Written by David Kender and Rebecca Boniface
Updated July 18, 2024
Brushing your teeth and flossing is an important part of your daily hygiene routine. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing twice a day, for two minutes each time, with soft bristles. But we live in a world with an overwhelming abundance of oral hygiene options. That’s why we set out to test the best electric toothbrushes we can find and bring our results to you.
Are Electric Toothbrushes Better?
With so many different options available, shopping for the best toothbrush can be confusing. One of the biggest questions: Should you buy an electric toothbrush or a manual one?
The ADA says that how you brush your teeth and how often are more important than whether you choose an electric toothbrush or a manual one. Still, there are benefits to choosing an electric toothbrush—many come with pressure sensors so you don’t brush too hard, and include multiple brushing modes. They also say that people who find it difficult to use a manual toothbrush may want to consider an electric one.
For a more personal insight into whether electric toothbrushes are worth it, we spoke to Dr. Soo-Woo Kim. According to Dr. Kim, there’s one aspect that really makes electric toothbrushes stand out — a two-minute timer. Knowing how long to brush is the most effective feature, notes Dr. Kim, who routinely recommends electric toothbrushes.
What is the Best Electric Toothbrush Overall?
To find the best electric toothbrush, we spent two months brushing our teeth with nine of the top products available. We found that the Oral B Pro 3000 is the best electric toothbrush for most people, thanks to a few small but meaningful features that make brushing more effective.
For people looking for a smart toothbrush, one with multiple cleaning modes, or one the best for sensitive teeth and gums, our roundup includes a number of brushes at different price points. Those who are curious about electric toothbrushes but are hesitant to invest may want to try our Best Value pick, the Philips Sonicare One.
Best Overall
Oral B Pro 3000
- Three brushing modes features: daily clean, whitening, and sensitive
- Features two-minute timer with 30-second notifications
- Round brush head
- ADA seal of approval
The Oral B Pro 3000 was already our favorite electric toothbrush—and it has been upgraded since we last tested it. Most importantly, though, this toothbrush beat every other one we tested for plaque removal, and our mouth felt great after brushing.
We loved the Pro 3000’s pressure sensor, an LED that wraps around the back of the handle and flashes red when you’re brushing too hard. Also, the two-minute brushing timer is broken up into 30-second intervals, a great reminder for you to change your brushing angle and the quadrant of your mouth you’re brushing.
This toothbrush now has a charging indicator and battery life LED. The indicator flashes to confirm the toothbrush has made a proper connection with the charger, eliminating the mystery of whether the battery is being charged. It’s a feature every electric toothbrush should have, no matter the price point.
During the testing, the battery lasted at least a week, which is a reasonable expectation for an electric toothbrush. The Pro 3000 wasn’t the quietest toothbrush we tested, but its noise level was acceptable.
Pros
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Great plaque removal
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Good range of replacement heads
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LED indicators for pressure and battery
Cons
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None that we could find
Buy now at Amazon
$99.95 from Walmart
Best Value
Philips Sonicare One
- Features two-minute timer with 30-second notifications
- Affordable brush head replacements
- Elongated brush head
- Comes with travel case
If using an electric toothbrush is uncharted territory for you, we recommend trying one that offers a brushing experience similar to what a regular toothbrush provides. The Philips Sonicare One does just that.
The head of the One vibrates slightly while you brush, so brushing technique will be especially important. Because the One vibrates less, this toothbrush is quieter than others we tested. The One's brush head tapers at the tip, helping you reach your molars. Also, the handle is slender, making it easy to hold and change angles while brushing.
The most significant feature that the One offers is its built-in timer. Start brushing, and after two minutes the One will let you know that it’s time to stop.
There's no need for charging since the One runs on a single AAA battery, making it an ideal electric toothbrush for travel. We also like its clever case design, which protects the toothbrush and is easy to remove.
Pros
-
Slick travel case
-
Comfortable tapered brush
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No charging required
Cons
-
Underpowered compared to many alternatives
$24.96 from Amazon
$24.99 from Best Buy
$22.88 from Walmart
Unique Silicone Toothbrush
Foreo Issa 3
- 16 adjustable brushing intensities
- Two-minute timer with 30-second notifications
- Features tongue and cheek cleaner
- Elongated brush head
- Low battery indicator and travel lock
The Foreo Issa 3 is a unique electric toothbrush with a silicone head intended to be replaced about once a year, as opposed to the three to four months suggested for bristled brush heads. With a sleek handle and widely spaced bristles, its design also makes it stand out from the other electric toothbrushes we tested.
We liked the Issa 3’s effective, built-in tongue cleaner, but we were underwhelmed by its toothbrushing ability. The movement of its head could be described as more of a vibration than scrubbing. Also, our tester’s hand slipped further and further up the toothbrush’s handle while she brushed. The fact that it’s made of silicone, however, does make the brush easy to clean.
Our tester said brushing her top teeth reminded her of the sensation of wet skin on an innertube as it drifts down a river, right down to the squeaking noises. While this irritation could be overlooked if it cleaned well, this toothbrush performed poorly.
Pros
-
Long lasting silicon
-
Unique design
Cons
-
Rubber squeak feeling on teeth
-
Handle creep
-
Poor cleaning ability
$113.40 from Amazon
$189.00 from Walmart
Best Subscription
Quip Electric Toothbrush
- Two-minute timer with 30-second notifications
- Built-in tongue scraper
- Affordable brush head replacements and elongated brush head
- ADA seal of approval
You could mistake the Quip electric toothbrush for an O.G.manual toothbrush. However, looks can be deceiving. This unique subscription package toothbrush comes packing a brushing timer and a vibration motor.
However, the Quip’s cleaning testing results were disappointing—it was one of the worst performers in our plaque dye test. Also, it shut off after five seconds at least three times during testing. It would start up again without issue, but the unexpected shutoff was irritating.
The Quip comes with a cover that secures the toothbrush onto a mirror (or another slick surface) using proprietary reusable tape. However, the cover does nothing to protect the brush head's bristles.
Pros
-
Range of colors
-
Slender size
-
Subscription model means new brush heads are delivered when you need them
Cons
-
Poor cleaning power
-
Randomly shut down during testing.
Buy now at Quip
Buy now at Amazon
$30.33 from Walmart
Other Electric Toothbrushes We Tested
Oral B iO Series 9
- Two-minute timer with 30-second notifications
- Has seven brushing modes: daily clean, whitening, gum care, sensitive, intense, super sensitive, and tongue clean
- Features pressure sensor, charging indicator, and travel case
- Round brush head
- ADA seal of approval
The Oral B iO Series 9 testing had some conflicting results—it comes with lots of bells and whistles, got top marks for appearance, and it’s quiet. Unfortunately, it also left more plaque on our teeth during testing than our top pick, and it’s significantly more expensive.
The Series 9 features a full-color digital screen, which turns on when you pick it up and provides brushing feedback using friendly, interactive messages. For example, an emoticon-style face flashes on the display when you’ve brushed for two minutes. If you don’t last the whole two minutes, it frowns at you. This toothbrush also lets you know which of its seven settings that you’re using.
The Series 9 looks sharp, built with a smooth material that retains its grip when wet and rinses clean quickly. Plus, it’s also easy to hold.
Pros
-
Two chargers included
-
Quiet
-
Motivating display interface
Cons
-
Expensive
-
Left plaque
$299.94 from Amazon
$299.99 from Best Buy
$299.94 from Walmart
Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige
- Two-minute timer with 30-second notifications
- “SenseIQ” technology for personalized brushing experience;
- Features pressure sensor, charging indicator, and travel case
- Five brushing modes: clean, whitening, gum health, deep clean, and sensitive
The Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige is a lux-looking, faux-gold accented rechargeable electric toothbrush with a pleather-covered charging case, a bespoke charging base, and a microfiber cloth to keep it all looking clean.
With this much effort put into the aesthetics of the toothbrush, we were disappointed with the cleaning results. The 9900 scored poorly on the photo plaque test, with plenty of new and old plaque visible. The pressure sensor light is built into the bottom of the electric toothbrush, making it easy to miss.
We also weren’t thrilled with the functionality of the 9900’s Bluetooth smartphone app. During setup, the app asks for location access through your phone, one of the only apps to ask for this information.
The app also asked each time we signed on if we had changed the brush head, and insisted that only the 9900 be recharged with its included charger. It took a couple of uses before our tester realized that the app was reacting to the presence of another electric toothbrush charger in the bathroom.
When using the 9900 with the app on, the toothbrush is very sensitive to movement and directs for minimal movement. The preferred use indicated by the app is that you hold the brush against your teeth rather than brushing back and forth. Considering the poor results from the plaque test, Philips might want to reconsider this recommendation.
Pros
-
Quiet
-
Luxury accessories
-
Two chargers included
Cons
-
Companion App teaches inferior toothbrushing method
$379.96 from Amazon
$379.99 from Target
$379.00 from Abt
$399.99 from Best Buy
Oral B Vitality
- Two-minute timer with 30-second notifications
- Features pressure sensor
- Round brush head
- ADA seal of approval
The Oral B Vitality is one of Oral-B's most basic electric toothbrushes, but it earned one of the highest scores in our plaque test and its “flosser” head offers an intense brushing experience. The Vitality comes with a rubber-coated handle and a one-button interface.
In fact, the Vitality was the toothbrush our tester turned to for cleanup when other electric toothbrushes she tested didn’t remove the plaque dye from her teeth.
Unfortunately, it lacks several desirable features. Its two-minute timer doesn’t buzz every 30 seconds to remind you to change brushing areas, and there is no charging indicator. However, there is a light to indicate when you’re brushing too hard.
Pros
-
Inexpensive
-
Great cleaning power
Cons
-
Brushing can feel unpleasantly intense.
Buy now at Amazon
$19.97 from Walmart
Goby Brush Kit
- Two-minute timer with 30-second notifications
- Two brushing speeds, normal and sensitive
- Replacement heads available by subscription
- ADA seal of approval
The Goby Brush Kit is another subscription toothbrush, offering a never-ending (until you cancel it) flow of electric toothbrush heads to your door. While the Goby solved some subtle issues with electric toothbrushes, the plaque testing placed it in the middle of the pack.
The Goby has a storage base with a reservoir (neatly holding any drippings off your toothbrush after use) and the charger mounts in the back of the base with a magnet. Like most electric toothbrushes, the Goby will help you monitor brushing time.
The design of the electric toothbrush itself was unimpressive, as the handle was slightly too large and required our tester to re-grip it each time she changed brushing angles. There are two materials in the handle, one more slippery than the other, making it hard to maintain a grip.
Pros
-
Mails a new brush head every month
-
Hygienic stand and charger
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Bristle cover
-
Timer with quadrant buzz
Cons
-
Underpowered
-
Awkward handle
Buy now at Goby
Colgate Hum
- Two-minute timer with 30-second notifications
- Three brushing modes, normal, sensitive, and deep clean
- Rectangular brush head
- Comes with carrying case
Given Colgate’s popularity in the world of dental care, the performance of the Hum electric toothbrush was disappointing. During our plaque reveal dye test, the Hum failed to remove the red stain from the leftover plaque. In fact, this toothbrush performed so poorly that another toothbrush had to be used to clean the remaining plaque and dye.
While the Hum’s charger felt sturdy, the rest of the toothbrush’s components were poorly made. Even its protective case looks unfinished: the inside of the case lacks a lining. Its exposed plastic struts and crevices will, over time, make it difficult to keep clean.
The electric toothbrush itself was lightweight compared to other products in this guide and featured a flimsy-feeling power button. Further, the power button lights up while the Hum is being used, but not while the toothbrush is being charged. This makes it impossible to know whether the Hum is successfully charging, or when charging is complete.
Pros
-
Available in a Range of colors
-
Included travel case
Cons
-
Poor build quality
-
Short battery life
-
Sub-par brushing capability
Buy now at Amazon
$43.08 from Walmart
How We Tested Electric Toothbrushes
The Testers
I’m Becky Boniface. I dodged braces for years and have embraced my slightly crooked teeth as one of my unique charms. After getting a cavity that required a root canal (ouch) to repair, I got more serious about my dental hygiene and got an electric toothbrush.
As an early adopter of electric toothbrushes, I jumped at the chance to update this article with new testing. I can tell you that looking after your chompers results in a much higher quality of life, so it’s worth a bit of investment.
I'm Dave Kender, Reviewed’s Editor-In-Chief. I've been reviewing products for over 10 years, which has made me a little obsessive when it comes to the details. Plus my dentist tells me I've got great teeth. I wrote the original version of this guide and designed many of the tests you'll find outlined below.
The Tests
After reading expert and user reviews, Dave conducted interviews with several powered toothbrush brands to get a sense of how different electric toothbrush designs work. With this information, Becky narrowed down the list of potential products to test to nine. She chose products across the price spectrum and made sure to include brushes beyond Oral-B and Philips, the two biggest players in the world of electric toothbrushes.
To get a feel for each of the products in this guide, Becky used each electric toothbrush twice a day for three days, for a total of six sessions. The finalists were given an extra six sessions for further evaluation. If the brush had Bluetooth connectivity, we tested the app.At the end of each three-day run, we evaluated the electric toothbrushes on the following questions:
- Setup: How easy was it to start using the electric toothbrush and set up the charging port?
- Usability: How easy is it to brush your teeth and get to all the nooks and crannies in your mouth? How easy is it to swap out the different brush heads? How do the controls feel? How comfortable is it to hold?
- Storage: Does the electric toothbrush come with a safe way to store its brush heads? Is there a cover to protect the bristles when the toothbrush head isn’t in use?
- Subjective: How clean does your mouth feel after using this toothbrush? Are there any useful special features? How nice are the toothbrush's aesthetics, and how would that affect your willingness to buy it? Did it perform better than a manual toothbrush? If the toothbrush comes with a companion smartphone app, is it actually useful?
- Waterproofing: Can the toothbrush run in shower conditions? Can it be submerged in a bucket of water for 30 seconds?
Additionally, for the update on this guide, we used plaque disclosing tablets after the final brushing. These tablets have a dye that reveals any plaque buildup on teeth with a fantastic red or blue color. Then, using a cheek retractor, we took pictures of the dyed teeth and evaluated the amount of plaque left after brushing.
How to Choose the Right Electric Toothbrush for You
Oscillating Toothbrushes Vs. Sonic Brushes: Which type of Electric Toothbrush is Better?
The moment you start shopping for an electric toothbrush, you’re faced with a choice: oscillating versus sonic brush heads. Oral-B (which makes mostly oscillating electric toothbrushes) and Philips Sonicare (which makes mostly sonic electric toothbrushes) each make grand, and sometimes misleading, statements about how each type works and their relative merits. Here’s the simplest way to explain it:
An oscillating brush head moves with a little rotation to the right, then a little rotation to the left—back and forth, really fast. It looks cool, if not a little intimidating to the first-time user.
A sonic toothbrush head doesn’t spin. Rather, it moves in a “wiggle” action, at a very high frequency. The result is typically much quieter and subtler than an oscillating brush head. Newcomers to an electric brush might find it more welcoming.
According to our research, choosing one technology over another will have a negligible impact on your teeth. In a 2011 review of 17 separate trials, no definitive conclusions could be made regarding the superiority of one technology over the other when it came to reducing plaque and gingivitis. There are no tremendous differences between most electric brushes.
Much of it comes down to your personal brand preference (and possibly your dentist's recommendation.) Most likely, you’ll settle on one of two brands: Oral-B and Philips Sonicare. Combined, Oral-B and Philips toothbrushes make up 70% of electric oral care sales online.
This negligible difference between electric toothbrush technologies was backed up by an expert. Harvard’s Dr. Soo-Woo Kim said that, in his experience, he did not see a significant difference in effectiveness between oscillating and sonic.
Important Features to Consider When Choosing an Electric Toothbrush
There are really only a couple of core factors, and we’ve gone over most of them. Still, there are some common electric toothbrush features that keep recurring, so we’ve broken down the ones that matter most and the ones you can probably skip. Here are some of the features you’re most likely to see:Two-minute timer: As stated before, this is the single most important feature Pressure sensor: Having assistance to make sure you aren’t over-brushing can also be very helpful. Any feature beyond these two is a bonus! Battery life: It isn’t a huge inconvenience to charge an electric toothbrush every now and then, but you still may want to pay attention to how long it’ll last on a charge.Cleaning modes: Some electric toothbrushes offer different intensities or patterns for different toothbrushing needs. While we’ve noted toothbrushes with multiple modes in our roundup, this is an extra, not an essential.
How Do I Use an Electric Toothbrush?
It’s important to brush twice a day, and to thoroughly floss your teeth at least once daily. It helps to floss before brushing, so that you can then brush away any leftover debris.
When using an electric toothbrush, it’s important not to apply too much pressure. Just hold the toothbrush lightly over your teeth at a 45-degree angle and let the motion of the brush itself do most of the work for you. Pushing down hard can shorten the lifespan of your bristles, and it can also contribute to receding gums, just like brushing too hard with a manual toothbrush can.
It may help to divide your mouth up into four quadrants, in whatever way makes sense to you, and spend 30 seconds brushing each of them. If your electric toothbrush includes some kind of 30-second notifications, this can be especially helpful.
Don’t forget the rest of your dental hygiene, while you’re at it! When you brush your teeth, gently brush your tongue and soft palate to make sure your mouth gets fully clean. Consider following up with mouthwash, which can further kill bacteria and help prevent gingivitis and other hazards.
How Do I Clean an Electric Toothbrush?
Your electric toothbrush is there to remove bacteria and debris from your teeth, which means it’s holding on to a lot of gross things after every brushing. Every time you brush, remove the brush head from the electric toothbrush and rinse out thoroughly with water.
Every week or so, consider disinfecting your electric toothbrush. You can do this by soaking it in mouthwash for a couple of minutes. You can also place it in denture cleaner for a couple of minutes—just make sure that you’re using a fresh tablet of denture cleaner, not re-using solution that’s already cleaned dentures or a mouthguard. One final option to consider is a mixture of water and white vinegar.
Also, never share an electric toothbrush head with someone, even if you’re close! That’s a great way to swap germs with someone. And if you or someone in your household has been sick, it’s a good idea for folks to get a fresh start with their toothbrush heads.
How do I Maintain an Electric toothbrush?
Just as important as cleaning your toothbrush is keeping it up. Don’t use too much pressure when you brush. A good electric toothbrush should warn you if you’re pressing down too hard. Not only is this bad for your gums, it can also wear your bristles out faster.
It’s also important to store your electric toothbrush wisely. When you’re traveling, keep it covered to protect it from dirt and grime in your traveling kit. However, when you’re at home, it’s important to let it breathe. If you keep your electric toothbrush covered all the time, that damp, close environment can become a breeding ground for bacteria.
How Often Should I Change My Electric Toothbrush’s Head?
Regardless of brand or style, it’s recommended that you replace the brush head every three to four months. While this might seem like a straightforward process, it can get overwhelming in a hurry.
For example, Oral-B and Philips each have as many as 12 varieties of electric toothbrush heads. With names like Precision, Deep Sweep, and InterCare, they all certainly sound healthy. Then there’s compatibility to consider, both within brands and from third-party options.
Our advice: Find something you like and buy it in bulk to save a few bucks.
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time. The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.
Meet the testers
David Kender oversees content at Reviewed as the Editor in Chief. He served as managing editor and editor in chief of Reviewed's ancestor, CamcorderInfo.com, helping to grow the company from a tiny staff to one of the most influential online review resources. In his time at Reviewed, David has helped to launch over 100 product categories and written too many articles to count.
See all of David Kender's reviews
Rebecca Boniface
Contributor
Rebecca Boniface is a certified PADI dive instructor, full-time nomad, and DIY enthusiast.
See all of Rebecca Boniface's reviews
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