Electric toothbrushes buyer's guide

When it comes to good electric toothbrushes, there’s plenty of choice. Whether you’re looking for something straightforward to operate or a more tech-heavy model, our guide will help you choose the best electric toothbrush to suit your needs.

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Benefits of electric toothbrushes

Electric toothbrushes are a great way of making sure your teeth and gums are in tip-top condition in between trips to the dentist.

Raha Sepehrara, principal dentist at Dental Suite clinics, explains why she recommends electric toothbrushes to her patients: “Many electric toothbrushes have timers or make a noise when you’ve brushed for the recommended two minutes. Also, they have small heads which clean more thoroughly and can reach hard to access areas. Everyone in my family uses them – even my six year old son and I recommend them to my patients. They really do make your daily oral hygiene routine easier and safer.”

Using an electric toothbrush can improve your brushing technique, as Raha explains: “With manual toothbrushes, some people have a tendency to press too hard which can, over time, cause gum recession and wear away the tooth enamel. Electric toothbrushes warn if you’re pressing too hard by making an unusual noise. Some even shine a red light.”

Many electric toothbrushes have different modes such as daily, whitening, sensitive and gum care, as well as tongue cleaning modes. Some even feature smart technology which can link up to your phone to give you a really great insight into how well you’re brushing and which bits you may be missing.

Of course, if you just want something to gently introduce you into the world of electric toothbrushes there are plenty of more basic options too!

Remember, whichever electric toothbrush you choose, you need to replace your brush head every three months.

Tech-y electric toothbrushes

If you like your technology to come with plenty of features to play with, we've got some great high-spec options to choose from. 

With five modes and three intensity settings, the DiamondClean Smart promises whiter teeth after just three days of use,* as well as healthier gums and even better plaque removal vs a manual toothbrush. There’s also a handy USB charging travel case so it’s fully portable.

But the really clever thing about this electric toothbrush is the built-in Smart Sensors that connect to the Sonicare app to track your brushing, highlight any missed spots and coach you on the correct brushing technique, so you can be 100 percent sure you’ve not missed a spot.

*In White+ mode vs a manual toothbrush and whitening toothpaste.

5* reviews for Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart
“One of the best electric toothbrushes I have ever used.” - Ruwan

One of our best rated electric toothbrushes, Oral-B Genius combines advanced cleaning technology and a sleek industrial design with Bluetooth connectivity, making this the ultimate brushing experience. There are six independent cleaning modes (Pro Clean, Daily Clean, Sensitive, Tongue Cleaning, Whitening and Gum Care) and an automatic speed reduction which alerts you and slows down if you’re brushing too hard.

This clever toothbrush can also link to the Oral-B app via Bluetooth, where Position Detection Technology uses motion sensors and facial recognition software to guide you so you know you’re always getting the best results. Plus, all Oral-B electric toothbrushes boast a round brush head that surrounds each tooth to help break up plaque.

5* reviews for Oral-B Genius
“Even my dentist noticed a difference.” - Angieangie

Affordable electric toothbrushes 

If you’re looking for an electric toothbrush with a little less tech and a smaller price tag, we’ve also got a great choice of affordable electric toothbrushes.

This electric toothbrush features the Oral-B trademark round brush head which works hard to break up plaque, while ensuring a thorough all-round clean. There’s one mode and a built-in timer to help you brush for at least two minutes - everything you need for a fuss-free deep clean!

Best electric toothbrushes for kids

Electric toothbrushes are a great choice for kids. Not only can you be sure they’ve got the best brushing technique with just the right amount of pressure, but with so many fun designs and features to choose from, looking after their teeth will no longer be a chore.

This toothbrush comes in different designs, including favourite Disney characters and superheroes, so there’ll be no squabbling over which one is theirs. Extra soft bristles are kind to little gums without compromising on brushing quality.

There’s a two-minute timer so they know when they’ve been brushing for the recommended amount of time, but chances are if they use the Oral-B Disney Magic Timer app that won’t be a problem… Research has shown that 90 percent of kids brush longer when they use the app, and with fun rewards to unlock and secret images to unveil the longer you brush for, that’s not surprising!

If your little one's not quite ready for an electric toothbrush just yet, there's also a great range of fun manual toothbrushes to get them used to the idea of brushing their teeth for two minutes, twice a day. 

Ideal for younger and older kids alike, this electric toothbrush is compatible with two brush head sizes so it can grow with your child. It’s got a customisable handle which comes with a selection of stickers so they can make it their own. An anti-roll design allows little ones to apply their own toothpaste without any slips or spills, so they can be really independent when it comes to brushing their teeth.

As well as being compatible with two brush heads, there are also two power modes suitable for children of different ages. The Easystart programme gradually builds up to the recommended two minutes and there’s a two-minute timer, as well as a Quadspacer timer that makes a fun sound after 30 seconds to remind them to move to another area of their mouth. Looks like there’ll be sparkling smiles all round in no time!

5* reviews for Philips Sonicare for kids “Great investment!” - Anonymous

As well as investing in a good electric toothbrush, many dentists also recommend taking the time to floss daily for optimum oral health benefits.