The best electric toothbrushes, tested and reviewed (2024)

There is an endless array of electric toothbrushes to choose from, but they generally fall into two categories: sonic and oscillating (with U-shaped brushes, see below). The best toothbrush is one that you will use twice a day. You can buy a high-quality toothbrush, 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 consumer advocate for the American Dental Association, told me that both styles are effective in reducing plaque, according to recent research. He notes that you should talk to your dentist about which one will work best for you, and says look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance Most of our options have. (If they don’t, that doesn’t mean they’re bad.)

• A sonic toothbrush it looks like a manual brush, with an oval brush head. It vibrates slowly and quietly, using high-speed side-to-side bristle movements to break up plaque. Sonicare was the first brand to introduce a sonic toothbrush and is probably the best known name in the category.
• Toothbrushes rotate and pulsate—oscillate means to go back and forth—around the entire tooth. They tend to be louder than sonic brushes and can make your head vibrate a lot while brushing. You will get used to this if you are new to electric brushes. Oral-B is probably the most well-known brand of 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 costs: You need to replace the brush head about every three months—more if you tend to brush with a lot of pressure. They vary in price depending on the make and model of the head, so it’s a good idea to check beforehand. Oral-B offers a variety of heads in packs ranging from $9 for one to $55 for 10. Many brands offer cheap subscriptions. You can usually find off-brand heads that are less expensive but work with the handle, although you may not get the same quality.
• Charging: Electric toothbrushes have rechargeable or replaceable batteries. Battery life depends on the brush, but may need to be charged every week to several months. Do you want to commit to keeping it charged or keep a spare battery on hand or do you prefer the convenience of a brush that works anywhere anytime?
• Brand history: If you buy from a brand like Sonicare or Oral-B, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to buy replacement brush heads or get customer service if you need something. You can also get these in store instead of ordering online. We recommend a few new brands here, many of which only have an online storefront and there’s no way to predict whether they’ll be around in five years or not. Some make good brushes, though, so it might be worth it if the initial cost isn’t too high.

Getting the best toothbrush for the money will mean nothing if you don’t brush properly. Fortunately, it’s very easy to do well:

• Floss: Once a day, you should brush your teeth before brushing. I prefer the floss pick to string, and have switched to the refillable version from Quip, but it seems to be no longer available.
• Knead for 2 minutes: Brush twice a day, spending about a minute on your top and bottom teeth—30 seconds in each quadrant, which is why most electric toothbrushes have 30-second timers to remind you to move on to the next one. Make sure you get the front and back of the teeth, and focus on cleaning the gum line, where food can get stuck and plaque can build up.
• Be gentle: If your toothbrush feels like it’s turned off, you’re brushing too hard. You want to keep your teeth clean, but you don’t need to brush to do that. Electric toothbrushes tend to help people become gentler, but you still need to be careful.
• Don’t forget your language: Bacteria build up on your tongue, which can cause bad breath despite clean teeth. You can brush it with your toothbrush or use the tongue cleaner on the back of some brush heads. I like to pair that with clear scraper for $10 removing most of the buildup first.
• Do not wash: If you use fluoride toothpaste—which helps prevent tooth decay—you should not rinse your mouth or use mouthwash right away.