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Updated Jul 27, 2023 9:51 AM

Electric toothbrushes take some guesswork out of caring for your pearly whites. These battery-operated brushes vibrate or spin to clear plaque. All you have to do is hold the toothbrush at the right angle and apply gentle pressure. Some may have extra features like power settings, pulse settings, or smart features that measure bristle pressure. Some include a travel case that can be taken on the road. With these and other things in mind, we’ll guide you through the basics and share our recommendations for the best electric toothbrushes. 

How we chose the best electric toothbrushes

I’m a big fan of electric toothbrushes and have used a number over the years. When I pick an electric toothbrush, I look at the following four factors: 

  • Modes: Does the brush have enough modes for adequate cleaning? A single mode could work as long as it’s strong enough for most users. However, extra modes could offer broader functionality for those focused on keeping great dental hygiene. We preferred brands that offered options.
  • Bristle action: Does the vibration or oscillation effectively maintain contact with the teeth and help remove plaque? This is an important consideration we factored into our picks.
  • Battery life: Most people need at least a few days’ worth of battery life between charges, especially if they travel. I looked for models that give users the freedom to brush away from a cord or extra batteries. 
  • Performance: Does the brush clean well? Do the settings work together with the brush head design to remove plaque effectively? I looked for brushes where the whole package sums to strong performance.

The best electric toothbrushes: Reviews & Recommendations

Most electric toothbrushes include a built-in timer that runs for the American Dental Association (ADA) recommended two minutes. Your toothbrush’s timer may include notifications every 30 seconds to tell you when to change brushing locations. But the features, and price, can increase as far as you feel comfortable. Here are our picks to help you separate the best from the rest.

Best overall: Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6100 Electric Toothbrush

Why it made the cut: This Philips model has features that let you customize the brushing experience and protective features like a pressure sensor, making it one of the best electric toothbrush models on the market.

Specs

  • Speeds: 3
  • Intensities: 3
  • Power source: Built-in, rechargeable battery

Pros

  • Built-in pressure gauge helps protect gums and enamel
  • Up to 3 weeks of battery life, depending on brush settings
  • Quadracer timer alerts you to move to different tooth quadrants

Cons 

  • A few units have shown poor durability

The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6100 Electric Toothbrush strikes a balance between extra features and price. It includes three speed settings and three intensities, allowing users to customize their brushing experience. 

It also includes a built-in pressure gauge that triggers an orange light if you’re pressing too hard. This feature helps protect gums and enamel from damage. The Philips electric toothbrush’s built-in Quadracer timer runs for two minutes and includes thirty-second alerts, so you know when to change areas on the teeth. Finally, we love the long battery life this brush has. 

Sadly, this model does have a few reports citing units with poor durability. A few have had button durability issues, while others had problems with brush heads falling off. While these issues are uncommon, they are worth noting.

Best sustainable: Suri Sustainable Electric Toothbrush

Suri makes the best electric toothbrush that's made with sustainable materials.

Suri

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Why it made the cut: This elegant toothbrush is designed with plant-based heads and recyclable parts. It provides 33,000 sonic vibrations per minute and a UV travel case disinfects the brush.

Specs

  • Speeds: 1
  • Intensities: 2
  • Power source: Built-in, rechargeable battery

Pros

  • Made with plant-based and recyclable parts
  • Beautiful design
  • 40-hour battery life
  • Comes with UV cleaning case

Cons

  • Can only replace parts from company

Brushing your teeth is one of the non-negotiables of life, but like taking out the garbage, it’s not typically a highlight of the day. But the Suri Electric Toothbrush elevated the experience for me. Created with the idea that “our daily rituals should be in harmony with our planet,” the toothbrush features plant-based heads and bristles and an aluminum body that can be taken apart so any parts that stop working can be repaired. Unlike bulkier options on the market, its design is sleek and appealing. It comes in three colors (Midnight Black, Sea Mist, and Winter Fern), and Suri provides a magnetic mirror mount for your bathroom.  

Although Suri has designed its toothbrush for sustainability, the device doesn’t skimp on useful tech. Its 33,000 sonic vibrations per minute tickled my mouth and made me look forward to brushing. With both a cleaning and polishing mode, the brush has a two-minute timer and haptic feedback every 30 seconds to let you know when to move on to another section of your mouth. Afterward, my mouth felt like I had gotten a professional cleaning.

What really makes the Suri stand out, however, is its travel case, which features UV-C light that disinfects your toothbrush within one minute. Like the mirror mount and the USB charging stand, the case design is thoughtful and sleek enough to easily tuck into a backpack, carry-on, or purse, for that matter. The brush also recharges within four hours and provides an impressive up to 40 hours of battery life. 

You might expect a premium price for a toothbrush made with sustainable materials and the latest tech. Thankfully, though, the Suri is priced in the same range or is less expensive than many other sonic toothbrushes on the market. — Jen McCaffery

Best water-flosser combo: Waterpik Sonic-Fusion Professional Flossing Electric Toothbrush

Why it made the cut: The SonicFusion saves space and time by employing a water flosser and electric toothbrush combo—the power of two devices rolled into one. 

Specs 

  • Speeds: 3
  • Intensities: 10
  • Power source: Built-in, rechargeable battery

Pros

  • 10 pressure settings to clean sensitive teeth
  • Built-in timer with 30-second pacer
  • Works on brush, floss, and combo modes

Cons

  • May require a surge protector

The Waterpik Sonic-Fusion Professional Flossing Electric Toothbrush has a head that functions as a toothbrush, water flosser, or both at the same time. With 10 pressure settings, even people with sensitive teeth can find a setting that water flosses without irritation. 

A bestseller for many years, the SonicFusion also includes many of the same high-end features found with other electric toothbrushes, like a two-minute timer, a 30-second pacer, and a travel case. You can even add mouthwash to the reservoir for extra dental treatment while you brush and floss. 

Watch out for power surges while you use this device. Surges have been known to cause this flosser to stop functioning. However, a responsive customer service team can help fix this known issue if this happens. 

Best for kids: Brusheez Kids’ Electric Toothbrush Set

Brusheez makes the best electric toothbrushes for kids in a range of animal shapes.

Billy Cadden

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Why it made the cut: This adorable dinosaur brush set will help get your child excited about brushing from an early age.

Specs  

  • Speeds: 1
  • Intensities: 1
  • Power source: 2 AA batteries

Pros

  • Adorable designs
  • Self-contained set
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Some users had issues with batteries not working
  • Batteries not rechargeable
The best electric toothbrushes of 2023

Teaching kids to make brushing a habit is a lot easier when there’s a dinosaur involved. Brusheez electric toothbrush sets are available in nine fun animal character shapes, from Snappy the crocodile and Pepper the dino to Jovie the giraffe. Created for kids for ages three and older, each brush is designed with soft bristles to go easy on teeth while removing twice as much plaque. The self-contained set comes with a replacement head, rinse cup, and two-minute sand timer to encourage good hygiene. Made without BPA, it can be placed on your bathroom counter or mounted to a mirror. And for some extra affirmation, the set includes a chart with gold stars to encourage brushing twice a day.

Best for braces: Oral-B Pro 1000 CrossAction Electric Toothbrush

Why it made the cut: The Pro 1000 made the cut for its ease of use and the effectiveness of its oscillating action when cleaning orthodontic braces.

Specs

  • Speeds: 1
  • Intensities: 1
  • Power source: Built-in, rechargeable battery

Pros

  • Compatible with a wide range of Oral-B replacement toothbrush heads
  • Bristle and head design cup the tooth for better cleaning coverage
  • Built-in 2-minute timer

Cons 

  • Timer doesn’t automatically shut off the toothbrush
  • Only one mode

The best electric toothbrush for braces, the Oral-B Pro 1000 CrossAction, uses an oscillating action with vibration. It’s a slightly different action from most toothbrushes, but it works well for moving under and around braces. This model is also compatible with many of Oral-B’s brush heads. 

The Oral-B Electric Toothbrush keeps things simple with one mode and a single intensity. A timer offers thirty-second warnings when it’s time to change the area of your mouth you’re brushing. However, the toothbrush doesn’t automatically turn off when two minutes are up. A longer vibration signals the end of the cycle, but the toothbrush continues to vibrate, so you do have to remember to turn this toothbrush off manually.

Best budget: Gleem Battery Power Electric Toothbrush

Why it made the cut: The Gleem looks and functions like a more expensive electric toothbrush, yet it has just the right features to keep it at an affordable price. 

Specs 

  • Speeds: 1
  • Intensities: 1 
  • Power source: Disposable AAA batteries 

Pros

  • Simple, 1-speed design
  • Memory function lets you stop the cleaning and pick up where you left off
  • Compact traveling case

Cons

  • Strong vibrations in the handle

The Gleem Electric Toothbrush cuts brushing down to the basics. It has one speed, one intensity, and a built-in timer. The only extra feature is a memory function that remembers where you were in the last brushing cycle so that you can pick up where you left off. It’s powered by disposable AAA batteries, making it a good option for travelers or those looking to save on counter space. The slim travel case is an appealing bonus. 

We love this affordable electric toothbrush, especially for travel. However, be warned that it has strong handle vibrations that may interfere with the vibrating head. 

Things to consider before buying an electric toothbrush

Battery type and run time

Electric toothbrushes usually have either a built-in, rechargeable battery or they use disposable batteries. The better battery type is largely a matter of personal preference. However, if you have an older bathroom that does not have an electrical outlet, a model with disposable batteries could be more practical.

Run times for either battery type vary from two days to several months. Battery life is affected by the settings used too. If you use a toothbrush at the highest vibration setting and brush three times a day, you’ll go through your battery faster than if you brush gently and only twice a day. Longer battery life and run times make brushing less of a hassle, especially when traveling. 

Smart features

Smart electric toothbrushes connect to an app via WiFi or Bluetooth. These toothbrushes use the app to time each brush session and may even automatically place orders for replacement heads. 

Some models track the areas of your mouth that have been brushed and make recommendations for areas that you consistently miss. There are also smart toothbrushes that can gauge the pressure applied to your teeth. These extra features can help you improve your brushing skills. However, they add dollars to the toothbrush’s price. 

Bristle motion and type

The bristles of an electric toothbrush come in the same varieties as manual toothbrushes: they vary by stiffnesses, shape, size, and configuration. Consider how the different bristle and head designs affect the performance. 

For example, electric toothbrushes with larger heads cover more area but might be too big for a child’s mouth. Others may include rubber components that buff while brushing. Consider what kind of cleaning you want the brush to do, and whether the extra features will help you with your oral health care.

Some designs, like electric toothbrush/water flosser combos, let you brush and floss with the same machine. If you’re considering a water flosser as part of your routine, these combos can save you time and money.

Cleaning modes

Some people prefer to stick to the basics and focus on a single cleaning mode. Others prefer to customize their brushing experience. Electric toothbrushes with several speeds or pulse settings let users find brushing motions that feel good for them and provide the best results for their specific oral hygiene needs.

FAQs

Q: How much does an electric toothbrush cost?

The cost of an electric toothbrush depends on what features it provides. A comprehensive system for daily oral hygiene, such as the Waterpik Sonic-Fusion Professional Flossing Electric Toothbrush, costs about $179. But you can also maintain your oral health with a more budget-friendly option, such as the Gleem Battery Power Electric Toothbrush, for less than $20.

Q: How do I choose an electric toothbrush?

Start by deciding on your budget. Some people happily spend hundreds on a toothbrush they’ll use for 10 or more years. Others might want something a little easier on the wallet. Afterward, consider the sensitivity of your teeth and gums. A single speed and intensity model might work well if your mouth isn’t overly sensitive. However, sensitive teeth and gums may require specialized lower settings that only come with more expensive brushes. Finally, consider the kind of action you want—oscillation, vibration, or both. Both work equally well, but some people prefer one over the other. 

Q: How can I remove tartar from my teeth without going to the dentist? 

The best way to remove and keep tartar from forming is to go to the dentist for regular cleanings. Then, brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day. Good oral hygiene prevents tartar from forming in the first place, so it doesn’t need removal by you or the dentist. Most home remedies for tartar removal will just as easily damage your gums and enamel as remove tartar. We recommend regular dental visits paired with consistent tooth care at home.  

Q: Do electric toothbrushes damage teeth?

Electric toothbrushes can damage teeth the same way a manual toothbrush can, though they are no longer more likely to damage teeth than their manual counterparts. Bristles that are too stiff can damage the enamel or irritate the gums. Over-aggressive brushing with an electric toothbrush can also damage teeth and gums in the same way manual brushing can. However, the timers on many electric toothbrushes are designed to counteract this by reminding you to move on to the next quadrant.

Final thoughts on the best electric toothbrushes

The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6100 Electric Toothbrush offers the best mix of features and functionality. It’s got just enough extras to give you options but isn’t so loaded with features that you feel like you’re waving a magic wand in your mouth. If you want an upgrade that cuts down on bathroom appliances, the Waterpik Sonic-Fusion Professional Flossing Electric Toothbrush brushes, flosses, and applies mouthwash. It has a higher price point and a storage commitment but makes up for it by excelling at providing all-in-one home tooth care.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

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