The 9 Best Electric Toothbrushes, Tested and Reviewed (2024)

There is a seemingly endless array of electric toothbrushes to choose from, but they generally fall into two categories: sonic and oscillating (for U-shaped brushsee below). The best toothbrush is one you use twice a day. You can buy the most highly rated toothbrush around, but if it feels weird in your mouth or hurts your gums, you won’t want to use it.

Ada S. Cooper, a dentist and spokeswoman for Consumer Adviser American Dental AssociationI’m told that both styles are effective in reducing plaque, according to recent research. He notes that you should talk to a dentist about what will work best for you, and he says most of our picks look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance. (If they don’t, that doesn’t mean they’re bad.)

• A Sonic toothbrush Looks like a manual brush with an oval brush head. It vibrates gently and quietly, using a high-speed side-to-side bristle motion to break up plaque. Sonicare was the first brand to introduce a sonic toothbrush and is probably the most well-known name in the category.
• Oscillating toothbrush Rotating and pulsating – oscillating means moving or swinging back and forth around the whole tooth. They are louder than sonic brushes and may cause your head to vibrate more while you brush. If you are new to electric brushes, you will get used to it. Oral-B is probably the best known brand for this type of electric toothbrush.

In addition to choosing between an oscillating and sonic toothbrush, these are a few other factors you may want to think about.

• Future costs: You should replace the brush head every three months – if you tend to brush too hard. They range in price depending on the brand and type of head, so it’s a good idea to check in advance. Oral-B offer Different types of heads From within the package $9 for one from $55 for 10. Many brands offer cheap subscriptions. You can often find off-brand heads that cost less but work with the handle, although you may not get the same quality.
• Charging: Electric toothbrushes have either rechargeable batteries or replaceable ones. Battery life depends on the brush, but may require charging every week to every few months. Do you want to commit to keeping it charged or having an extra battery on hand, or do you prefer the convenience of a manual brush that works anytime anywhere?
• Brand History: If you buy from a brand like Sonicare or Oral-B, there’s a high chance you’ll be able to purchase a replacement brush head or get customer service if you need anything. You can get them in stores instead of ordering online. We recommend a few new brands here, many of which only have online storefronts and there’s no way to predict if they’ll be around in five years. Some make great brushes, so it might be worth it if the initial cost isn’t too high.

Buying the best toothbrush means nothing if you don’t brush properly. Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to do it right:

• Floss: You should floss your teeth once a day, before brushing. Medea prefers a string to a floss pick, and switches to a Refillable version from Quip.
• Brush for two minutes: Brush twice a day, spending about a minute on your upper and lower teeth—30 seconds for each quadrant, which is why most electric toothbrushes have a 30-second timer that Reminds you to go to the next one. Make sure you get the front and back of the teeth and focus on cleaning the gum line, where food can get stuck and build up plaque.
• Be humble: If your toothbrush bristles feel crushed, you’re brushing too hard. You want to keep your teeth clean, but you don’t actually need to scrub to do it. Electric toothbrushes often help people become gentler, but you still need to keep this in mind.
• Don’t forget your tongue: Bacteria build up on your tongue, which can cause bad breath even with clean teeth. You can brush it with your toothbrush or use the tongue cleaner on the back of some brush heads. I like pairing that with a Tongue scraper for $10 First to remove most of the buildup.
• Do not wash: If you use fluoride toothpaste – that helps Prevent tooth decay– you You should not wash your face Or use mouthwash now.