This guide is for anyone seeking an advanced sonic electric toothbrush to improve their oral hygiene. The Philips Sonicare 5500 Series offers powerful plaque removal and whitening capabilities with smart features like a pressure alert and EasyStart, ensuring a thorough yet gentle clean. Please note that a separate USB power adapter is required for the included charger.
Next-Generation Sonicare Technology: Delivers 62,000 bristle movements per minute, effectively breaking up and sweeping away plaque.
Superior Plaque Removal: Proven to remove up to 7x more plaque compared to a manual toothbrush.
Whitening Performance: Features a dedicated 'White' mode and W2 Optimal White brush heads to remove up to 2x more surface stains for a brighter smile.
Intelligent Pressure Alert: A built-in sensor protects your gums by notifying you if you apply too much pressure during brushing.
EasyStart Feature: Gradually increases brushing power over your first 14 sessions, allowing for a comfortable transition to electric brushing.
Dual Brushing Modes: Offers 'Clean' mode for daily comprehensive plaque removal and 'White' mode specifically for stain reduction.
Travel Convenience: Includes two travel cases, making it easy to store and transport your toothbrushes hygienically on the go.
Dual Pack: Comes with two 5500 sonic electric toothbrushes and two W2 Optimal White brush heads, ideal for sharing or as a backup.
Highly Effective Cleaning: Significant improvement over manual brushing for plaque removal.
Visible Whitening Results: Dedicated mode and brush heads target surface stains.
Gum Protection: Pressure sensor helps prevent gum damage from aggressive brushing.
User-Friendly Transition: EasyStart feature makes it comfortable for new users.
Travel-Ready: Included travel cases add convenience for active lifestyles.
Two Toothbrushes Included: Excellent value for couples or for having a spare.
Power Adapter Not Included: Requires a separate USB power adapter for the charger.
Ongoing Brush Head Costs: Regular replacement of brush heads is necessary for optimal performance.
Initial Sensation: The high-frequency vibrations may feel unusual for first-time sonic toothbrush users.
Highly Effective Cleaning: Significant improvement over manual brushing for plaque removal.
Visible Whitening Results: Dedicated mode and brush heads target surface stains.
Gum Protection: Pressure sensor helps prevent gum damage from aggressive brushing.
User-Friendly Transition: EasyStart feature makes it comfortable for new users.
Travel-Ready: Included travel cases add convenience for active lifestyles.
Two Toothbrushes Included: Excellent value for couples or for having a spare.
Power Adapter Not Included: Requires a separate USB power adapter for the charger.
Ongoing Brush Head Costs: Regular replacement of brush heads is necessary for optimal performance.
Initial Sensation: The high-frequency vibrations may feel unusual for first-time sonic toothbrush users.
The Philips Sonicare 5500 Series is engineered to deliver a superior cleaning experience. Its Next-Generation Sonicare Technology ensures that the toothbrush head vibrates at a high frequency (62,000 movements per minute), creating dynamic fluid action that reaches between teeth and along the gumline. This results in up to 7x more plaque removal compared to a manual toothbrush.
Clean Mode: This is your standard mode for exceptional daily plaque removal. It provides a thorough two-minute clean.
White Mode: Designed to tackle surface stains, this mode helps achieve up to 2x whiter teeth. For best results, use with the included W2 Optimal White brush head.
To protect your gums, the toothbrush features an intelligent pressure alert. If you press too hard, the toothbrush will give a gentle pulse or change its vibration to alert you, encouraging a gentler technique. This ensures effective cleaning without damaging your gums or enamel.
For those new to sonic toothbrushes, the EasyStart feature gradually increases the brushing power over your first 14 sessions. This helps you comfortably adapt to the powerful sonic vibrations without feeling overwhelmed, ensuring a smooth transition to a more effective brushing routine.
Instead of scrubbing, simply guide the brush head over each tooth surface, letting the sonic technology do the work. Hold the bristles at a slight angle towards the gumline. The built-in timer will signal when your two minutes of brushing are complete, and often, a quadpacer will indicate when to move to a different section of your mouth for an even clean.
Charge Your Toothbrush: Before first use, fully charge your Philips Sonicare 5500. Connect the charger to a suitable USB power adapter (not included) and plug it into a wall outlet. Place the toothbrush handle on the charger. The battery indicator will show charging progress. A full charge typically takes 24 hours.
Attach Brush Head: Align the brush head with the handle's shaft and push it down firmly until it locks into place.
Brush Heads: The Philips Sonicare 5500 Series is designed to work optimally with Philips Sonicare W2 Optimal White brush heads (two are included). While many Philips Sonicare click-on brush heads are compatible, using the recommended type ensures the best performance for plaque removal and whitening.
Charger: The included charger requires a standard USB power adapter (e.g., from a phone charger) to connect to a wall socket.
After Each Use: Rinse the brush head thoroughly under running water. Wipe the handle with a damp cloth.
Cleaning the Handle: Regularly wipe the entire handle to remove any toothpaste residue.
Charging Base: Wipe the charging base clean periodically. Ensure it is unplugged before cleaning.
Brush Head Replacement: For optimal hygiene and performance, replace your brush head every three months, or sooner if the indicator bristles fade or show signs of wear.
Travel Case: Use the included travel case to protect your toothbrush and brush heads from damage and keep them hygienic when traveling.