for the clip-on 1100 to 9900 series (not the Essence).
- Our Philips One compatible heads: for the battery or rechargeable One (HY1100 and HY1200, according to the manufacturer); they do not fit clip-on Sonicare handles.
What you lose with a compatible head
- The BrushSync chip. On Sonicare handles that have it, the original head talks to the handle, which reminds you when to change it. Our compatible heads have no chip: the reminder and automatic head recognition do not trigger. You still have the blue bristles that fade, and the calendar.
- A complete spec sheet. Generic head makers do not always publish bristle hardness or diameter. We repeat what they state, saying so, and nothing more.
- The brand. These are generic heads, neither made nor approved by Oral-B or Philips; their names are only used to indicate compatibility.
What you gain
- The price per head. Packs range from 2 to 24 heads, and each pack’s price per head is shown under its price: the bigger the pack, the lower it goes.
- One head per person. Most of our packs have a coloured ring at the base of each head: handy when the whole household has the same type of handle.
- Stock in advance. At one head every three months, a pack of 12 covers three years for one person, or one year for three.
- Choice. Soft, cross-bristle, centre-tuft, white or black heads: variants you do not always find on the shelf.
Choosing a compatible head in four questions
- What is my handle? The name is on the handle or the box; it decides the family, and nothing else matters before that.
- Are my gums sensitive? Take a soft head and let the brush do the work without pressing. A soft head is gentle on the gum; it does not treat it.
- How many of us share the same handle? Choose the pack by the number of people, with one coloured ring each.
- Do I care about the BrushSync reminder? If so, stay with original heads: it is the one thing a compatible head cannot give you.
Our compatible heads are shipped by our logistics partner and delivered in 7 to 12 working days: order the next pack before the current head is worn out. If a head does not fit your brush, you have 30 days to send it back.
The three-month rule, whatever the head
Original or compatible, a head is changed roughly every three months, and sooner if the bristles splay or the indicator bristles have faded. Our article on how long a brush lasts details the signs. Do you have a Fairywill? Its heads fit neither Oral-B nor Sonicare: our Fairywill brush head guide says which pack to take for each model.
And a new head does not do everything: brushing twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste, such as our Classic Mint, remains the basis, along with cleaning between the teeth.
Your questions about compatible brush heads
Can a compatible head damage my brush?
A head from the right family clips on like the original. If it has to be forced, has play or vibrates abnormally, take it off and send it back: you have 30 days. Never force a head from another family onto your handle’s shaft.
Do round heads fit an Oral-B iO?
No. The iO has its own fitting, and Oral-B states that its handles only take iO heads. So you need iO-compatible heads, and only those.
Why has my Sonicare stopped reminding me to change the head?
Because the reminder relies on the BrushSync chip in original heads, which compatible heads do not have. The handle works normally; go by the blue bristles that fade, or change the head every three months.
Should a compatible head be changed more often than an original?
Nothing suggests so: the rule is the same, roughly every three months, and sooner if the bristles splay. A pack of several heads makes it easier not to put the change off.
In short
- No independent trial settles compatible versus original heads: the right criterion is the fitting, then the state of the head.
- Oral-B: round head for Vitality, Pro, Smart and Genius; dedicated heads for the iO; nothing for the Pulsonic.
- Sonicare: any clip-on head, except on the old screw-on models; the Philips One has its own compatible heads.
- You lose the BrushSync chip and the brand; you gain on price per head and choice.
- Whatever the head, change it roughly every three months.