The 9 Best Electric Toothbrushes, Tested and Reviewed (2024)

There is a seemingly endless selection of electric toothbrushes, but they generally fall into two categories: sonic toothbrushes and oscillating toothbrushes (e.g U-shaped brushessee below). The best toothbrush is the one you use twice a day. You can buy the best-rated toothbrush, but if it feels weird in your mouth or hurts your gums, you may not want to use it.

Ada S. Cooper, spokesperson for the dentist and consumer advisor American Dental Associationtold me that both styles are effective at reducing plaque, according to recent studies. She notes that you should talk to a dentist about which one is best for you and recommends looking for the ADA seal of acceptance. Most of our recommendations carry it. (If not, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re bad.)

• A Sonic toothbrush resembles a hand brush with an oval brush head. It vibrates gently and quietly and uses quick, side-to-side bristle movements to break up plaque. Sonicare was the first brand to release a sonic toothbrush and is probably the best-known name in the category.
• Oscillating toothbrushes rotate and pulsate – oscillate means to move or swing back and forth around the entire tooth. They tend to be louder than sonic brushes and can cause your head to vibrate more while brushing. You will get used to this if you are new to using electric brushes. Oral-B is probably the best-known brand for this type of electric toothbrush.

In addition to choosing between oscillating and sonic toothbrushes, there are a few other factors you should think about.

• Future costs: You’ll need to replace the brush head about every three months – more often if you tend to brush with too much pressure. Price varies depending on brand and head type, so it’s a good idea to do your research beforehand. Oral B offers different types of heads in packs of $9 for one To $55 for 10. Many brands offer subscriptions at cheaper prices. You can often find attachments from third-party brands that are cheaper but work with the handle, even though you may not get the same quality.
• Charge: Electric toothbrushes have either rechargeable or replaceable batteries. Battery life depends on the brush, but it may need to be charged every week to every few months. Do you want to make sure the brush stays charged or has a spare battery on hand, or do you prefer the convenience of a manual brush that works anywhere, anytime?
• Brand story: If you buy from a brand like Sonicare or Oral-B, there’s a high chance you’ll be able to purchase replacement brush heads or contact customer service if you need anything. You can also get these in store instead of having to order online. We recommend some newer brands here, many of which only have online stores and it is impossible to predict whether they will still be around in five years or not. However, some make great brushes, so it may be worth it if the purchase cost isn’t too high.

The best toothbrush money can buy is useless if you don’t brush properly. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to get it right:

• Dental floss: You should floss your teeth once a day before brushing. Medea prefers floss picks to a string and has switched to one refillable version of Quip.
• Brush for two minutes: Brush twice daily, spending about a minute on your upper and lower teeth each time – 30 seconds for each quadrant. That’s why most electric toothbrushes have a 30-second timer to remind you to move on to the next one. Be sure to clean the front and back of your teeth, focusing on cleaning the gum line, where food particles can stick and plaque can build up.
• Be gentle: If your toothbrush bristles look squashed, you’re brushing too hard. You want to keep your teeth clean, but you don’t really need to scrub to do it. Electric toothbrushes often help to be gentler, but you still need to be careful.
• Don’t forget your tongue: Bacteria accumulates on your tongue, which can lead to bad breath despite clean teeth. You can brush it with your toothbrush or use the tongue cleaner found on the back of some brush heads. I like to combine this with one Tongue scraper for $10 First, remove most of the debris.
• Do not rinse: If you use toothpaste that contains fluoride – that helps Prevent tooth decay-You shouldn’t rinse your mouth or use mouthwash immediately.