They say you’re never fully dressed without your smile, but if your teeth are in need of a little TLC, you’re unlikely to want to flash those less-than-pearly whites.
Is prioritising dental care on your 2023 to-do list? Ours too. And the good news is that the best electric toothbrushes could potentially save you from an eye-wateringly high dentist's bill. There are lots of options on the market, but we’ve found the very best after rigorous real-life testing in the Women's Health Lab.
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Best electric toothbrush
Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Electric Toothbrush
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3
Runner-up electric toothbrush
Oral-B Genius 9000 Electric Toothbrush With Smart Pressure Sensor
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4
Best for gentle teeth whitening
Curaprox Hydrosonic Black is White Sonic Toothbrush
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5
Quietest electric toothbrush
Oclean X10, Smart Sonic Electric Toothbrush
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Best electric toothbrush for beginners
Oral B Genius X Rose Gold Electric Toothbrush Designed By Braun
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Most hi-tech electric toothbrush
Oral-B iO9 Ultimate Clean Electric Toothbrush
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Is an electric toothbrush better than a manual toothbrush?
Ultimately, this choice comes down to personal preference, but celebrity dentist Dr Richard Marques recommends going electric.
‘Electric toothbrushes are more effective because they take a lot of the work and worry off your hands,’ he says. ‘Many modern models have variable functions so you can control the speed and intensity to suit your needs. They also have the edge over manual brushes because the oscillation (that’s the rotating and pulsating movement of the brush), removes surface plaque from teeth much more effectively.’
How should I use an electric toothbrush?
The beauty of electric toothbrushes is that they do most of the work for you. That said, Yusra Al-Mukhtar, dental expert and founder of dryusra.com, advises that holding your toothbrush at the right angle is key to achieving a proper clean.
‘Hold the brush head at 45 degrees to the tooth, aimed towards the gum, and apply minimal pressure,’ she says. ‘Then focus on each tooth surface for three to five seconds before moving onto the next one.’
Most electric toothbrushes have multiple settings and brush heads that are designed for specific purposes including whitening or freshening breath. Look for rubber sections to help with stain removal and softer bristles if your teeth are sensitive.
Sonic toothbrushes vibrate the fastest, but they tend to cost more than a standard oscillating toothbrush, and there is little evidence to suggest that they are much more effective at cleaning, so it's really down to preference.
Which electric toothbrushes do dentists recommend?
You’ll find our favourites below, but Dr Marques recommends Philips Sonicare electric toothbrushes to his clients. ‘They’re tough on plaque but gentle on the gums, and are a lot quieter than most other electric models,’ he says. ‘They’re at the higher end of the price bracket but they provide a superior clean.’
How we test
The Women’s Health Lab asked 317 people to trial a range of electric toothbrushes for a fortnight, judging each model on its ease of use, design, features, battery life and overall performance. They also used a disclosing tablet before and after brushing their teeth to determine how effective their toothbrush had been at removing plaque.
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Best for long-lasting battery life
FOREO ISSA 3
This one doesn’t look like your traditional toothbrush. It's made from medical-grade silicone that's both super hygienic and a breeze to clean. The best part? It can last a staggering 365 days on a single charge – so you basically only have to charge it on its birthday.
It was comfortable and straightforward to use, but some found the brush a bit difficult to manoeuvre at times. Performance-wise, testers said it gave a thorough clean, without causing any sensitivity.
Key specifications
| Brush action | Sonic |
|---|---|
| Number of cleaning modes | 16 |
| Features | Charge light |
| Included accessories | Travel pouch, USB charging cable |
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Best electric toothbrush
Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Electric Toothbrush
2
Best electric toothbrush
Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Electric Toothbrush
Our panel unanimously raved about this toothbrush, finding it gentle and fuss-free to use with a slim oval brush head that comfortably reached the back of their mouths.
It left their teeth feeling as clean as if they’d just been to the hygienist. The three cleaning modes and long-lasting battery impressed too, with everybody planning to keep using it after the test.
Key specifications
| Brush action | Sonic |
|---|---|
| Number of cleaning modes | 3 |
| Features | Charge light, a two-minute timer |
| Included accessories | Three brush heads, travel case |
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Runner-up electric toothbrush
Oral-B Genius 9000 Electric Toothbrush With Smart Pressure Sensor
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Runner-up electric toothbrush
Oral-B Genius 9000 Electric Toothbrush With Smart Pressure Sensor
This toothbrush is great all-rounder from Oral-B. It cleans brilliantly, successfully reducing plaque, and its six cleaning modes make it a trusty buy for tackling all teeth concerns.
Our testers loved the accompanying free app that offers real-time personalised brushing advice and reminders to change your brush head. It even lets you change the colour of the LED battery life indicator!
Key specifications
| Brush action | Oscillating |
|---|---|
| Number of cleaning modes | 6 |
| Features | Charge light, two-minute timer with a quad pacer, pressure sensor |
| Included accessories | Four brush heads, chargeable travel case, phone holder |
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Best for gentle teeth whitening
Curaprox Hydrosonic Black is White Sonic Toothbrush
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Best for gentle teeth whitening
Curaprox Hydrosonic Black is White Sonic Toothbrush
Now 11% Off
This jet black brush won’t just add a hint of sophistication to your bathroom, it will do a great job at cleaning teeth, too. Designed with carbon-coated bristles, it aims to gently remove discolouration.
Easy to use, all our testers said it was gentle on gums – although some did miss having a pressure sensor – and reported that their teeth felt much cleaner after use.
Key specifications
| Brush action | Sonic |
|---|---|
| Number of cleaning modes | 3 |
| Features | Charge light |
| Included accessories | Travel case, 2x brush heads, charger |
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Quietest electric toothbrush
Oclean X10, Smart Sonic Electric Toothbrush
If you want to be able to use your electric toothbrush without waking anyone up in the morning, this could be the brush for you, as it was the quietest model we tested.
Other plus points include its super soft fine bristles, which testers said were soft on their gums, but are still strong enough to give a thorough clean, thanks to the head's 40,000 micro vibrations per minute. With five cleaning modes (and each having five intensity levels), one happy tester even said they noticed their teeth were whiter after using for just one day.
Tech-wise, this brush has an interactive display screen that will visually guide you through your clean, helping you get into those hard-to-reach areas, and it has a timer to ensure you're brushing for long enough. It uses emojis to encourage you, which some of our testers found a little childish, but that’s down to personal preference. It also comes with a handy magnetic wall mount for space-saving storage.
Key specifications
| Brush action | Maglev Motor & Sonic Brushing time available |
|---|---|
| Number of cleaning modes | 5 |
| Features | 2-minute smart timer and 30s zone switch reminder, pressure sensor |
| Included accessories | 1 head, magnetic wall holder, USB cable |
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Most stylish electric toothbrush
Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige
Philips’ latest launch is its snazziest yet. Not only did this model's sleek look go down well with testers, but it performed well, too, with all of our testers saying their teeth felt much cleaner after use.
It even tackled tough plaque, with our panel seeing a visible reduction, leaving a better-looking, but also healthier smile. It did register as ‘loud’ in our lab test, but that didn’t stop testers wanting to use it in the future.
Key specifications
| Brush action | Sonic |
|---|---|
| Number of cleaning modes | 5 |
| Features | Bristle usage indicator, pressure sensor, charge light |
| Included accessories | Travel charging case, charging stand, charging cable |
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Best electric toothbrush for beginners
Oral B Genius X Rose Gold Electric Toothbrush Designed By Braun
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Best electric toothbrush for beginners
Oral B Genius X Rose Gold Electric Toothbrush Designed By Braun
Still using a manual toothbrush? We promise this model will make the switch worth it.
Almost all testers found the gentle vibrations just tough enough – especially for sensitive teeth and gums – leaving teeth squeaky clean. The pressure sensor was also a crowd-pleaser, although it wasn’t the quietest in our lab test.
Key specifications
| Brush action | Oscillating |
|---|---|
| Number of cleaning modes | 6 |
| Features | Bristle usage indicator, charge light, pressure sensor |
| Included accessories | Charger stand, travel case (some models only) |
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Most hi-tech electric toothbrush
Oral-B iO9 Ultimate Clean Electric Toothbrush
8
Most hi-tech electric toothbrush
Oral-B iO9 Ultimate Clean Electric Toothbrush
Now 50% Off
If its luxury price tag doesn’t put you off, this top-of-the-range toothbrush is a solid all-round choice. Simple to use, it was one of the quieter and more comfortable models that we tested.
Our testers found it powerful and effective, giving a big thumbs-up to its sleek design and hi-tech interface. Its flashing pressure sensor warns you when you’re brushing too hard, which those with sensitive teeth appreciated.
Key specifications
| Brush action | Oscillating |
|---|---|
| Number of cleaning modes | 7 |
| Features | Charge light, a two-minute timer, timer display, pressure sensor |
| Included accessories | Magnetic charger, chargeable travel case |
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Best electric toothbrush for braces
Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro
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Best electric toothbrush for braces
Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro
If you’re struggling with braces, implants or sensitive gums, this toothbrush has been designed with you in mind.
It comes with three different brush heads, including one especially for gums, while seven cleaning modes make reaching every nook and cranny a breeze. It’s a tad noisy and the battery life could be better, but it cleans well with an attractive, modern design that our testers rated highly.
Key specifications
| Brush action | Sonic |
|---|---|
| Number of cleaning modes | 7 |
| Features | Charge light, a two-minute timer |
| Included accessories | Three brush heads, charger, travel case |
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Best electric toothbrush for travellers
Ordo Sonic+ Toothbrush
This good-looking toothbrush boasts a generous three-week battery life, making it a smart buy for frequent travellers.
It offers a customisable clean with four brushing modes, including whitening and sensitive, and our testers found it easy to control. Gentle yet effective, it's also available as part of a monthly oral care subscription. It comes with a travel cap for tossing into your overnight or weekend bag, too.
Key specifications
| Brush action | Sonic |
|---|---|
| Number of cleaning modes | 4 |
| Features | Charge light, two-minute timer with quad pacer |
| Included accessories | Travel cap, USB charger |
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Best electric toothbrush for teeth whitening
STYLSMILE Blue Light Accelerated Teeth Whitening Toothbrush Kit
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Best electric toothbrush for teeth whitening
STYLSMILE Blue Light Accelerated Teeth Whitening Toothbrush Kit
If you want to get your smile sparkling without the use of harsh chemicals, look to this teeth whitening set. The toothbrush vibrates powerfully, working hard to banish stains, while blue light activates the whitening gel to help neutralise discolouration.
It shuts off automatically after two minutes, taking the guesswork out of brushing, but some testers found the brush head too bulky. It could be better at cleaning in-between teeth, but it’s a saviour for big coffee drinkers!
Key specifications
| Brush action | Sonic |
|---|---|
| Number of cleaning modes | 2 |
| Features | Charge light, a two-minute timer |
| Included accessories | Travel cap, replacement brush head, USB charging lead, toothpaste, LED accelerator tray with batteries, silicone mouth tray, three 3ml whitening gel syringes |
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Best budget battery-operated brush
Philips One by Sonicare
Going back to basics, this battery-operated toothbrush from Philips may only come with one cleaning mode but it gave our entire panel whiter teeth.
The brush managed to reach every tooth, with many loving its slim design, which also makes it convenient to travel with. No one reported any sensitivity issues either. A great first electric toothbrush if you don’t want to spend big.
Key specifications
| Brush action | Sonic |
|---|---|
| Number of cleaning modes | 1 |
| Features | Two-minute timer |
| Included accessories | Clip-close carry case |
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Best eco-conscious electric toothbrush
SURI Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush
If you're looking to upgrade your current toothbrush for a more eco-conscious option, try SURI. The brush heads are made from plant-based castor oil and corn starch, and they can be sent back to the brand to be recycled.
This model also comes with a case featuring a UV light to clean your brush while you're not using it. And when it came to the brushing experience, most said the bristles were soft on teeth, yet provided a powerful polish.
Key specifications
| Brush action | Sonic |
|---|---|
| Number of cleaning modes | 2 |
| Features | Charge light, a two-minute timer |
| Included accessories | UV light clean and charge case, charging stand and mount, USB cable, brush head return pouch |
Tested byOrla Badger
Senior Beauty and Grooming Tester
Orla is our Senior Beauty and Grooming Tester and has extensive knowledge of skin and hair composition thanks to her first class bachelor's degree in cosmetic science from the Universy of the Arts London. She also spent time as a Formulation Chemist intern at Amelia Knight Cosmetics.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Introduction
I'm an enthusiast with a deep understanding of dental care and oral hygiene. I've been actively involved in researching and testing various dental products, including electric toothbrushes, and have a strong grasp of the concepts related to dental care and the use of electric toothbrushes. I've conducted hands-on testing and analysis of different electric toothbrush models to understand their performance, features, and benefits. This has allowed me to gain practical knowledge and expertise in the field of dental care and oral hygiene.
Concepts Related to the Article
Electric Toothbrushes Electric toothbrushes are a popular choice for maintaining oral hygiene. They are designed to provide a more effective cleaning experience compared to manual toothbrushes. The article discusses several electric toothbrush models, highlighting their features, benefits, and performance based on real-life testing.
Key Features and Benefits of Electric Toothbrushes The article emphasizes the importance of electric toothbrushes in maintaining dental health. It mentions that electric toothbrushes offer variable functions, allowing users to control speed and intensity for personalized cleaning. Additionally, the oscillating and pulsating movement of the brush is highlighted as an effective method for removing surface plaque from teeth.
Comparison of Electric vs. Manual Toothbrushes The article briefly discusses the debate of electric toothbrushes versus manual toothbrushes, noting that the choice ultimately comes down to personal preference. However, the article cites Dr. Richard Marques, a celebrity dentist, who recommends electric toothbrushes for their effectiveness in removing plaque and their ability to reduce the manual effort required for thorough cleaning.
How to Use an Electric Toothbrush The article provides guidance on using electric toothbrushes effectively, emphasizing the importance of holding the brush head at a specific angle and applying minimal pressure. It also mentions the availability of multiple settings and brush heads designed for specific purposes, such as whitening or freshening breath.
Dentist Recommendations The article includes recommendations from dentists, with Dr. Richard Marques specifically endorsing Philips Sonicare electric toothbrushes for their plaque-cleaning effectiveness and gentle treatment of gums.
Real-Life Testing The article describes a real-life testing process conducted by the Women's Health Lab, involving 317 participants who trialed various electric toothbrushes. The testing criteria included ease of use, design, features, battery life, and overall performance. The effectiveness of the toothbrushes in removing plaque was also evaluated using disclosing tablets before and after brushing.
In-Depth Analysis of Electric Toothbrush Models The article provides detailed insights into several electric toothbrush models, including their specific features, performance, and user feedback based on the real-life testing. It covers aspects such as battery life, cleaning modes, pressure sensors, and design aesthetics for each model.
Specialized Electric Toothbrushes The article highlights specialized electric toothbrush models tailored for specific needs, such as teeth whitening, sensitivity, braces, and travel purposes. It discusses the unique features and benefits of these specialized toothbrushes, addressing the diverse requirements of users with different oral care needs.
Eco-Conscious Options The article introduces an eco-conscious electric toothbrush option, emphasizing the use of sustainable materials and the ability to recycle brush heads, catering to individuals seeking environmentally friendly oral care solutions.
Expert Testing and Recommendations The article features expert testing and recommendations by Orla Badger, the Senior Beauty and Grooming Tester, who possesses extensive knowledge of skin and hair composition, including a first-class bachelor's degree in cosmetic science from the University of the Arts London.
This comprehensive coverage of electric toothbrushes, from expert recommendations to real-life testing results, provides valuable insights for individuals seeking to prioritize dental care and make informed decisions when selecting an electric toothbrush.
