Brushing your teeth, whether with a manual or the best electric toothbrush, is a key part of your daily regimen that ideally shouldn’t be skipped. There are several notable electric options on the market, some with more bells and whistles than others. To ensure they are suitable for everyday use and deserving of their “best” title, we consulted a few dentists. We also asked them whether you should choose a vibrating or rotating toothbrush, which type is best, and what the proper brushing technique is.
Our Top Picks
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Best Overall: Oral-B Pro 1000 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush
- Why We Love It: Oral-B truly deserves its place as one of the most trusted and dentist-approved brands. Cosmetic dentist Dr. Brian Kantor notes, “This is a great toothbrush with multiple settings, a round brush head, and cleaning with micro-vibrations and oscillating actions. It features a timer, like most electric toothbrushes, and a sensor to detect when too much pressure is applied.” Additionally, this brush offers three motions—oscillation, pulsation, and rotation—for an efficient cleaning experience, and its smaller, circular brush head excels at reaching hard-to-get spots.
- Settings/Modes: 3 cleaning modes, pressure sensor, 2-minute timer
- What’s Featured: Replacement brush head, charger
Best Battery Life: Moon Sonic Electric Toothbrush
- Why We Love It: This sleek toothbrush comes in four shades—black, pink, gold, and red—but it’s not just about looks; it also offers impressive functionality. According to Kantor, this is a great toothbrush with a built-in timer and the “longest charge on the market,” promising up to six weeks of use on a single charge. This means you can forget the charger on your week-long trip to Italy without worry. With 36,000 sonic vibrations per minute, it’s 120 times more powerful than a manual toothbrush, ensuring your teeth are in excellent hands.
- Settings/Modes: 5 Smart modes: clean, white, polish, massage, sensitive
- What’s Featured: 2 Interchangeable brush heads, USB charging base, on-the-go travel case
Best for Sensitive Teeth: Philips Sonicare 4100 Power Toothbrush
- Why We Love It: Another brand that has put in its 10,000 hours, this toothbrush may not be as fancy as others on this list, but it’s reliable and relatively affordable. “It features a built-in pressure sensor and timer, alerts you when it’s time to replace the toothbrush head, and offers two intensity levels for sensitive teeth and gums,” says Kantor.
- Settings/Modes: 2 intensity settings, pressure sensor, 2-minute timer
- What’s Featured: Optimal plaque control brush head, USB charger
Best for Travel: Quip 360 Oscillating Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush
- Why We Love It: “Quip is simple to use and effectively cleans teeth,” says Kantor. This new electric toothbrush from the brand is much stronger than its original model, but thankfully includes a pressure sensor to prevent over-brushing. It takes up virtually no room in your bathroom, is easy to travel with (up to 30 days of use on a single charge), and comes in four sleek shades. Quip also offers a subscription service that delivers a new brush head every few weeks, making it easy to maintain a healthy oral care routine.
- Settings/Modes: 3 brushing intensities: gentle, daily, and deep clean, oscillating brush head, 2-minute timer
- What’s Featured: Replacement brush head, countertop stand, travel case, magnetic mount, USB charger
Best Budget: Aquasonic Ultra Whitening Toothbrush
- Why We Love It: This brush has Kantor’s stamp of approval, featuring eight brush heads (each brush head lasts three to four months), four cleaning modes—clean, soft, whiten, and massage—a two-minute timer, and a powerful motor with 40,000 vibrations per minute. At under $50, it’s the most affordable option on this list. Our favorite feature is its wireless charging capability, so you won’t need to remember where you stored the USB charger when it eventually runs out of power.
- Settings/Modes: 4 cleaning modes, 2-minute timer
- What’s Featured: Wireless charging base, 8 DuPont brush heads, travel case
How to choose an electric toothbrush
There are many features available in electric toothbrushes, but according to dentist Dr. Chris Salierno, the two most important are a variety of brush head movements and a timer to ensure you brush for the recommended amount of time. If you tend to brush with a heavy hand, he recommends a device that alerts you to increased pressure. Kantor advises opting for soft bristles to ensure thorough cleaning and plaque removal. “Other features are less critical to me, but if they make you excited about using your brush, then I’m all for it,” says Salierno.
Which type of electric toothbrush is best?
Best is subjective, but any electric brush, when used properly, can significantly improve a manual brusher’s routine, says Salierno. “The best brush for you is the one that has the features you want at the right price.”
Is a vibrating or rotating toothbrush better?
“Some studies have shown that rotating electric toothbrushes are more effective than vibrating toothbrushes at reducing plaque and gingivitis after three months of use,” explains Kantor. Rotating toothbrushes can also reach difficult spots more effectively than those that simply vibrate.
Is it worth getting an electric toothbrush?
Absolutely! As long as you’re committed to using it (along with daily flossing!), an electric toothbrush can be a game changer in helping keep teeth in their best shape in-between dentist appointments. Kantor points out that one advantage of electric toothbrushes is that they have built-in timers to ensure you brush for the full two minutes.
Is an electric toothbrush better than a manual toothbrush?
“Both manual and electric brushes can be used effectively, but I think an electric brush is easier to use consistently, especially in the morning when you’re still waking up,” says Salierno. They’re particularly beneficial for those with limited manual dexterity, as they often come with built-in timers and are designed to do most of the work for you. “A manual toothbrush is technique sensitive, depending on the person,” says Kantor.
What is the proper way to brush your teeth?
Kantor explains that you should brush twice a day, spending about 30 seconds on each quadrant of your mouth. “When using an electric toothbrush, it’s not necessary to press hard or scrub. Instead, gently guide the brush along as it does the work,” he says to avoid causing any gum recession.
Start by holding your brush at a 45-degree angle, just as you would with a manual toothbrush. Begin with the outside surfaces of your teeth, gently guiding the brush head slowly from tooth to tooth. Hold the brush head in place for 3-5 seconds against each tooth before moving to the next one. Make sure to follow the shape of each tooth and the curve of your gums. After brushing your teeth, take a few seconds to direct the brush head along your gum line and on your gums, Kantor advises.
Meet the Experts
- Dr. Brian Kantor is a cosmetic dentist and co-owner of Lowenberg, Lituchy & Kantor in New York
- Dr. Chris Salierno is a general dentist and the Chief Dental Officer at Tend in New York
