How we tested
We specialise in reviewing dental health products and we’ve been consistently testing them since Electric Teeth launched over 10 years ago.
When a new brush is released, we buy it, test it and compare it to what’s already available. We then update our reviews and recommendations accordingly. We publish in-depth written and video reviews to share our findings and opinions.
We’ve included the most relevant details below, but we go into more depth in our detailed hands-on reviews. To make our recommendations, we test and consider the features that dentists recommend as the most important: a pressure sensor, timer and pacer. We use disclosing tests to measure how well brushes remove plaque.
We also take into account the finer details like how easy it is to keep a brush clean, how difficult the heads are to pull on and off, and whether or not it’s easy to accidentally turn the brush off during use. You can find out more about our testing process here. Not only do we test products ourselves, but we take on feedback from our community. We have open comment sections and a popular YouTube channel.
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:
Editor's choice
We regard the three brushes below — SURI 2.0, the Oral-B iO3 and the Sonicare Series 5300 — as the best brushes for the majority of users.
They have the key features, but don't inflate the price with unnecessary extras.
As you can see from the scores we've included, they are very much comparable and do an excellent job of cleaning the teeth, provided they are used correctly.
They are also comparable in price, but SURI gets our Editor’s Choice recommendation because it has better environmental pledges than Oral-B and Sonicare, a better travel case and a premium feeling aluminium handle.
Unless it’s on sale, SURI is £30 to £40 more expensive to buy initially, but over the duration of ownership all 3 brushes are very comparable in price due to the variance in replacement brush head cost.
SURI 2.0
Cleaning modes: 2 | Battery life: 38 days | Bluetooth: No | Noise: 58dB | Head cost: £5 | Cost to own - 3 yrs: £157
Who it's for:
Somebody looking for a good quality toothbrush with the essential features. The thoughtful design, sleek charging travel case and environmental pledges are an added bonus.
Why it's our main choice:
We were thoroughly impressed by the first iteration of SURI, but the addition of a pressure sensor and the other refinements of version 2 have made it our Editor’s Choice.
SURI 2.0 is on a par to the Sonicare and Oral-B equivalents in terms of cleaning performance, features and price, but its sustainability pledges go a step further. For this reason, and because the brush feels so nice to use, it gets our strongest recommendation for the best electric toothbrush.
More on why we chose it...
SURI’s handle is made of metal, which gives it a premium look and feel compared to the plastic handles of other brands. We found its weight and shape balance nicely in our hands and give it a solid, well-built quality.
It’s a brush that’s easy to keep clean and doesn’t need charging regularly. We’ve found the cleaning results to be just as good as brushes from major brands.
SURI has made simple design choices that work. The compact travel case feels sturdy and allows the brush to charge in the case. We’ve also enjoyed the reduced clutter in the bathroom thanks to the effortlessly simple magnetic wall mount.
New additions to SURI 2.0 include a more powerful motor, inductive charging, a pressure sensor and a travel lock. Impressively, these have been worked into the same form factor as version 1. The travel case was already great, but this has also been improved.
For many, the main appeal of SURI will be its better focus on environmental impact than its competitors. It’s designed to be easily repaired, albeit by SURI rather than the user. There is also a free postage scheme so that you can return used brush heads.
Read our SURI 2.0 Review.
Pros |
Cons |
|---|---|
Premium design |
Force needed to activate pressure sensor |
|
Good value for money |
Brushing timer resets if brush is turned off |
|
Recycling scheme for brush heads |
UV-C sanitisation feels like a gimmick |
What the cleaning experience is like and how clean our teeth felt after brushing.
How well it cleans Score SummaryWhat the brush is like in-hand; how grippy it is, what the balance is like, how easy it is to remove brush heads.
How it feels Score SummaryDoes the brush have our recommended features of a timer, pacer & pressure sensor and how well do they perform?
Recommended features Score SummaryHow long does the battery last, how long does it take to charge and does the brush have a battery level indicator?
Battery performance Score SummaryWhat are the total ownership costs over the space of several years and how expensive are replacement brush heads?
Price Score SummaryHow easy is it to clean the brush, how noisy is it, does it come with a travel case or any other useful items?
Additional items & features Score SummaryHow long is the warranty, what is the manufacturer's reputation and how strong are its environmental efforts?
Support & reputation Score SummaryApplies to smart toothbrushes only. How well does the smart technology work and how useful is the app?
Smart features Score Summary
Best Oral-B
Oral-B iO3
Cleaning modes: 3 | Battery life: 17 days | Bluetooth: No | Noise: 64dB | Head cost: £6 | Cost to own - 3 yrs: £115
Who it's for:
Someone who wants a good value brush with an advanced pressure sensor.
Why we picked it:
Compared to Oral-B’s older brushes, the iO range offers a quieter and softer brushing experience. The iO3 has the main features we recommend, but no additional bells and whistles adding to the price.
It’s the cheapest brush in the iO range to include the advanced pressure sensor, which not only tells you if you are brushing too hard, but also when you are brushing with not enough or the correct amount of pressure.
More on why we recommend it...
The iO3 is essentially the successor to the Pro 3 3500, which was our choice for the best electric toothbrush for several years. We do still recommend the Pro 3 3500 below, but it’s not as cheap as it once was and the user experience isn’t as refined as with the iO3.
The sound of the iO3 is notably quieter than the Pro 3 3500. It is a little less mechanical sounding and is roughly 14 decibels quieter. We recorded it at a maximum of 64dB during our testing.
We’ve had readers comment that slightly older Oral-B brushes like the Pro 3 can feel like a jackhammer in the mouth. Whilst we don’t quite agree, we understand the sentiment. The iO3 feels quite a bit different in that respect; it’s far less aggressive and we found it noticeably softer on the teeth when brushing. If you’ve got gum recession or tooth sensitivity, the iO3 is a good choice.
The iO3 is one of the cheapest in the iO range, but still requires iO-specific brush heads, which are around 2 times the cost of those for non-iO brushes like the Pro 3. We do prefer the feel of iO brush heads, but if you’re on a budget you can save money by opting for a brush like the Pro 3.
Read our Oral-B iO3 Review
What we like |
Worth noting |
|---|---|
|
Premium handle that’s easy to keep clean |
No icons on the handle to show which cleaning mode is selected |
|
Quieter than older Oral-B brushes |
Requires iO specific heads which are more expensive |
|
Reminds you when to replace the brush head |
What the cleaning experience is like and how clean our teeth felt after brushing.
How well it cleans Score SummaryWhat the brush is like in-hand; how grippy it is, what the balance is like, how easy it is to remove brush heads.
How it feels Score SummaryDoes the brush have our recommended features of a timer, pacer & pressure sensor and how well do they perform?
Recommended features Score SummaryHow long does the battery last, how long does it take to charge and does the brush have a battery level indicator?
Battery performance Score SummaryWhat are the total ownership costs over the space of several years and how expensive are replacement brush heads?
Price Score SummaryHow easy is it to clean the brush, how noisy is it, does it come with a travel case or any other useful items?
Additional items & features Score SummaryHow long is the warranty, what is the manufacturer's reputation and how strong are its environmental efforts?
Support & reputation Score SummaryApplies to smart toothbrushes only. How well does the smart technology work and how useful is the app?
Smart features Score Summary
Best Sonicare
Sonicare Series 5300
Cleaning intensities: 2 | Battery life: 46 days | Bluetooth: No | Noise: 63dB | Head cost: £5 | Cost to own - 3 yrs: £115
Who it's for:
Those who want a reputable brand, sonic cleaning action and don’t want to spend a fortune.
Why we recommend it:
The Sonicare 5300 is a quiet brush with good cleaning results at an affordable price.
It was released in late 2024 as part of Sonicare's new range of brushes and achieves the best battery life we've seen in an electric toothbrush from a major brand.
More on why we chose it...
The 5300 comes with two cleaning intensities rather than cleaning modes, but this is equivalent to having a standard clean and a sensitive clean mode.
We found that even the lower of the two intensities is relatively strong, but should be more than comfortable enough for most people.
Like SURI and the iO3, the 5300 is a quiet brush. During testing, we could hear music clearly or hear someone talking.
In terms of design, the 5300 takes inspiration from Sonicare's top of the range brush, the 9900 Prestige. It is pleasant to hold, although it's worth pointing out that the handle is on the thicker side to accommodate the larger battery. It's a minor detail but something to be aware of if you prefer a slimmer handle.
The charging stand is plugged in via USB. This was convenient for us because we already had other gadgets that charge in this way, but it does mean that the brush can't be charged in the bathroom unless you purchase a special adapter.
Read our Sonicare Series 5300 Review.
What we like |
Worth noting |
|---|---|
|
Outstanding battery life |
Slightly thicker handle |
|
Quiet & comfortable to use |
USB charger prevents in bathroom charging |
|
Two cleaning intensities |
What the cleaning experience is like and how clean our teeth felt after brushing.
How well it cleans Score SummaryWhat the brush is like in-hand; how grippy it is, what the balance is like, how easy it is to remove brush heads.
How it feels Score SummaryDoes the brush have our recommended features of a timer, pacer & pressure sensor and how well do they perform?
Recommended features Score SummaryHow long does the battery last, how long does it take to charge and does the brush have a battery level indicator?
Battery performance Score SummaryWhat are the total ownership costs over the space of several years and how expensive are replacement brush heads?
Price Score SummaryHow easy is it to clean the brush, how noisy is it, does it come with a travel case or any other useful items?
Additional items & features Score SummaryHow long is the warranty, what is the manufacturer's reputation and how strong are its environmental efforts?
Support & reputation Score SummaryApplies to smart toothbrushes only. How well does the smart technology work and how useful is the app?
Smart features Score Summary
Best technology
Sonicare 9900 Prestige
Cleaning modes: 5 | Battery life: 28 days | Bluetooth: Yes | Noise: 71dB | Head cost: £5 | Cost to own - 3 yrs: £338
Who it's for:
Someone who wants the very best and doesn’t mind paying for it.
A fantastic brush, but more than you need:
We love how it looks, how it feels and how it performs. It has certain refinements and extras that you don’t get with more affordable models. It’s the best smart toothbrush we’ve used.
More on why we chose it...
The smooth touch materials are good quality and we found it easy to keep clean.
To address past reliability issues, Philips has implemented a seamless power button design. The intention of this is to reduce grime build up and, from our testing, this seems to have worked. It does mean that the feedback isn’t as tactile — it’s a bit firm — but this wasn’t a big issue for us overall.
To some it might feel a bit overbearing, but the Sonicare app and tracking technology can improve your oral care routine. It shows and logs where you have and haven’t brushed, which really helps if you like to learn visually. It tells you if you’re brushing too hard and it even monitors, alerts and adapts if you move the brush head too much.
During our testing, we didn’t find the smart features to be annoying, but we stopped checking the app for feedback after a while, which defeats the point of having a premium smart brush. Unless you’re dedicated enough to spend the time using it, it’s not worth paying for the extra tech.
Something we did find frustrating was having to use the app to change cleaning mode. Unlike other toothbrushes, you can’t do it using the handle itself. Then again, the extra modes have little benefit in our experience.
The compact USB-C enabled charging case feels robust and we’ve enjoyed its smaller-than-average profile when travelling. The strap on the case is a little impractical — it’s too tight to go over most hands and onto the wrist — but it’s a minor complaint in the scheme of things.
Read our Sonicare Prestige 9900 Review.
What we like |
Worth noting |
|---|---|
|
Premium look & feel |
Expensive |
|
Visible pressure sensor alerts you when brushing too hard |
No place to store the detachable USB cable |
|
Reminds you when to replace your brush head |
Pressure sensitive buttons |
|
Stylish & compact charging travel case |
What the cleaning experience is like and how clean our teeth felt after brushing.
How well it cleans Score SummaryWhat the brush is like in-hand; how grippy it is, what the balance is like, how easy it is to remove brush heads.
How it feels Score SummaryDoes the brush have our recommended features of a timer, pacer & pressure sensor and how well do they perform?
Recommended features Score SummaryHow long does the battery last, how long does it take to charge and does the brush have a battery level indicator?
Battery performance Score SummaryApplies to smart toothbrushes only. How well does the smart technology work and how useful is the app?
Smart features Score SummaryWhat are the total ownership costs over the space of several years and how expensive are replacement brush heads?
Price Score SummaryHow easy is it to clean the brush, how noisy is it, does it come with a travel case or any other useful items?
Additional items & features Score SummaryHow long is the warranty, what is the manufacturer's reputation and how strong are its environmental efforts?
Support & reputation Score SummaryDoes the brush have Bluetooth and real-time tracking?
Bluetooth connectivity Score SummaryHow many zones are used for real-time tracking?
Real time tracking Score SummaryDoes the brush provide feedback on tracking via the app, the brush or both?
Tracking feedback Score SummaryHow much can the features and settings be customised?
App features & customisation Score SummaryWhat's the overall experience of the smart features, all things considered?
Overall user experience Score Summary
Best budget choices
The recommendations below will save you some money compared to those above. They are still very good brushes and come with the key features we recommend, but they’re not quite as refined as the newer models mentioned.
If you are shopping for a cheap brush, be sure to check out our advice below on budget options.
Oral-B Pro 3 3500
Cleaning modes: 3 | Battery life: 20 days | Bluetooth: No | Noise: 78dB | Head cost: £3 | Cost to own - 3 yrs: £65
Cheap, but still reliable:
For a long time, the Pro 3 3500 was our recommendation for the best overall electric toothbrush. We still rate it very highly — it has everything you need at an affordable price.
However, we anticipate it being phased out in the near future, so the price can fluctuate, but if you can pick it up for £40 or less it is still a bargain. The replacement heads are half the price of iO heads and will still be available even for a long time even if the brush is discontinued.
It’s noisier and not quite as refined as our choices above, but it has the essential features (and a travel case) and does an excellent job of cleaning your teeth. Over the space of 3 years, the Pro 3 will save you about £40 to £50 compared to the iO3 and Series 5300.
We re-reviewed the brush in late 2024 and still scored it highly. Be sure to check Ebay for deals.
What the cleaning experience is like and how clean our teeth felt after brushing.
How well it cleans Score SummaryWhat the brush is like in-hand; how grippy it is, what the balance is like, how easy it is to remove brush heads.
How it feels Score SummaryDoes the brush have our recommended features of a timer, pacer & pressure sensor and how well do they perform?
Recommended features Score SummaryHow long does the battery last, how long does it take to charge and does the brush have a battery level indicator?
Battery performance Score SummaryWhat are the total ownership costs over the space of several years and how expensive are replacement brush heads?
Price Score SummaryHow easy is it to clean the brush, how noisy is it, does it come with a travel case or any other useful items?
Additional items & features Score SummaryHow long is the warranty, what is the manufacturer's reputation and how strong are its environmental efforts?
Support & reputation Score SummaryApplies to smart toothbrushes only. How well does the smart technology work and how useful is the app?
Smart features Score SummarySonicare 3100 Series
Cleaning modes: 1 | Battery life: 17 days | Bluetooth: No | Noise: 60dB | Head cost: £5 | Cost to own - 3 yrs: £95
Still covers the essentials:
The Sonicare 3100 Series is a nice brush to use. It’s light, quiet and is the cheapest brush from Sonicare to have the key features dentists recommend — a timer, a pacer and a pressure sensor.
It will save you about £30 to £40 over the space of 3 years compared to the iO3 or Series 5300. There is also a version available with a travel case.
The 3100 has a single cleaning mode. We found it has a battery life of 17 days during testing, which is the same as the iO3, but quite a bit less than SURI 2.0 (38 days) and the Sonicare 5300 Series (46 days).
The downside and the reason it is more affordable is the motor in the handle, which is configured differently and is not as intense as that of the Series 5300. Cleaning results are still more than satisfactory.
Read our Sonicare 3100 Series review.
What the cleaning experience is like and how clean our teeth felt after brushing.
How well it cleans Score SummaryWhat the brush is like in-hand; how grippy it is, what the balance is like, how easy it is to remove brush heads.
How it feels Score SummaryDoes the brush have our recommended features of a timer, pacer & pressure sensor and how well do they perform?
Recommended features Score SummaryHow long does the battery last, how long does it take to charge and does the brush have a battery level indicator?
Battery performance Score SummaryWhat are the total ownership costs over the space of several years and how expensive are replacement brush heads?
Price Score SummaryHow easy is it to clean the brush, how noisy is it, does it come with a travel case or any other useful items?
Additional items & features Score SummaryHow long is the warranty, what is the manufacturer's reputation and how strong are its environmental efforts?
Support & reputation Score SummaryApplies to smart toothbrushes only. How well does the smart technology work and how useful is the app?
Smart features Score SummaryBest for travel
Philips One by Sonicare
Cleaning modes: 1 | Battery life: 43 days | Bluetooth: No | Noise: 71dB | Head cost: £5 | Cost to own - 3 yrs: £95
Who it's for:
Those looking to travel extremely light, particularly backpackers.
Why it impressed us:
It’s not much bigger than a manual toothbrush and comes with a useful travel case whilst giving a little extra cleaning power.
More on why we chose it...
You will barely notice this toothbrush in your bag. You could even slip it in your pocket if you so desired.
We prefer the rechargeable variant over the AA battery option — you get the same good battery life, but you also get feedback on the remaining power via an LED.
Because it uses a USB Type-C connector, you can probably use the same cable to charge your phone and your brush.
The One is a crossover between a manual and electric brush and we did find the cleaning action to be a bit weak as a result, but we found that plaque removal was still good if we made sure to use the correct technique. It doesn’t feel as thorough as other electric toothbrushes, but that’s the trade off for a slim, lightweight brush. If you’re looking to use it as your main brush, you may be disappointed if you’ve had a more powerful brush in the past.
The travel case has been designed to be as small as possible, but we found that it still offers adequate protection of the bristles and power button.
Read our Philips One review.
What we like |
Worth noting |
|---|---|
|
Slim, light and grippy in hand |
The cleaning power is a little weak |
|
A travel case is included |
No pressure sensor |
What the cleaning experience is like and how clean our teeth felt after brushing.
How well it cleans Score SummaryWhat the brush is like in-hand; how grippy it is, what the balance is like, how easy it is to remove brush heads.
How it feels Score SummaryDoes the brush have our recommended features of a timer, pacer & pressure sensor and how well do they perform?
Recommended features Score SummaryHow long does the battery last, how long does it take to charge and does the brush have a battery level indicator?
Battery performance Score SummaryWhat are the total ownership costs over the space of several years and how expensive are replacement brush heads?
Price Score SummaryHow easy is it to clean the brush, how noisy is it, does it come with a travel case or any other useful items?
Additional items & features Score SummaryHow long is the warranty, what is the manufacturer's reputation and how strong are its environmental efforts?
Support & reputation Score SummaryApplies to smart toothbrushes only. How well does the smart technology work and how useful is the app?
Smart features Score Summary
Notable mentions
These are products that didn't quite make it into our list above, but have features that may find useful in specific cases.
Ordo Sonic+
We love the variety of colours the Sonic+ is available in, they stand out.
We can’t fault the cleaning results, battery life or the price. It is very closely matched to the Oral-B Pro 3 or Sonicare 5300, the only downside being no pressure sensor.
Video summary
The video below runs through our main recommendations and key advice when choosing an electric toothbrush.
Buyer's guide: useful tips from years of toothbrush testing
In the following sections we've included things we've picked up from reviewing the full spectrum of electric toothbrushes over the last decade.
We cover the features we think are the most important to pay for, as well as others that are worth considering but not critical for the majority of users. We also give some advice on how much to spend.
Key considerations
A pressure sensor, a timer and a pacer are the features worth paying for
These three features help to make sure you brush correctly and for the right amount of time. Generally, you can get a good brush with these features for around £50 to 60. They are particularly useful if you're a first time toothbrush user, or if you know you brush your teeth too hard.
Below we have included an overview of why pressure sensors are important, and here are our main recommendations at a glance:
Good value for money, visible pressure sensor: Oral-B Pro 3 3500 / Ebay, Amazon / ~£35
Most advanced pressure sensor: iO range (iO3 is the cheapest) / Oral-B, Amazon / ~£59
Good value for money, vibrating pressure sensor: Sonicare Series 5300 / Philips, Amazon / ~£55.21
How pressure sensors vary (and why they’re important)
Brushing too hard can damage your teeth and gums. A pressure sensor helps prevent this. Consequently, it's a key feature recommended by our in-house dentists.
If you know that you brush too hard, or if you’ve never used a toothbrush with a pressure sensor, it’s a feature worth strong consideration.
Keep reading
Sensors are implemented differently. In many instances when pressure is detected, the motor will slow down until the pressure is relieved. 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. Normally, a red light illuminates around the neck of the toothbrush.
Some models, notably Sonicare, will vibrate the brush handle to alert you.
If you tend to brush your teeth in front of a mirror, you will likely find the visible pressure sensor (one that lights up when you apply too much pressure) easier to take note of.
However, if you tend to get a bit distracted as you brush, don’t brush in front of a mirror or are visually impaired, the beeping or vibration patterns generated by some pressure sensors (notably Sonicare) are better.
With the exception of the Sonicare DiamondClean 9900 Prestige, most brushes do one or the other, not both.
The Oral-B iO range features a more advanced pressure sensor. It indicates when you’re brushing too hard, but also when you are applying the correct or insufficient amount of pressure. We did find this to be reassuring, but it’s something you could skip if you’re on a tight budget. The main thing is that you don’t brush too hard.
Most brushes have a timer and a pacer
For 2 minutes twice a day is how long you should spend brushing your teeth according to the likes of the British Dental Association, Oral Health Foundation and the NHS. It’s the optimum time for effective plaque removal.
A timer lets you know when you’ve brushed for this long, whilst a pacer encourages even brushing of the teeth.
All of the brushes we've recommended above have a timer and pacer included. The only exception is the Pro Battery which has no timer or pacer.
These are features that are really useful and we've found that the way they work tends not to vary much from one product to another. Don’t worry too much about these when choosing a brush. The main thing is to make sure your brush does include them, if your budget can stretch that far. There can be some nuance to them, which we explain in the toggle sections below.
Find out more about timers
The vast majority of brushes automatically turn off after 2 minutes. This might be annoying if you're someone who likes to brush for longer than that.
Oral-B brushes don’t tend to turn off, that’s for you to do when you’re ready to finish brushing. It will pause briefly 3 times at 2 minutes to alert you that the recommended time has been achieved.
Find out more about pacers
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 one quadrant of the mouth to another. Some brushes (notably Sonicare) have a pacer set to 20 second intervals. This results in 6 sections of the mouth for you to brush.
We've tested hundreds of different brushes over the years and we've never found the implementation of the pacer to make that much difference to how well we brush.
The bottom line is that a pacer is useful to have, especially as you develop your own rhythm to brushing with an electric toothbrush, but precisely how the pacer is implemented doesn't matter too much.
We’ve heard from some users how they dislike a pacer and prefer to brush at their own pace. Unfortunately, few brushes allow the pacer to be disabled. Some brushes, normally the ‘smart’ ones such as the Oral-B iO and Genius models, offer some customisation around timings.
Some brushes are easier than others to keep clean
It’s important to keep your brush clean. The last thing you want is to be putting unwanted bacteria into your mouth.
We’ve found that a quick rinse after each brushing session and then leaving the brush to air dry is typically the best approach. UV lights and sterilising processes can help but are not essential or as recommended as you might think.
During our long-term testing of brushes, we have found that grime can build up more easily on some than on others — we've included some examples in the next section. If you’re often in a rush when you brush your teeth, it’s a good idea to have a brush that’s simple to clean.
From those we’ve recommended above, the easiest to keep clean are: Oral-B Pro 3 3500, SURI, Sonicare 5300, 4100, 9900 Prestige and Philips One.
Some brushes collect grime easily
We’ve found the Oral-B iO series to be one of the worst offenders for grime build up. That’s not to say it can’t be kept grime free — it can — but it takes more effort than other brushes that just need a quick rinse under the tap.
The design of the iO motor and heads makes it easier for muck and mould to build up within the neck where the brush head attaches. Even with thorough rinsing after each clean, we still find that grime tends to build up after a few weeks. We’ve found the most practical way to remove it is with a used interdental brush.
Brushes with large textured rubber grips do tend to be worse for dirt build-up than the smooth, all plastic handles of some brushes — examples here are the Vitality Pro, Genius and Smart models from Oral-B. Residual toothpaste and gunk dries to leave white streaks. Cleaning from the textured surface can be much harder, particularly if you don’t keep on top of it. We advise prioritising grip and comfort over ease of cleaning, though.
Battery life isn’t that important
Unless you are away from mains power frequently, don’t worry about battery life. The majority of rechargeable brushes last 3-4 weeks or longer on a full charge.
We’ve found Oral-B’s battery life to be the worst of the major brands. Expect 2 weeks on average, including from premium models. We’ve seen first hand how iO models with displays can suffer from excessive battery drain and give just 10-12 days use on average.
An overnight charge is sufficient for most brushes, but some can take as much as 24 hours if completely flat.
| Modal |
|---|
| Oral-B Vitality Pro |
| Oral-B iO Series 3 (iO3) |
| Philips Sonicare 3100 Series |
| Oral-B iO Series 9 (iO9) |
| Oral-B Pro 3 3500 |
| Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9900 Prestige |
| Philips Sonicare Series 5300 |
| SURI 2.0 |
| Philips Sonicare One - Rechargeable |
| Claimed battery life | Actual battery life |
|---|---|
| 10 days | 17 days |
| 14 days | 17 days |
| 14 days | 17 days |
| 14 days | 14 days |
| 14+ (plus) days | 20 days |
| 14 days | 28 days |
| 21 days | 46 days |
| 30+ (plus) days | 38 days |
| 30 days | 43 days |
For most people noise isn’t an important factor, but some brushes are significantly quieter
For each brush we review, we use a decibel metre to take a reading of its noise level. So far we’ve found the range sits from 48 db to over 80 db, which is quite a variation.
Noise may be an important consideration if you’ve got young children that you don’t want to disturb, or light sleepers in the house who won’t appreciate the sound of a noisy motor.
That being said, noise generally isn’t the biggest consideration for an electric toothbrush. Even with the noisiest brushes, we’ve found that a closed bathroom door drowns out most of the sound. If you have thin walls or do have a need to be very quiet, it’s worth paying a bit more attention.
We’ve got a post on the quietest electric toothbrushes that ranks from quietest to loudest. The winner so far is the Oclean X Pro Elite. From our list above, SURI is also particularly quiet.
| Modal |
|---|
| Oclean X Pro Elite |
| SURI 2.0 |
| Philips Sonicare 1100 Series |
| Oral-B iO Series 3 (iO3) |
| Philips Sonicare Series 5300 |
| Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9900 Prestige |
| Philips Sonicare One - Rechargeable |
| Oral-B iO Series 9 (iO9) |
| Oral-B Pro 3 3500 |
| Noise |
|---|
| 45dB - Came in at approx 48dB in hands on testing |
| 58dB |
| 57dB |
| 64dB |
| 63dB |
| 71dB |
| 71dB |
| 72dB |
| 73dB |
What we regard as a 'budget' electric toothbrush
When it comes to categorising 'budget', 'cheap' or 'affordable' the boundaries and expectations are different from one person to another.
For the sake of simplicity, we roughly group prices into five brackets based on their selling price. These brackets refer to the initial purchase price, not the 3 year cost we mention in other parts of the article.
Please be aware that prices can change based on current offers and stock availability, so these are guidelines only.
- £0-20: Too Cheap — these products should be avoided.
- £20-50: Budget — they do the job, but it's worth spending slightly more if you can.
- £50 to £100: Optimal — these products have the essential features and a nice design
- £100-150: Mid-range — these brushes have extra features that may be nice to have, but aren't strictly necessary
- £150+: Premium — the most capable if you want the very best, but overkill for most
These are not hard and fast rules and there are always exceptions. Years of testing and insight has given us a deep understanding of what makes a good brush and what you can realistically expect at different price points.
You can get a good brush for £50 to £60 — spending more doesn't mean cleaner or whiter teeth
We’ve tested brushes that cost as little as £10 and as much as £800. Truthfully, you don’t need to spend more than about £60 to get a reliable brush with the most important features.
The key features our in-house dentists recommend are a pressure sensor, a timer, and a pacer. Generally, you can get these from around £50 to £60. Many of the brushes we’ve tested in this price range are more than adequate.
Spending more money on a toothbrush may provide things like travel cases and better battery life, but these aren’t going to help brush your teeth better.
Don't go too cheap, though
Based on the above advice you may be tempted to spend as little as possible. We would caution against this because we have noticed there are reliability issues with cheap brands.
And whilst you can get by without a pressure sensor, timer and pacer, ideally your brush should include them because they help you to brush properly and for the right amount of time.
There is such a thing as going too cheap with an electric toothbrush. We currently regard a brush that’s under £20 as being too cheap. Yes, inevitably, the odd brush might break that rule and there are some that are impressive options for the price, but there is generally a compromise. What that compromise is depends on the brand and the particular model in question.
Budget vs cheap
"Budget" and "cheap" are both terms that are used to refer to something that is inexpensive or affordable.
For the sake of this guide, we have separated them as follows:
Budget: a brush from a well-known manufacturer that has a reduced feature set compared to more expensive brushes in the range, typically in the £20 to £50 range.
Cheap: a brush from a less established manufacturer that has more features than you might expect for the price it is being sold at, typically less than £40.
Our general advice is to avoid cheap brushes. For the price they are sold at, there needs to be a trade-off happening in build quality and / or environmental impact. Despite this, we understand that people are still interested in these brushes so we provide insights and recommendations from the testing we have completed.
A budget brush from a well-known manufacturer is arguably more reliable. Whilst a budget brush may have the key features we recommend — a timer, a pacer and a pressure sensor — the user experience tends to be disappointing compared to the brushes in our optimal price range. Examples of this are no battery status indicator, a shorter battery life, or a brush that doesn’t feel as nice to use on a daily basis.
If you can afford to buy a brush that is £60 to £100, we feel that is the optimal range. If not, the “budget” brushes we recommend above have the key features.
If you are still looking to spend less than this, the budget brush we recommend is the Oral-B Vitality Pro. Just be aware that it doesn't have as good a user experience as the slightly more expensive brushes and it lacks a pressure sensor. Read more in our Oral-B Vitality Pro review.
A bit more on cheap brushes
You can now buy toothbrushes on marketplaces such as Amazon, AliExpress and Temu that have similar feature sets to bigger name products but at a much lower price.
The big question that needs to be asked is how can something be produced this cheap; are cheap labour sources being exploited? What quality of materials are being used? Are the appropriate taxes being paid to sell such a product?
It does vary from one product to another, but our experience is that quality and reliability are often the biggest compromises. The product does its job but looks and feels cheap.
You’ve likely heard the saying “buy cheap, buy twice”. Well, that often applies here.
What about cheap brush heads?
One way to reduce the overall cost of your electric toothbrush is to buy unofficial brush heads. We have reviewed some of these in the past, but we do not regularly test them. There are countless options with few distinguishable differences. In fact, many come from the same factory, just with a different brand name printed on them.
The 3 year prices that we provide are calculated based on using official brush heads. If you use unofficial ones, the price may come down quite significantly. It’s pretty common to save about 50% and still get a fairly decent set of bristles.
In our past testing, we have found that the heads can be of low quality compared to official heads. The bristle formation isn’t always as tight and the cut isn’t as smooth.
New products often arrive on a marketplace, but then become discontinued relatively quickly. This disappearance is often linked to intellectual property rights or brand infringement. It’s been most apparent with Oral-B iO compatible heads. Subsequently, it makes it difficult for us to test and maintain recommendations. It also means there are fewer user reviews available.
Another thing to be aware of is fake brush heads. These purport to be manufacturer originals, but they are not. They can often be worse quality than the openly unofficial heads.
If you don’t have a lot to spend but want to buy a non-budget brush, using unofficial, compatible/made for heads could be a way to bring the overall cost down. Just be aware that you don’t get quite as much choice and the quality probably won’t be as good as official ones.
We don’t recommend smart toothbrushes for the average user
We’ve been testing smart (Bluetooth enabled) toothbrushes since they first launched around 2016.
Whilst we’ve found that the technology in the latest models like the Oral-B iO Series 10 and the Sonicare Prestige 9900 does work very well, it is overkill for the average user.
We generally don’t recommend them. You don’t need the tech to be able to clean your teeth well — plaque disclosing tablets work just as well — and to get the most from them you often need to have your phone with you when you brush.
A survey of our YouTube audience found that 57% had a smart toothbrush, yet 69% don’t use the features after 3 months.
Apart from the ‘smart’ technology, these brushes often come with additional cleaning modes and a travel case.
In our experience, there is little difference between most cleaning modes. Having a sensitive mode is useful, but this is included with far cheaper brushes.
A travel case can also be a good addition, but again, you don’t need to spend £300 to get one. We rate SURI as having the best travel case and that is far cheaper than a smart toothbrush.
Unless you are willing to spend the time and effort using the brush tracking technology that a smart brush offers, save yourself some money and go for a cheaper model.
Brush head styles aren’t that important, but do affect cost
Brush head ranges are unnecessarily complicated. There is no definitive evidence to say one head is better than another. Studies will claim to have found important differences between them, but this is always in comparison to a manual brush. We’re yet to see 2 Oral-B heads compared to one another in a clinical study.
We’ve tested the full range of brush heads from Oral-B, Sonicare and Colgate and found little to separate them. We’ve also tested generic heads, which are cheaper but still of an acceptable standard.
Sonicare’s premium heads have a silicone backing to them, which feels noticeably softer on the cheeks and reduces that harsh irritating sound if they come into contact with the teeth. But, we find it difficult to justify the price increase when normal heads work just fine.
The main thing you do want to watch out for if you’re buying generic heads is that you don’t get cheap counterfeits as they won’t do as good a job.
Sonic brush heads tend to be larger than the small circular brush heads found on Oral-B’s oscillating-rotating toothbrushes. Sonic heads have an oval shape to them.
We have found that Oral-B’s heads can sometimes make it easier to reach right behind the back molars and other tight spaces because their necks have a shorter length. This isn’t a factor worth giving too much importance to unless you have a particularly small mouth.
As a side note, if you are finding it difficult to reach certain parts of the mouth, it’s better to brush with your mouth almost closed. Having your mouth open extends your jaw and can make it harder to reach certain areas.
The brush you choose will affect how much you spend on brush heads
Pay attention to this because it could save you £100 over the lifetime of your brush.
If you’re buying official heads for a well-known brand, Oral-B heads for non-iO brushes (Vitality, Pro, Genius Series models) tend to be the cheapest.
Oral-B iO brush heads are almost twice the price of other Oral-B heads. The cleaning results are not twice as good. As it stands there aren’t many generic options available as an alternative for iO models. Those that do exist cost considerably less. You can get as many as 6 generic heads for the price of 1 iO Series manufacturer original. Sonicare brush heads tend to be more expensive than Oral-B, but there are good generic options available to bring the price down.
Try to buy heads where the bristle tips are rounded or smoothed off, like the manufacturer’s own. We found that cheaper generic heads often have ‘rough cut’ bristles. They still clean well but can be a bit more abrasive on the teeth and gums.
You can save money if you buy an electric toothbrush and heads from a lesser-known brand, but the caveat to this is reliability issues.
A word of caution though: sometimes there is such a thing as too cheap. We’ve read and heard stories of brush heads cracking, falling apart and bristles falling out as people use them.
Soft brush heads and sensitive cleaning mode are good if you have sensitive teeth or receding gums
Generally speaking, we haven’t found that cleaning modes and brush head styles make much difference to brushing experience. A standard cleaning mode and brush head do the job just fine. The exceptions, though, are soft brush heads and sensitive cleaning modes.
We have at times found it useful to switch to a soft head or cleaning mode during times of tooth or gum sensitivity. If you have sensitive teeth or gums, or some form of gum disease, these are particularly useful features.
Even if you don’t have sensitive teeth and gums, a sensitive cleaning mode or soft brush head can help to ease you into a new brush. This was the case for one of our team when we started testing the Oral-B iO range. The cleaning action of the brush felt more intense than previous Oral-B models, so we used the sensitive mode for the first week or so to get used to it.
Oral-B and Sonicare both make soft brush heads for their full range of brushes, so this is something that you can add on afterwards if needed. Many brushes do come with a sensitive mode, but you’ll want to double check your prospective brush has it if it’s a feature you think you’ll benefit from. We’ve found the feeling of gentle cleaning modes doesn’t vary much from one manufacturer to another, so you don’t need to scrutinise this too much.
There is some variation in the way that gentle / sensitive modes are named. Some manufacturers instead refer to them as ‘intensity’ settings. A high and a low intensity settings are usually comparable to standard clean and sensitive mode.
Oral-B sensitive clean heads
For receding gums or sensitive teeth, I recommend you try the Sensitive Clean brush head for an Oral-B brush.
We have a post on the best Oral-B brush heads that explains the range in detail.
Sonicare (BrushSync) gum care heads
For Sonicare BrushSync brushes try the G2 Optimal Gum Care head. It is BrushSync heads that have Sonicare's reminder technology built in. They are more expensive than the non-BrushSync heads.
Some brushes are now charged via USB
The set up of your bathroom and the brush you choose will dictate how convenient it is to charge it.
Most toothbrushes are charged via a 2-pin charger. This is great if you have a shaver socket in your bathroom. If not, you need an adaptor so that you can charge it via a mains plug elsewhere in the house.
Some newer brushes are charged via USB only, which rules out the opportunity to charge them in your bathroom. This may or may not be an inconvenience for you.
The Sonicare 1100, 2100, 3100 and 4100 are examples of this. They do fit and charge on the older style Sonicare charging stands too, so if you prefer your existing Sonicare charging stand, you can still make use of it.
Some brushes can be charged in the travel case they are supplied with, which can add another option and more flexibility. SURI, as an example, is charged via USB Type-C. It can be charged within its case, using the same cable that charges many Android phones and the latest iPhone 15. We’ve found this to be a convenient way to charge the brush, especially as it only needs charging every few weeks.
If you don’t have a shaver socket and would rather not fiddle about with adapters. You can buy aftermarket charging stands with built in 3 pin plugs or USB cables.
It’s an extra cost, but might be more convenient for you. Of the ones we’ve tested we’ve found the quality to be pretty good.
A travel case is a useful accessory
In our experience the most useful extras to be supplied with a toothbrush are additional heads and a travel case.
Brush head stands and storage compartments can be convenient if you share a toothbrush with others, but are far from essential.
You don’t need to be a regular traveller to benefit from a case. Even if you occasionally go away for a night or two, a case protects the bristles from damage and dirt. Not to mention preventing other things in your wash bag from getting wet. It can also prevent that awkward buzzing sound in your luggage as you pass through customs!
It’s well worth spending an extra £5 if you can afford it to get a case included. It’s harder to buy official cases afterwards. Third party cases serve a purpose but tend not to be as good.
Jon found a travel case useful during his recent Invisalign treatment. He was having to brush more regularly, often away from home, and having a case made things more convenient.
For those always on the go, charging travel cases are great. SURI’s is particularly slim and uses the same charger as most phones. Oral-B’s charging case is less convenient as it requires a bulky proprietary power adapter.
Things to consider if you’ve got dexterity issues
The majority of toothbrushes have a clean and minimal look with minimal textured surfaces for gripping onto.
Oral-B’s Smart 4 and Genius models use different materials and textures to aid with grip. These models are on the older side now but you may still find them available to buy. Although slimmer, the Philips One has a really textured handle, which makes it easy to grip.
The Hydrosonic Pro from Curaprox is all smooth plastic, but the squarer design really helps with grip.
Adding an adaptive aid to a brush can make it chunkier and easier to hold.
The vast majority of brush heads are pushed onto a brush handle to attach and pulled off to remove. Few require twisting or locking into place. You don’t typically need lots of force to attach or remove them.
We’ve found that brush heads on SURI 1.0 are some of the tightest fitting and can at times require an extra firm grasp to pull them off, but this issue is resolved with SURI 2.0. You can see a short demo in this video:
Power buttons are something to consider too. Colgate’s Smart Hum and Hum Rhythm are 2 examples that we've found to have firmer buttons than other brushes and make for a less enjoyable user experience.
Many brands have money back guarantees, so you can buy online, try and return if they don’t work for you.
More detail: our electric toothbrush reviews
In order to gather the advice and recommendations above, we've extensively tested and compared a wide range of electric toothbrushes. For the vast majority of brushes we test, we either complete a written review, a video review, or both.
In the sections below we've grouped our written reviews. You can see our video reviews and comparisons on our YouTube channel.
Oral-B
- Oral-B iO9 review
- Oral-B iO6 review
- Oral-B iO10 review
- Oral-B iO5 review
- Oral-B iO7 review
- Oral-B iO8 review
- Oral-B iO4 Review
- Oral-B iO2 review
- Oral-B Smart 4 4000 review
- Sonicare Series 7100 Review
- Sonicare Series 6500 Review
- Oral-B Vitality Pro review
- Oral-B Pro 1 Series review
- Oral-B Pro 3 3000 / 3500 / 3900 Review
- Oral-B iO3 review
- Sonicare Series 6100 Review
- Oral-B Smart 6 6000 review
- Oral-B Vitality / Vitality Plus review
- Oral-B Pro 2 2500 review
- Oral-B Pro 1 680 review
- Oral-B Pro 600 review
- Oral-B Pro 2 2000 / 2900 review
Sonicare
- Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300 review
- Philips Sonicare 1100 Series review
- Philips Sonicare 3100 Series review
- Philips Sonicare 2100 Series review
- Philips Sonicare 4100 Series review
- Philips One By Sonicare review
- Sonicare Series 5500 review
- Sonicare Series 5300, 5500, 6100, 6500 & 7100 comparison
- Sonicare Series 5300 review
- Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 review
- Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9900 Prestige review
- Philips Sonicare ExpertClean review
- Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6100 review
- Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100 review
Hello Jon, I have had an Oral-B SmartSeries toothbrush for many years. I replace the brush heads every 3-4 weeks but I don’t feel I get that deep clean, and my teeth feel grainy. I was planning to buy the Oral-B iO5 before reading your reviews. Can you suggest a toothbrush that provides a more intense clean?
Hi Sheri,
If you don't like the sound of the iO5, pick up the Oral-B Smart 5 - still available on Amazon for approx £93.
It will use the same heads as your current brush and tends to feel more intense in it's clenaing action.
Do you still recommend the Oral B Pro 3 3500 for an intense clean?
Thank you. It's currently selling for £35
Yes, it is a good option, if you can still get it at a fair price.
Hi! Quick question — do you plan to make a review of the latest Oclean X Ultra 20 toothbrush? Thanks!
Hi Alex.
We may at some point, but to be honest it isn’t on our priority list of models to test.
Oclean update their models quite rapidly, only launching the X Ultra 20 a few months after we tested the X Ultra S. It’s essentially an updated model. Given how well the X Ultra S performed the X Ultra 20 is likely to be very similar if not slightly better because it is more precise than the previous model (it has 12 brushing areas tracked instead of 8), it’s more powerful (it went for a 3.0 Megalev motor to a 4.0 one) and it has a brand-new wide oscillating motion technology.
It’s been a week now since I’ve started researching into this rabbit hole of electric toothbrushes. First of all thank you for your content — I am from Germany and it is by far the best YouTube channel for electric toothbrushes. The website is also absolutely fantastic.
Here is my dilemma:
I was just ready to buy an IO 6 as it seemed to have all the features I am looking for — then I read multiple comments on YouTube, Reddit, and buyers reviews about the mould issue. That even if you have a deeply routinised cleaning of the toothbrush post brushing it still forms mold and now I am not sure anymore if I should still buy it (mould is probably also not covered by our 2 year European warranty)
I am now looking at either getting the Oral B io series 6, oral b pro 3500, Sonicare 5300(HX7101/02), sonicare 9000(HX9911/88), Laifen Wave
I would be glad if someone could tell me what to get.
I would probably go for the sonicare 5300 costs 54€,
the 9000 Costs 140€, the io 6 105€, the pro 3500 55€, laifen wave 65€
Another small question, I don’t care how long brushing will take I just want to not have to brush anymore manually. So do I truly don’t have to brush myself a bit with a sonicare ? (On Amazon product page it said brushing in small circles)
Thanks again, this rabbit hole ist taking my energy haha :/
Hi Carlos.
Thank you for the kind words.
I undrstand your concerns about mould. It does happen to many, but then again many say they have no issues at all.
Of that list I would pick the Oral-B Pro 3 3500or the Sonicare 5300. The Oral-B will be marginally cheaper to run in the long term as brush heads are cheaper. But, both good for the money.
There is varying opinion with how you use Sonicare brushes. Philips say no action, just move tooth to tooth and let the brush do all the work, like Oral-B.
Our dental team generally recommend adding circular motions with the Sonicare brush, but it isn't an absolute must.
I hope my answer helps.
My new Oral B Pro 100 starts to flash green immediately after brushing my teeth for 2 minutes, even though the brush is completely charged. Why is that, and is it OK? Otherwise, it's a good brush (and it's a bit quieter than some other Oral Bs, though still quite noisy).
Thank you.
Jane
Hi Jane,
Are you sure it is an Oral-B Pro 100? Do you mean Pro 1000? It the battery indicator a single LED in the lower third of the handle at the front?
It's likely flashing green to show power in the battery is good.
Hi what good toothbrush if you struggle with dexterity on hand positioning for inside teeth for upper and lower teeth end up missing those areas and has a learning disability
Hi Samantha.
It's hard to say specifically what is best in this instance as it depends on each individual and their preferences.
Some find a larger handled brush with a more angular, rather than rounderd design more useful, but this isn't necessarily perfect for everyone. Therefore something like the Curaprox Hydrosonic might be an option, albeit a more expensive one.
The Vitlaity Pro is a much more affordable brush. It's not angular, but a bit thicker in hand that might help?
I have bought expensive and cheaper electric toothbrushes.
I sent several to the electric recycling bin recently. Why?
I have very painful arthritic thumbs and trapezium joints (at the base of the thumb joint) which are treated from time to time with steroid injections. Even so, I cannot bear the pain barrier that I go through to switch them on. My latest, your best value recommendation by Oral B, is so hard for me despite being in a pretty pink!!
Please would you make recommendations including ease of switching on. I have no doubt of the efficacy of these as I have almost exclusively my own teeth and have used these since they started. (75 years and more!)
Hi Penny.
Thanks for the comment and I am sorry to read that you are suffering in the way that you are.
I would love to make a recommendation, but here's the truth...
I can't confidently make one for you.
The reality is the buttons on most electric toothbrushes are reasonably firm. We don't have anyone on the team that has a similar condition to be able to give their input and I have no meaningful metrics that I can use to measure the pressure required to activate a function button.
My own use might suggest that Philips Sonicare toothbrushes or the premium Oral-B iO Series brushes have slightly softer buttons that require less pressure. But, the difference to me feels minimal.
It would be poor for me to specifically recommend a model because I can't confidently standby this recommendation.
My advice, if it is at all possible to to go to a supermarket or pharmacy like Boots where they have a number of models on display and test the buttons yourself so that you can make a confident assessment and decision.
Hey Jon, i was about to buy the oral b pro 2 2500 when your video about the io 4 and 5 dropped. So i was just wondering if it is worth it to wait for the io's or just to buy the pro ? Btw my budget is under $100
Calvin.
I would still go with the Pro 2 2500.
The cleaning action is basically the same as will the cleaning results. We don't yet know the exact cost of the 4 & 5. Plus, the brush heads are more expensive so long term ownership costs are higher.
Owhh okay jon thanks for the advice :)
Hi there!
I just wanted to say what a fantastic and advice packed article this was and I have just ordered my Oral B Pro 2 2500 through your Amazon link.
Thank you all for your help!
Jon
How does the Pro 2 2500 compare with a Oral-B Pro 3 3000 listed here:
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Electric-Toothbrush-Rechargeable-Technology-Replacement/dp/B096SVL986?currency=EUR
I'm in the EU, and for me its effectively the same price.
From what I can tell the new one has no travel case, but the motor is slightly better, using the Smart 1500 from the US market as a reference. Also I think the pressure sensor might light up differently, but not sure about, and could not find a lot either.
I assume there is not a review yet, because it seems it released about a month ago, but I'd appreciate any response you can provide. Thanks :)
Hi Tharen.
Thanks for the question. We are actually due to review the Pro 3 3000 this week. It has been updated to the style you have linked to.
There isn't much difference to be honest.
They key difference is there is an extra cleaning mode & the pressure sensor now wraps a full 360 degrees around the brush handle.
You are correct that this is the same as the Smart 1500 in the USA.
The Pro 3 3000 does not come with a travel case, but there is a Pro 3 3500 that does.
I hope this helps.
Thanks for this review! Now I'm convinced to get Oclean X Pro Elite. I'm gonna head out to their website now 'cause I heard they have it on promo. :)
Hello, i wanted to ask which mid-range
Sonicare is the best in your opinion? Something more expensive than ProtectiveClean 4300, I live in EU.
Hi Casper.
For what reason do you want a more expensive model? This will help me give a better recommendation.
Hi , I have an Omron HP-B201 toothbrush ,but I can’t find new head brushes .Is the brush of pro clinical Colgate-Omron compatible with my brush ?
Thank you for this article .
Hi Irene.
I have to be honest and say this is not a brush I have come across before, used or know much about. It is possible that Colgate brush heads may work, but a quick web search turns up nothing conclusive.
I think the best action to take is contact Omron themselves for advice.
Hi,
I'm looking forward to buy an electric toothbrush, after researching I'm trying to decide between 2. Both are from Oral-b, one it the Pro 2 for 35€ or the Genius 8000 for 85€. Does the Genius 8000 worth the 50€ more then the Pro 2??
For most people no. The Pro 2 series gives what you need.
The Genius 8000 has more features that some may like, but are by no means essential. If you want to connect the brush to a smartphone for example, then this is a brush to consider, but assuming not, I would advise the Pro 2.
Hi Jon
Looking for an Oral-B & would appreciate your opinion as undecided. Have problem with ‘pockets’ and receding gums (years of hard brushing manually!) so hygienist every 3 months. 2000/2500 is option for good basic clean, 4000 is reviewed as best for gums, G9000 has the app for best brushing but not sure if I would use that all the time? But then all the others, so your advice please, thank you.
Hi Elaine,
Thanks for your question.
The main features to make sure you have are a pressure sensor and sensitive cleaning mode, which are both included with the Smart 4 4000. It's then worth giving Oral-B's sensitive brush heads a try — we have written about them in our guide to Oral-B brush heads.
Our take on the app that is included with the Genius 9000 is that it takes a good degree of commitment to really make the most of it. If you are already confident with your brushing technique you are unlikely to gain much from it. An initial step could be to get your hygienist to check your brushing technique.
So in summary it is probably worth spending on the Smart 4 to get the sensitive cleaning mode, but the extra expense of one of the smart toothbrushes may not be worth it.
I always use this toothbrush I feel the battery life is not 2 weeks after a few weeks it only lasts a couple of days this has happened with all oral b brushes I would also ask that it comes with head cover not very hygenic when storing on charger
Hi Isabella.
I presume you are referring to our top pick, the Pro 2 2500. If the fully charged battery is not lasting more than a few days, there might well be an issue with it and I would suggest you speak to Oral-B about potentially have it repaired.
Understood about the cover, but not having a cover on it, also allows the air to get to and around the bristles with more ease. A cover on a brush head can actually help bacteria grow because the bristles do not dry.
You wrote that the smart 4 4000 is the most recommended toothbrush for receding gums and sensitive teeth because it is the cheapest Oral-B brush to offer a sensitive cleaning mode.
But as I read in other articles in your sit there are many "oral b pro" models that also has sensitive mode (like the pro 2 2500)
Wil be happy if you could explain in more details why the smart 4 4000 is the best for sensitive teeth (as you also wrote in separate article...) and why the pro 2 2500 isn't suitable for this need?
Thanks a lot!
Hi Shay,
Thanks for the comment and question, it is indeed very valid.
The honest answer is it is not so much the case that the Pro 2 2500 is not suitable, it certainly is an option. There are many possible choices and picking a 'best' brush isn't always the easiest.
Whilst it will not be for everyone, the smart features of the 4 4000 does too give tracking options and the ability to log cleaning routines which can act as encouragement and proof for some that they are working towards improving their oral health.
Exacerbating the situation somewhat is that for some time we were understood that the Oral-B Pro 2 2500 had 2 modes, Daily Clean & Gum Care. However, we have recently had confirmation that the modes are actually Daily Clean & Sensitive. A small but subtle difference. This confusion came as a result of misleading information across various marketing materials and descriptions that exist for this product.
There is very little difference between these modes and both do a similar job, but you can perhaps see why the Smart 4 4000 became the recommendation as it was our understanding that the Pro 2 2500 did not have the slowest and most gentle gum care mode.
Since having confirmation of this cleaning mode error, we have updated the majority of content across our site to reflect this, but haven't yet completed every change. This includes reviewing recommendations like the Smart 4 4000 as the best electric toothbrush for sensitive teeth. IN truth, there is a very high likelihood we will switch the recommendation to the Pro 2 2500 for the value it delivers.
So, in short the Pro 2 2500 is an option and this is why the Smart 4 is currently our pick.
Thank you very much for your consideration...i appreciate your advice, I believe I'll go towards a Sonicare.
One last thing: do you believe the Protectiveclean 4500 HX6830/44 is a better buy than the Hx6511/50, considering that in my region the price difference is only 13€ between the two?
Absolutely. If the difference is only €13 go for the ProtectiveClean.
Thank you, you truly are a benchmark in this argument. I'm trying to decide which to buy today between the Sonicare Hx6511/50 and the Oral-B PRO 2 2500...
I value quietness and overall cleaning capability; any advice?
Juan.
I would go with the Sonicare Hx6511/50.
There is some clinical evidence that the Oral-B cleans better overall. However, the differences are minimal and is not an issue to be too worried about. The Sonicare is much quieter than Oral-B. So based on this, I think Sonicare.
Thanks so much for cutting through all the twaddle!
I read nearly everything and it was very useful.
I have a preference for Sonicate but I can't afford the all singing and dancing one in your current list. I particularly want to look after my gums - previously they were in a dreadful state and I don't want to go back there. And I have TMJD and have just cracked a molar.
If you have time would you mind giving me be a recommendation for a Sonicare un to £100? I think it's worth investing in a good toothbrush (and using it properly) but I don't want to chuck money away for the sake of it..
I will tell my dentist how useful your site is.
Hi Clancy.
Please to read you have found this helpful.
If Sonicare is your preference, I would suggest the Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300. It is well below the £100 budget and still has the essential features built-in. You could also look at the ProtectiveClean 5100 that offers extra cleaning modes, but honestly, I think the 4300 will serves you well.
Hello! Thanks for the great information there!
I'd like to ask, the retail store here is selling Oral-B Smart 4 4000 (with 3 refills) and Oral-B Smart 7 7000 (with 1 refill) at the same price, which is AUD99. I couldn't find any video or review on the Smart 7, therefore I'm having quite a hard time to decide on which one to get? I hope that you'd spare me some suggestions, thanks a lot!
Hi Jason. Thanks for the question.
I think you asked this question on our Facebook page also, so I am sharing the reply here too.
Being based in the UK, I have not gone hands-on with the Smart 7 7000, but having looked it appears to be very similar to a model we have in the UK called the Smart 6 6000.
Truthfully there isn't much between these 2 models they both clean well, have built-in pressure sensors, timer and 2 week battery life.
The key differences are:
The Smart 4 4000 is a little slimmer in hand and has 3 cleaning modes.
The Smart 7 7000 has 6 modes.
The Smart 7 7000 comes with a travel case and the Smart 4 4000 does not.
The Smart 4 4000 comes with a brush head storage compartment, that the Pro 7 does not.
Either are good brushes, but seeing as they are the same price I would pick the Smart 7.
I hope this helps.
Thanks for a great summary. I have decided to buy oral b genius x, but I wonder if you know the difference between genius x 20000, 20100 and 20200? I can't find information about it.
Hi Kari,
Thanks for the question.
The key differences between these models are what countries they are available in and what is included in the box.
At the time of writing, the 20100 and 20200 are not available in the UK, but are models available in other European countries.
The key differences as far as I can tell are:
The 20000 comes with:
- 1 x Oral-B Genius X toothbrush handle
- 4 x brush heads
- 1 x 2 pin charging stand
- 1 x Charging travel case
- 1 x 2 pin power adapter for the travel case
- User manual/warranty documentation
The 20100 comes with:
- 1 x Oral-B Genius X toothbrush handle
- 1 x brush heads
- 1 x 2 pin charging stand
- 1 x Charging travel case
- 1 x 2 pin power adapter for the travel case
- 1 x Brush head stand (fits around charging stand)
- User manual/warranty documentation
The 20200 comes with:
- 1 x Oral-B Genius X toothbrush handle
- 2 x brush heads
- 1 x 2 pin charging stand
- 1 x Charging travel case
- 1 x 2 pin power adapter for the travel case
- 1 x Brush head stand (fits around charging stand)
- User manual/warranty documentation
Thanks for this article! You've greatly informed my decision :). Have a nice day.
Thanks very much for the exceptional detail as always.
Our children have always had electric brushes and are now 8. We are looking at buying either the Sonicare for Kids, or the Pro 2 2500 with sensitive brush heads. Both children are very used to using electric brushes and so we are thinking that the 'adult' version with soft heads may be the preferred option.
Would be most grateful for your thoughts, and my thanks again for all the great info!
Hi Peter.
Thanks for the kind words.
I would agree with your thinking.
8 years old is about the earliest you can or would want to switch children over to an 'adult' toothbrush.
The Pro 2 2500 would be ideal. The small round brush head. The built in 2 minute timer, 30 second pacer and pressure sensor. The soft bristles of the brush head (assuming you pick the sensitive style brush head).
If you have any other questions, let me know.
Great, thanks again Jon and appreciate your thoughts...
Hi,
Could you pls advise the source of the battery life comparison?
thanks a lot
Hongxin
Hi Hongxin,
The battery life data is compiled by ourselves.
With all the brushes we review, we test the battery life.
Once a brush is fully charged, we run the toothbrush through their standard cleaning cycle until the battery is discharged.
We have taken the data we have and placed it in the chart shown.
hello,
I would like to buy 4 electric toothbrushes for my family members for regular daily oral hygiene. Could you possibly suggest the best possible budget-friendly item in the market regarding technology and efficiency?
Hi.
My first question would be do you need 4 separate electric toothbrushes or could the members of the family share 1 brush handle, but each have their own brush head?
In either situation, the Oral-B Pro 2 2500 is a good option, but I appreciate it is not the cheapest. Therefore, the Fairywill FW-917 or the Oral-B Pro 600 would be brushes to consider as these costs £20-25 on average.
If the family members could share a brush handle and you want to keep the costs down, go for the Oral-B Pro 2 2500 and then buy brush heads for each user. You may then want to buy this accessory, that clips to the charging stand and gives a place to store the brush heads when not in use.
I hope this helps. If you need more info or assistance, let me know.
Hi Jon, love the reviews!
I live in Australia and the Oral-B Pro 2 2500N and the Smart 5 5000 are the same price (£40). The Genius 9000 is on sale for £63. Do these brushes all provide the same clean (i.e. same oscillations/strokes/movements)? If so, the best brush to get if I do not want the bluetooth functions would be the Smart 5 5000 (as it is newer than the Pro 2 2500)?
Thanks!
Hi Merrideth,
Thanks for the comment.
The power of the Pro 2 2500 and Smart 5 5000 are the same, although the Genius 9000 is a little more powerful.
Whilst the brushes have different cleaning modes, the basic cleaning action is the same on all models. Although the Genius 9000 is more powerful and can technically clean the teeth more effectively in reality the difference is very small given the Pro/Smart Series are already powerful.
If you don't want Bluetooth then there is little point going for the Smart or Genius Series really, despite them being at a very good price.
Although the Smart 5 5000 did launch fractionally after the Pro 2 2500, it wasn't long after, so the Pro 2 2500 is the brush to go for.
I hope that helps, any questions, let me know.
What are the advantages of a sonic toothbrush over a standard electric one. I’ve been told by my dentist to use a sonic one to help prevent plaque.... true or false?
Hi Colin.
I am not sure what you/your dentist mean by a 'standard electric toothbrush'. I suspect this is a referral to a more tried and tested (recognised brand) electric toothbrush in comparison to a unknown, cheap electric brush.
A toothbrush in itself does not prevent plaque.
A toothbrush helps removes plaque more effectively. Sonic electric toothbrushes like those from Philips Sonicare and Oral-B are proven to be better at removing plaque than a manual brush, when used correctly.
I hope this helps. If you need more information, please let me know.
HI Jon, do you know if my Oral B pro 2000 brush heads will fit the new 2.2500 i am thinking of buying?
Great website and videos many thanks for all your hard work and research you have put in. good luck for the future.
Tom
Hi Tom,
Thanks for the kind words.
I can confirm that the brush heads that fit to the Oral-B Pro 2000 will work with the new Pro 2 2500.
All Oral-B brush heads are interchangeable. This means you can use any Oral-B head on any Oral-B brush handle.
To find out more, you could take a look at our Oral-B brush heads explained article.
I have a small hand and small mouth, and I find the cylindrical shape of electric brush handles very hard to manage. As it gets wet from toothpaste, saliva etc, it slips in my hand and I've bruised my mouth a couple of times. It must be possible to shape the handle a bit to make it easier to grip, but I'm not aware of any manufacturer who has addressed this problem yet. Surely I can't be the only person with this problem?
Hi Clare,
Some models like the Oral-B Vitality have a more tapered design to the handle (wider at top and slimmer at the bottom) which means they are not all slim and perfectly cylindrical.
We will be in the future looking at toothbrushes that have different designs and cater to different user needs, particularly those with disabilities.
Far from an elegant solution some wrap tape or elastic bands around the handles to thicken them up and make them more grippy and less rounded.
The Oral-B 2000/2500 do sound like good value but Amazon reviews suggest quality control issues with the battery. Even excluding some reviews of possible defects, there are quite a few people suggesting that it will not hold a charge well after only a few months (needs recharging every day or two).
Do you ever look at long-term battery capacity? Some people presumably look to replace their 5-10-year-old brush because the battery is getting annoying, and ending up in the same situation after only a couple of months would be very frustrating.
Thanks for the comment.
Battery defects can occur but they are rare in the scheme of things now.
You need to pay attention to when the review was placed on Amazon because they do something silly when updating brushes which means the reviews are not wholly accurate.
Before the Pro 2 2500 was the Pro 2500. However when the Pro 2 2500 launched they just updated the older Pro 2500 product page. This means a large number of reviews actually relate to the older brush.
The newer Pro 2 2500 has a new battery which uses a different technology and lasts twice as long between charges.
As best as possible we test brushes over long periods. We have 3 people using the Pro 2 2500 for several months now without issue. We don't run detailed scientific tests though.
I hope this helps
I'm aware of that strange policy they have. However, I'm not talking about how long it lasts between charges, but how long it continues meet that standard as it ages: e.g. it lasts two weeks between charges, but after the first couple of months this stops being the case and it needs charging every day. You would want and expect a lithium ion battery to continue to hold capacity for several years as it does in other consumer electronics.
Both that complaint and total duds (needs charging every time from near the start, discharges itself dramatically whilst not being used, fails to recognise it is charge etc.) appear to be common reports, even in recent and verified reviews.
Hi Sambe,
I can't speak first hand of having had any issues with the battery life failing/worsening withing a few months. I am sure some have, but the nature of electronic goods is some will sadly fail.
All of our users are reporting good battery life.
I personally have had an Oral-B Genius 9000 since the day it was launched and it continues to perform as well as it did the day it came out the box, it only ever goes on the charging stand when the brush is basically out of power.
Should you buy a brush and notice an issue, the battery should be covered under warranty, which as standard is 2 years, but can be extended to 3 if you register the brush online after purchase.
It would be interesting to see a "best ultrasonic" toothbrush (not a sonic toothbrush - see Wikipedia) since these are becoming quite popular.
Hi Hugo.
You are quite correct that there is a different type of brush, called ultrasonic, which we are aware of ourselves.
We have not yet compiled a list of the 'best ultrasonic brushes' like we have for sonic brushes, because whilst popularity has increased in recent years, public awareness is actually relatively low.
There is also the issue of availability. In the UK, few are available, whereas in some other markets, such as Germany, Russia and USA they are more commonplace.
That said, we do highlight a few notable examples here, so hopefully this helps.
Hi Jon,
Thanks for all the detailed info and reviews available in the website.
Initially I was thinking about buying a Sonicare toothbrush, especially because most of them are less noisy than the Oral-B ones (they seem to be really noisy), however given that it's my first buy and the Philips products are quite expensive I decided to go for an Oral-B.
As I have very sensitive teeth and gums I narrowed down my search to two cheaper models, the Pro 3000 and the Pro 2 2500.
I can see basically two main differences between them (not considering cases or extra brushes):
1) The Pro 2 2500 like the other newer models has a Lithium Ion battery and so it's lasting longer.
2) The Pro 3000 has an additional cleaning mode for sensitive teeth.
However looking at your reviews (and cleaning mode guide) the difference between the "Gum Care" and "Sensitive" modes is quite unclear, they seem to be very similar. Do you know more about that?
Marco.
The options you have chosen seem sensible.
Sonicare are much quieter, but as you say tend to command a premium price, so going for an Oral-B is perhaps a good option for your first brush.
Gum care and sensitive cleaning modes are very similar in the speed of the brush head.
To be honest, I cannot provide much more information aside from the speed. In my personal opinion they achieve a similar result. Both are more gentle than the standard cleaning mode.
I do not suffer with sensitive teeth or have and gum conditions that would ultimately influence me to need the softer mode on a regular basis.
There is little information that I am aware of that tells a deeper story about how they differ and achieve different results. I have not seen evidence (clinical studies) to show how significantly different they are in achieving different results from different users.
If I were to make a sweeping generalisation, the sensitive mode is better for those who really do not like the extra power of the standard mode or are finding it harder to transition from manual to electric toothbrush. Because it is slower, everything is a bit softer.
The gum cleaning mode is going to be the best at promoting better oral health, particularly as during the cleaning the speed of the brush head is changing, helping stimulate the gum tissues.
If you have generally healthy teeth and gums, I would not worry too much and would of for the Pro 2 2500.
I hope this helps.
If a sonic toothbrush uses sound vibrations to clean plaque from teeth, why doesn't that happen already when you talk? After all, the sound of your voice hits your teeth before it even leaves your mouth. How about if you talk louder, does that work? Should we spend extra time talking as well as brushing? Genuine scientific questions.
I am no scientist Robert, but its all to do with the frequency of sound waves, the human voice does not create fast enough moving sound waves as I understand it to make such possible.
Hello :)
Earlier in your article you mentioned about fake toothbrushes and that they can cause various injuries. Can't even imagine what kind of a hurt can fake electric toothbrush cause. Can you please shed some light on this, Much thanks.
Cheers
Viktor,
It tends to be brush heads that are the problem. Fakes are made often from cheaper grade plastic with less strength and testing going into them.
The plastics can snap/break and cut the gums and cheeks in some instances.
Also poorly cut or formed bristles can do damage to the gum line.
Philips Sonic tooth brushes purport to whiten teeth.
Do they and do they whiten more than the Oral B range?
Hi Ivy.
Thanks for the question, it is a good one.
The short answer is yes, they can whiten teeth, as can Oral-B. However, its not quite that simple.
For the sake of example, an extreme example, if you were a smoker, who loved a glass of red wine, currently used a manual toothbrush and were perhaps not too regimented at cleaning twice a day then yes you would see improvement. If on the other hand you religiously brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes with an electric toothbrush already and floss then the likelihood of seeing noticeable improvement is less, if at all.
Whitening is certainly possible but you may need to consider the toothpaste used, your approach and more.
Both will remove more plaque and bacteria than a manual brush.
Thanks for the reply.
I use a Pro 2000, and Oral -B sensitive whitening.
Can I improve on that? My natural teeth are about half a shade darker than my bridge work and I would like them whiter.
Thanks.
Hi Ivy,
If you already follow a good cleaning routine and they haven't whitened, using a brush and off the shelf whitening may not be enough. You may need to use whitening trays or get a professional whiten at the dentist.
Are all electric toothbrushes the same power. Does one spin faster better than the other,if so how do you identify them and is there any benefit from having a more powerful motor?
Thanks
Hi Ralph.
In short they do have different power delivery from the brush motors. However in the scheme of things this does not make a massive difference.
The more powerful motor can deliver more brush strokes/movements than a less powerful motor.
The most powerful motors are found on the more premium brush models. To some degree the more you spend the better the motor power.
Those that vary most are the Oral-B range. The Pro 2000 has a more powerful motor than the Pro 600 for example. The Pro 3000, 4000 & 5000 share the same motor.
The Pro 2000 is one of the most popular brushes.