It's widely considered by dentists that an electric toothbrush is always the best option when it comes to maintaining oral health. With the latest advances in smart technology, these types of tech devices are becoming so much more accessible on the high street. Electric toothbrushes are no longer seen as a luxury investment but are actually seen as necessary by some dentists. There are plenty of options to maintain the right cleaning routine for healthy teeth and gums, but what are the best electric toothbrushes on the market?
With the move away from manual brushes, the modern features of an electric toothbrush mean you can tailor your regime to your dental needs and work on specific problem areas. Dentists are now starting to recommend using electric over manual for a deeper, more thorough clean. We've consulted with the experts to give us some insight into the best electric toothbrushes out there, as well as their advice on how to get the most out of your new toothbrush.
Is An Electric Toothbrush Better Than A Manual Toothbrush?
Dr Reena Wadia, global dental expert and founder of RW Perio, a specialist dental clinic based at Harley Street offers her insight. 'Electric toothbrushes are far more effective at removing plaque than manual brushes because they’re designed to gently massage teeth and gums correctly - with many now having a pressure sensor that warns you if you’re pressing too hard.'
What Should You Look For In The Best Electric Toothbrushes?
With so many options and a variety of features, knowing what to look for in an electric toothbrush can be challenging. Which features are really necessary? Dr Reena says: 'Electric toothbrushes with pressure sensors can ensure that you are not over-brushing as excessive pressure can harm both your teeth and gums. A two-minute timer is standard on most models as it is recommended to spend 30 seconds per quadrant. Most brushes can signal you when it is time to move area. Bluetooth is often used to connect to a phone app which can help track progress.'
Still in the market for a new toothbrush? Here are the best electric toothbrushes to shop right now.
SHOP: The Best Electric Toothbrushes 2023
Oral-BWe spoke to Dr Sam Jethwa, a leading cosmetic dentist and the Vice President of The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, who recommends the Oral-B iO9 Electric Toothbrush as one of the best electric toothbrushes. He says: 'This toothbrush comes with a linear magnetic drive system, which directs the bristles around the teeth to ensure every part is brushed. It also has gentle micro-vibrations that effectively work to remove plaque.'
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Its price of £800 is undoubtedly quite shocking for a toothbrush. Admittedly, it's expensive, but Grazia's head of fashion commerce, Hannah Banks-Walker, suggests it could save you money in the long run. 'I had only been using this for a few months when I found it was time for my annual dentist appointment. While I was at my check-up, my dentist told me that I didn't need a hygienist appointment due to the fact that my teeth were immaculately clean. Honestly, this is pretty amazing and, if it means I don't need to spend money going through the uncomfortable process of dental cleaning, I'm sold.'
SURITaking the electric toothbrush back to first principles, the SURI Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush has created a design that delivers an exceptional clean for your teeth with a minimal impact on the planet. Made with a recyclable plant-based head and bristles, this sleek shape and modern design comes with a self-cleaning brush case that uses state of the art UV-C LED technology to kill bacteria on your toothbrush, all while charging it when plugged in.
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The Oral-B Pro 2 Electric Toothbrush is a sure contender with thousands of highly-rated reviews on Amazon. At a fair price, the Pro 2 features an oscillating round brush head that makes short work of plaque, proprietary pressure control technology to alert you when you're brushing too hard and a professional timer in order to get a full clean. A travel case means it's easy to use on the go, and it also comes recommended by dentists.
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Ensuring you keep those pearly whites clean in between dentist appointments, tech giant Philips crafts the Sonicare 7900 Electric Toothbrush. Fitted with Bluetooth technology, you're able to make the most of an app that guides you through your brushing routine. As well as three different brushing modes, it also features a built-in pressure sensor - and comes with four brush heads as well as a travel case.
AmazonPrestige by name and prestige by nature, the luxurious Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Prestige 9900 comes with an AI-powered app and adapts to your brushing style, sensing your pressure, time and motion, it can change rhythm accordingly to get the best clean and give real-time guidance via the app. The best part? It even charges via USB cable in a smart travel case, so it's the perfect travel brush for when you're on the go.
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Offering an intuitive experience, the Oral-B Genius 8000 Electric Toothbrush allows you to target problem areas with unique position technology. Advising you on areas to improve, the Genius 8000 pairs with a Bluetooth smart coaching app so you can see the care you need to take. It comes with five different brushing modes depending on what area you want to focus on, as well as gum pressure control to tell you where you need to ease up.
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Oral-B's iO6 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush has proven to be an in-demand model. As part of the sensitive edition, this model is a fantastic choice for those with tender gums. Designed alongside up-and-coming smart technology, it uses AI brushing recognition, a smart pressure sensor and five different brushing modes so that you can get your desired brushing routine that's tailored to you.
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A bestseller at John Lewis, the Philips Sonicare ExpertClean 7300 Electric Toothbrush uses advanced sonic technology to deliver a deep clean. A USB charging travel case means that it's ever so practical, and the handle also has a unique indicator to tell you when it's time to change your brush head. If you connect to the Sonicare app, you also get a personalised progress report to track your improvement over time.
AmazonDespite being the predecessor of the Philips Sonicare ExpertClean 7300, the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300 is still proving popular on Amazon, being currently on offer at a respectable half price. It comes with a sleek travel case for convenience and is powered by sonic brushing technology. Using a BrushSync microchip, the smart brush head is synchronised with the smart handle to enable brush replacement reminders.
Oral-Bwww.boots.com
Being the most purse-friendly option, the Oral-B iO4 Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush has remained a trending choice at Boots. For a purifying clean feel, Oral-B uses revolutionary technology that combines a round brush head with gentle micro-vibrations that dentists recommend. Built-in smart pressure sensors guide you to the perfect brushing pressure, so you can get a gentle and satisfying brushing experience.
What Are The Different Types Of Electric Toothbrush?
Which type of electric toothbrush you choose tends to come down to preference. Dr Reena explains the difference between brush types. 'There are two types of electric toothbrushes to choose from: oscillating-rotary and sonic. Oscillating toothbrushes - as the name suggests - oscillate back and forth to help remove plaque, while rotary toothbrushes rotate in a circular motion. These do a particularly good job at removing plaque from the teeth compared to a manual toothbrush,' she says.
Expanding on that, Dr Jethwa at Bespoke Smile says: 'The sonic toothbrush is similar to a manual toothbrush as the head is rectangular, this toothbrush works by using vibrations to clean the tooth and break through the plaque. Both types of electric toothbrushes are effective, however, you will have to work harder at your technique if using a sonic brush. When choosing your toothbrush, opt for one with bristles that will get between the teeth and into the gumline. I would also recommend a toothbrush with a smaller, round brush head as this enables you to reach the wisdom teeth far back in the mouth.'
What Is The Best Practice When Using An Electric Toothbrush?
‘You do not need to press hard whilst brushing your teeth with an electric toothbrush. A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that the harder they brush their teeth, the cleaner they’ll get. However, applying too much pressure to the toothbrush when brushing can damage the tooth enamel and also cause the gums to recede,' Dr Jethwa says.
'You need to place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the spot where the gums and teeth meet, angle upwards for the upper teeth and downwards for the lower teeth.' Dr Reena tells us. 'Spend a few seconds per tooth. For those with established gum disease, you are likely to need more than 2 minutes. You should also look to change the brush head of your electric toothbrush every three months.'
Samantha 'Sam' Price is a Beauty, Fashion & Wellness Products Writer at Grazia magazine. In 2021, Sam began her journey as a Storytelling Executive at Closer and heatworld on an internship, creating beauty and fashion content across these brands. It was 2022 when Sam was employed as a Commercial Content Writer writing about Family Life on Yours, Mother & Baby and Spirit & Destiny. Now, she specialises in beauty, fashion and wellness content across many brands.