Quick Answer
The Oral-B iO Ultimate Clean is the top replacement head for 2026, offering superior plaque removal and gentle gum care. For specialized needs, consider the Gentle Care for sensitive teeth or Targeted Clean for precision cleaning.
Key Points:
- Ultimate Clean provides 6x better plaque removal vs manual brushing
- All iO heads feature micro-vibrating bristles and are compatible across iO series
- Replace every 3 months or when bristles fade from blue to white
Shopping for the best iO replacement brush head but still choosing your iO handle? The Ultimate Clean brush head delivers exceptional performance, but it requires an Oral-B iO series toothbrush to work—it’s incompatible with traditional Oral-B models. If you haven’t selected your iO handle yet, our complete Oral-B iO series comparison covers all nine models from the budget iO 3 to flagship iO 10, helping you choose the perfect toothbrush to pair with this premium brush head. For a broader view including non-iO options, see our best Oral-B electric toothbrush guide.If you own an Oral-B iO electric toothbrush, you’ve already invested in one of the most advanced oral care technologies available. Its innovative magnetic drive and oscillating-rotating-micro-vibrating bristles deliver a superior clean—but the performance is only as good as the brush head you use.
When it’s time to replace your best iO toothbrush brush head (which is essential for maintaining optimal plaque removal), you’ll find that Oral-B offers a variety of replacement heads, each designed for a different cleaning goal: from daily polishing and intense cleaning to gentle care for sensitive gums.
Choosing the right iO replacement head is key to customizing your brushing experience and addressing your specific dental needs. This guide is here to simplify your decision, detailing the features of the top Oral-B iO heads available so you can select the perfect one to keep your smile healthy, bright, and impeccably clean.
Shopping for brush heads but still deciding on your iO handle? The Ultimate Clean brush head delivers optimal performance, but it requires an iO series toothbrush to work. If you haven’t chosen your iO model yet, see our complete Oral-B iO series comparison covering all models from the budget iO 3 to flagship iO 10, or visit our best Oral-B electric toothbrush guide to compare iO technology against traditional Oral-B models.
Note: For Fast Premium Amazon Delivery: Sign up for Amazon Prime . And if you are a college/university student Sign up here.
1. Best Overall – Oral-B iO Ultimate Clean
- Best for: Deep cleaning and superior plaque removal.
- Key Features: Oral-B iO Ultimate Clean is often the default brush head that comes with the iO electric toothbrush. It features a unique “tuft-in-tuft” and angled bristle design to thoroughly clean tooth surfaces and reach hard-to-reach areas, delivering a “professional clean feeling.” It is highly effective at plaque removal.
The Oral-B iO Ultimate Clean replacement heads are the flagship standard head designed for the Oral-B iO series electric toothbrushes. These heads deliver a premium and highly effective cleaning experience, making them an excellent investment focused on maximizing plaque removal.
Core Features and Technology
These brush heads are engineered specifically for the unique magnetic drive system of the iO toothbrush handle, leveraging two key design elements:
- “Tuft-in-Tuft” Bristles and 16-Degree Angle: This is the most critical feature. The bristles are arranged in dense clusters with varying lengths. The longer, twisted inner bristles are designed to reach deeper into interdental spaces and hard-to-reach areas, while the shorter, wider outer bristles handle the tooth surface. The 16-degree angle is clinically proven to adapt to the contours of each tooth for superior coverage along the gum line.
- iO Micro-Vibrations: The head works in tandem with the iO handle’s micro-vibrations, combining the familiar oscillating-rotating motion of Oral-B’s iconic round head with gentle sonic energy. This combination is what users often describe as feeling like a “dentist-clean.”
Performance: The “Ultimate Clean” Experience
The Ultimate Clean head lives up to its name. Clinically, it is proven to remove up to 100% more plaque than a regular manual toothbrush. User feedback consistently highlights several performance benefits:
- Polished Sensation: The most common praise is the “dentist-like” or “polished” feeling left on the teeth immediately after brushing.
- Deep Reach: The “tuft-in-tuft” structure effectively tackles areas often missed by flat-bristled heads, such as the back molars and the areas between teeth.
- Effective, Yet Gentle: Despite its superior cleaning power, the heads are generally reported to be gentle on the gums and sensitive areas, especially when combined with the iO handle’s smart pressure sensor technology.
Value and Convenience (4 Count, Black)
The 4-count pack offers a good balance of value and convenience. Dentists and Oral-B recommend changing the brush head every three months for optimal cleaning efficacy.
- Longevity: A 4-pack provides a full year’s supply of replacement heads.
- Packaging: The “Suitable for Mailbox” packaging is a convenient feature, ensuring easy and secure delivery without requiring a signature or large parcel collection. The recyclable packaging also appeals to environmentally conscious buyers.
- Price Point: At the discounted price of $28.00 (down from $37.89), the cost per count comes to $7.00. While original iO replacement heads are generally more expensive than standard electric toothbrush heads, this discounted price positions them competitively for the advanced technology they contain.
Final Verdict
The Oral-B iO Ultimate Clean brush head is essential for anyone using an Oral-B iO series brush. Its combination of the specialized 16-degree angle and “tuft-in-tuft” bristle structure provides a tangible upgrade in cleaning performance, delivering a genuinely polished, professional feel after every brush. The black color option and convenient mailbox-friendly packaging are welcome bonuses.
Recommendation: If you own an Oral-B iO, this is the default and most powerful cleaning head you can buy. Highly recommended, especially when available at the current discounted price.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Superior plaque removal (up to 100% vs. manual) | Exclusively compatible with Oral-B iO models |
| Delivers a noticeably “dentist-clean” feeling | Higher price point than older Oral-B head types |
| Advanced “tuft-in-tuft” bristle design for deep reach | Some users report faster wear-out of bristles |
| Convenient mailbox-compatible 4-pack |
2. Oral-B iO Gentle Care
- Best for: Sensitive teeth and gums.
- Key Features: Oral-B iO Gentle Care has a high density of fine, soft filaments (up to 4,000) that adapt to the curvature of the tooth and gum line. It provides a gentler, less abrasive brushing experience, making it ideal for users with sensitive gums or gum recession, while still providing an effective clean. Users often report that their gums feel better with this head.
The Oral-B iO Gentle Care replacement heads are the specialized option for one seeking the superior cleaning performance of the iO technology with maximum comfort. As the softest brush head in the iO lineup, it’s specifically engineered for individuals with sensitive teeth or concerns about gum health. This head successfully delivers a gentle yet effective clean, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice performance for sensitivity.
Core Features and Technology
These heads are designed to protect sensitive gums while providing the renowned cleaning efficacy of the iO brush handle:
- Ultra-Soft Bristle Design: The Gentle Care head features up to 4,000 individual soft bristles. This high bristle count, combined with their ultra-fine structure, ensures a wide contact area that cleans effectively without being abrasive.
- Cushioning Outer Ring: A crucial element of the gentle design is the cushioning outer ring. This feature is intended to precisely adapt to the curvature of the teeth and act as a buffer, ensuring the brush head protects the gums from excessive pressure while maintaining optimal contact with the tooth surface.
- iO Micro-Vibrations: Like all iO heads, the Gentle Care unit works with the iO handle’s gentle micro-vibrations, ensuring the patented round head covers each tooth individually for a thorough, yet comfortable, cleaning session.
Performance: The “Gentle Clean” Experience
The Gentle Care head is ideal for anyone who finds standard electric brushing heads too firm, or who experiences tenderness, sensitivity, or gum recession.
- Gum Protection: The combination of soft bristles and the cushioning ring makes this head exceptionally gentle, providing a superior clean without compromising comfort. This is especially beneficial when using the iO handle’s smart pressure sensor, which helps prevent over-brushing.
- Cleaning Efficacy: While optimized for gentleness, the head maintains a high level of cleaning, leveraging the power of the iO magnetic drive. It focuses on the clinically proven benefits of the iO system—effective plaque removal and improved gum health—but in the most comfortable manner possible.
- User Feel: Users consistently report a soft, soothing sensation, often comparing the experience to a gentle massage rather than an intense scrub.
Value and Convenience (4 Count, White)
The 4-count pack aligns with dental recommendations for changing the brush head every three months, providing a full year’s supply in one purchase.
- Price Point: At $33.50 for a 4-pack, the cost per head is approximately $8.38. This makes the Gentle Care head slightly more expensive per unit than the Ultimate Clean head (especially at its current discount), reflecting its specialized, comfort-focused design.
- Packaging: The “Easy Delivery” and “Mailbox compatible packaging” ensures a seamless, low-effort experience for receiving your annual supply.
Final Verdict
The Oral-B iO Gentle Care brush head is the must-have choice for Oral-B iO users who prioritize gum health and comfort. If you have any history of sensitivity, gum inflammation, or simply prefer a softer touch, this head delivers powerful plaque removal thanks to the iO technology, while ensuring the most pleasant brushing experience possible. It is a fantastic specialized investment in your oral care routine.
Recommendation: Highly recommended for iO users with sensitive gums or teeth. It proves that a deep clean and gentle care are not mutually exclusive.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Softest iO head, ideal for sensitivity and gum care | Exclusively compatible with Oral-B iO models |
| Features 4,000 soft bristles and a cushioning ring | Slightly higher price point per count than the Ultimate Clean head |
| Effective plaque removal without abrasion | |
| Convenient mailbox-compatible 4-pack |
Other iO Brush Heads
Oral-B also offers other specialized heads for the iO series:
- Radiant White: Combines perfectly angled bristles with polishing petals to help remove surface stains for teeth whitening.
- Specialised Clean (or Interdental Clean): Features an innovative, focused tuft pattern with high bristle density to effectively access and clean hard-to-reach areas, braces, or around implants.
The Oral-B iO Radiant White brush head is specifically designed for users who want to focus on removing surface stains to achieve a whiter, brighter smile, starting from day one. It combines the powerful plaque removal of the iO series with specialized polishing features. While it is the premium-priced option among the iO heads, the focused design suggest it successfully targets aesthetic as well as hygiene goals.
Whitening Technology and Design
This head’s primary feature is its hybrid design, which focuses on both deep cleaning and polishing:
- Polishing Petals: Unlike the dense, uniform bristle clusters of the Ultimate Clean or the ultra-soft bristles of the Gentle Care, the Radiant White head features a set of polishing petals (or cups). These are designed to hold toothpaste and gently polish away surface stains caused by coffee, tea, or other common stain-causing agents.
- Angled Bristles: The head retains the signature angled bristles that are crucial for effective plaque removal along the gumline and in between teeth, ensuring that the whitening focus doesn’t come at the expense of a thorough clean.
- iO Micro-Vibrations: The polishing action is amplified by the gentle, high-frequency micro-vibrations delivered by the iO handle, maximizing stain removal efficiency with minimal effort.
Performance: Polishing and Plaque Removal
The Radiant White head is the go-to choice for tackling light staining and maintaining the results of professional whitening.
- Effective Surface Stain Removal: The combination of polishing petals and targeted vibration is highly effective at gently buffing the enamel surface to remove everyday stains. The manufacturer’s claim of whiter teeth “as of day 1” is attributed to this immediate removal of surface discoloration.
- Complete Clean: Importantly, this head doesn’t neglect basic hygiene. It maintains the core plaque removal standards expected of the iO platform, ensuring a complete and healthy clean alongside the aesthetic benefits.
- Target Audience: This head is best suited for daily maintenance of a bright smile, rather than deep, chemical whitening. It is an excellent complement to whitening toothpastes.
Value and Purchasing Details
The Radiant White head sits at the higher end of the iO refill pricing.
- Price: At $42.36 for a 4-pack, the cost per head is approximately $10.59. This higher price reflects the specialized polishing design and materials.
- Exclusivity: Like all iO heads, it is exclusively compatible with the Oral-B iO electric toothbrushes.
- Convenience: The 4-pack provides a full year of use (based on the recommended 3-month replacement cycle) and the striking black color perfectly matches the darker iO brush handles.
Final Verdict
The Oral-B iO Radiant White brush head is the premium aesthetic choice in the iO lineup. If your main oral care goal, alongside plaque removal, is to brighten your smile and gently polish away daily surface stains, this head is worth the investment. It provides an advanced, comfortable, and specialized way to maintain the polished, clean feeling that the iO system is known for.
Recommendation: Choose this head if you are dedicated to fighting surface stains and are willing to pay a slight premium for the specialized polishing feature.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Polishing cup designed specifically for stain removal | Most expensive head option in the iO series |
| Cleans and gently polishes for whiter teeth as of day 1 | Only compatible with Oral-B iO handles |
| Excellent balance of deep cleaning and aesthetic maintenance |
All Oral-B iO brush heads are designed exclusively for the Oral-B iO electric toothbrush handles.
Oral B IO Ultimate Clean Brush Head Reviews
The Ultimate Clean brush head is inspired by the CrossAction brush heads and is designed with a ‘Tuft-in-Tuft’ structure to reach deeper in between the teeth. It has six outer tufts that are positioned at an angle of 16 degrees for maximum cleaning effectiveness. These tufts feature an outer edge that has a taller tuft of bristles in the middle, which allows it to reach deeper in between teeth.
In addition, the brush head has seven tufts in the center, with six tufts grouped around a single tuft at the center. The bristles are also angled at 16 degrees to sweep away plaque from the gumline effectively, yet gently.
The brush head is small and round, making it easy to maneuver in the mouth for a thorough clean. It’s also designed with an innovative CrissCross pattern for ultimate cleaning, with shorter tufts optimally positioned for surface cleaning and longer tufts to enable interdental cleaning in hard-to-reach areas.
Compatibility and Benefits
The Ultimate Clean brush head is compatible with Oral-B iO Series 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 toothbrushes. It’s designed exclusively for the Oral-B iO toothbrush and is guaranteed to fit perfectly.
Using the Ultimate Clean brush head can help remove up to 100% more plaque along the gum line compared to manual toothbrush heads. The ‘Tuft-in-Tuft’ structure, coupled with the 16-degree angled bristles, makes it easier to reach deeper in between teeth for a thorough clean. This, in turn, promotes healthier gums and cleaner teeth.
The Ultimate Clean brush head is also designed to last for up to three months, and dentists recommend changing your brush head every three months for optimal cleaning.
Pros
- Removes up to 100% more plaque along the gum line compared to manual toothbrush heads
- Designed with a ‘Tuft-in-Tuft’ structure to reach deeper in between teeth
- 16-degree angled bristles for effective, yet gentle cleaning
- Innovative CrissCross pattern for ultimate cleaning
- Compatible with a range of Oral-B iO toothbrushes
- Guaranteed to fit perfectly
Cons
- Only designed for the Oral-B iO toothbrush
- Higher cost compared to manual toothbrush heads
Which is the Best Oral B IO Brush Head?
In summary, the Oral B IO Ultimate Clean brush head is the best choice for those looking for a thorough clean using an Oral-B iO toothbrush. With its unique ‘Tuft-in-Tuft’ structure and 16-degree angled bristles, it’s designed to remove up to 100% more plaque along the gum line for healthier gums and cleaner teeth. It’s also compatible with a range of Oral-B iO toothbrushes and is designed to fit perfectly. However, it’s important to note that the Ultimate Clean brush head is only designed for the Oral-B iO toothbrush and may have a higher cost compared to manual toothbrush heads.
Ready to pair this brush head with the perfect iO toothbrush? Our best Oral-B iO comparison guide helps you choose which iO model (3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10) delivers the features you need at your budget.
Today’s deals:
Ready to pair this Ultimate Clean brush head with your ideal iO toothbrush? Whether you choose the budget-friendly iO 3, mid-range iO 6 or 8, or flagship iO 9 or 10, this brush head will deliver the same excellent cleaning. Visit our best Oral-B iO comparison to find which iO model best matches your budget and feature needs.
Similar Posts:
Dr. Tom Bell has a PhD in Medical Anthropology. He has a keen interest in oral health topics and is the founder of dentalrave. He has been an oral health researcher and electric toothbrush enthusiast for over 10 years. Tom works with Awin and others in his research. When not talking about dental hygiene and gadgets, Tom likes spending time outdoors hiking.
