Whilst not everyone needs an electric toothbrush, many will benefit from using one.
Studies and reviews consistently show that electric toothbrushes are more effective at removing plaque and reducing gum disease, leading to better long-term oral health.
Our in-house dentist Dr. Gemma Wheeler has found that patients are more likely to clean their teeth for longer thanks to the timers built into electric brushes.
What to look for, what to avoid
We explain these points in more detail later on, but before you make a choice, here are the key things you should know to avoid spending too much or too little.
Keep these in mind as you browse our recommendations below and keep reading for more insights from our testing:
- A 2-minute timer, a pacer and a pressure sensor are the essential features that dentists recommend
- You only need to spend about CAD $100 to get these features
- There isn’t much to separate Oral-B and Sonicare. They use different cleaning technologies, but either will do a good job
- Smart toothbrushes generally aren’t worth it and add to the price tag
Best Overall
Oral-B Smart 2000
*Prices correct at time of writing
Why we chose it:
The Smart 2000 has the key features we recommend for an electric toothbrush. We rate it as the best Oral-B electric toothbrush, all things considered.
The small round brush head cleans the teeth well. It is easy to maneuver into some of the tightest spots in the mouth. If you brush too hard the visible pressure sensor lights up red to warn you.
You can choose between the standard clean mode, a more gentle sensitive mode or a whitening mode. There are no icons to let you know which mode is active, but it’s easy enough to distinguish between the two.
This slim handled brush does not feel quite as secure in hand as some models. It doesn’t have lots of rubber grips. The benefit is that it’s easier to keep clean.
The Smart 2000 has been independently approved by the American Dental Association, which means it is safe to use, and that it has the benefits advertised.
It’s worth noting that despite the name, this is not a ‘smart’ toothbrush. It has no bluetooth connectivity.
Read our Oral-B Smart 2000 Review.
What we like
- Timer and pacer encourage brushing for the recommended time
- Slim, grippy handle
- Visible pressure sensor – alerts you when brushing too hard
- 2 weeks use on a single charge
- Affordable
What we dislike
- No icons on the handle to show which cleaning mode is selected
- Limited feedback on remaining battery power
Environmental Choice
SURI
*Prices correct at time of writing.
Why we chose it:
Electric toothbrushes don’t fare well in their impact on the environment. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t use one.
You need to balance effective cleaning and disease prevention against the environmental impact. If you suffer from gum disease or tooth decay, you should prioritise effective cleaning.
Sustainable Rituals (SURI) electric toothbrush is the most environmentally conscious brush that we have seen and used to date.
It isn’t perfect and SURI doesn’t claim to be, but other leading brands don’t come anywhere as close in their environmental pledges.
Slim and stylish, this metal handled sonic toothbrush cleans the teeth well.
It does lack the pressure sensor dentists recommend, but the all important 2 minute timer and 30 second pacer to encourage even cleaning of the teeth are present.
The brush heads are made from plant based plastic (castor oil and cornstarch) rather than the usual petroleum based plastic. SURI does too offer a free recycling programme to help prevent them from going to landfill.
A carbon neutral company, pending B corporation certification, SURI breaks the mould somewhat by having designed this toothbrush to be easily repaired, should it be required. Many modern brushes are not able to be repaired or it is uneconomical to do so.
A premium travel case is included. It not only allows the brush to be charged whilst inside, using the provided USB C cable, but it has a UV-C light to sanitise the bristles.
It also includes a magnetic charging stand that doubles up as a really useful wall mount.
SURI isn’t cheap but is priced fairly for the features on offer and the company credentials. SURI is a UK-based company but worldwide delivery is available.
Read our SURI Toothbrush Review.
What we like
- Environmentally considerate materials and design
- Slim handle
- The timer and pacer encourage brushing for the recommended time
- USB charging stand
- A magnetic wall mount
- USB C powered travel charging case with UV-C cleaning
What we dislike
- No pressure sensor to alert you when brushing too hard
- The cleaning action isn’t as satisfying as other electric brushes
- USB charger makes it less convenient for some
- Expensive
- Availability – Not widely stocked
Best tech:
Sonicare 9900 Prestige
*Prices correct at time of writing
Why we chose it:
The Prestige has more features than you need, but it is the best smart toothbrush on the market today.
It looks fantastic and feels great in hand. The smooth touch materials are good quality and easy to keep clean.
We rate it as the best top of the range brush in our Best Sonicare Toothbrush post.
The A3 brush head included in the box gives a really thorough clean — there’s no need to switch out different heads for different modes.
The Sonicare app can tell you precisely where you have and haven’t brushed. It will tell you if you brushed with too much pressure and if you scrubbed the teeth. You get visible alerts for these things too.
Despite the complex technology, Sonicare has simplified daily use. During our testing, we didn’t find the smart features to be annoying, but we stopped checking the app for feedback after a while.
The compact USB-C enabled charging case is every bit as stylish as the toothbrush itself. The strap on the case is a little impractical though.
One downside is that the power and intensity buttons require a firm push. They don’t give a lot of feedback.
You do pay a premium price for this brush.
If you prefer Oral-B, the iO Series is the equivalent to the 9900 Prestige.
Read our Sonicare 9900 Prestige Review.
What we like
- Timer and pacer encourage brushing for the recommended time
- Visible pressure sensor alerts you when brushing too hard
- 4 weeks use on a single charge
- Premium charging travel case included
- Premium materials & design
- Reminds you when to replace the brush head
- Tracks & monitors your brushing
What we dislike
- Expensive
- No place to store the detachable USB cable
- Bluetooth isn’t essential
Best budget
Oral-B Pro 500
*Prices correct at time of writing
Why we chose it:
The Pro 500 is proof you can get a good toothbrush without spending lots of money. It is a very good value option.
It comes with a single Oral-B brush head, which is small and round.
The shape of the brush head allows it to be easily moved, even into the smallest spaces of the mouth, and the bristles cup a tooth surface for a satisfying clean.
As it uses Oral-B’s 2D cleaning action, it does lack the extra dimension (pulsations) that most other Oral-B models offer. But it does disrupt and brush away lots of plaque for a better clean than a manual brush.
First time electric toothbrush users will be pleasantly surprised.
Dentists recommend a 2 minute timer and pacer, both of which are included. There is no pressure sensor built-in, which is a shame. Just be sure to let the bristles skim the teeth and don’t scrub, because you won’t get any alerts if you brush too hard.
One of the positives of the Pro 500 is just how incredibly grippy the handle is. The large textured grip runs around the whole handle and is suitable for all ages.
Do be sure to clean the grip regularly as the dimpled texture makes it easy for muck to build up.
The rechargeable battery offers 8+ days of use on a full charge. Unfortunately, you get no feedback from it when the power is low. There is no LED notification light to let you know when the battery has almost run out.
Read our Oral-B Pro 500 Review.
What we like
- 1 cleaning mode that is easy to use
- The grip on the handle helps to securely hold the brush
- Timer and pacer encourage brushing for the recommended time
What we dislike
- No pressure sensor
- No battery status feedback
- Battery life
- 2D cleaning action
Our choices explained
The range of electric toothbrushes available is so vast that it can be overwhelming to chose one. To keep things simple, we have narrowed down the options to the choices you see listed above, and will now explain why we recommend them.
Our choice for the best electric toothbrush, the Oral-B Smart 2000, is based on the best value for money. It has the features we regard as essential, as well as a few more. It strikes a good balance between features and cost.
The very best brush you can buy is the Sonicare Prestige 9900, which is a top of the line smart toothbrush. We don’t recommend this as the top choice because it has far more features than the average user needs. Additional features inflate the price, and you can clean your teeth just as well with the Smart 2000 and other cheaper models.
The Sonicare equivalent to the 2000 is the 4100 Series. Both models do a great job, but we do find Oral-B’s small round brush heads a little easier to move around the teeth and reach the tighter spaces at the back of the mouth.
The cost of replacing Oral-B heads is also cheaper compared to Sonicare.
The rubber grip around the power button and the textured surface on the back of the hand means it is fairly grippy in hand. It doesn’t feel quite as secure in hand as some other Oral-B models that have a rubber grip running down the front of the handle. The benefit though is that the Smart 2000 is easier to keep clean.
The built-in timer and pacer encourage you to brush for the right amount of time, evenly across the mouth.
The pressure sensor (which wraps a full 360 degrees around the handle) alerts you if you are brushing too hard, which is a cause of gum recession.
It would be nice if the Smart 2000 came with a travel case. It would be useful for protecting the toothbrush during transport. It doesn’t, but few do at this price and it’s easy enough to buy one separately.
All in all the Smart 2000 has everything you need in an electric toothbrush. The 2000 specifically has not been approved by the Canadian Dental Association, but other Oral-B models with the same cleaning action have. The American Dental Association has awarded their seal of acceptance to Oral-B’s oscillating and rotating toothbrushes. We explain this certification in more detail below.
In terms of design, the 2000 isn’t as refined as top of the line models like the Sonicare 9900 Prestige and the Oral-B iO, but it is far cheaper.
You don’t need a smart toothbrush. But, if you want the most advanced and interesting toothbrush, then this is the 9900 Prestige.
It is very expensive, but you do get some very nice extras. For example, the travel case is slimmer and more stylish than the basic plastic case Oral-B offers. You can even charge the toothbrush inside it.
Sensors in the handle track your brushing and find areas for improvement. It relays this information to charts and other visuals within the application.
In certain circumstances, the brush automatically adapts to prevent you from doing damage to your teeth.
None of these extras are necessary. And nothing about this brush actually cleans your teeth better.
What the Prestige can potentially do is educate and encourage you to take better care of your teeth.
If your preference is Oral-B, the iO is the most feature rich model they offer. It isn’t as refined as the 9900, but it offers some unique elements. These include a colour display and sensor that confirms when you are using the correct pressure. We compare them to one another in our Oral-B iO vs Sonicare Prestige 9900 comparison.
There is little difference between them, but the Prestige just edges the Oral-B iO in our opinion.
The Oral-B Pro 500 is one of the most affordable options.
Yes, technically there are even more budget-friendly options, but for us their compromises stop them from being strong considerations.
You may pay a few dollars extra for the Vitality than for the really cheap brushes, but you do get a toothbrush from a premium brand, Oral-B. It has good support and its replacement brush heads are easy to find online or in shops.
It actually uses the same brush heads as the Smart 1500, but you benefit from the lower initial purchase price of the brush handle itself.
The cleaning action isn’t quite as intense and thorough as the more expensive Oral-B brushes, but it is a big step up from a manual toothbrush with most of the benefits.
The most recent addition to our recommendations is SURI, which we have put in as our environmental pick.
Electric toothbrushes don’t fare well in their impact on the environment, but for some people they are still a necessary choice. We explain this more in our post on how to make your dental health eco-friendly.
SURI is one of the first electric toothbrushes we have come across that has taken genuine steps to reduce its impact on the planet. It’s not perfect, but it’s at least pushing harder in the right direction than other brands.
It’s also a delight to use and comes with a slick design and travel case.
Newly tested products + those we are currently testing
We’ve recently tested the refreshed version of the Oral-B Pro 1000. This is a good brush but we still recommend opting for the Smart 2000 if your budget can stretch to it — for a little extra you get a visible pressure sensor and better battery life.
In the summer of last year we completed testing of SURI. As you may have noted, it is featured above as the most environmentally considerate electric toothbrush to date.
The 1100, 2100, 3100 and 4100 Series are replacements to older models that made up the more cost effective brushes within the Sonicare range.
The 4100 Series is our top pick if you specifically want a Sonicare toothbrush. It delivers good performance and features for the price.
Back in January 2022, Oral-B announced the iO Series 10. It has launched in Europe, but we await its arrival in the USA. We expect to see it in the spring. The key differentiator to existing models is the iOSense enabled smart charger.
Despite the delay with the Series 10 arriving, that hasn’t stopped them from launching the iO Series 3. It is the most affordable and least feature rich iO model to date, but you have what we consider the best features of the iO range included.
As we progress through 2023, at this time we have absolutely no reason to suggest you hold off on buying a toothbrush and wait for what is coming this year. It is better to pick a brush available now and begin using it than it is to wait in hope of the next best thing.
Manufacturers do continually tinker and improve their product ranges, but we are not expecting anything revolutionary. We only have to look at the category of mouthpiece toothbrushes to see that despite many attempts over the last few years we are a little way off perfection.
We will continue to test and review new brushes as and when they do launch. We are too planning to test some existing electric brushes we haven’t yet managed to test.
One such product that we are beginning to try out is the M8S ultrasonic toothbrush from Megasonex.
Ultrasonic brushes are quite highly regarded by many. They can suit particular individuals really well as they don’t technically rely on the physical brushing motion to break up the plaque that needs to be removed as we brush.
The M8S is expensive and not widely sold which can limit its appeal, particularly if you want to source replacement parts like brush heads. We will bring you our full review as soon as it is available.
Other electric toothbrushes we have tested
While only a handful of brushes make it into our list of the best electric toothbrushes, we’ve put many more to the test.
Over the last few years we have tested well over 130 different models. The majority of these are featured in our reviews and comparisons.
We’ve explained our recommendations in detail above. That being said, we know there will be interest in the other brushes we have tested. So we’ve included a quick overview of them below.
Recent years have seen an increase in the appeal and offering of smart toothbrushes. As you will have learnt, we don’t typically recommend them. They are expensive, and you don’t need one to clean your teeth well. But, inevitably, the top of the line models come with smart features built-in, out of the box.
The Oral-B iO and the Sonicare 9900 Prestige are the two leading smart toothbrushes. They are truly the best in terms of technology. But, we encourage our readers to consider the cheaper options, such as the Oral-B Smart 2000, as these can do the job as well.
The Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 is another one of the premium options. It is an upgrade over the DiamondClean. You now have a pressure sensor. This is not a visible sensor, but the handle vibrates when it is activated to alert you.
It has a brush head replacement reminder system. An orange light shines on the brush handle when it is time to change your brush head. This is very useful. The negative consequence is the higher price of the brush heads.
The brush also has 3 different pressure settings and 4 cleaning modes. They don’t clean the teeth any better. Nor are they essential, but they offer choice.
The 9000 has Bluetooth Smart features. It does not have the position detection and tracking facilities like the 9900 Prestige, DiamondClean Smart or older FlexCare Platinum. If the app is used in real-time, you get an on-screen timer only. Data is synced post brushing. It is displayed on the screen in the form of coloured charts. This data shows performance for the last 7 days only. It doesn’t allow brushing history and learning as you might expect.
It is a similar story for the ExpertClean from Sonicare. It cleans the teeth well and has a good box contents. But, unless you can commit to using the smart features, there are better value options. Otherwise it feels similar to the 9000, but cheaper.
The 9900 Prestige is the latest addition to the Sonicare lineup of brushes. It offers Bluetooth connectivity. Like the DiamondClean Smart, this does actually offer real-time tracking.
They fundamentally work the same. But the unique element to the Prestige is that even if you don’t use the app in real-time, the handle stores and syncs this data in the background. You get a mouth map for cleaning, pressure, and scrubbing, something the DiamondClean Smart does not offer. This means you get more meaningful data over time, irrespective of real-time app use or not.
The 9900 is also focused on simplification. It sounds odd given the brush offers so many features. It’s more about getting the job done. Learning good habits will help you and your oral health in the long term.
It was Oral-B that really pushed smart technology into the toothbrush some years ago. The iO is the latest iteration with even more tech, including a display in the handle, previously only seen on the Oclean X before now.
With the Oclean X, the cleaning performance was great. The display was touch-sensitive and horrible to use. The iO’s display is not touch-sensitive. Despite this, the X has a lot going for it. It has a magnetic wall mount, great colour choices and it is affordable.
With the introduction of the Oclean X Pro Elite there is little reason to opt for the older X variant. The touchscreen has been radically improved and is a delight to use. It might not be essential, but it adds something to the experience. The Elite is also super quiet. In fact, it is the quietest electric toothbrush that we have ever tested, by quite some margin. Oh, and it is a smart toothbrush too. It sends data back to your smartphone to help you track and improve your oral care habits.
Older models like the Oral-B Genius X are extremely capable. It has more features than you need, but it is more affordable than the iO. It does away with the clunky position detection technology used by the Genius Pro 8000. The sensors are built into the handle of the Genius X so there is no need to stand in front of a smartphone camera to track the movements, unlike with the Genius Pro 8000.
Oral-B’s app has evolved over the years. But it can be a little confusing. Particularly when there are different configurations for different models.
The Oral-B Genius 6000 is a solid mid-range toothbrush. It cleans the teeth well, has extra cleaning modes, a pressure sensor and 2 weeks battery life. It is neither cheap, nor extortionately expensive. It is somewhat lost in the range though. Particularly when you consider the slimmer handled Smart 3000. The 3000 offers multiple modes, nigh on identical cleaning performance and comparable battery life. All for less money.
Oral-B has always underperformed in the battery department. Sacrifices might be expected for entry-level models. But, around 1 week on a single charge isn’t good enough from the Pro 1000. For a little extra, you can own the more capable Smart 2000. It comes with twice the battery life, 2 cleaning does and a visible pressure sensor.
No electric toothbrush, cheap or expensive, can ultimately clean your teeth perfectly unless you use it correctly. Proper technique and enough brushing time are key to good oral health.
Mouthpiece style toothbrushes like AutoBrush are trying to help with this. They have a brush head that positions the bristles at the perfect 45 degree angle. But, in addition, it attempts to clean all tooth surfaces at the same time. Conceptually it is a great idea. However, in practice, it does not work. It fails to reach all the tooth and gum surfaces, leaving lots of plaque behind. And despite being designed to correct technique issues, there is still a technique to use it. Worryingly, there is a kids version. The engaging characters on the brush handle are fun. But it is no replacement to regular toothbrushing.
Y-Brush is better, but only by a little bit. It still isn’t a suitable replacement for a regular toothbrush. Using nylon bristles found on regular toothbrushes, it manages to lift more plaque from the teeth and gums compared to other mouthpiece brushes. It is easy to use and has a good battery life. But revisions are needed. It looks and feels a bit homemade at the moment. Refinement in the materials and production process is needed. As are different sized mouthpieces. The one size fits all approach means brushing can feel awkward and uncomfortable.
SymplBrush, is a newer automatic toothbrush that is arguably better than Y-Brush. It is more refined and well thought out. Interestingly though, there is a lot of similarity between them. SymplBrush uses nylon bristles and focuses on just one arch of teeth at a time. The cleaning results are the most impressive we have seen to date. Still not perfect, but it is most definitely the best mouthpiece toothbrush we have tested to date. Unfortunately, it is currently exclusive to the USA.
CleanTeeth is another possible alternative. It is one of the better options, albeit a bit expensive and bulky in hand.
What makes CleanTeeth unique is the way the head moves. It still brushes all the tooth surfaces at the same time, but the whole mouthpiece moves left and right, covering about 12 teeth at any one time, rather than all the teeth in one jaw.
We are all for innovation if done well. On paper, the Waterpik Sonic-Fusion reads like a great idea. It is a combination of water flosser and sonic toothbrush. 2 in 1 products can take up less countertop space, whilst delivering multiple benefits. In reality, it is expensive and impractical. You don’t get the choice of different tips like you do with a normal water flosser. Water is fed through the brush head, making angling and positioning more difficult. The battery life of the toothbrush itself is poor. And the noise it makes is quite irritating. It is a shame as Waterpik’s Complete Care range is pretty good. It’s also proof that a separate water flosser and toothbrush is the answer.
We rate the Burst Oral Care as Canada’s best toothbrush subscription toothbrush. You can buy it outright or subscribe. It’s good value. The charcoal bristles are a little overrated, but it has been proven to perform well. We recommend you opt for our best choice, unless you want the convenience of regular brush head deliveries.
Our latest videos
For nearly all the products we test we create a video review. We also compare popular brushes to similar brushes.
We’ve included some of our latest toothbrush reviews and comparisons below, but you can check out all our new videos on our YouTube channel.
Buyer’s Guide
Useful pre-purchase advice
Dr. Gemma Wheeler, BDS (Hons)
With the help of our in-house dentist Dr. Gemma Wheeler, we’ve added useful notes and tips from our research and testing.
No doubt you’ll have one or two particular questions before buying, as did we.
Browse the sections below, and if you can’t find the information you need, please leave a comment at the bottom of this page and we’ll get back to you.
Key things to know
Below are the three main bits of advice we would give to someone considering a new electric toothbrush.
1. You don’t need to buy an expensive toothbrush
Spending more on a toothbrush doesn’t necessarily mean you are getting a better product. Often you are paying for extra features and functions you will not use. An expensive toothbrush does not clean the teeth better. Many of the best electric toothbrushes come in at under CAD$100.
2. Smart toothbrushes are generally not worth it
They can help to encourage better technique and habit formation, but they are not more effective at cleaning your teeth.
3. Routine and technique are important
Your toothbrushing technique and routine have more impact on your oral health than the toothbrush itself. It’s no use having the best electric toothbrush if you don’t use it properly.
What to look for in an electric toothbrush
Toothbrushes can come with all manner of features at different prices.
From our testing, the most essential features to look for in an electric toothbrush are:
2 minute timer
A timer helps to ensure that you brush your teeth for 2 minutes each time, which is recommended by dentist and governing bodies around the world.
Pacer
A pacer helps you to spread your brushing time evenly across all parts of the mouth.
Pressure sensor
Frequently brushing too hard will severely damage your teeth. A pressure sensor alerts you when you are brushing too hard so you can adjust your technique.
You can get a good brush for less than $100
There are a number of types of electric toothbrush, including side to side movements, sonic, and rotation oscillation.
Oral-B brushes use rotation oscillation technology, whereas Sonicare brushes use sonic technology.
There is a small amount of evidence showing that rotation oscillation brushes are better than other types. They reduce levels of plaque and gum disease.
But one review rightly points out that the difference is small. It is unknown whether these clinical trials actually translate into day to day use.
The good news is that rotation oscillation toothbrushes tend to be cheaper.
Apart from this, there is almost no evidence supporting one type of brush over the others.
However, key characteristics which may benefit you in an electric toothbrush are:
- a pressure sensor to prevent scrub brushing.
- a timer to help ensure you are brushing for the full two minutes.
- a good quality toothbrush head which is changed every three months or when you can see them fraying.
Our number 1 pick in the list above, the Oral-B Smart 2000, includes all of these. Many of the best electric toothbrushes come in at under $100.
Spending more money on a toothbrush may provide things like travel cases and better battery life, but these aren’t going to actually help brush your teeth better!
We don’t recommend smart toothbrushes
No, not in my opinion.
A smart toothbrush is one with Bluetooth technology, which is developing all the time. In the last few years it has evolved from just connecting to a timer to being able to connect to an app on your phone.
Some smart toothbrushes also send reminders when you should change your toothbrush head.
There is no evidence currently available to support the use of a smart toothbrush over a normal electric toothbrush.
As a dentist, I would point out that many of the benefits advertised by a smart toothbrush can be gained more affordably elsewhere, such as by setting a calendar reminder on your phone, or by learning proper techniques from our videos and your own dental professional.
This topic is discussed in more detail in our article: is a smart toothbrush worth it?
Sonicare vs Oral-B
According to lab testing (1,2,3) the oscillating-rotating technology (used by Oral-B) is better at removing plaque than the sonic technology used by Sonicare.
Whilst the science says the Oral-B is only slightly better than Sonicare, whether this will make much difference in the mouth is unclear. There are other factors at play in the real world, such as comfort during use, noise levels and personal preference, which all influence how well a person brushes with a certain type of brush.
Because of this, you might not want to discount Sonicare and should look into these brushes if you do not like using electric toothbrushes that use oscillating-rotating technology, like Oral-B.
In reality, more research is needed. Our Sonicare vs Oral-B article explores this in more detail.
Is it better to choose an electric toothbrush instead of a manual toothbrush?
Some people will see benefits when using an electric toothbrush instead of a manual toothbrush.
The purpose to toothbrushing is to:
- remove plaque, which contributes to dental decay and gum disease.
- remove food debris from the teeth to reduce the risk of dental decay.
- introduce a fluoride containing toothpaste to reduce the risk of decay.
When asking whether an electric toothbrush or a manual toothbrush is better, the question is really “which one removes more plaque and food debris, without harming the teeth and gums”.
Studies (reviewed by Niederman and Yaacob et al ) show that electric toothbrushes are better at removing plaque. They also show that electric toothbrushes help with gum disease.
Despite the clear evidence in reducing plaque, there is no evidence to support the use of electric toothbrushes when it comes to reducing decay.
For people wearing braces, a review of the evidence concluded that there is no reason to support the use of electric toothbrushes for reducing plaque on teeth and avoiding gum disease (although this evidence only covered a period of 8 weeks).
When thinking about the safety of your brush, know that both manual and electric toothbrushes have the potential to cause harm when used incorrectly. An example is causing wear on the outside of the tooth by scrubbing too hard. Evidence has shown that electric toothbrushes are of no greater concern to teeth and gums than a manual toothbrush, and some studies even support the use of electric toothbrushes to prevent worsening tooth wear caused by over brushing.
One other consideration is which one are you more likely to use? A toothbrush that encourages you to brush twice a day for two minutes each time, is always going to be better than one you can’t use.
Finally, when thinking about whether an electric toothbrush is better than a manual toothbrush, you will also want to think about the environment. This recent study discussed the greater impact of electric toothbrushes on the environment.
The take home message?
It is a personal choice.
If you are good at cleaning with a manual toothbrush and have no gum disease or tooth wear, then a manual toothbrush is satisfactory. It also has less impact on the environment.
If you struggle getting your teeth clean enough with a manual toothbrush, or if you suffer from gum disease, then an electric toothbrush is a better option for you.
An electric toothbrush can help with gum disease
Yes, electric toothbrushes help with gum disease.
Managing gum disease is all about reducing the amount of plaque on the teeth and under the gums. An important part of this is physical removal by toothbrushing and interdental cleaning.
Multiple reviews (Van der Weijden Niederman and Yaacob et al) support the fact that electric toothbrushes help with gum disease. More recently, an 11 year long study by Pitchika et al has examined long term successes of electric toothbrush users. These papers have found:
- electric toothbrushes remove more plaque than manual toothbrushes, in both the short and long term.
- electric toothbrushes provide a benefit in reducing levels of gum disease (compared to manual toothbrushes) both in the short term (6%) and long term (11%).
- electric toothbrushes reduce the progression of advanced gum disease, with users having less bone loss.
- users of electric toothbrushes, and who have gum disease, are less likely to lose teeth.
An explanation of the different toothbrush features
There are lots of features that can be built into electric toothbrushes today.
Not all of them are necessary.
We have grouped the most common features by their importance.
For the high and medium importance features, we have included a brief description. We explain what they do and why they might be helpful.
High importance — essential in any electric toothbrush
2 minute timer
We cannot stress the importance of a timer enough.
Dentists, hygienists and governing dental bodies around the world are in unison that brushing your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes is important.
When brushing your teeth, it is all too easy to get distracted and misjudge time. You can think you have been brushing for longer than you have.
A timer keeps track of how long the toothbrush has been switched on for.
At the end of 2 minutes (120) seconds, the toothbrush will power off or briefly pause the brush motor.
If the timer hasn’t gone off, you haven’t brushed for long enough.
Quadpacer
2 minutes spent cleaning your front or back teeth is no good. To maintain good oral hygiene you need to clean all the teeth.
A pacer is linked to the 2 minute timer.
It is designed to encourage you to brush the teeth in the mouth evenly during the 2 minute brushing cycle.
Most pacers work by pausing the brush motor at 30 second intervals. The pause in the sound and motion of the toothbrush is your cue to move from 1 section of the mouth to another.
Imagine your mouth split up into 4 sections:
- Upper right
- Upper left
- Lower right
- Lower left
Spend 30 seconds cleaning the surfaces of the teeth in each quadrant. By the end of the 2 minute cleaning cycle all teeth will have had equal attention.
Some brushes (notably Sonicare) have a pacer set to 20 second intervals. This results in 6 sections of the mouth. They are as follows:
- Upper right back teeth
- Upper front teeth
- Upper left back teeth
- Lower left back teeth
- Lower front teeth
- Lower right back teeth
Pressure sensor
We believe a pressure sensor is an underrated feature, particularly for a first time user.
Brushing too hard can damage the gums. Bristles of the brush need only skim the surface of the teeth and gums.
Brushing too hard will also wear away the outermost surface of the tooth. This is what dentists call abrasion. Abrasion itself can cause sensitivity to hot and cold.
Scrubbing harder is not an effective way to remove plaque and debris from the teeth. You and many others may not have known this, because you have never been told or shown how to brush correctly.
A pressure sensor alerts you when you are applying too much force as you brush.
It is a gentle reminder to use a little less force and help you maintain a healthy smile.
Sensors are implemented differently.
In many instances when pressure is detected, the motor will slow down. This limits the bristle movement and potential damage.
A visible pressure sensor will illuminate to act as a visual alert. This is common in Oral-B brushes. Usually, a red light is emitted around the neck of the toothbrush.
Some models, notably Sonicare, will vibrate the brush handle to alert you.
Avoid activating the pressure sensor if you can.
Once the pressure is relieved, the sensor is deactivated and normal brushing resumes.
Medium importance — worth considering, but not critical
Good battery life
Most electric brushes have built-in rechargeable batteries.
Over recent years performance and usage time of batteries have gotten better. Most brushes are on par with each other, with an average of around 2-3 weeks use between charges.
The vast majority of batteries in toothbrushes use Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion). Some are Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH).
Some brushes will have removable AA or AAA. They can last months. They are not that common and tend to be the cheaper models at less than $20.
Rechargeable toothbrushes typically perform better and are more cost effective.
Travel case
Even if you are not a regular traveler, a case makes it much easier to transport the toothbrush and brush heads.
When in the case, the likelihood of damage, particularly to the bristles on the brush head is reduced. There is also less chance of the brush accidentally being switched on. Any excess moisture and toothpaste remains in the case and not on anything else that might be in your bag. Nobody likes toothpaste stains on their clothes!
There are certain models that come with travel cases that allow charging whilst in the case. They do not need to be placed on a separate charging stand.
Price
Only ever spend what you are comfortable with.
For some spending $30 will be a lot whilst to others $200 will be cheap.
You do not have to spend a fortune.
A more expensive brush does not mean it is any better at cleaning your teeth.
For less than $90 you can buy an excellent electric toothbrush.
The act of regular brushing, with the correct technique, is more important than what you pay.
Additional cleaning modes
There is little need for extra cleaning modes. The default cleaning mode on a toothbrush is suitable for most users.
If we were to pick an additional mode it would be sensitive.
A sensitive cleaning mode uses less power from the brush motor. It is more gentle on the teeth and gums.
Model dependent, there can be up to 6 or 7 different brushing modes.
What differs is the power/intensity of the mode and the brushing time. Very often the likes of a ‘deep clean’ mode will last for 3 minutes.
For more information, read our Sonicare brushing modes or Oral-B cleaning modes article.
Brushing intensity
Being able to control the amount of power the motor delivers can be useful.
Some models offer the choice of low, medium and high power settings.
If the brush has 1 cleaning mode, it may default to the high setting.
You could change it to the low setting for a less intense clean.
Although the brush motion does not change, the speed of the motion does.
These act as alternatives to cleaning modes.
A brush with 1 mode but 3 intensity settings is in many respects equivalent to a brush with 3 modes.
Cost of replacement brush heads
The cost of replacement heads affects the long term ownership cost. It is worth factoring into your decision. Oral-B brush heads are cheaper than Sonicare.
It’s recommended that you replace your brush head every 3 months. If you follow that advice you’ll need 4 brush heads a year.
Official brush heads cost anywhere from about $8-13+ per brush head. This can be a lot of money when they will only be thrown away 3 months later.
You can save money by buying when there’s a deal on or by buying in bulk.
In most instances, you have the choice of opting for a third party brush head. There may not be the same range and the quality may be different. But there are some great options at very good prices.
Do be aware of fakes/counterfeit brush heads which pose as genuine but are often not the real deal. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is.
Low importance — not a big consideration
- Brush handle shape, size and colour
- Brush head shape and size
- Cleaning mode notification lights
- Battery charging/status icon
- Smart features
- Bluetooth
- Motion tracking
- Smart guides
- UV sanitizers
- Automatic power off
- Charging stands/USB charging
- Water resistance
- Noise
- LEDs/cleaning mode display
- Storage compartments
- Dual handles
An explanation of the different brush heads
The brush heads available vary depending on the brand of toothbrush and the model that you choose.
Oral-B and Sonicare both offer a range of different types of brush heads.
Each head is, in theory, designed to do a different job.
Sonic brush heads tend to be larger than the small round brush heads found on oscillating-rotating toothbrushes. Sonic heads have an oval shape to them.
The ranges are unnecessarily complicated. There is no definitive evidence to say one head is better than another.
It is best to pick and stick to one style of brush head and use it, rather than to worry about the particular type.
We have dedicated guides for brush heads:
How dental association approval works
There are many dental bodies and organizations around the globe.
In fact, each country will usually have a panel of leading experts. They usually guide oral health within that country.
These organizations have similar goals and approaches. For example, producing advice for the general public on how to look after their teeth and gums. Or the recommended fluoride doses.
People look to these for advice on what products they should and should not be using.
The Canadian Dental Association (CDA), American Dental Association (USA) and the Oral Health Foundation (UK) are 3 examples.
Each has programmes that verify the safety and effectiveness of consumer products.
Consumer oral health care products are independently evaluated. This is to ensure they are safe and that the claims made are proven and not exaggerated. Reliable scientific evidence is usually required.
The programmes are designed to give consumers peace of mind and reassurance.
Each programme is run independently. A manufacturer must apply and submit the relevant data to each organization. Only once this process has been completed will a product be awarded the ‘approved’ status of the relevant body.
The CDA and ADA issue a ‘Seal of Acceptance’. The Oral Health Foundation labels products as ‘Approved’.
Although they are separate programmes, they operate with similar policies. A product awarded the ADA seal would likely be approved by the CDA and Oral Health Foundation.
