Home Oral and Dental Care
Amy SchlingerUpdated: Nov. 24, 2020
We asked dentists to share their favorite electric toothbrushes for every budget, and the features that are best for getting whiter teeth.
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Brushing your teeth
When you think about all the things that go in and out of your mouth—food, candy, medicine, and air (plus pollution), continually—it’s easy to understand why brushing your teeth is so important. “Our mouths are the gateways to our bodies, and they are worth a small investment in a high-quality toothbrush,” says Heather Kunen, DDS, co-founder of Beam Street Dentistry in New York City. And in order to get the best quality, you may want to consider investing in an electric toothbrush. (Find out the toothbrushing mistake everyone makes.)
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Is an electric toothbrush worth it?
“Brushing manually is an average of 60 strokes per minute, while brushing with electric toothbrushes generally gives you 40-60,000 strokes per minute,” explains Gerry Curatola, DDS, biologic restorative dentist, founder of Rejuvenation Dentistry in New York City. “This is much more effective for cleaning your teeth. Electric toothbrushes also have timers to keep people brushing for the correct amount of time, which is two minutes, two times a day, according to the American Dental Association. (This is how bad it is to brush your teeth once a day.) They can also be helpful for people who have less dexterity, Dr. Curatola adds.
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Which is the best electric toothbrush?
But there are so many options to choose from when it comes to an electric toothbrush—how should you decide? “When it comes to features to look for in an electric brush, choose one with ultra soft bristles, a range of vibration frequencies, and a small and ergonomic brush head,” says Dr. Kunen. If you tend to go a little too rough on your teeth, an electric brush can help with this issue. “Some have pressure indicator functions, which are perfect for those who may brush too aggressively,” says Inna Chern, a dentist at New York General Dentistry in New York City. “Many have additional features to sync with apps that can monitor overall hygiene, too.”
Ready to make the upgrade from manual to electric? We asked our oral hygiene experts to share their favorite toothbrushes, from most expensive to least. Here are the best electric toothbrushes, according to dentists. (Also, check out the teeth-cleaning mistakes dentists make.)
via amazon.com
Phillips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9300 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush
$188
“These are the only brushes my family and I use and that I recommend for my patients,” says Dr. Curatola. “The bristles are soft and perfect even for my tiniest of patients,” says Dr. Kunen. “They are very gentle on teeth and gums while still being able to remove bacteria and plaque, which is exactly what we want! This is the toothbrush I use, and it is my favorite toothbrush I have tried,” she says. “The brush lasts for years (I had my first one for five years) and has easily replaceable and affordable brush heads.”
via vanityplanet.com
Elements Sonic Toothbrush
$80
“This toothbrush is great for the environmentally-conscious as it is vegan and cruelty-free,” says Dr. Kunen. “The brush has a competitive high vibrational frequency, includes a two-minute timer, which is the length of time you need to brush for, and multiple brushing modes. This brush was originally quite pricey but has been dramatically reduced in price as of late; it’s time to strike while the iron’s hot!”
via burstoralcare.com
Burst Sonic Toothbrush
$70
“Sonic toothbrush has garnered lots of attention due to their social media marketing, and includes a subscription-based service,” says Dr. Kunen. “New brush heads are mailed to the consumer every 90 days for six dollars per month, removing the need for the consumer to have to remember to replace his/her brush head every three months. This brush provides impressive vibrational frequency and won’t break the bank!”
via getquip.com
Quip Toothbrush with Automatic Refill
$55
“The Quip brush offers a sleek design and is very lightweight,” says Dr. Chern. “Compact design allows you to easily take it anywhere. It also has a two-minute timer, which is a great add, with quadrant reminders, too. The subscription service option makes it foolproof to remember to change the head.” (Here are the surprising ways to keep your teeth healthy.)
via amazon.com
AquaSonic Black Series Ultra Whitening Toothbrush
$37
“This rechargeable electric toothbrush has an ultra sleek design, a high vibrational frequency, and includes a travel case—perfect for the frequent traveler or those who do so for work—as well as eight replaceable brush heads, so you won’t have to worry about buying replacements for about two years,” says Dr. Kunen. “The brush is also a great price!”
via amazon.com
Fairywill Electric Toothbrush Powerful Sonic Cleaning
$30
“The head on the Fairywill brush is compact and gets to those hard-to-reach spots,” says Dr. Chern. “It is fairly inexpensive and comes with head replacements so you’ll have them when it’s time to switch, which is always convenient. The battery life is great at one month and comes with a travel USB charger, perfect for those who spend a lot of time on the road for work or pleasure.” (This is the most efficient way to keep your teeth clean.)
via amazon.com
Oral-B Electric Toothbrush Pro-Health Gum Care, Battery Powered Toothbrush
$15
“This battery-powered toothbrush is great for travel, as it doesn’t require a recharging cord, and is easily portable,” says Dr. Kunen. “It’s also extremely affordable so if it is lost during travel, it’s no big deal from a financial perspective if you end up having to get a new one.” (Here are the reasons why you have bleeding gums.)
via amazon.com
Arm & Hammer Spinbrush Pro Series White Battery Toothbrush
$8
Brush your teeth in two directions at once—around in circles and side to side—when you turn this toothbrush on. The handle was built to be held comfortable with ergonomics in mind. When it’s time to switch out your toothbrush, simply purchase available replacement heads. The flat bottom allows it to stand up on your countertop without needing any added base or holder.
via amazon.com
Colgate 360 Optic White Sonic Battery Powered Soft Toothbrush
$5
“Another brush with a compact design and small head size to allow you to get even those back molars really well when you’re brushing,” says Dr. Chern. “It’s a good, cheap upgrade on a conventional brush.” This is a nice brush to try out before spending money on a more expensive electric option. The brush head size allows you to get your teeth fully clean in the recommended two-minutes, so you won’t have to spend any extra time at the sink like you might with smaller brush heads. Bonus: It has a tongue cleaner, too.
Next, read oral hygiene tips for healthy, white teeth.
Sources
- Heather Kunen, DDS, MS, co-founder of Beam Street Dentistry in New York City
- Gerry Curatola, DDS, biologic restorative dentist, founder of Rejuvenation Dentistry in New York City
- American Dental Association: "Brushing Your Teeth"
- Inna Chern, DDS, dentist at New York General Dentistry in New York City
Originally Published: June 05, 2020
Amy Schlinger
Amy Schlinger is a skilled reporter, writer, and editor who regularly interviews world-renowned doctors and medical professionals, elite trainers, nutrition experts, professional athletes, and celebrities. She has 11 years of experience covering health, fitness, wellness, nutrition, and lifestyle topics. She has held staff positions at Shape Magazine, DailyBurn, Self Magazine, and PopSugar. Her work has appeared in Men’s Health, The New York Post, Women’s Health, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Health Magazine, Outside Magazine, Livestrong, Map My Fitness, MSN, Runner’s World, Bicycling Magazine, and more. She has been featured in DailyBurn’s Live to Fail workout video series (five total), is a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT), and is certified in Kettlebell Training. Amy is extremely passionate about healthy living, and can often be found researching and testing out new wellness trends and fitness programs or strength training at the gym. She has run six half marathons, completed one triathlon, biked two century rides, finished two Tough Mudder races, and four Spartan races, including a beast at the Spartan World Championships at Squaw Mountain in North Lake Tahoe.
