The Best Electric Toothbrushes for Your Pearly Whites (2024)

Skip to main content

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, thenView saved stories.

SearchSearch
  • Security
  • Politics
  • Gear
  • The Big Story
  • Business
  • Science
  • Culture
  • Ideas
  • Merch
  • Podcasts
  • Video
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Travel
  • Steven Levy's Plaintext Column
  • WIRED Classics from the Archive
  • Events
  • WIRED Insider
  • WIRED Consulting
  • Jobs
  • Coupons

Nena Farrell Medea Giordano

Gear

These rechargeable and battery-powered models put better oral hygiene within easy reach.

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

Featured in this article

The Best Electric Toothbrushes for Your Pearly Whites (3)

Best Oscillating Brush

Oral-B Pro 1000

Read more

The Best Electric Toothbrushes for Your Pearly Whites (4)

Best Sonic Brush

Philips Philips Sonicare 4100 Electric Toothbrush

Read more

The Best Electric Toothbrushes for Your Pearly Whites (5)

This One Auto-Starts

Be Lucent Prism Sonic Electronic Toothbrush

Read more

Show more

4

/

12

I hate brushing my teeth. I do it because I have to, but it’s a time-consuming, uncomfortable process—two minutes standing in front of the mirror can feel like an eternity. My dentist says I brush too harshly as well. Don't even get me started on flossing. Electric toothbrushes make the whole experience easier. Their vibrations and oscillations can more effectively get rid of plaque on your teeth and gums, and most brushes have a timer that encourages you to brush for the full two minutes.

Sonic or Oscillating Toothbrush?

There is a seemingly endless array of electric toothbrushes to pick from, but they generally fall into two categories: sonic and oscillating (for U-shaped brushes, see below). The best toothbrush is the one you'll use twice a day. You can buy the most highly rated toothbrush around, 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 adviser spokesperson for the American Dental Association, told me that both styles are effective in reducing plaque, according to recent studies. She notes that you should talk to a dentist about which one will work best for you, and she says to look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance Most of our picks have it. (If they don't, that doesn't necessarily mean they're bad.)

  • A sonic toothbrush looks similar to a manual brush, with an oval brush head. It vibrates gently and quietly, using high-speed side-to-side bristle motion to break up plaque. Sonicare was the first brand to introduce a sonic toothbrush and is probably the most well-known name in the category.
  • Oscillating toothbrushes rotate and pulsate—oscillate means to move or swing back and forth—around the whole tooth. They tend to be louder than sonic brushes and might make your head vibrate more while you brush. You will get used to this if you're new to electric brushes. Oral-B is probably the best-known brand for these types of electric toothbrushes.

Other Factors to Consider

In addition to choosing between oscillating and sonic toothbrushes, these are a few other factors that you might want to think about.

  • Future cost: You need to replace the brush head about every three months—more if you tend to brush with too much pressure. They range in price depending on the brand and type of head, so it's a good idea to check beforehand. Oral-B offers various types of heads in packs ranging from $9 for one to $55 for 10. Many brands offer subscriptions for cheaper. You can often find off-brand heads that cost less but work with the handle, though you might not get the same quality.
  • Charging: Electric toothbrushes have either rechargeable batteries or replaceable ones. Battery life depends on the brush, but it could need charging every week to every few months. Do you want to commit to keeping it charged or keeping a spare battery on hand or do you prefer the ease of a manual brush that works anywhere anytime?
  • Brand history: If you buy from a brand like Sonicare or Oral-B, there's a high likelihood that you'll be able to buy replacement brush heads or get ahold of customer service should you need anything. You can also get these in store instead of having to order online. We recommend a few newer brands here, many of which only have online storefronts and there's no way to predict if they'll be around in five years or not. Some make great brushes, however, so it may be worth it if the initial cost isn't too high.

How to Brush Teeth Effectively

Getting the best toothbrush money can buy won't mean anything if you don't brush correctly. Thankfully, it's pretty easy to do right:

  • Floss: Once a day, you should floss your teeth before brushing. I prefer floss picks to a string, and switched to a refillable version from Quip, but it seems to be no longer available.
  • Brush for 2 minutes: Brush twice a day, spending about a minute each on your top and bottom teeth—30 seconds for 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 teeth, and focus on cleaning the gum line, where food can stick and plaque can build up.
  • Be gentle: If your toothbrush bristles look like they've been crushed, you're brushing too hard. You want to keep your teeth clean, but you don't need to actually scrub to do that. Electric toothbrushes often help people be gentler, but you still need to be mindful of it.
  • Don't forget your tongue: Bacteria builds up on your tongue, which can cause bad breath despite clean teeth. You can brush it with your toothbrush or use the tongue cleaner that's on the backside of some brush heads. I like to pair that with a tongue scraper for $10 to remove most of the buildup first.
  • Don’t rinse: If you're using fluoride toothpaste—which helps prevent tooth decay—you shouldn't rinse your mouth or use mouthwash right away.

A good brush doesn't need to cost you more than a few Hamiltons. We've tested many types, from basic models to fancy ones with oscillating brushes and everything in between. We test brushes for at least two weeks but try to use them for their estimated battery life, switching between modes and noting the cleaning power of each.

Listed below are the best electric toothbrushes you can buy. We also have eco-friendly nonelectric options if you don't want to own another device that needs charging. Don't forget to check out our guides to the Best Hair Dryers and Best Shower Water Filters for more.

Updated October 2024: We've added the Brusheez and Moon electric toothbrushes as picks. plus notes on the Feno Smartbrush.

Christopher Null's reporting contributed to this guide.

Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today.

  • The Best Electric Toothbrushes for Your Pearly Whites (7)

Nena Farrell is a product writer and reviewer at WIRED, based in San Diego, California. She specializes in smart home gear, parenting, and textiles, and dabbles in a variety of other home and tech beats. Before joining WIRED, she covered smart home gear at The New York Times’ Wirecutter and... Read more

Writer and Reviewer

    Medea Giordano is a former staff writer for WIRED who covered a little bit of everything including health, beauty, and pet tech. Prior to WIRED, she was an assistant editor at Wirecutter and an assistant in the newsroom of The New York Times. She studied journalism at Hofstra University and... Read more

    Writer and Reviewer

    TopicsShoppinghouseholdbuying guideshealth

    Read More

    The Best Coffee Grinders to Amp Up Your Morning Brew

    Get more joy from your java. These conical-burr, flat-burr, and bladed machines let you enjoy freshly ground beans in every cup.

    Jaina Grey

    The Best Espresso Machines for the Home Barista

    Turning your kitchen into a café is a great way to learn (or hone) the art of making the perfect shot.

    Jaina Grey

    The Best Robot Vacuums to Keep Your Home Clean

    Whether you’re up against pet hair or you want to splurge on a high-end laser-guided robot vacuum, we have the perfect pick for you.

    Adrienne So

    Give Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office Chairs

    Sitting at a desk for hours? Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy WIRED-tested seats.

    Julian Chokkattu

    These Are the Best Dyson Vacuums You Can Buy

    Feeling the pull of a clean machine? We’ll help you make sense of Dyson’s whirlwind vacuum lineup.

    Brenda Stolyar

    The Best Smart Shades, Blinds, and Curtains

    From made-to-measure smart shades to retrofit curtain bots, these are our favorite WIRED-tested drapes for your windows.

    Simon Hill

    The Best Electric Cargo Bikes for Families

    We’ve spent years riding and testing extra-large ebikes, perfect for hauling both your little ones and groceries around town.

    Adrienne So

    The Best Wireless Earbuds for Working Out

    Rock your inner jock with a pair of sturdy, sweatproof, and tangle-proof headphones. Here are our favorites.

    Adrienne So

    WIRED COUPONS

    Dyson promo codeDyson Owner Rewards - 20% Off Dyson Promo CodeSamsung Promo CodeGet Up To An Extra 45% Off October SaleVistaPrint Promo CodeVistaprint Promotional Products Now Up To 30% OffNewegg Promo CodeNewegg Promo Code - 50% off Select ProductsPeacock TV Promo CodePeacock Student Discount For $1.99/Mo For 12 MonthsDJI Coupon CodeGet The New DJI Mini 4 Pro From $759 For A Limited Time
    The Best Electric Toothbrushes for Your Pearly Whites (2024)

    References

    Top Articles
    Latest Posts
    Recommended Articles
    Article information

    Author: Errol Quitzon

    Last Updated:

    Views: 5674

    Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

    Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Errol Quitzon

    Birthday: 1993-04-02

    Address: 70604 Haley Lane, Port Weldonside, TN 99233-0942

    Phone: +9665282866296

    Job: Product Retail Agent

    Hobby: Computer programming, Horseback riding, Hooping, Dance, Ice skating, Backpacking, Rafting

    Introduction: My name is Errol Quitzon, I am a fair, cute, fancy, clean, attractive, sparkling, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.