Best Electric Toothbrushes 2022 | Live Science
The best electric toothbrushes can provide an unrivaled level of cleaning compared with a standard manual toothbrush, taking your dental routine to the next level. In fact, an electric toothbrush can remove around 20% (opens in new tab) more plaque, while reducing your risk of developing gingivitis by 11% (opens in new tab). So not only can these gadgets improve the health of your gums, you’ll be rewarded with a brighter, whiter smile too.
Our guide takes you through the top-rated electric toothbrushes currently available, all of which we’ve tested thoroughly at home. From battery performance to smart features, personalized brushing experiences to ergonomic design, we’ve hand-picked a variety of electric toothbrushes to help you find a product that ticks your boxes.
If you’re just making the switch from manual to electric, our guide on how to use an electric toothbrush will come in useful, to make sure you’re getting the best results from every brushing session. We’ve also put together advice on how to whiten your teeth naturally at home as well as the best and worst foods for teeth.
“Most electric toothbrushes will vibrate, which adds micro-movements as you move the toothbrush across the tooth surfaces,” says Dr Mitul Shah, specialist in periodontics at Chelsea Dental Clinic, U.K. “This added energy will aid in removing plaque deposits. Certain brands will also oscillate and rotate which may be more effective at disturbing the plaque biofilm.”
Electric toothbrushes now offer even more than a thorough brushing experience. The best electric toothbrushes offer connected apps to coach you through improving your brushing technique, brushing data to help keep you on track, and a wide range of cleaning modes, from gum care to whitening.
We’ve rounded up some of the latest models in our guide to the best electric toothbrushes below, including both oscillating-rotating brushes and sonic brushes too. You’re certain to find the perfect electric toothbrush for you.
Best electric toothbrushes we’ve tested
The Oral-B Genius X is the ideal next-level toothbrush for anyone wanting to improve and maintain good dental hygiene. An interactive app tracks and monitors your brushing habits and patterns using A.I. technology, while extra features help users set oral hygiene goals with coaching tips and tricks.
And if you’re not interested in using the app, there’s plenty to like about the Oral-B Genius X itself. Featuring six cleaning modes, including tongue cleaning, sensitive, whitening, gum care and pro cleaning alongside standard daily clean, this toothbrush delivers on oral hygiene with a powerful oscillating-rotating brush head. A sturdy travel case is included, with a charging travel case offered on some models.
Users who prefer a quieter brushing session may find the Oral-B Genius X a little noisy, given that it isn’t a sonic toothbrush. Operating at around 70 decibels, it’s similar to a dishwasher or washing machine. But for anyone who’s been advised by their hygienist to improve their brushing technique – it could be a game-changer.
In our testing, we found daily cleaning mode and pro clean mode to be very similar, but pro clean had the edge when it came to that clean-mouth feeling after brushing. Gum care mode had a gently massaging, rhythmic oscillation that moved up and down in intensity, while 3D white mode echoed that sensation of having a polish at the dental hygienist.
One of Oral-B’s most popular electric toothbrushes, the Oral-B Pro 1000 is a budget-friendly electric toothbrush that does away with all the bells and whistles of its hi-tech neighbors and simply cleans well.
One cleaning mode is all you get with the Oral-B Pro 1000, so it’s just as well the price point is low. But if you’re after simplicity, it could be the right toothbrush for you. Simply turn on and brush, without worrying about which cleaning mode to try, or how to connect your handset to your phone.
Despite its simplicity, this toothbrush also includes some helpful features, such as a built-in pressure sensor that alerts you to when you’re brushing too hard, and a timer that helps you remember when to move to the next quadrant of your mouth. It also alerts you when you complete the recommended two minutes of brushing time. Just like the handset itself, replacement brush heads are also very affordable.
Given that most people tend to use just one or two cleaning modes on even the most sophisticated brushes, the Oral-B Pro 1000 clears away the confusion and focuses on delivering a powerful clean with its round cross-action brush head. However, if you have sensitive teeth or gums, you may find it just a little too powerful. And if you want a toothbrush that promises to whiten teeth, or massage gums, you’d be better looking elsewhere.
Sleek and stylish, the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 features no less than 4 brushing modes – clean, white+, gum health and deep clean+. Each of these modes can be further tweaked to an intensity setting that suits you, giving you a wide range of brushing experiences to choose from.
We felt a definite difference between clean/deep clean+, the latter leaving our teeth feeling cleaner. However, over a few cleans, we didn’t notice an enormous amount of difference between the other modes, except that Gum Health was a bit softer on the gums.
The DiamondClean 9000, like the Oral-B Genius, also comes with a free app to help you keep track of your oral hygiene and help you keep track of when you need replacement brush heads. You can even set up automatic re-ordering to keep your bathroom cabinet stocked up.
However, where the Oral-B Genius app helps users actively improve their technique by identifying areas they’ve missed during brushing, the DiamondClean 9000 app simply charts your brushing activity, and how much pressure you apply during sessions. So unless you need to be reminded to brush your teeth every day, or to ease up on pressure while brushing, you might not get as much from the app as you’d like.
A huge plus point for the DiamondClean is that it comes with its own USB-charging case, perfect for travel, or if you like to brush your teeth after lunch, at the office. Its high price point may be a deal-breaker for many users, but the DiamondClean 9000 has enough features to impress, with or without the app.
The Waterpik Complete Care 9.0 delivers two oral hygiene must-haves in one fell swoop, by combining a separate sonic toothbrush and water flosser in one compact device, making it cost-effective and space-saving.
Offered with a host of extras, such as 5 water flosser tips, 2 brush heads, a storage case and travel case, the Waterpik Complete Care 9.0 also features 3 cleaning modes and a bevelled tongue-cleaning feature.
We tested each of the cleaning modes in turn several times. General clean mode operates at a slightly lower frequency compared to whitening mode, which adds extra polishing to a brushing session during the recommended two minutes. Massage mode was the most impressive mode to use, providing a gentle massaging pulse to stimulate the gum area, while giving that ‘deep clean’ feeling.
Designed to be plugged into a bathroom socket near a basin, it may not be right for everyone, and a lack of extra features may disappoint some users. But when it comes to value for money, you could do worse than investing in the Waterpik Complete Care 9.0, rather than shelling out separately for an electric toothbrush and a water flosser.
Marketed as the ultimate clean electric toothbrush, the Oral-B iO Series 9 offers a truly personalized brushing experience.
The Oral-B iO9 also features an in-built pressure sensor which flashes red when too much pressure is applied, white when brushing is too soft, and green when it’s just right, giving brushers the full Goldilocks experience when it comes to brushing. No less than 7 brushing modes include daily clean, sensitive, gum care, intense+, super sensitive, tongue clean and whiten.
Apart from a change in intensity between the daily, intense+ and sensitive/super sensitive modes, we didn’t notice a huge amount of difference between the modes. As this reviewer has sensitive gums, the only suitable mode was super sensitive mode. Even gum care was very harsh on our gums, and left us with an uncomfortable tingly feeling. If you’re looking for a toothbrush with a good amount of pressure, this is the choice for you, but if you’re a bit sensitive, there might be better options out there.
A smart, connected app completes the brushing experience, offering a 3D A.I. view during brushing to ensure no areas are missed out on. Users can also track brushing data and gum health over weeks, months, and years.
Available in 3 colorways, rose quartz, white alabaster and black onyx, the handset also features a magnetic charger for easy docking. The handle powers up quickly too, with a full charge in just 3 hours. The Oral-B iO9 also comes with a handy travel case that doubles up as a charger, and a travel refill holder, although just one brush head is provided with the starter kit.
If you’re after a super smart, connected clean, with a brush that looks sleek and stylish on the bathroom shelf, the Oral-B iO Series 9 could be the perfect electric toothbrush for you.
Sleek and stylish, the Foreo ISSA 3 has innovated the design of electric toothbrushes. With a curved ergonomic handle and a 365-day battery life, this 4-in-1 toothbrush is designed to clean the teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Made from bacteria-resistant silicone and using silicone bristles as well as thermoplastic bristles, this sonic electric toothbrush goes easy on gums while delivering a whole mouth ‘deep clean’ feel.
16 intensity settings allow users to set the level of cleaning, while an angled brush head and extended bristles let you access those hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. A ridged panel at the back of the toothbrush head allows for cheek and tongue cleaning.
Although we worked our way through the 16 levels of intensity, we tended to find that the highest level setting gave the best results, or results closest to that of a regular sonic toothbrush, while the lower levels were largely redundant. However, users with sensitive teeth or painful gums may prefer operating this toothbrush at a lower setting.
While it might not have the extra features found in Philips and Oral B models, such as a pressure sensor or a sturdy travel case, the Foreo ISSA 3’s futuristic style will certainly give your bathroom shelfie the wow factor. And the 365-day battery life cuts down on energy, time and money.
This sonic toothbrush is Colgate’s answer to providing an accessible smart brush at a low price point. Users can choose from a rechargeable or battery-operated model and a range of colors, including blue, green, purple and black. The design differs slightly from the rechargeable to the battery models.
Featuring three brush modes, normal, sensitive and deep clean, the brush also has an in-built timer and an ergonomic handle, designed for comfort and accuracy while brushing.
The toothbrush also connects to the smart Hum app by Colgate, which allows users to track their brushing progress, and target brushing to neglected areas, helping you to brush your best. You can even earn points towards rewards, which you can redeem in the app’s shop towards replacement brush heads.
A starter kit comes with a toothbrush handle and head, a charger, a convenient travel case and an extra brush head for up to six months of brushing.
It took our tester just five hours to fully charge the battery, which is impressive given other brands can take over 20. However, the rechargeable toothbrush does hold less charge than some other electric toothbrushes, lasting only 10 days when others might last weeks or months between charges. If you were going on a long holiday, you would definitely need to pack the charger.
Based on its low price point and connected, smart features, we think you could spend a lot more cash on a toothbrush and still get the same experience. The Hum by Colgate is great value for money and fun to use.
The Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Toothbrush is an affordable option for those switching from manual to electric for the first time. Designed by dentists, it uses sonic technology to mimic the gentle feel of a manual toothbrush with a deep-clean effect.
Although fairly basic, there is plenty to like about the Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Toothbrush. It’s has an elegant, minimalistic design, available in three stylish colors – white, graphite grey and rose gold (and a limited edition Pride print) and three cleaning modes (sensitive, clean and white). A sturdy travel case is also included, as well as a charging dock. One drawback is that whilst this toothbrush is widely available in the US, the charging plug is designed for the UK, so you will need an adaptor in order to use it. However, the brush does come with an impressive three toothbrush heads, with replacements costing only $30 for a pack of three.
We worked our way through all three cleaning modes in our at-home testing. Whilst sensitive and clean gave good results, we tended to find that the highest setting – white – gave the best results. However, users with sensitive teeth or painful gums may prefer operating this toothbrush on the sensitive mode. We found the brush to be highly effective in removing plaque and discoloration, providing a clean finish that felt not too dissimilar to a deep clean you might receive at a hygienist – and all for an affordable price tag.
The Oclean X Pro Elite electric toothbrush is a budget-friendly option for those who want to try out a sonic toothbrush. The sleek gray design will compliment any bathroom, and the built-in touch-screen gives users insight into their brushing time. The app offers a more in-depth analysis of brushing and also offers the option to monitor children’s brushing through ‘family mode’.
With 32 intensity levels and four brushing modes, you can find a setting that works for you whether you have sensitive teeth, or want a deep clean. The standard brushing time is set for two minutes, but you can change this if you want, with the touchscreen giving the option to customize the mode, duration and intensity from the brush itself. The Oclean app has a quiz to help you find the right brushing settings for your needs. We had ours on white mode, intensity four and set for three minutes of brushing time.
The charger is USB compatible, which makes it convenient for travel, and the battery life lasts over a month, taking just 3.5 hours to reach a full charge from empty – one of the fastest brushes we’ve tested.
How do we test electric toothbrushes?
All of the electric toothbrushes in this guide have been through the same testing protocol by the Live Science team. First, we run the toothbrush on its various settings and measure how loud it is with a decibel counter app. We then compare these results to other appliances and noise levels. We run and use the toothbrush on its different settings and modes, noting any differences in intensity and durations between settings. We test the charging process, including how long it takes to reach a full charge, and for the battery to deplete. Finally, we submerge each toothbrush underwater for the length of a brushing cycle to test its water resistance.
How to choose an electric toothbrush
There are several factors to think about when choosing the best electric toothbrush, but it’s worth thinking about comfort first as, if you’re caring for your teeth correctly, you’re going to be using the device a lot, up to twice daily or more. Look for an ergonomic handle that sits nicely in the palm of your hand and offers a firm but comfortable grip.
A key factor for many users is battery life. If your electric toothbrush spends most of its life in a charging dock by your bathroom basin, then battery life is not much of a problem. But if you travel regularly, then you may benefit from an electric toothbrush with a long-lasting battery. Look for toothbrushes that carry an internal lithium battery, as these can often hold their charge for several weeks.
Many electric toothbrushes come with additional features, and while these can be great, the simplest features are often the best. These are pressure sensors which alert you when you press too hard on your gums or teeth, and automatic timers which can be set to ensure you clean your teeth for the recommended amount of time, usually 2-3 minutes.
More advanced options tend to boost additional cleaning models and Bluetooth app connectivity. How useful you find these apps depends on the individual user, but the smartest apps can map your mouth to provide real time feedback and encourage you to make sure you don’t neglect any areas of your mouth. Kids especially can enjoy that kind of interactivity — although they may prefer a slightly smaller model from our guide to the best electric toothbrushes for kids.
Electric toothbrushes usually come in two forms: oscillating and sonic. Oscillating toothbrushes have been around longer, and feature round brush heads that rotate at high speeds – anywhere between 2500 – 7500 BPM (brushes per minute) – to remove plaque and buff teeth to a shine.
Sonic electric toothbrushes feature brush heads that more closely resemble traditional manual toothbrushes but employ sonic technology that vibrates the head up to an incredible 60000 BPM for a truly thorough clean. That said, there is little evidence to support one method over another, so your choice could come down to whether you enjoy the slightly less intense oscillating brush head over the sonic brush.
How long do electric toothbrush heads last?
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends replacing your toothbrush head every three to four months. This is because the bristles on the toothbrush head wear out or break down through everyday use. If you don’t replace it, you may not get the most effective brushing experience and could be at risk of bleeding gums and plaque build-up.
Some people may need to replace their toothbrush head sooner if the bristles are beginning to fray. The good news is, lots of brands like Oral-B allow you to buy toothbrush heads in bulk.
