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

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

Ada S. Cooper, a dentist and a spokesperson for the consumer council American Dental AssociationI was told that both styles are effective in reducing plaque, according to recent studies. She notes that you should talk to a dentist about which one will work best for you, and she says to look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance Most of our choices have it. (If they don’t, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re bad).

• A sonic toothbrush it looks like a manual brush, with an oval brush head. It vibrates gently and quietly, using a high-speed lateral bristle movement to break up plaque. Sonicare was the first brand to introduce a sonic toothbrush and is probably the best known name in the category.
• Oscillating toothbrushes rotate and pulse – oscillate means to move or swing back and forth – around the entire tooth. They tend to be louder than sonic brushes and can make the head vibrate more while brushing. You will get used to this if you are new to electric brushes. Oral-B is probably the most popular brand for these types of electric toothbrushes.

In addition to choosing between oscillating and sonic toothbrushes, here are a few other factors you may want to think about.

• Future cost: You need to replace the brush head about every three months – more if you tend to brush with too much pressure. They vary in price depending on the brand and type of cap, so it’s a good idea to check first. Oral-B offers various types of heads in packages ranging from $9 for one to $55 for 10. Many brands offer subscriptions for cheaper. You can often find off-brand heads that cost less, but work with the handle, although you might not get the same quality.
• Load: Electric toothbrushes have either rechargeable or replaceable batteries. Battery life depends on the brush, but you might need to charge it every week to every few months. Do you want to commit to keeping it charged or keep a spare battery on hand or do you prefer the ease of a manual brush that works anywhere at any time?
• Brand History: If you buy from a brand like Sonicare or Oral-B, there is a high probability that you will be able to purchase replacement brush heads or get customer service if you need anything. You can also get these in store instead of having to order online. We recommend a few newer brands here, many of which only have online storefronts and there is no way to predict whether they will be around in five years or not. Some make great brushes, however, so it can be worth it if the initial cost is not too high.

Getting the best toothbrush money can buy won’t mean anything if you don’t brush properly. Fortunately, it is quite easy to do well:

• Floss: Once a day, you should brush your teeth before brushing. Medea prefers wire spikes to a rope, and has switched to a refillable version of Quip.
• Brush for two minutes: Brush twice a day, spending about a minute on your top and bottom teeth – 30 seconds for each quadrant, which is why most electric toothbrushes have 30-second timers to remind you to brush to the next one. Make sure to get the front and back of the teeth, and focus on cleaning the gum line, where food can adhere and plaque can build up.
• Be kind: If the bristles on your toothbrush look like they’ve been crushed, you’re brushing too hard. You want to keep your teeth clean, but you don’t need a scrub to do that. Electric toothbrushes often help people to be more gentle, but you still need to be careful about it.
• Don’t forget the language: Bacteria grow on your tongue, which can cause bad breath despite clean teeth. You can brush with your toothbrush or use the tongue cleaner found on the back of some brush heads. I like to pair that with a tongue scraper for $10 to remove most of the build-up first.
• Do not wash: If you use fluoride toothpaste – that helps prevents tooth decay– did you you should not wash your mouth or use the mouthwash immediately.