As with many things in our lives, the advance of technology means lots of new devices, and even the humble toothbrush has succumbed in the form of electric toothbrushes.
While that may induce a degree of nostalgia, it must be accepted that electric toothbrushes offer many benefits that a standard toothbrush can’t in relation to oral hygiene. One of the most significant is the ability to remove plaque more effectively.
If you’re thinking of buying an electric toothbrush, the choice is huge, so we going to help you with a review of 5 of the best electric toothbrush options, a buyer’s guide, and also answer some common FAQ.
Best Electric Toothbrush
Comparison Chart
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9300 Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush
Oral-B Genius Pro 8000 Electronic Rechargeable Toothbrush
Philips Sonicare 2 Series Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush
Oral-B White Pro 1000 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush
Philips Sonicare Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush For Kids
Best Electric Toothbrush Reviews
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9300 Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush
With the care of your teeth being such a vital part of your well-being, you want an electric toothbrush that can get the job done, and with Philips’s long, and illustrious reputation for producing quality electric toothbrushes, this one is a strong candidate to do exactly that.
Product Highlights
This is an electric toothbrush that actually makes you accountable for brushing your teeth. It does so by allowing you to set teeth cleaning and oral hygiene goals using your smartphone, and then it will help you reach them. That includes using personalized coaching so that you can be sure your oral hygiene regime is on the right track.
Now I understand some of you are not internet savvy and have no interest in the app but do definitely want clean teeth, so let’s see what this electric toothbrush can offer you, and everyone else in that department.
First, you have three separate brush heads that are designed for different types of oral cleaning. The first is for removing plaque, including in hard-to-reach places, and the second one helps to reduce gum inflammation. The third is a tongue brush, for cleaning the tongue which is a part of the mouth often overlooked when it comes to oral hygiene.
One of the advanced features is that the toothbrush will recognize which brush head you have fitted and will select the optimum mode for producing the best results. There is also a pressure sensor that prevents you from pressing too hard against teeth and gums.
I absolutely love the stylish glass charger, which is where you place your toothbrush after use, and when in there the battery will be charged. This glass can also be used to rinse your mouth. Normally you can expect two week’s use between charges, which is impressive for this kind of toothbrush.
Finally, there is the travel case that comes with the toothbrush and allows you to store it safely, and it take it with you when you’re away from home.
What I Like
The glass charger is something that really caught my eye and allows you to charge your toothbrush in something which is stylish, and functional, as it doubles as rinsing glass for sloshing your mouth.
What I Don’t Like
While the app and Bluetooth connectivity might be loved by some, and to be fair, they are innovative for a toothbrush. Unfortunately, some users have either had difficulty setting it up or have had Bluetooth connectivity issues
PROS
CONS
Oral-B Genius Pro 8000 Electronic Rechargeable Toothbrush
Oral-B is one of the most recognizable names in the world of toothbrushes, so it is right I have one of their products here to review, and with the Pro 8000 being one of their premium electric toothbrushes, I am expecting to be impressed.
Product Highlights
The first thing to say about this electric toothbrush is how stylish it appears. Now, obviously that is not going to make the slightest difference to its cleaning ability, however, I know that some of you will love its black color and glossy finish enough to sway your decision to buy it, so I must mention it.
The gloss finish is most noticeable on the small control panel which houses the selection buttons and indicator lights. This electric toothbrush has 6 cleaning modes, which are whitening, gum care, sensitive, daily clean, tongue cleaning, and Oral-B’s ‘Pro-Clean’ mode.
Pro-Clean is a deep cleaning mode that lasts for 3 minutes and is suitable if you missed a clean or your teeth are in need of a more intensive clean.
To ensure that you are not placing too much pressure on your teeth and gums, the toothbrush’s pressure sensor will automatically slow the brush’s speed and activate the sensor’s indicator light.
One of the most advanced technologies this toothbrush uses is called ‘Position Detection.’ This works in conjunction with the Oral-B’s app which you can connect via Bluetooth between your toothbrush and your smartphone. Using facial recognition technology, Position Detection helps to ensure that when you brush you cover every part of your teeth, gums, and mouth so that cleaning is more effective.
Other great features of the Pro 8000 is a rechargeable Li-ion battery with a life of 14 days between charges and a travel case which doubles up as the USB charging station to be used in conjunction with the charger cable.
What I Like
The number of different cleaning options the Oral-B Pro 8000 has to offer is impressive, and in particular, the ‘Pro-Clean’ mode allows for an extra-long clean which almost everyone needs from time to time.
What I Don’t Like
For an electric toothbrush with a price tag like this one it is a lot noisier than you’d expect which can cause problems if you are trying to brush your teeth at night or first thing when others in your household are asleep.
PROS
CONS
Philips Sonicare 2 Series Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush
While I may speak a lot of about advanced technology throughout these reviews it is always good to come across a product that is simple and easy to use, and that certainly applies to this electric toothbrush from Philips.
Product Highlights
Have you ever counted the number of brush strokes you make with a manual toothbrush in a minute? Even if you’re really quick it will be no more than 240 strokes. That will certainly clean your teeth to a degree, but how about if the number of times your teeth were brushed every minute was 31,000?
That’s the amazing number of strokes this Phillips electric toothbrush is capable of, which is certainly going to allow you to give your teeth a clean that a manual toothbrush can’t come anywhere close to achieving.
The brush head snaps into position, and one of the great things about Philips brush heads is that they are all compatible with this toothbrush. This means if decide that you want a brush head for gum care, or one which will promote whitening of your teeth, you can purchase one and use it with this Sonicare 2 series toothbrush.
I mentioned in the intro about how easy this electric toothbrush is to use, and that is certainly true. There are no apps to set up, nor Bluetooth to connect — all you need to do is press the On/Off button and start brushing your teeth.
With this toothbrush, the battery should last up to 2 weeks between charges, and to notify you that its charge is low, it has a useful battery indicator light that alerts you to charge it. The charger is included, and it is small, so it won’t take up much space on your bathroom shelf. This also makes it suitable for taking with you when you travel.
What I Like
The sheer simplicity of the Philips Sonicare 2 Series and the ease of use means that it is suitable for virtually everyone, which can’t be said of all electric toothbrushes.
What I Don’t Like
As I’ve mentioned, the battery life is excellent, but there is a forfeit to pay for that, unfortunately, as it can take some time to fully charge. This can be between 24 and 48 hours which seems excessive for such a small product and battery
PROS
CONS
Oral-B White Pro 1000 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush
While Oral-B has manufactured some very high-spec and indeed, high-tech electric toothbrushes, it is good to see that they haven’t forgotten the basics as evidenced by their Pro 1000 rechargeable electric toothbrush.
Product Highlights
If you are looking for a high-quality electric toothbrush but do not need all the bells and whistles that some of the high-spec ones have, then you are bound to like the Pro 1000 from Oral-B. This is as basic as it gets in terms of how you operate it, but that for many of you will be its biggest appeal.
To switch on, all you need to do is press the button on the side of the toothbrush and you can start cleaning. When you are finished, press the button again and it will stop. Put it this way, if you can operate a light switch, you can use this. You do not even have to concern yourself with cleaning modes as this doesn’t have any, other than the basic ‘Daily Clean’ one I have just described.
One feature which should prove useful is the 2-minute timer which switches off the toothbrush after 2 minutes of cleaning in order to prevent over-brushing and potential irritation of your gums, which can lead to bleeding.
Having already mentioned that this toothbrush doesn’t have any alternative modes, you actually do have options when it comes to the sort of oral cleaning you can use it for. This is possible thanks to the various toothbrush heads that Oral-B manufacture, and which are all compatible with the Pro-1000. These include a deep clean brush, one for sensitive teeth, and another for teeth whitening to name but three.
The Pro 1000 is portable, given its size and weight, and this includes the charger, which is included and will not take up much room when you are packing your bag for a trip, or vacation. You should expect to get up to 7 days between charges.
What I Like
While there are not any additional cleaning modes the fact that there up to 9 different interchangeable brush heads that you can purchase and simply snap on to this toothbrush gives it an excellent level of diversity.
What I Don’t Like
Not sure whether it is the small heads, or the fact that the heads are round, but this electric toothbrush seems prone to accumulating more than its fair share of the ‘gunk’ that is associated with toothpaste, water and cleaning teeth.
PROS
CONS
Philips Sonicare Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush For Kids
While brushing their teeth is important for adults, it is absolutely essential for children, so I thought it only right to include a review of an electric toothbrush that is designed for kids.
Product Highlights
Getting children to brush their teeth can sometimes be an ordeal, so what better way to remedy that than with an electric toothbrush that makes brushing their teeth fun.
The first way that is achieved is with the design where they have a fun character on the packaging and some colorful graphics on the toothbrush itself. That character is called ‘Sparkly’ and their role in helping your children brush their teeth is more than just appearing on the packaging.
In conjunction with the toothbrush, you can (or no doubt your kids can) set up an app on a smartphone and connect the toothbrush to that phone via Bluetooth. Once it is set up, the app, with the help of Sparkly, helps children to learn about how to brush their teeth properly and why oral hygiene is so important.
The app also includes teaching games that the children can play, colorful visuals, and a progress monitor where the children’s parents and the children themselves can track their progress.
To incentivize children to progress, a rewards system also forms part of the app. The fun also includes making Sparkly happier when they brush and helping him to win healthy food which is good for teeth and gums. There are also stickers with which children can customize the handles of their toothbrush.
With all the fun that Sparkly and app provide we must not forget that the prime objective is to get kids to use the toothbrush. When they do, it is super-easy to operate, with just a single On/Off button which they simply press once for ‘On’ and once for ‘Off’ when they are finished brushing.
The toothbrush uses a rechargeable battery, and the charger is included. The size of the charger, and the toothbrush, plus the fact that they weigh very little, means they are portable, and certainly small enough to pack into a child’s backpack if they are going on a trip or vacation.
What I Like
Oh, to be a kid again, and have fun with characters like Sparkly. I have to admit the fun aspect of this toothbrush appeals to me enormously, and it is certain to be a hit with kids, with the added benefit of teaching them to brush their teeth regularly and correctly.
What I Don’t Like
It’s great that stickers are included for the kids, but some parents have found that they can come loose. That could turn what should be positive into a negative, when the children get upset about it.
PROS
CONS
Buyer’s Guide
While an electric toothbrush is not exactly the most complicated of products to understand, the fact that it performs a function that impacts on our health and well-being means that due care and attention should be paid to which one you purchase.
To achieve that it is important to be aware of some of the basic features and how they make a difference to the appeal of any particular toothbrush. Here are brief explanations of some of the features anyone thinking of buying an electric toothbrush should consider.
Responsive Pressure Sensor
While it is important to brush your teeth thoroughly, that does mean that you should brush so aggressively that you hurt gums, or worse, make them bleed. Many electric toothbrushes have a responsive pressure sensor that detects when you are using too much pressure, and this will slow down or stop the toothbrush to reduce the chance that you irritate your gums.
Battery Life
Obviously, the longer you have between charges the better. The time between charges will depend on how many times you brush your teeth each day, but you should expect to get at least 7 days of use before your electric toothbrush battery needs recharging. Some of the better ones can go as long as 14 days.
Replacement Brush Heads
Each brand and model of electric toothbrush will have the means to change the brush head once it needs replacing. The cost of these can vary greatly and, in some cases, can be surprisingly high, so it pays to shop around.
Another benefit of replacement brush heads is they provide you with options to change the way in which you clean your teeth. For example, there are brush heads designed for sensitive teeth, others help with whitening, and there are will be many more options if you check the website of the electric toothbrush brand you use.
Gum Cleaning Mode
This might be called different things across different brands so check for that. In most cases, the gum cleaning mode, whatever it is called, extends the time which the toothbrush runs beyond its normal timed end. During this extra time, the speed is reduced so that the gums are being massaged more than they are brushed.
Sensitive Cleaning Mode
For those with sensitive teeth, brushing can be painful, especially with the sonic action of an electric toothbrush. In the sensitive mode, the toothbrush quite simply vibrates with reduced intensity to reduce the chance of painful teeth or gums.
Electric Toothbrush FAQ
Why not use a regular toothbrush?
The simple fact is with manual brushing with a regular toothbrush we cannot come close to the number of brushstrokes that an electric toothbrush can produce. Manually, at best we might get 150-200 per minute whereas an electric toothbrush can produce in excess 30,000. In other words, a regular toothbrush provides less than 1% of the brushing capacity of an electric toothbrush.
What type of bristles should I use?
This very much depends on the state of your teeth and gums, and your cleaning needs. The range of brush heads includes all types such as advanced plaque removal, whitening, sensitive, precision cleaning, deep sweep and floss action, and there are many more. If you are unsure, ask your dentist at your next visit what the priority should be in terms of cleaning your teeth and select your brush head accordingly.
How often should I clean my toothbrush?
You should rinse it after every brush, and if necessary, wipe away any excess toothpaste that remains. One of the quickest ways to make your electric toothbrush less effective is to allow ‘gunk’ to accumulate. This reduces the head speed, causes the battery to discharge quicker and can eventually cause your toothbrush to stop working properly.
How important is a quad pacer?
This is a feature in Philips Sonicare electric toothbrushes which beeps to alert you when each quarter of the brushing mode time has elapsed. For example, if your mode normally takes 2 minutes then the Quadpacer will beep every 30 seconds.
The reason it is important is that it is a cue for you to move on to brushing the next quadrant of your teeth and to ensure that each gets brushed. The quadrants are designated as upper teeth inside, upper teeth outside, lower teeth inside, lower teeth outside.
How important is a pressure sensor?
This is important as it will stop you using too much pressure when brushing as it can irritate gums and teeth, and in the worst cases causes them to bleed. When it senses excessive pressure, the sensor will either slow your electric toothbrush or stop it completely depending on which model you are using.
Conclusion
We’ve come to the point where I get to choose what I believe to be the top product in this category, and this one has been as difficult to choose as any. In the end, I have selected the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9300 Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush as the best electric toothbrush.
This is a class above most other electric toothbrushes, with advanced features like smart mode pairing and the glass charger, which is very innovative. There is also the app that can add greatly to the effectiveness of your teeth brushing and oral hygiene regime.
