Philips Sonicare Airfloss Pro vs Ultra Rechargeable Electric Flosser Comparison Review

By | September 13, 2023

female hand holding Philips Sonicare Airfloss Ultra flosser

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Philips has yet again released an innovative product that will give you one of the best mouth cleaning experiences ever.

The Philips Sonicare Airfloss has been designed to give users a simple and effective way to clean deep between the teeth.

 

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Philips Sonicare Airfloss Pro vs Ultra

Let’s get this one thing out of the way.

If you are wondering what is the difference between Philips Sonicare Airfloss Pro vs Ultra, the answer is sweet and short.

There is no difference.

Philips Sonicare Airfloss Pro and Philips Sonicare Airfloss Ultra is the same product.

When Philips released the updated Airfloss Pro model, the model had some serious quality issues. The issues were so bad, Philips decided to stop selling the Airfloss Pro and launch the ‘new and improved’ Airfloss Ultra.

If you put Pro and Ultra retail packs side by side you will realize that they are identical. At one point even model part numbers on the bottom of the device were identical.

But one thing you can be certain about – the latest user reviews are a lot more positive, so it looks like Philips has done a good job getting rid of the problems.

These days you can buy both the cheaper original Airfloss and the updated Airfloss Ultra flosser, and it looks like the original model is still selling better.

Features and Benefits

Air and Micro-Droplet Technology

Because of this feature, removing harmful plaque over and between the teeth has become more efficient and easier.

Such technology basically works to make the Philips Sonicare Airfloss produce a quick burst of air and water droplets. Both the models use the compressed air and shoot water particles at up to 45-miles-an-hour just to be effective. Although they will do the job powerfully, I have found them really safe and gentle.

Not only that, the technology of Philips Sonicare Airfloss helps in improving gum-health and preventing cavities too.

Single Burst and Triple Burst Technology

Philips Sonicare Airfloss Ultra mode selection buttonThe Sonicare Airfloss comes with Single Burst Technology while the Ultra version gives a choice of Single, Double, and Triple Burst.

The latter illuminates one light in case of single, two for double, and three for triple burst of air and liquid. It doesn’t matter which one I go with, I find the result same that is effective.

The difference is just that the Sonicare Airflosser takes 30 seconds to clean the mouth while the Ultra version takes 60 seconds to do the job.

That said, both the models have worked effectively. As per Philips, we can clean away up to 5 times more plaque with Philips Airfloss while the Ultra can remove up to 99.9 percent of plaque from treated areas.

Auto-Burst Mode

Philips has designed the devices with an Auto Burst Mode for more benefits. It is a new feature that gives me a choice to release timed bursts to clean my mouth. I just need to hold the button down and it will start bursting automatically every second. So, I definitely find it easy to use.

Use Water or Mouthwash

filling in mouthwash in Sonicare AirflossBoth Philips Sonicare Airfloss models have a reservoir in the handle to fill it either with water or anti-microbial mouthwash. The liquid comes in the form of little droplets when released from the device.

If I have to choose, I think it’s more effective with mouthwash than with water. For the latter, although we can use fluoridated, desensitizing, or whitening mouthwash, there are some conditions.

Philips has suggested we avoid using ones that have a high concentration of essential oils or ingredients like Isopropyl Myristate. It’s because all of these are able to damage plastics in the Philips Sonicare Airfloss. And when used, it can cause harm to the mouth too.

Long-life Battery

Philips has used an in-built rechargeable battery for the Sonicare Airfloss. So, we cannot remove it. As for the performance, both have impressed me.

It takes a very long time for both the Airfloss and Airfloss Ultra to run out of juice. When I charge the Air Flosser fully, they give me operating time of around 14 days. It means I can use them 14 times before they exhaust the battery completely.

However, thing is a bit different with the Air Flosser Ultra. While using it in single burst mode, I get operating time of around 11 days. When I see the device showing yellow light, I understand that the battery is running low. So I head towards recharging it.

Design

Appearance-wise, both the models are quite similar with a  thick handle and slim, angled nozzle.  The reservoir and power button placement of Air flosser original is just like the Ultra version. Like I mentioned before, these two models come with a choice of manual and automatic burst mode too.

That being said, there are still some differences.

The Philips Airfloss comes straight in matte white with green accent. It’s all plain with even surface. As for the Airfloss Ultra, it comes in matte black with grey accent. It has some dot textures on the upper side of the handle around the reservoir.

Since the Airflow Ultra has a customizing burst frequency, it comes with another button on the lower side of the handle. Pressing the button illuminates green light. And with each press, it switches from single to double to triple burst mode.

Plus, the reservoir of Philips Airfloss Ultra is larger than the Airfloss. While the former holds liquid for about three flossing sessions, the latter lasts two sessions.

I find both the models simple and elegant. The handle has a nonslip grip that makes it very easy to use. Plus, the combo of slim nozzle and guidance tip is a smart design. It helps me a lot in locating the right placement with ease. Not only that, I can maneuver the close-fitting areas a lot easier with it. I just need to slide the device along the surface of the teeth near the gum line. Once it settles between my teeth, I am all set to go.

The brand has used high-quality plastic material for the construction of the two, that I find really durable. Moreover, the Airfloss and the Ultra version too have the ADA seal of acceptance that proves how safe and effective they are for use.

The Philips Airfloss comes only with a charger base, a holder, and a nozzle. But with Airfloss Ultra, I got a bonus holder and nozzle with the charger base.

Related reading: Can I Take My Waterpik on the Plane?

Philips Sonicare Airfloss Review

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This is one of the best oral irrigator models that can remove up to 99 percent of plaque than a manual toothbrush. The Airfloss can also help significantly improve the condition of the gums in a couple of weeks and it prevents tooth decay as well.

It only takes 60 seconds and a small amount of water for the air flosser to clean the mouth thoroughly. Sonicare Airfloss features a microburst technology that gets rid of plaque as it delivers microdroplets of air and water in between the teeth.

It has a one-button function as well as a guidance tip making it easy to use. The guidance tip allows this flosser to easily find the spaces between the teeth. It also automatically angles the tip horizontally for better cleaning.

The Airfloss has been through various comprehensive clinical testing to ensure that it is effective in cleaning and keeping the mouth healthy. It also adheres to Philips Sonicare’s standard of performance. It has been proven to be safe and gentle to use on your teeth, gums, veneers, and implants.

It is advisable to replace the nozzle of your Airfloss every six months so as to prevent having hard water build-up on it. This will also reduce the risk of bacteria accumulating on your nozzle which can lead to health problems if it is ingested. You will be able to experience and notice results in only a month with continuous use of the Airfloss.

 

Sonicare Airfloss User Reviews

Philips Sonicare Airfloss

A lot of users loved the Philips Airfloss because of its efficiency. Even though it comes with a single burst technology, they think it works similar to Ultra model with just pressing the button three times to get similar results.

Some complimented the powerful performance of the device. According to them, Airfloss does remove all the junks with power and gentleness at the same time.

Plus they admired the quick flossing session the device provided. It took just 30 seconds for them to take all the harmful plaque out of their mouth.

As for the use, users mentioned how easy to control the device was while operating it. They complimented the simple design.

Many users loved its long battery life too. They seemed happy with the fact that the device lasted around 14 days with ease.

Most of the users praised its effective result even coming in cheaper cost when compared to Ultra version.

However, a few complained about the tip stating that it fits into a mating recess in Airfloss quite tight which makes it tough to insert. This increases the chance of breakage too when taking out.

Philips Sonicare Airfloss Ultra

Many users mentioned that they liked the Philips Airfloss Ultra version more than the original one stating how less effort it takes to use. However, it doesn’t mean that using the original one will be a hassle.

Users loved the strength of burst while using the device. They were happy with the clean result they got after use.

Consumers highlighted that the big plus of Ultra is that it does not spill water out of mouth. So it is not messy at all.

The majority of them really love its choice of burst frequency. They feel that the triple burst feature makes the flossing session more efficient.

A lot of the consumers praised about the bigger size of water reservoir than the original one.

Plus, people loved the efficiency of a sample mouthwash that Philips included with the device. They praised that it made their mouth and breath smell clean and fresh after the use.

However, some users complained that the location of the burst frequency button had caused a problem for them. Since it’s placed on the handle, it becomes easy to tap the button mistakenly during operating it.

Pros

  • Air and Micro-Droplet Technology for blasting away the plaque, junks, bacteria, and other unwanted stuff
  • Automatic Burst Mode with just pressing and holding the button down
  • Water or Mouthwash can be used for cleaning the mouth effectively
  • Philips Sonicare Airfloss comes with Single Burst Technology while Ultra features up to Triple Burst Technology. Both provide the same efficient result
  • Battery life is long
  • Philips Airfloss can take out plaque five times more from affected spots
  • Philips Airfloss Ultra can take out up to 99.9 percent of plaque from affected spots
  • The Air Flosser takes 30 seconds to clean the mouth while Ultra takes 60 seconds. So, the flossing session will be fast
  • Very easy to use
  • The performance is powerful and gentle at the same time
  • Easy to fill the reservoir and will not be messy
  • Angled nozzle with guidance tips provides ease of use with easy maneuverability
  • Improves the health of gum-line
  • Prevents future cavities
  • Simple and plain design
  • Extremely light-weight
  • Durable and long-lasting

Cons

  • The bulk design makes it a little awkward to use for the first-timer
  • Air Flosser Ultra is pricier than the original
  • The location of Ultra’s burst frequency button is annoying
  • Battery life is a bit shorter when running the single burst mode in Air Flosser Ultra
  • Air Flosser only comes with a Single Burst Technology
  • Placing the guidance-tip in the Air Flosser device is not easy. This makes the part easy to break
  • The reservoir of Philips Sonicare Airfloss is a bit smaller than the Ultra

What’s in the box?

The box contents of the original Airfloss and Airfloss Ultra are slightly different:

  • Airfloss or Airfloss Ultra handle
  • Charger base
  • 1 (Airfloss) or 2 (Airfloss Ultra) nozzles
  • Nozzle holder (only Airfloss Ultra)
  • Trial-size BreathRx mouthwash (2 fl. oz.) (only Airfloss Ultra)

Frequently Asked Questions

Are nozzles for Philips Airfloss the same for Pro and Ultra?

Yes, the same nozzles are used for Philips Airfloss Pro and Ultra.

What Dentist Has To Say

In this video dental professional describes the benefits of using the Philips oral irrigator.

Here is the transcript of the testimonial.

My name is Sally Goss, and I’m a dental hygienist. I work in private dental practice. What I’m trying to get my patients to do is to change their behavior.

It differs from the other things that are available for us to teach to patients to clean in between the teeth. If I give them something complicated I cannot be surprised when they don’t want to use it every day.

My teeth felt beautifully clean after using the AirFloss because it allowed me to get to the very back teeth which are really the hardest ones to get to. I found I got there so easily and my mouth fell really really clean when I used it.

I liked the handle because it fitted really well into my hand. I didn’t feel it was flimsy, I felt I got a really good grip. I loved the tip because it was long enough to get to my back teeth without any effort whatsoever.

It couldn’t be more simple to use, and anyone can use it, even someone who isn’t dextrous can pick up the AirFloss, put it in the area between each tooth, and use it. It is that simple. The minute you pick it up, the minute you switch it on, you know it means business.

Conclusion

If you are having a bad day with junk stuck in your teeth, Philips Sonicare Airfloss and Airfloss Ultra can be a great solution. Not only they can take out the plaque but help improve the gum-line too. Moreover, they are able to prevent cavities.

Philips has designed both the models with Air and Micro-Droplet Technology so that they can do their job with efficiency. The great part is that it took only one use for me to see the magic in my mouth. And it worked for both the devices.

Moreover, they impressed me with their design and ease of maneuverability too. So, I definitely recommend the products and will encourage you to see it yourself.

How To Use Philips Sonicare AirFloss

Please check out this video and learn how to use your Philips Sonicare AirFloss oral irrigator correctly!

Even when you brush really well, you still only clean about 60 percent of the tooth surface, but forty percent is in between your teeth where the toothbrush can’t reach. A regular routine in between your teeth can help prevent decay, gum disease, and stop the little bits of food stuck and debris from stagnating in between the teeth. Clinical studies show that AirFloss will remove 99 percent of the plaque from in between your teeth, and that’s up to five times more than a manual toothbrush. Gentle and effective, it can help to improve gum health. Philips AirFloss is an innovative way to clean between your teeth. It is simple, easy, and fun.

Let me show you how.

Charge The Battery

Before you start to use your AirFloss, charge it for a full 24 hours. That should last for about two weeks or for fourteen uses. You won’t need to charge it again until the indicator light is flashing. That way the battery will last longer. When you’re storing your AirFloss, make sure it is on a flat even surface to avoid it toppling over.

Attache The Nozzle And Fill It Up

Using the AirFloss is really simple. You take the nozzle, and you just click it like this. And then you open the reservoir door and fill it with either tap quarter or some mouthwash. If you are going to use mouthwash, don’t use an oil-based one because it would clog the machine. And once you have filled it, it will last about one or two uses. You don’t want it more than that, or the water would stagnate.

Once you have filled the reservoir, simply press the on/off button and then you click here about six times until the water comes out in a spray.

Floss You Teeth

When you use the AirFloss, you simply place it between your teeth, apply some pressure, and then press the button. You then glide along to the next area, apply pressure, and press the button.

You then repeat the action around your whole mouth, and it should take less than a minute.

Tips

Cleaning AirFloss is really easy. You remove the nozzle and run it under the tap. Don’t use detergent to clean it or put it in a dishwasher or sanitizer.

You should replace the head every six months, and that really helps prolong the life of your machine.

Sometimes when you start to use the AirFloss, you might notice a little bleeding from between the teeth. This is normal, and it should improve over time. If it doesn’t improve or it gets worse than you should go and see a dentist.

How you can tell the AirFloss is working is that the bleeding will get less and stop, and the gums will get pinker and feel firmer.

I hope you found this video helpful and you will enjoy using your Philips AirFloss to help keep your mouth healthy.

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