Black Friday Deals
- Oral-B iO Series 9 Electric Toothbrush, $240 (was $300)
- Voom Sonic Pro 5 Electric Toothbrush, $30 (was $40)
- HISMILE Electric Toothbrush, $47 (was $59)
Swapping out your old manual toothbrush for an electric toothbrush can help brush your teeth more effectively and can help break up plaque more easily. There are two primary types of electric toothbrushes (sonic and rotating), which both work to loosen up pesky stuck-on foods and clean areas that are harder to reach with a manual brush.
Across the board, a good electric toothbrush should have a decent battery life (especially if you plan on traveling), adjustable speeds or intensities, and a bristle strength that matches your brushing needs so it never feels too soft or too abrasive.
To compile this list of our picks for the best electric toothbrushes, we home-tested over 30 options to see which ones lived up to their manufacturer claims and helped effectively clean teeth.We also assessed each toothbrush for additional features like alerts, timers and smartphone connectivity. Our criteria were developed with the help of three dentists.
What Healthcare Providers Want You to Know
- Keep it clean: After you use your toothbrush, be sure to run it under hot water as soon as you’re done. Then you can also deep clean it once a week by either swirling it in enough antibacterial mouthwash to cover the brush head or soaking it in a mixture of two teaspoons of baking soda dissolved in a cup of water for 15 minutes.
- Replace the brush head: Be sure to check the instructions that come with your electric toothbrush, but generally, you can expect to have to replace the head every three to four months or once the bristles look splayed, just like you would with a manual toothbrush.
- Choose the right brush head: The size and shape of the brush head will make a big difference in how effectively you will be able to brush. While larger brush heads can cover more ground, Kate Zoumboukos, DMD, FAGD, licensed dentist and fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, points out that they can be harder to maneuver into hard-to-reach areas.
- Opt for soft bristles: While you may enjoy a firmer bristle, for electric toothbrushes, its best to look for “soft” or “extra soft” bristles if possible. Especially for fast, rotating electric brush heads, softer bristles will be kinder to your teeth and as Zoumboukos notes, minimizes abrasions.
Our Top Picks
Best for Whitening:
Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite+ Electric Toothbrush at Amazon$137
Best for Aggressive Brushers:
Oral-B Smart Clean 360 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush Twin Pack at Amazon$95
Best for Whitening
Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite+ Electric Toothbrush
Pros
2 separate cleaning modes
Traveling case for easy portability
3 levels of adjustable intensity
Cons
Expensive compared to similar toothbrushes
Doesn’t come with any additional brush heads
Why We Recommend It
When looking for an electric toothbrush that offers targeted teeth whitening, we were very interested to test this electric toothbrush by Philips. It comes with a specific whitening mode as well as 3 different intensity levels. With a simple press of the plus or minus button on the front of the toothbrush, we were able to quickly adjust the brushing intensity as needed.
To also help ensure a more thorough brushing, the toothbrush vibrates every 30 seconds so you can move from quadrant to quadrant while brushing before turning off automatically after 2 minutes. In addition, the travel case is hard and durable and fits both the brush and the charger, so you can toss it into your luggage and take it with you whenever you’re away from home.
Keep In Mind
The cost of this electric toothbrush might put it outside of most budgets, especially when compared to other toothbrushes that are available at half the price. And that’s before you factor in the cost of replacement brush heads since there aren’t any additional brushes included. The included travel case is very hard, but unfortunately we received one that was already damaged right out of the box. After taking a beating, the case became hard to close.
Key Specs
Head Type: Sonic | Bristle Stiffness: Medium | Power: Rechargeable; 3 Weeks | Timer: Yes | Features: Two-minute timer, 3 intensity levels and 2 cleaning modes
Best With App
Oral-B iO Series 9
Pros
Bluetooth compatible with Oral-B app
7 unique brushing modes
Easy-to-read pressure sensor light
Includes 4 brush heads for easy replacement
Cons
Pricey
Inconsistent battery life
Why We Recommend It
The Oral-B iO Series 9 might be one of the most technologically impressive electric toothbrushes on our list. It features 7 different smart brushing modes and a smart pressure sensor light that changes color based on how hard or light you brush. It also offers Bluetooth connectivity to the Oral-B app for 3D teeth tracking to ensure a thorough cleaning.
It took us a few minutes to get the app fully set up and connected to the toothbrush. Still, after it was set up, we were impressed with all the features we could use through the app, like the two-minute brushing timer, checking the remaining battery life, switching between brushing modes, and using the 3D teeth tracking to see if there were any areas we had missed.
Keep In Mind
One of the biggest things to consider before buying this toothbrush is the price. It is frequently listed on sale, but with a regular retail price of just under $300, no matter what kind of deal you find, it may still be out of reach for some budgets. There’s no denying the vast array of unique features here, but if you don’t think you’ll be using them for each day, you may not feel like you’re quite getting your money’s worth.
Key Specs
Head Type: Rotating and micro-vibrations | Bristle Stiffness: Medium | Power: Rechargeable; 10-14 days | Timer: Yes | Features: Smart pressure sensor light, 7 smart brushing modes, Bluetooth compatibility with app
Pros
Bluetooth compatible with Oral-B app
5 brushing modes including 2 modes for sensitive teeth
Pressure sensor light and brush head replacement light
Long-lasting, rechargeable battery
Cons
Battery life can shorten over time
Features can be confusing
Wand may feel too large for some
Why We Recommend It
One of the biggest benefits of the iO Series 5 is that it offers many of the smart features and app compatibility of other models in this series but at half the price of Oral-B’s more expensive models like the Series 8 and Series 9. The Series 5 toothbrush has five brushing modes, including two specifically designed for more delicate brushing on sensitive teeth.
During our testing, we were impressed with the different brushing features and how easy the brush was to use. Especially for users who are used to traditional toothbrushes, this electric toothbrush really feels like a leap into the future. The built-in timer, which buzzes every 30 seconds, was a big help for us so we could focus on each quadrant of our mouth and not rush through brushing.
Keep In Mind
While we enjoyed the smart features of this electric toothbrush, interpreting the different color changes and light pulsations on the color ring would have been very difficult if we hadn’t thoroughly read through the manual first (or for those who are color blind or have impaired vision).
Key Specs
Head Type: Rotating | Bristle Stiffness: Soft | Power: Rechargeable; 10-14 days | Timer: Yes | Features: Pressure sensor light, 7 brushing modes, brush head replacement reminder light, Bluetooth compatibility with app
Pros
Smart pressure sensor
2 extra replacement brushes included
Magnetic charger achieves a full charge in 3 hours
Cons
Battery life can degrade over time
Brush speed may feel too fast for some
Why We Recommend It
Many of the electric toothbrushes on our list only come with one brush head, which can be a real issue while traveling, especially if that single brush head needs to be replaced while you’re out of town. For the frequent traveler, this toothbrush includes two extra brush heads (that’s three total) and a simple carrying case that fits easily into your backpack or luggage. It also comes with a magnetic charging base that can take your battery from empty to a full charge in about three hours.
During our testing, we were impressed with the speed and brushing power of this electric toothbrush. On top of that, after downloading the app and pairing the toothbrush, we noticed that our brushing stats were quickly loaded into the app.
Keep In Mind
During our testing, we found that the speed and force behind the brush head could sometimes feel a little too fast, which made it difficult to prevent splatter while using the brush. The price is also a major consideration too, as this is one of our list’s higher-priced toothbrushes. While Bluetooth and Wi-Fi compatibility are certainly impressive, a lot of what you are paying for is the integration and use of the app. So, if you think you aren’t likely to explore these features fully, it may be worth finding a cheaper option.
Key Specs
Head Type: Rotating | Bristle Stiffness: Medium-firm | Power: Rechargeable; 2 weeks | Timer: Yes | Features: 2 extra replacement brushes, two-minute timer, smart pressure sensor, color display screen on brush wand
Best Sonicare
Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean Electric Toothbrush
Pros
3 intensity levels and brushing modes
Battery lasts up to 14 days
Pressure sensor
Available in 4 colors
Cons
Only 1 brush head included
Battery may degrade after 2+ years
Why We Recommend It
It’s common to find different intensity settings on an electric toothbrush, but the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6100 goes the extra mile to include three separate cleaning modes as well. A quick button press lets you switch between modes to help you focus on cleaning, whitening, and gum care.
We were impressed with the different intensities (which equaled 9 different brushing experiences in total), which meant this toothbrush could benefit those with sensitive teeth as well as anyone wanting a stronger cleaning. Overall, while it only cost a few dollars more than the Philips ProtectiveClean 5100 model, we felt like we were more than getting our money’s worth from this newer model.
Keep In Mind
The included brush head is a generic head designed for cleaning. While this brush head works for the whitening and gum care modes, a separate brush head designed specifically for gum care is available from Philips and, unfortunately, isn’t included in this package.
Key Specs
Head Type: Sonic | Bristle Stiffness: Medium | Power: Rechargeable; 14 Days | Timer: Yes | Features: travel case, 3 brushing modes, brush replacement reminder light, pressure sensor
Pros
Affordable price
5 brushing speeds
8-week battery life
Extra brush head included
Cons
Replacement brush heads can be expensive
Softer bristles and brushing speeds may not suit some users
Why We Recommend It
Many of the electric toothbrushes on this list offer a ton of great features and impressive app capabilities. But what if you want a versatile, budget-friendly electric toothbrush without all the fancy, expensive extras? This makes the Voom Sonic Pro 5 Rechargeable Electronic Toothbrush a good choice thanks to its relatively low price point (which can be even lower if you happen to catch it on sale), 5 brushing speeds, and longer-than-average battery life.
During our testing, the easy set-up and comfortable wand handle made using the brush for the first time a breeze. Compared to similar electric toothbrushes, we felt that the Voom Sonic Pro 5 could clean well at a lower intensity. The full price for this toothbrush is considerably lower than comparable competitors, making it a good value for the money.
Keep In Mind
While we were impressed with its range of brushing speeds, we occasionally felt like the brushing still wasn't strong enough. This may be partly due to the toothbrush’s softer bristles—which is worth considering if you prefer a firmer brush. On top of that, replacement brush heads tend to be a little pricey, so if you don’t like the included brushes, it will cost you extra to try to replace them
Key Specs
Head Type: Sonic | Bristle Stiffness: Soft | Power: Rechargeable; 8 weeks | Timer: Yes | Features: Brushing timer, auto shut-off, 5 brushing speeds
Best for Receding Gums
HiSmile Electric Toothbrush
Pros
Soft-tapered bristles
Long battery life
Small brush head
Cons
No pressure sensor
Why We Recommend It
A soft-bristled brush, like the HiSmile Electric Toothbrush, can help mouths with receding gumlines. It has a small brush head with soft-tapered bristles with a unique feel and shape compared to regular bristles. We cleaned sensitive areas of our mouth more easily than before, and our sensitivity reduced after just five days of use. It effectively cleaned our teeth and left them nice and fresh.
It’s easy to set up and fairly intuitive to use. It has a timer, automatic shut-off, three different intensity settings, and a long battery life. When the battery is low, three red dots flash at the bottom of the handle, and recharging takes two to three hours via a USB-to-USB-C cable. We didn’t have to recharge this toothbrush once during testing. It also comes in nine fun, bold, punchy colors, which is always a bonus.
Keep in Mind
There’s no pressure sensor to alert you when brushing too aggressively, which would have been great for receding gums. Also, the “intense” setting was too intense for us.
Key Specs
Head Type: Vibrating | Bristle Stiffness: Soft | Power: Rechargeable | Timer: Yes | Features: Three modes, automatic shut off, mode memory
Best for Aggressive Brushers
Oral-B Smart Clean 360 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush Twin Pack
Pros
Five brush modes
Twin kit
Comfortable handle
Cons
Confusing timer function
Charges slowly
Why We Recommend It
Aggressive and harsh brushing can lead to poorer oral health and conditions such as gingivitis or receding gums. If you struggle with overbrushing, the Oral-B Smart Clean 360 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush has an intuitive pressure sensor around the neck that flashes red when too much pressure is applied. Thanks to this feature, our overall technique was vastly improved by the end of the testing period. The built-in timer prompts you when to brush different areas of your mouth and tells you when the session is over. We loved how clean our teeth felt after every use.
We didn’t need the instructions to set up this brush. The handle wasn’t too thin or thick, and it was easy to maneuver while brushing and even easier to clean afterward. We also loved the battery life—we didn’t have to charge it for two full weeks of use. Another perk is that it comes in a twin kit with two of everything in the box. With two handles, brush heads, travel cases, and charging stations, you can use it for two people or as a travel option alongside an at-home one.
Keep in Mind
We didn’t love how the timer operated—there were mini vibrations to indicate when it was time to switch sides and a longer one at the two-minute mark, but it wasn't very clear figuring out which was which, and we often brushed for longer than needed. It also takes 12 hours to charge.
Key Specs
Head Type: Oscillates | Bristle Stiffness: Soft | Power: Rechargeable | Timer: Yes | Features: Pressure sensor, timer
How We Tested the Electric Toothbrushes
The Verywell Health team chose over 70 of the top electric toothbrushes currently available to test out firsthand from their homes. We evaluated each electric toothbrush for:
- Ease of Use: In addition to scoring the difficulty level for setting up the electric toothbrush, we looked at how intuitive and user-friendly the product was to use. If any of the extra features were difficult to use or relied heavily on reading the manual to understand what everything meant, the toothbrush would lose points in that category.
- Design: The varying sizes and weights of these electric toothbrushes can make a big difference in how you use the toothbrush. We considered if the toothbrush felt too heavy or bulky in our hands. We also considered if the size of the brush head was too big to easily maneuver or so small that we felt we needed additional time to finish brushing our teeth.
- Functionality: One of the most important attributes to consider is how well the toothbrush actually functions. We wanted to see if there was any significant difference in switching between brushing speeds or how precise the two-minute timer was while brushing.
- Features: Bluetooth and app connectivity were one of the major advertised selling points of our higher-end electric toothbrushes. As a result, we wanted to see how reliable these advanced features were and if we felt those features were worth the higher price point. For example, if we found that the Bluetooth pairing process was unclear or unreliable, that toothbrush would be scored lower.
- Quality: This attribute is focused simply on the user experience during and after brushing. If we felt like we needed more than two minutes to completely finish brushing or found that the brushing speeds were too strong or too weak, we would give that toothbrush a lower score.
What to Look for in an Electric Toothbrush
- Battery Life: How battery life is measured can vary across manufacturers with some boosting how long a brush can be left out between charges or how long it can continuously run while turned on. If you are planning to keep it near the charging dock, battery life isn’t a major consideration, but if you plan to travel a lot or are unable to regularly charge up, look for a brush that advertises a week or more of battery life.
- Alerts and Timers: A two-minute brushing timer is very common in electric toothbrushes (even in the lower-priced ones) and is a convenient way to make sure that you are meeting the recommended time for brushing. More advanced models can trigger a reminder every 30 seconds to move along to the next quadrant in your mouth, but this additional timer isn’t really necessary and will likely only be featured in more expensive electric toothbrushes.
- Features: Some more expensive models feature Bluetooth connectivity to a smartphone app that can give you a real-time look at how long you’ve been brushing, if you’re applying too much pressure, and how much of a charge is still remaining. Leena Palomo, DDS, MSD, professor and chair of the Ashman Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry at New York University, mentioned that some of these smart toothbrushes can even track where you have brushed and alert you of a missed spot.
Our Experts
We consulted the following dentists during the research and writing of this article on the best electric toothbrushes:
- Marc Schlenoff, DDS, FAGD, vice president of clinical development at Tend in New York City
- Leena Palomo, DDS, MSD, professor and chair of the Ashman Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry at New York University
- Kate Zoumboukos, DMD, FAGD, licensed dentist and fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry
Why Trust Verywell Health
As an experienced health writer, Steven Rowe knows how to truly evaluate a product and tell the difference between marketing claims and the actual facts. He has previously tested and compared several electric toothbrushes and water flossers and better understands a user’s first-hand experience and the importance of making an informed decision prior to purchase.