The Philips Sonicare is said to be one of the most advanced toothbrushes available on the market today. Recommended by a range of dental care professionals, the 'HealthyWhite' range is said to remove everyday stains in just two weeks with regular brushing resulting in teeth that are two shades whiter.

Having gone through toothbrush after toothbrush with disappointing results, it took many weeks of research before I decided to invest in this device. After waiting for a half price sale (and with a generous dose of 'bonus' points), I managed to buy this brush for a little shy of £40. But is it worth the cash?

CLEANING MODE
For every day use, the cleaning mode is where it's at. Upon clicking the big green button, the brush clicks into life, oscillating at a vigorous rate. It continues motoring at a constant speed for thirty seconds before slowing momentarily to indicate a change in brushing quadrant.

The instructions suggest you start with top outside, followed by top inside, bottom outside and finally bottom inside completing your two minutes. This ensures you're getting a good brushing over the entire mouth.

Personally, I love the unobtrusive 'buzzing' of the indicator; it lets you know efficiently and silently, what's happening. Although the timer won't improve your brushing technique, it will at least equate to a solid morning/evenings' clean.

WHITENING MODE
The HX6731/02 HealthyWhite isn't short on special features. In addition to the regular brush mode, you also have the 'Clean & White' setting; this adds an extra thirty seconds of brush time to give your smile a little more TLC than usual.

It was this 'whitening' feature that initially attracted me to this brush over rivals such as Braun, and I'm sure it's the reason many others have chosen it too.
It's surprising, then, to find that the whitening mode must be activated manually each time you brush. This involves clicking the green centre button a second time once in use; naturally, with the brush head already vibrating and spattering toothpaste over your bathroom, double-clicking can be a complex task whilst in motion. I'm sure it wouldn't have been too difficult to throw in a save-state that remembers your mode choice, but alas, it's left notable by its absence.

SENSITIVE MODE
The Sonicare also offers an extra gentle mode for those with sensitive teeth and gums. Although I don't regularly use this setting, I think it's still fairly vigorous, especially for those with particularly susceptible mouths.

People with mild sensitivity may see some benefit from this mode, but I doubt many will specifically opt for this toothbrush and its forceful 31,000 strokes a minute if they have genuinely thin-skinned gums.

POWER ISSUES
The HX6731/02 HealthyWhite comes with its own two-pin charger. If, like me, you don't have an appropriate power socket, you'll need to purchase an adapter in order to charge the brush. Thankfully, these can be brought in pairs for a very reasonable price in most high street stockists.

The charging station is certainly stable enough to withhold the brush without too much interference; however, if given a slight nudge, it wouldn't take much for the whole thing to tumble over. Living in a home entirely occupied by adults, this proves little problem for myself, but those with eager kids should definitely consider the placement of the unit before powering up.

From full to empty, the specifications suggest you should get approximately twenty brushings. This is a reasonable guide, but your mileage may vary according to your settings and storage environment. Certainly after twelve month's use, I'm still getting sixteen to eighteen brushes per charge.

When the battery is low, you're alerted by a vibrating jolt at the end of the cleaning cycle and a flashing LED indicator. I'm not a huge fan of such nonchalant interference, and the juddering pulse seems like overkill to me. That said, it's just a personal distaste, and many have complemented its eager warning system.

COST
As I stated earlier in the review, I got my Sonicare for just shy of £40 with discounts. This is fantastic value for any brush of this specification, and I definitely wouldn't mind splashing out the sixty-five pounds requested for recommended retail value.

Yet there's a single expenditure for the HX6731/02 HealthyWhite I do object to - and it's one which you may feel is a deal breaker...

The replacement heads aren't the cheapest on the planet. In fact, the 'ProResults Standard' heads come in three packs for roughly £18 at retail; even discount online retailers ask for fifteen pounds or more! At five or six pound per head, you're definitely going to paying a premium over, say, Braun's Oral-B replacements (roughly two pounds a piece), and while you do get an extra travel cap head protector with the 3-pack, it's hard to see where all the extra money is going.

OVERALL
While I don't believe I got 'two shades whiter after just two weeks', the HX6731/02 HealthyWhite is certainly one of the better brushes I've had the pleasure of using over the course of my lifetime.

While the replacement head issue may be a sticking point for some, I'm still happy to pay the extra for a brush that works well and feels great to use. If your budget can stretch this far, I'd happily recommend the HX6731/02 HealthyWhite to anyone.