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Key Points
- When choosing the best electric toothbrush, there are several factors to consider, including effectiveness, price, battery life, and special features like timers, modes, and sensors.
- The Oral-B iO Series 9 was voted the best overall electric toothbrush.
- If budget is a concern, then the Colgate Hum Smart Electric Toothbrush might be for you.
©Alliance Images/Shutterstock.com
You probably already know that brushing your teeth at least twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and flossing once per day are important parts of maintaining good oral health, but the right kind of toothbrush can make all the difference when it comes to keeping your teeth and gums healthy. An electric toothbrush can be just what you need to improve your brushing technique, increasing the likelihood that you’ll have healthier teeth and gums over time.
These devices are specially engineered to improve your brushing habits and effectively clean your teeth and gums. At the same time, many different types of electric toothbrushes are available on the market. To help you find the right electric toothbrush, we tested some of the most popular models today to compare their features and share our findings with you. Here are our top picks for the six best electric toothbrushes available right now!
- The Best Overall Electric Toothbrush: Oral-B iO Series 9
- Best Premium Electric Toothbrush: Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige
- Best Value Electric Toothbrush: Colgate Hum Smart Electric Toothbrush
- Best Electric Toothbrush For Kids: Philips Sonicare for Kids Electric Toothbrush
- Best Electric Toothbrush For Extra Features: Oral-B iO Series 9 Ultimate Clean
- Best Electric Toothbrush For Gum Care: Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean
The Best Overall Electric Toothbrush: Oral-B iO Series 9
- You will receive 1 Oral-B iO Series 9 Black Onyx Electric Toothbrush, 4 Oral-B iO Ultimate Clean Replacement Brush Heads, and a Power2Go charging travel case
- 7 Smart Modes for personalized brushing: Daily Clean, Whitening, Gum Care, Sensitive, Intense, Super Sensitive, and Tongue Clean
- Interactive color display for real-time coaching
- AI Tracking with 3D Teeth Tracking maps the surface of each tooth, ensuring a complete clean
- Compatible only with Oral-B iO Replacement Brush Heads
The Oral-B iO Series 9 has earned our best overall rating because it combines everything we love about other electric toothbrushes with a few extra features that make it stand out from its competitors. It has an oscillating brush head that moves back and forth instead of just side-to-side (like on regular toothbrushes), which helps get into hidden areas of the mouth more easily.
The toothbrush is incredibly quiet (far quieter than a regular oscillating toothbrush), and it feels smooth as you move it over your lips, according to our testing. The built-in pressure sensor helps you obtain the best outcome by alerting you whether you are pushing too hard or not hard enough to get a decent clean.
The iO Series 9’s vibrant color display will rate your brushing with the appropriate emoji once you’ve finished brushing (the timer will let you know when you’re done). It’s a simple and surprisingly motivating way to get feedback on your technique, but the Oral-B app offers more in-depth advice.
Images that change in real-time to display when you’ve completely cleaned each surface will determine which area of your mouth you’re now brushing. You’ll receive a report on your performance once you’re finished, and you can pick up badges and trophies along the way.
This is a very well-designed electric toothbrush. However, that will actually change the way you clean your teeth and help you establish better habits that can have a long-term impact on your oral health if your wallet can bear it.
| Pros! | Cons! |
|---|---|
| Quiet, smooth action | Expensive |
| Detailed brushing reports | Only one head included |
| Real-time feedback | |
| Excellent cleaning performance |
Check out Oral-B iO Series 9 on Amazon.
Best Premium Electric Toothbrush: Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige
- SenseIQ technology senses, adapts and cares for your teeth
- Removes up to 20x more plaque than a manual toothbrush
- Up to 15x healthier gums in 6 weeks vs. a manual toothbrush
- Seamless one-touch control with touch-interface design
- Sleek and compact with premium leatherette travel case with USB charging
The Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige is the best premium electric toothbrush available right now. It features advanced cleaning technology that removes up to 10 times more plaque than a manual toothbrush, and it has a sleek, ergonomic design that makes it comfortable to use. Plus, the 9900 Prestige comes with a travel case and a charging stand, making it perfect for taking on the go.
The Sonicare app keeps track of the toothbrush’s placement in your mouth and uses timers and on-screen images to make sure you clean every surface properly. The app will give you specific recommendations, track your brushing technique, and let you keep an eye on it over time. However, it is less kid-friendly than the Oral-B version and won’t show you emoticons and rewards for a job well done.
| Pros! | Cons! |
|---|---|
| Excellent cleaning | Heavily reliant on a mobile app |
| It has a built-in low battery indicator | Expensive |
| Real-time brushing guidance | |
| Extremely quiet |
Check out Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige on Amazon.
Best Value Electric Toothbrush: Colgate Hum Smart Electric Toothbrush
- Starter Kit includes: 1 smart electric adult toothbrush handle and head, 1 charger, 1 carrying case and an extra refill brush head keep you humming for up to 6 months
- Smart toothbrush guides you to brush better: Connected, Bluetooth toothbrush targets spots that need extra love.Material: ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
- Powerful sonic vibrations in 3 modes: Personalize your pulse by choosing the vibration level that suits you; choose from normal, sensitive, or deep clean
- Win-win situation: hum your way to clean with our sonic toothbrush and improve your brushing while earning points toward rewards
- Electric toothbrush with timer: Reminds you to stick it out for 2 minutes
The Colgate Hum Smart Electric Toothbrush is the best budget-friendly electric toothbrush on the market today. It offers all of the perks of a higher-end model at a significantly lower price.
This toothbrush comes with a two-minute timer to help you switch zones and links to an app on your smartphone so you can watch your progress and receive coaching in real-time. The app lets you customize settings like sensitivity, intensity, and duration, so you can personalize your experience to get the best results possible.
Hum rewards you for diligent brushing, something that no other toothbrush does. When you brush, you earn points; the more thoroughly you brush for the full two minutes, the more points you earn. Additionally, when you reach a certain threshold, you’ll receive real cash savings on replacement toothbrush heads—a creative method to gamify dental hygiene and reward you in ways that actually matter in real life.
| Pros! | Cons! |
|---|---|
| Subscription replacement heads | Stiff and abrasive bristles |
| Ergonomic handle | Smaller toothbrush head |
| Smartphone connectivity | Minimal bristle density |
| Travel case available | |
| Various brushing modes |
Check out Colgate Hum Smart Electric Toothbrush on Amazon.
Best Electric Toothbrush for Kids: Philips Sonicare for Kids Electric Toothbrush
- 98% of parents say it’s easier to get kids to brush longer and better.
- 91% of dental professional parents prefer Sonicare for Kids for their own children.
- Interactive free app educates and gets kids excited about brushing. Exciting rewards for successful brushing sessions.
- Better check-ups guaranteed! Patented sonic technology. is 75% more effective than manual toothbrushes in hard to reach areas.
- The KidTimer gradually increase to two minutes to help train kids to brush the recommended time, and KidPacer musically alerts when to move to the next quadrant of the mouth to ensure a thorough cleaning.
The Philips Sonicare for Kids Electric Toothbrush is an excellent option if you’re looking for an electric toothbrush for your children. It’s gentle on teeth and gums, making it perfect for kids who are just starting to brush their own teeth. Plus, it has a fun app that makes brushing fun for children.
This app is intended for children and places emphasis on entertainment, in contrast to smart toothbrushes built for adults that typically lean toward metrics and coaching. The software gives youngsters incentives to use it, amuses them as they finish each brushing, and collects statistics that can be shared with parents.
One great feature is that the toothbrush starts with shorter sessions and eventually progresses to longer, more thorough two-minute brushing. It boasts a 14-day battery life and wireless charging.
| Pros! | Cons! |
|---|---|
| It has a fun design that kids can identify with | Replacement heads are pricey |
| Long battery life | A large brush head |
| Design — bold and grippy | |
| Built-in timer |
Check out Philips Sonicare for Kids Electric Toothbrush on Amazon.
Best Electric Toothbrush For Extra Features: Oral-B iO Series 9 Ultimate Clean
The Oral-B iO Series 9 Ultimate Clean is the best electric toothbrush for extra features. A sophisticated interactive display on the toothbrush allows you to switch between an amazing seven distinct brushing modes. It includes a lovely timer with a face that smiles at you when you finish brushing for two minutes. There is absolutely something for everyone since there are Daily Clean, Sensitive, Gum Care, Intense Clean, Whitening, Tongue Cleaner, and Super Sensitive modes to select from. It also has an indicator light on top of the handle that lights up when brushing too hard, which is helpful when brushing.
The Oral-B iO Series 9 Ultimate Clean also has an app that lets you customize your settings and monitor your progress throughout the day. The app enables you to see how long each area takes to clean and how long it takes for each section to recharge, so you can make sure that each part of your mouth gets enough attention.
This toothbrush also comes with Bluetooth connectivity so that it can be used with other Bluetooth devices like smartphones or tablets, making it easy to keep track of your brushing habits and other aspects of life, like phone calls or reminders from apps on these devices.
| Pros! | Cons! |
|---|---|
| Does a great job cleaning teeth | Expensive |
| Looks nice and modern | Mouth tracking doesn’t work very well |
| It has an easy-to-use design that makes it easy to clean your teeth and brush your tongue simultaneously. | |
| Quiet |
Check out Oral-B iO Series 9 Ultimate Clean on Amazon.
Best Electric Toothbrush for Gum Care: Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean
- Removes up to 7x more plaque vs. a manual toothbrush
- Pressure sensor protects teeth and gums from excess brushing pressure
- Always know when to replace your brush head for an effective clean with BrushSync replacement reminder
- Quadpacer and Smart timer helps ensure dental professional recommended 2 minute brushing time and encourages brushing in each quadrant of the mouth
- Batter charge indicator light let's you know when to recharge; 2 week battery life
If you’re looking for an electric toothbrush that does a great job at keeping your gums healthy, the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean is a great option. It features patented sonic technology that cleans teeth and massages gums gently yet effectively. Plus, it has a pressure sensor that protects your gums from excessive brushing. And it comes with a handy travel case so you can take it with you on the go.
This electric toothbrush also has a variety of settings that allow you to customize your brushing experience. It also has a built-in timer and indicator light, which lets you know when it’s time to move on to the next section of your mouth.
The ProtectiveClean also has three brushing modes: standard, gum care, and sensitive mode. With the sensitive mode, you can use the brush head in smaller areas, such as around your teeth and gums. Finally, this toothbrush features a quadrant timer that lets you know when you’re brushing too long or not long enough.
| Pros! | Cons! |
|---|---|
| Excellent cleaning | No extra heads included |
| It also has a built-in timer so you can set how long you’d like your toothbrush head to run for | |
| Hard travel case | |
| Up to two weeks of battery life |
Check out Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean on Amazon.
How to Pick the Best Electric Toothbrush
The best electric toothbrush for you depends on your needs and preferences. You may want to brush your teeth with a different kind of toothbrush every day, or you may want to do the same thing every week. Maybe you are looking for a specific feature that is missing from your current toothbrush, or perhaps you just want something new. When choosing an electric toothbrush, there are several things to consider:
- Special features
- Travel case
- Price
- Battery life
Let’s explore each one in more detail.
Special features
What features should be included in your electric toothbrush? Some toothbrushes come with timers, so you can brush for two minutes at a time if it suits your schedule better than brushing for five minutes at once. Others have different modes so they can be used for various purposes (i.e., teeth whitening or gum care). Some also come with sensors that detect when the brush needs replacing—which might be useful if you’ve been using it for long enough that it’s starting to go bad on its own!
Travel case
How often you travel is another consideration. The majority of the electric toothbrushes come with a travel case, but the more expensive models also feature battery-operated compartments, so your toothbrush won’t run out of power while you’re away for an extended period of time. If you rarely leave home for longer than that, you might be able to save money by forgoing the fancy case, as the average electric toothbrush won’t need charging more than once a week.
Price
How much money are you willing to spend? Electric toothbrushes vary widely in price, from less than $20 all the way up to several hundred dollars. It’s important that you look at reviews before buying any one of these products so that you know exactly what kind of quality is inside them before committing yourself financially.
Battery life
This may seem an obvious choice, but it’s important when shopping for your new toothbrush. If you’re planning on using your toothbrush every day, or even several times per day, then it’s worth considering how long each charge will last. You don’t want to be running out of power in the middle of brushing your teeth. Most electric toothbrushes offer a battery life of at least two weeks—some even longer! And if you’re a frequent flosser or have susceptible teeth, you might want to consider an electric toothbrush with a built-in timer so you won’t forget when it’s time to change your brush head.
What to Know Before Buying the Best Electric Toothbrush
The most crucial element to consider when selecting an electric toothbrush is its ability to remove plaque. The difference is sometimes subtle, but the brush head design, motor power, and movement type (oscillating or sonic vibration) can all have an impact. However, the most powerful or fastest vibrating/oscillating brush isn’t always the greatest, especially for persons with sensitive gums. If you have braces or sensitive teeth, choose a brush with extra-soft bristles or head size for optimal comfort. Not all brushes come with a timer, so if this feature is important to you, read up on the specs before buying.
Using an Electric Toothbrush: What it’s Like
An electric toothbrush can make a huge difference in your oral health. These devices are much more effective at removing plaque and bacteria than manual toothbrushes, and they can also help to reduce gum disease and gingivitis. Plus, using an electric toothbrush can be a lot of fun! There are many different types and brands of electric toothbrushes available on the market, so it’s important to do your research before making a purchase.
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Last update on 2023-03-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
