Having one of the best electric toothbrushes in your bathroom cabinet could make all the difference to your oral hygiene routine and general health, removing bacteria with ease. With a range of excellent features, such as timers, several brushing modes, and pressure sensors, they work with you to help improve your brushing long-term.
In the past, having a manual toothbrush was good enough. But, these days, most dentists recommend an electric tool - like the best Oral-B toothbrushes paired with your choice of toothpaste - to get in between the teeth and scrub away plaque from hard-to-reach places.
Here at woman&home, we know the value of a proper clean. So, over the years, we've tried and tested a whole range of electric toothbrushes from across a collection of top brands to discover which ones were truly worth the time and money.
The best electric toothbrushes as chosen by our experts
Why you can trust Woman & Home Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Oral-B'S iO9 Ultimate Clean Electric Toothbrush is the top overall brush as it covers all the basics and truly anything else you'd ever need (and more) from an electric toothbrush. From the built-in AI technology that works via the connected app to memorise how you clean to make sure you hit every part of the mouth to simple timer and pressure sensor functions, it's a dream to use and equally as nice to look at. I've had mine for almost a year now and would never go back to using any other electric toothbrush.
The iO9 has seven smart modes, including whitening, daily clean, and sensitive, for those with sensitive teeth and gums. While brushing, you'll see a the pressure sensor working via the red, green, and white lights that appear under the head, signalling when you're brushing too hard or not hard enough.
In terms of charging, I found it really couldn't be easier. The sleek charging cable features a magnetic base so the brush doesn't fall off, with a round, black plastic disk that lights up when the brush is in use and also shows the countdown timer. Oral-B says this brush has a three-hour quick charge mode, something I definitely agree with, and a 10 - 14 day battery life. During out test, this checked out too as I found the brush lasted for 12 days on average. It also comes with one brush head, a charging travel case, a charger, and a refill holder.
It's an expensive toothbrush in comparison to other Oral-B models on this list, but you'll often find it at a discount during the sales seasons, and it's worth the investment if you're ready to get truly serious about your dental hygiene.
See our full Oral-B iO10 review here.
It's fair to say that many of the best electric toothbrushes come with a premium price tag and though you often get what you pay for, there's no need to spend beyond your budget for a great clean. The Bitvae R2 Rotating Electric Toothbrush is my pick of the bunch when it comes to finding the balance between budget-friendly buys and quality.
My favourite thing about the Bitvae R2 Rotating Electric Toothbrush is that it really ticks the boxes where the essentials are concerned. It features a timer, with 30-second haptic feedback, to keep you on track with brushing, along with a sensitive pressure sensor, and five complete cleaning modes. So whether you're looking to just get a daily clean in with one of the best toothpaste or you need a specialist clean, it's got you covered. In this way, it's not too dissimilar to our best pick - the Oral-B iO9 Ultimate Clean Electric Toothbrush. Although, of course, it lacks some of the more advanced features.
But it's not only the excellent features and host of 5-star reviews that make this budget buy the winner, this electric toothbrush comes with eight replacement heads and a travel case, meaning you save in the long-run as well by not having to buy the replacement heads as often or purchase an additional electric toothbrush to travel with.
There's nothing more frustrating than an electric toothbrush that cuts out mid-clean. Luckily, with the Waken More Sustainable Sonic Electric Toothbrush, that's not a problem. Our shopping writer Hannah Holway tested this brush for over two weeks and still uses it today. She's consistently impressed by how long the battery lasts in this device, working out that she gets up 227 brushes per charge.
"I've had the brush for about three months and genuinely have not had to charge it once. It says it can go 60 brushes without a charge but considering I brush mine two to three times a day, I've gotten way more brushes out of the one charge than 60," says Hannah.
When it comes to using the brush, it's also a smooth experience."The toothbrush has three modes which are easy to click through," she says. "The first is very intense, there's a kind of 'staggered' mode, then a more relaxed mode which I usually go for when I use the brush." Like all the best electric toothbrushes, it also comes with a haptic feedback timer that counts down brushing time every 30 seconds. Although, it doesn't come with a pressure sensor, so you'll have to monitor the pressure yourself.
The heads don't rotate, much like the Suri Sustainable Electric Toothbrush, and the device comes with soft bristles, but the brush certainly gets the job done. "It works better on my teeth than any other brush I've tried. Plus, the heads are really easy to remove for a thorough clean."
See the full Waken More Sustainable Sonic Electric Toothbrush review here.
Hannah is the UK Shopping Writer for woman&home. She's reviewed everything from the best pillows to wine subscriptions and is especially interested in sustainable alternatives to well-known products, as well as homeware and accessories. Before joining our in-house shopping team, Hannah also explored evolving shopping trends at New York Magazine’s The Strategist UK, researching everything from face masks to status candles.
Out of all the best electric toothbrushes we tested, the Oral-B Pro 3 brush came out on top for being particularly good for those with sensitive teeth thanks to the specialist mode and built-in pressure sensor.
When brushing sensitive teeth, it's important not to accidentally press too hard and the Oral-B Pro 3 prevents you from doing just that. Not only is there a light up sensor below the brush head that flashes red, the actual speed of the brush slows down, forcing you to lighten up.
The specialist Sensitive mode is useful for this too, as the device vibrates at a lower intensity consistently for two minutes. But in testing this device myself (as I've dealt with sensitive teeth for years), I also found the Daily Clean function feels a little lighter than some others. So, no matter what mode I chose, I felt like my teeth were getting a thorough brush - but nothing too intense. For those who have sensitive gums, it's a winner for the same reason.
For a premium brushing experience, it's got to be the Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige toothbrush. Not only is the design a stand-out among similar brushes, with its sleek metallic exterior and leather-effect travel case that actually charges the device as well, it's purpose is to make the brushing experience as personalised as possible.
You will need the app to take advantage of this but once downloaded, you can totally revamp your brushing experience to work for you by adjusting the various modes (choose from from Clean, White+, Gum Health, Deep Clean, and Sensitive options) and the intensity completely separately. So, you can still brush for whiter teeth, while keeping sensitive teeth pain-free. It's a unique feature we didn't see anywhere else while testing the brushes.
As much as being a premium app for those who want and can afford to pay for the very best, it's also a brush for those who like to dig deep into their oral hygiene. If you're after an easy ride, this isn't the brush for you, and I'd suggest opting for the Oral-B iO9 instead as you don't need to use the app at all to make the best of the brush.
In the app on the Philips device, for example, you can see a map of your mouth that shows the areas you brush more than others and receive a complete guided session to cover every element of your mouth. Having tested both this device and the Oral-B iO9, I can say they are similar in this feature but the Philips model does more to encourage a complete clean.
Much like other brushes on the list, there's an effective timer on the brush and visible on the app, with a pressure sensor to stop you brushing too aggressively by accident.
Even the most committed to their dental hygiene might forgo taking a bulky electric toothbrush (plus the charger) away with them, but the Suri Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush could change all that. Complete with two simple brushing modes, this brush is an addition to any suitcase. It comes in a super slim design, meaning it doesn't take up much space, while offering two thorough brushing modes, sonic vibrations (33,000 of them), and a timer.
It also comes with an equally slim travel case, with a UV light on the inside to help remove bacteria from the head, should you need to store it on the side of the sink between uses.
Reviewed by woman&home's head of ecommerce, Millie Fender, the brush also scores big points for battery life, another essential feature if you're taking the brush on the move."Despite having used it for a year, I've only recharged it four times, meaning it doesn't suddenly go dead mid-brush - unlike a few of the other toothbrushes I've tried!" says Millie. "One of the best things about it as well is the magnetic wall mount, which means my sink looks a lot less cluttered on a daily basis."
With this review though comes a warning. "One thing I will say is that the brush head doesn't rotate so it's not comparable to a lot of other brushes," she says. When trying to get into the nooks and crannies between the teeth and at the back of the mouth, a rounder and smaller rotating head can be useful. As the brush it's best suited for travel in our eyes though, this isn't too much of a problem as you'll be back to your usual brush soon enough.
Our Head of Ecommerce Millie heads up all of our shopping content. With years of testing experience, including being Future Lifestyle's Head of Reviews, she has stringent standards when it comes to putting a product through its paces.
Millie specialises in testing electricals, from hair tools to air fryers. She's been on trips with De'Longhi to see their Italian factory, and attended masterclasses at Ninja and Shark HQ to stay in the loop with all their latest developments.
The Waterpik Complete Care 9.5 Oscillating Electric Toothbrush Plus Water Flosser is a smart investment if you're concerned about gum disease and want an alternative option to the usual flossing routine. It can also be a useful tool to help with proper cleaning if you've found your teeth turning yellow lately. Available only in black from Amazon at the moment, this compact set features an individual toothbrush and water flosser, offering both tasks without compromises.
I tested the Waterpik Complete Care 9.5 Oscillating Electric Toothbrush Plus Water Flosser myself for just over two weeks - and my teeth have never felt so clean. The brush is easy to use, with a singular button to turn the device on/off and cycle through the three mode choices. The flosser is equally as simple with one on/off button, but it offers an impressive range of 10 settings via a dial on the side of the reservoir so I could choose the clean I wanted at every session.
The electric toothbrush comes with two triple clean brush heads, both of which have soft, high-low bristles for a gentle (but firm-enough) touch on the teeth and gums. I found the two-minute timer, with 30-second haptic feedback, useful to stop myself getting distracted and over or under-brushing.
The flosser has a swivel base on the handle that allows for easy access to all areas of the mouth, particularly below the gumline and it comes with five water flossing tips for anyone (like me) who is relatively new to water flossing with the device.
How we tested the best electric toothbrushes
When testing the best electric toothbrushes, we gathered a range from across brands - including big names like Oral-B, Philips, and Braun, alongside smaller brands with a primary focus on sustainability and function. We considered our own guide on all you need to know before buying an electric toothbrush, and tested all the toothbrushes in this guide for two weeks, both in the morning and in the evening.
As well as assessing how well they cleaned our teeth, how easy they were to set up and use, and whether they were worth the price tag, we also spoke to dentist Dr Richard Marques to gain further insight into the benefit of using an electric toothbrush and features to consider.
Taking of all this into account, we came up with six key features:
- Speed: Some electric toothbrushes feature different speed modes. These modes are great if you're sharing an electric toothbrush with others (each with your own brush heads, of course) and you're each after different things. Different modes include everything from sensitive to white, deep clean, and more.
- Brush head: Electric toothbrushes can be either oscillating (rotating brush heads) or sonic (vibrating brush heads). "Look for a rotating and oscillating brush, meaning that the head will move side to side and pulses up and down, covering a wider range and brushing over an area several times to ensure no dirt has been missed," Dr Marques says.
- Timer control: If you’re never sure how long you clean your teeth for and if you’re doing it for long enough, an electric toothbrush that comes with a built-in timer is great. "This will make sure that you're cleaning for the correct amount of time and ensure your teeth are as clean as possible," he says.
- Replaceable brush heads: No matter what electric toothbrush you choose, you will need to change the brush head when the current one’s bristles are worn down. Replacements can cost a lot, so it’s worth checking how much these are before you invest in a certain model and manufacturer.
- Pressure sensor: "This will make sure you’re not pressing too hard on the teeth during cleaning and therefore not leading to any damage," Dr Marques says. However, we want to provide a range of the best electric toothbrushes at various price points so some do not include this.
- Battery life: It’s not worth spending a lot of money on an electric toothbrush that has a poor battery life and needs constant charging. This is especially worth noting if you travel a lot and don’t want the hassle of taking charging stations with you. Some designs are advertised as having two or three weeks of use on a single charge, while others will need charging up after only a week.
Dr Richard Marques is known by the industry as the ‘King Of Smiles’. He is one of the UK’s leading celebrity dentists specialising in general dentistry, restorative dentistry, cosmetic dentistry/tooth whitening, teeth cleaning and gum health. Dr Richard Marques (BDS), graduated with distinction from Guy’s, Kings and St Thomas Institute of Dentistry. Since then, Dr Marques has treated many highly complex dental cases successfully, including the Biconimplant course in South Africa in 2006.
Are electric toothbrushes better than manual?
In a perfect world, there would be no difference between using a manual and an electric toothbrush but many people don't know the correct brushing technique, says Dr Elham Kordrostami, dentist and co-founder of PAIST. "It can be quite difficult to achieve the rotational/oscillating motion an electric toothbrush creates manually. So, to reduce any dental issues most dentists will recommend using an electric toothbrush," she says.
People who use an electric toothbrush often have healthier gums and experience less tooth decay compared to those that use a manual brush, notes Dr Marques. "Especially when they use brushes with rotating heads, as these are super effective at removing plaque and keeping your teeth fresh and healthy."
Knowing how to brush your teeth properly and cleaning your teeth twice a day is the best way to practice good dental hygiene, as we all know, but electric toothbrushes have a special advantage. "With the range of motion you get with an electric toothbrush you’re more likely to get into spots that have a build-up of plaque," the dentist says. "The built-in-timers the electric versions come with will help you brush long enough to sufficiently remove the plaque from your teeth and gums."
How long do electric toothbrushes last?
Your electric toothbrush should last for three to five years on average, Dr Marques says. "And you should change your brush head every 2-3 months. Doing so will prevent a build-up of plague in the bristles and keep the brush from damaging and becoming less effective."
How long your brush will last naturally depends on other factors too, like how well you care for your toothbrush by storing it, cleaning it correctly and making sure to use a good-quality toothpaste where possible.
"Most brushes should come with a two-year warranty and so any issues you have during this time should be covered," he adds.
How often should you change toothbrush heads?
It's a good idea to change your toothbrush head every three to four months to keep your mouth and teeth fresh, says Dr Kordrostami. "If the bristles start looking frayed or worn, it's a clear sign it's time for a replacement. Some have coloured bristles that fade over time, letting you know when it's time to change. It ensures that you're getting the most effective cleaning, as worn-out bristles are less efficient."
"It also helps to prevent the build-up of bacteria on the brush," she notes. "So, whether it's a manual or electric toothbrush, keeping the head fresh is a simple yet important step in maintaining good oral health."
Do electric toothbrushes help whiten your teeth?
No, an electric toothbrush can only do so much and its impact on the colour of our teeth is minimal. Electric toothbrushes and on-shelf whitening products (like the best whitening toothpastes) can't whiten your teeth as well as a professional whitening treatment but they can help to remove some of the extrinsic staining (e.g. brown teeth or yellowing to the teeth) that comes with eating and other lifestyle habits.
Electric toothbrushes can't remove intrinsic staining, which comes with certain genetics and age. This can only be removed with a professional treatment.
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