If you’ve ever been afraid of going to the dentist (no one wants another cavity! ), it might be time to shake things up by investing in an electric toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes, instead of manual toothbrushes, often use a sonic or oscillating motion to assist you in obtaining a deeper clean and enhancing dental hygiene. Best of all, they attempt to make brushing your teeth less of a chore by including features such as a built-in two-minute timer that alerts you when it’s time to stop touching and a pressure sensor that alerts you if you’re pressing down too hard.
The HomeAccessoris Institute’s analysts have tested nearly a dozen electric toothbrushes to determine the best ones. We assessed each electric toothbrush for simplicity of use, performance, and durability and solicited feedback from our consumer testers.
Our top picks:
With so many dental goods available, from water flossers to teeth whiteners, it is difficult to know where to begin when looking for a new toothbrush. Do you prefer Oral-B or Sonicare, or are you seeking a portable electric toothbrush? What about getting the kids an electric toothbrush? Among the various things to consider are app connectivity, the amount of cleaning modes, and battery life.
To help you select the best electric toothbrush, we merged our testing notes with feedback from professional dentists such as Sharon L. Huang, D.D.S., owner of Les Belles Dentistry in New York City, and Jamie Reynolds, M.D., an orthodontist headquartered in Michigan. Continue reading after our evaluations to learn more about the benefits of electric toothbrushes and suggestions on the main characteristics to look for while shopping. If you have children, pair your new toothbrush with the best whitening toothpaste and read our guide to the best baby toothbrushes.
1
BEST OVERALL ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH
Oral-B Pro1000 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush
NOW 20% OFF
PROS
- Fantastic value
- Excellent performance
- Easy to use and navigate
- Gentle on teeth and gums
- Lightweight
CONS
- Only one cleaning mode
- Charging base may build up residue
specifications
Quiet Mark noise rating
1 out of 3 stars (Loud)
Battery life
7 days
Modes
1 (Daily Clean)
Pressure sensor
Yes
Alerts
Two-minute timer with 30 second interval alerts
Cost of replacement heads
$15 and up for 3
Replace your old toothbrush with the most cheap electric toothbrush available. With over 87,000 five-star ratings, it’s no wonder this Oral-B is one of Amazon’s best-rated electric toothbrushes and outperformed in our lab testing. Indeed, this brush garnered some of the top overall ratings owing to its remarkable performance, ease of use, and user happiness.
With all of the desirable features of an electric toothbrush, such as a rotating head to remove plaque, a pressure sensor to avoid over-brushing, and a two-minute timer, it costs a fraction of the price of many others. Though it has one clean mode, the toothbrush’s controls are straightforward to use without being overbearing or complicated, and it cleans teeth effectively. Consumers praised its lightweight, user-friendly design, but our experts point out that it’s noisier than the other versions we examined, and there was some residue on the charging base after extended use.
“The Oral B brush has the perfect little angled brush that gets in between my teeth and gets out all the plaque and food that is hard to get out with a traditional toothbrush,” one tester says. Keep in mind that while this toothbrush is an outstanding deal, it lacks some of the added functions found on more expensive Oral-B models, such as the ability to modify the brush head’s speed or sensitivity. “I think this is a very effective basic electric toothbrush that’ll clean your teeth perfectly without any fancy bells and whistles,” says one GH Institute product analyst.
2
PROS
- Inexpensive
- Slim, lightweight design
- Two brush intensities
CONS
- Charger adaptor and travel case not included
- Lower performance scores than other Sonicare toothbrushes
specifications
Quiet Mark noise rating
3 out of 3 stars (Quiet)
Battery life
14 days
Modes
1 (Clean with high and low intensity)
Pressure sensor
Yes
Alerts
Two-minute timer with 30 second interval alerts
Cost of replacement heads
$30 and up for 3
Are you interested in Sonicare’s powerful sonic technology for removing plaque from teeth but don’t want to spend too much on your next toothbrush? We like how the Sonicare 4100 has all of Sonicare’s favorite features at an affordable price, such as a two-minute timer, pressure sensor, and two intensity settings to select from, which is very useful for those with sensitive gums or teeth. Despite lacking a travel case, we enjoy this model’s sleek, lightweight design and compact charger, which can be plugged into any USB-A port.
In our Lab tests, this model’s performance results were somewhat lower than those of more premium Philips Sonicare toothbrushes, but it stood out for its ease of use, durability, and quietness. Several of our consumer testers reported that the toothbrush effectively cleaned their teeth. “I felt like I got a very good clean each time with minimal effort,” one tester comments. Another tester enjoyed the form of the brush head: “It has a compact head, so it seems to fit farther back and reach all around the back teeth better than a manual toothbrush.”
3
PROS
- Top overall score in Lab tests
- Excellent performance
- Easy and intuitive to use
- Feature-rich
- Rechargeable via travel case
CONS
- Pricey
specifications
Quiet Mark noise rating
1 out of 3 stars (Loud)
Battery life
14 days
Modes
5
Pressure sensor
Yes
Alerts
Two-minute timer with 30 second interval alerts
Cost of replacement heads
$30 and up for 2
Have you ever wondered what kind of toothbrush your dentist uses at home? There is no need to look any further. The Prestige 9900 is the priciest electric toothbrush on this list, yet it received the greatest overall score in our lab testing and the highest consumer satisfaction score.
Connect it to the Sonicare app to help you through brushing and notify you of any missed locations. Don’t worry if you have sensitive or receding gums; it automatically adjusts the intensity and gently vibrates if you brush too hard.
Several testers said their gums were healthier and had less plaque after using this toothbrush. “I love this toothbrush,” one tester says. “The 9900 is quiet. The vibrations tickle a little and take a few days to get used to, but they help the toothbrush clean my teeth well. My teeth appear to have been professionally cleaned! The program is simple to use and makes brushing enjoyable. It also motivates me to brush my teeth more frequently. The toothbrush is elegantly constructed and takes up minimal place in my bathroom.”
Testers also like that you can customize your daily brushing regimen with five different modes and that it comes with a small travel case. You can even leave your toothbrush’s charger at home and charge it through USB inside its travel case.
4
PROS
- Feature-rich
- 7 cleaning settings
- Assesses 16 zones in mouth with AI
- Interactive color display
CONS
- Expensive
- Design is a bit bulky
specifications
Quiet Mark noise rating
2 out of 3 stars (Average)
Battery life
14 days
Modes
7
Pressure sensor
Yes
Alerts
Two-minute timer with 30 second interval alerts
Cost of replacement heads
$36 and up for 4
Even though the iO Series 9 costs more than some of the other electric toothbrushes on this list, it is one of Oral-B’s most technologically sophisticated models. It is packed with useful functions to help you achieve the deepest clean. For instance, a real-time “coaching” tool uses AI to direct you while you brush, ensuring that you never miss a spot. The brush also comes with a built-in timer, a Smart Pressure Sensor (which warns red when brushing too hard), a charging travel bag, and three replacement brush heads. It also has seven smart modes, one for cleaning your tongue.
The Oral-B iO achieved excellent ratings across the board in lab tests, and consumer testers agreed that there isn’t much to complain about, calling the brush a “bomb,” “a game-changer,” a “joy to use,” and “incredibly cool.” A few testers even compared it to getting their teeth professionally cleaned: “What’s not to love? I can’t stop using this toothbrush and brushing my teeth! One test subject states, “I feel like I just left my dentist chair after a thorough cleaning.
The companion app and the brush’s several cleaning modes were particularly well-liked by other testers. “I enjoy the features. With the sensor light, you can see that you are applying the correct pressure, and the app displays how thoroughly you brush while providing feedback for any corrections that need to be made, according to one tester. Others appreciate the dynamic color display, which displays a cheerful face after two minutes of brushing.
5
PROS
- Slim, compact design
- Affordable
- Includes travel cover
CONS
- Subscription required for best savings
specifications
Quiet Mark noise rating
3 out of 3 stars (Quiet)
Battery life
90 days
Modes
1
Pressure sensor
No
Alerts
Two-minute timer with 30 second interval alerts
Cost of replacement heads
$5 every 3 months (includes batteries)
Colgate’s time-saving pen with 3% lightning hydrogen peroxide whitens your teeth while you sleep. “I used this three or four nights in a row and saw my teeth go from yellow to a nice, bright white,” wrote one Amazon customer.
How we test the best electric toothbrushes
The HomeAccessoris Institute conducted rigorous in-lab tests for our electric toothbrush studies. Our most recent trials evaluated 11 electric toothbrushes for performance, convenience, and durability.
To obtain qualitative feedback on each toothbrush, we distributed samples to over 100 consumer panelists who claimed good oral hygiene habits (brushing twice daily and having a professional cleaning every six months). After two weeks of use, they were asked to rate their overall happiness with the electric toothbrush. Here’s more information on how we conducted our tests:
✔️Product analysts assess the toothbrush’s general functioning, settings, and effectiveness in cleaning teeth. The battery life, charging time, accuracy of the two-minute timer, and utility of any built-in sensors are then evaluated. Each toothbrush is sent to Quiet Mark, our partner lab and independent global certification program that identifies how quiet or noisy goods are through scientific testing and assessment to evaluate and compare noise levels.
✔️Durability: Each toothbrush is subjected to a drop and water-resistance test at our Lab to determine durability. Each toothbrush is dropped from a 30-inch height, or the average size of a countertop, and then examined for dents, scratches, and damage. Next, The toothbrush is tested for water resistance in the Lab’s rain tester, exposing it to varying water pressures for two minutes.
✔️easiness of use: After measuring and weighing the toothbrush, we provide feedback to consumers on the following questions: How simple is it to set up? How simple is it to put on the toothbrush head? Are the controls easily accessible and well-placed? Is it simple to charge the toothbrush? Is the app easy to use? Is the design ergonomic and comfortable to hold? Is it substantial or light? Did the toothbrush make a mess when you were using it? Is its size taking up too much room?
What to look for when shopping for an electric toothbrush
✔️ Power source: Individuals chose rechargeable choices over battery-powered ones in our lab testing. According to our feedback, the battery-operated brushes were perfect for travel, but they did not perform as well as electric toothbrushes with rechargeable bases.
✔️ Timer: Many electric toothbrushes have a two-minute brushing option broken up into 30-second intervals, allowing you to properly brush your teeth from front to back and top to bottom.
✔️ Avoid irritated gums by using an electric toothbrush with a pressure sensor that gently vibrates when you press down too hard.
✔️ Connectivity: Some electric toothbrushes include Bluetooth technology, which allows you to link to an app to track your brushing habits and access extra functions such as coaching and tips. Some of the more expensive toothbrushes even use AI technology to provide real-time feedback as you brush to determine which areas want development.
Electric vs. manual toothbrushes
“Not all electric toothbrushes are created equal,” explains Sharon L. Huang, DDS, of Les Belles Dentistry in New York City. She calculates that two minutes of brushing with an electric toothbrush equals seven minutes of manual brushing.
Why? Because electric toothbrushes are more effective at cleaning and reaching many surfaces, particularly hard-to-reach regions like molars in the rear of your mouth. “When you use a manual brush, it depends on how you’re brushing [and the motion] versus an electric toothbrush that does the work for you,” she explains.
But, “we will never be able to move as fast as a sonic brush,” which she prefers for its power and ability to dislodge microorganisms.
Do dentists recommend electric toothbrushes?
“Pretty much everyone can benefit from an electric toothbrush,” says Jamie Reynolds, M.D., a Michigan-based orthodontist. His dental hygienist noted how clean his teeth looked after switching to an electric toothbrush. “As for me, I’m not going back to the old way, and I don’t recommend you do either!”
But, according to Dr. Reynolds, no matter which powered toothbrush you buy, the most important thing is your habits. “An electric toothbrush isn’t a wand of power. It still needs to be used in the morning and at night, with around two minutes of brushing time.” Use it to improve your brushing skills, not to compensate for it.
Why trust Home Accessories?
HA has more than 15 years of experience researching, producing, and editing content on skincare. It draws on the knowledge of top industry experts like dermatologists and aestheticians as well as the scientists at the Home Accessories Institute Beauty Lab. She is an authority in moisturizers and all other types of facial skincare products. April collaborates closely with the HA Beauty Lab to organize the testing of skincare products and transform test results into top-notch, enticing content for Home Accessories that is factually correct and validated by science.
Former senior editor at the Home Accessories Institute, Nicole Saporita frequently worked with specialists from the Beauty Lab.
