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The Best Electric Toothbrushes, Tested and Approved
We tested over 30 electric toothbrushes to see if they lived up to their claims.
Updated on November 18, 2024
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Swapping out your old manual toothbrush for an electric toothbrush might seem trivial, but it can actually be one of the most effective ways to improve dental health. An electric toothbrush can not only clean your teeth more thoroughly but can even break up plaque more easily. Built-up plaque can cause problems, from minor cavities to severe gum disease, so it is best to find an electric toothbrush that can help stop the issue before it starts.
Manufacturers promise many amazing features concerning their brushes, so we home-tested over 30 options to see which ones most thoroughly cleaned teeth while still offering the best value. We also assessed each toothbrush for additional features like ease of use, design, functionality, quality, value, and more. Our medical review board reviewed the contents of this article for medical accuracy.
Manual vs Electric Toothbrushes
Manual toothbrushes are typically cheaper, more straightforward, and more portable due to their slim size. However, they also lack additional features to aid in cleaning and are more prone to user error. On the other side, Lauren Becker, DDS, PC, general and cosmetic dentist in New York City, explains that electric toothbrushes are better at removing stains and cleaning teeth as a whole. However, they’re more expensive than manual options. Overall, dentists recommend using an electric toothbrush over a manual option if you can work it into your budget.
What Healthcare Providers Want You to Know
- Keep it clean: Once your electric toothbrush has been used, it is best to run it under hot water as soon as you are finished. For a deeper clean, you can also swirl the brush head in mouthwash or soak it in a mixture of two teaspoons of baking soda and water for 15 minutes.
- Replace the brush head: While the instructions that come with your toothbrush will give specific guidelines, you can expect to replace the head every three to four months or once the bristles are worn.
- Choosing brush heads: Your brush head will make a big difference in cleaning effectiveness. Larger brush heads can clean greater surface area, but Kate Zoumboukos, DMD, FAGD, licensed dentist and fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, notes that they can be harder to maneuver into hard-to-reach places.
- Soft bristles: While firmer bristles might be preferable for that deep-clean feeling, it’s actually recommended that “soft” or “extra soft” bristles be used for electric brushes. Especially for fast, rotating electric brush heads, softer bristles will be kinder to your teeth and, as Zoumboukos notes, minimize abrasions.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
When plaque has not been removed, it can progress into a hard substance called tartar. Tartar cannot be brushed away and must be removed by a dental hygienist. Otherwise, for general dental upkeep, you should visit your dentist every 6 to 12 months for a check-up and teeth cleaning.
Pros
Noticeable whitening effect
Hits hard-to-reach areas
Intuitive design
Cons
Can be slippery when wet
Long recharge time
Key Specs
Head Type: Not Listed | Bristle Stiffness: Soft | Power: Rechargeable | Timer: Yes | Features: Waterproof, ergonomic, lightweight,
Why We Recommend It
The Aquasonic Black Ultra Whitening Toothbrush has an incredible whitening feature that brightened our teeth in just a few uses during testing. It effectively removed surface stains while also giving us a deep clean that left our mouths feeling fresh. The compact head proved perfect for smaller mouths. We also love that the brush head hit hard-to-reach areas with ease without triggering a gag reflex.
Another reason we love this toothbrush is that it comes with eight spare heads, which is enough to last for over two years’ worth of brushing. The Black Series Sonic also has a premium hard shell case and a small charger, making travel incredibly convenient.
Keep In Mind
While the whitening feature is great, it is important to note that the brushing modes do not revert back to default when the brush is turned off (if you'd like to try different modes at different times). Also, it needs a full 24 hours to charge. While a full charge can last nearly four weeks, it was slightly inconvenient if it died while brushing.
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Pros
Modern, bright design
Delicately cleans sensitive areas
Great Value
Cons
Highest setting may be too intense for some
Could have more features
Key Specs
Head Type: Vibrating | Bristle Stiffness: Soft | Power: Rechargeable | Timer: Yes | Features: Portable, customizable, brushing Timer
Why We Recommend It
We found that the HiSmile Electric Toothbrush offered the best of both worlds in terms of design and functionality throughout testing. Where other brushes have a circular head, the HiSmile uses a more traditional head shape that contours to teeth more effectively. Additionally, the head is relatively small, making it easy to maneuver, especially when getting into those tough-to-reach places of the mouth. We noticed that sensitive gum areas had already started feeling better after a few consistent brushes.
We also loved that the HiSmile was so easy to use and ready to go straight out of the box. There are no extra apps to set up or sensors to read up on. Just plug it in and start brushing!
Keep In Mind
Unlike some of the other electric toothbrushes on this list, the HiSmile does not have an assortment of extra features. If you prefer a no-frills toothbrush, this is for you. But if you want a toothbrush with smarter features, this toothbrush may not be the best pick. Also, if you have sensitive teeth, the highest intensity setting might be a bit too much to handle.
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Pros
Powerful
Highly Maneuverable
No hassle cleaning
Cons
Short battery life
Could use a battery indicator
Key Specs
Head Type: Micro-Pulse | Bristle Stiffness: Soft | Power: Electric chord | Timer: Yes | Features: Not listed
Why We Recommend It
This Oral-B Vitality FlossAction combines value with great efficacy. This brush performs like the high-end brushes on this list, which makes it a great choice if you are looking for a budget-friendly option that will still give you an excellent clean. Though it might seem small at first, that compact size gives it great maneuverability, allowing the head to hit every nook and cranny.
Likewise, this Oral B brush strikes the perfect balance between powerful and comfortable. We noticed that the more we allowed the brush to take the lead, the better our performance and the cleaner our teeth became. Instead of scrubbing in circles, just letting the brush move over each individual tooth worked the best.
Keep In Mind
During our time using the toothbrush, we noticed that the battery life left something to be desired. On average, the Oral-B Vitality FlossAction lasted between 3 and 4 uses on a full charge. This led to times when the brush would die in the middle of cleaning, which was frustrating. To add to this inconvenience, we could not find a clear indicator for the battery charge.
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Pros
Real-time feedback
Compatible with different Oral B heads
Sensitive gum setting
Cons
Vibrating sensors might be confusing
Key Specs
Head Type: Rotating and pulsating | Bristle Stiffness: Soft | Power: Battery Powered | Timer: Yes | Features: Pressure sensor
Why We Recommend It
Something that stood out to us during testing was the sensitive gum setting of the Oral-B Smart Clean 360. Even when trying to maintain our health, we can sometimes damage our gums through harsh brushing. This can result in canker sores, receding gumline, and even gum disease. The Oral-B Smart Clean 360’s soft bristles help minimize any harm or discomfort, and the pressure sensor lets you know exactly how much force to put behind your brush.
Electric toothbrushes can be pricey, especially when purchasing for more than one person. Thankfully, this pick comes in a twin pack. This can give you peace of mind, knowing that you have a backup in case of traveling or emergencies. Or, if you live in a two-person household, you and your partner can each have a toothbrush to enjoy the same great cleaning.
Keep In Mind
The sensors were a little confusing during testing. The brush’s timer vibrates to let you know to switch to a different part of your mouth and does so about every 30 seconds. However, another vibrating timer goes off after 2 minutes to signal your cleaning is finished. Keeping track of which vibrating timer means can take some getting used to.
Pros
Six brushing modes
Durable
App with live feedback
Cons
Heavy
Complex instructions
Key Specs
Head Type: Rotating | Bristle Stiffness: Hard | Power: Rechargeable | Timer: Yes | Features: Extensive app connectivity, real-time feedback, responsive pressure sensor, travel case
Why We Recommend It
We love how advanced the Oral-B Genius X Limited was during testing. This electric toothbrush has many impressive features to help you maximize your brushing session. Not only are there six brushing modes so you can customize your experience, but the accompanying app provides live feedback so you can always know how your cleaning is going.
The app analyzes your brushing habits in real-time to provide information on what you have missed and where you brush too hard. The brush is reliable as well. On a single charge, the lithium battery lasted for more than 10 days of brushing. As an added perk, the case and stand are high-quality and very durable, perfect for travelers or anyone on the go.
Keep In Mind
While the features of the toothbrush are incredible, the price tag might give some people pause. Furthermore, there might be a bit of a learning curve when it comes to utilizing all of the brush’s complex features. The instructions are lengthy and might overwhelm some users, especially considering that we needed to download an app just to use the toothbrush’s higher functionalities.
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Pros
Comfortable
Switchable heads
Travel case
Cons
Limited customizability
Can have build-up that needs to be cleaned
Key Specs
Head Type: Rotating | Bristle Stiffness: Medium | Power: Battery Powered | Timer: Yes | Features: Pressure Sensor, compact, three brushing modes
Why We Recommend It
The Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6100 gave us a deep clean and comparable comfort. The manufacturer claims the brush can remove seven times more plaque than competitors, and while we couldn’t verify that claim with hard numbers, there was an undeniable, noticeable reduction in plaque.
We found that this brush felt great in our hands and mouths. The rotating brush's power was strong enough to provide a deep clean while not overwhelming enough to irritate gums or cause abrasions. Since the brush has a visual indicator to show which cleaning intensity you are using, you can fine-tune your brushing experience for maximum comfort.
Keep In Mind
While you can switch out the heads to suit your needs, there are no smart features, Wi-Fi Connectivity, or changeable modes. And while the manufacturer claimed there was an internal timer, we couldn’t locate it to use.
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How We Tested the Electric Toothbrushes
The Verywell Health team chose over 30 of the top electric toothbrushes currently available to test out firsthand from their homes. We evaluated each electric toothbrush based on the following criteria:
- Ease of Use: Our scoring was based on the difficulty level of setting up the electric toothbrush and how user-friendly performance proved. If extra features were unintuitive, difficult to understand, or relied heavily on reading instructions, the toothbrush would lose points in that category.
- Design: Electric toothbrushes can vary greatly in size and weight, and those differences can greatly change the user experience. We considered if the brush was too big to comfortably fit in the hand or maneuver within the mouth. Conversely, we also scored on whether the brush was too small to clean teeth in an efficient timeframe.
- Functionality: One of our key considerations is how the brush actually functions. We assessed whether there was any significant difference in switching between brushing speeds or how precisely the two-minute timer performed while brushing.
- Features: Higher-end toothbrushes are mainly enticing because of their Bluetooth and app connectivity. As a result, we assessed how reliable these advanced features were and whether we felt those features were worth the higher price point. For example, if we found the Bluetooth pairing process unclear or unreliable, the toothbrush would be scored lower.
- Quality: This attribute focuses on the user's overall experience during and after brushing. If we felt like we needed more than two minutes to finish brushing or found that the brushing speeds were too intense or too weak, we would lower the overall score
Features To Look For In Electric Toothbrush
- Battery life: Battery life is measured using various factors, ranging from how long a brush can be left out between charges to how long it can continuously run while turned on. Those who keep their brush by a charging dock at home might not find the battery life to be a major consideration, but frequent travelers who are unable to charge up regularly may want to strongly consider this feature in their purchase.
- Alerts and timers: A two-minute brushing timer has become an industry standard in electric toothbrushes (even in the lower-priced ones) and is a convenient way to ensure that you are meeting the recommended time for brushing. Higher-end models will even give an alert every 30 seconds, so you know when to switch brushing positions in your mouth.
- Features: Some of the more advanced features of toothbrushes are Bluetooth connectivity, Wi-Fi connection, and companion smartphone apps. These features can provide real-time updates on brushing and advise you on how to change your cleaning routine best. Leena Palomo, DDS, MSD, professor and chair of the Ashman Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry at New York University, mentioned that some smart toothbrushes can even track where you have brushed and alert you of a missed spot.
Our Experts
We consulted the following dentists during the research and writing of this article on the best electric toothbrushes:
- Marc Schlenoff, DDS, FAGD, vice president of clinical development at Tend in New York City
- Leena Palomo, DDS, MSD, professor and chair of the Ashman Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry at New York University
- Kate Zoumboukos, DMD, FAGD, licensed dentist and fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry
- Lauren Becker, DDS, PC, general and cosmetic dentist in New York City, explains that
Why Trust Verywell Health
As an experienced health writer, Alexander Kimble knows how to evaluate a product and tell the difference between marketing claims and the actual facts. He has a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Psychology and has devoted his life to studying physical and mental health.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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