With so many different makes and models of electric toothbrushes to choose from, consumers may find it quite a daunting task trying to select just one out of the hundreds available. Most shoppers simply don’t have the time to read and sift through thousands of electric toothbrush reviews to try to find the perfect toothbrush for them. So in order to help simply your purchasing decision, we did the research for you.
After investing 20+ hours into researching and comparing over two dozen different models of electric toothbrushes, we created this list of the three best units. We based our selections on a number of different factors, including speed and cleaning method, ease of use, advanced features, number and usefulness of accessories and price.
Best Overall: Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Electric Toothbrush
The Philips Sonicare DiamondClean is, in our opinion, the best electric toothbrush currently on the market. It is our top pick and we give it our highest recommendation. This ultra high-end rechargeable electric toothbrush is not only beautifully designed, it also packs some serious teeth cleaning power. Its brush head vibrates at up 31K strokes per minute to break up even the most difficult to remove plaque on and around your teeth. What truly separates the DiamondClean from other electric toothbrushes, though, is its patented brush head, which is in the shape of a diamond and has over 40{88454e838380835437410b8dd4980e42836d50c1d7c06d32c28ecbc57e5157a9} more bristles than other Sonicare brush heads. This uniquely designed brush head provides a gentle yet effective clean that will remove stains that have built up on your teeth from cigarettes, coffee and wine, as well as removing plaque.
Additionally, the DiamondClean has 5 unique cleaning modes/functions that you can choose from, including regular “clean”, “polishing”, “whitening”, “gum care” and “sensitive” for those who have especially sensitive gums/teeth and desire an extra gentle clean. One of the coolest features of the DiamondClean is without a doubt its charging base, which is basically a glass cup. You simply set the toothbrush into the cup when you’re done brushing and it will automatically recharge the battery. You can also use the glass cup to rinse out your mouth when you’re done (now that’s what we call multi-functional). And because the charger is made of glass without any cracks or crevices, this makes it very easy to clean.
The quality of the rechargeable battery is also top-notch, as it can last up to about 3 weeks on a single charge. This toothbrush also comes with a nifty travel case that also doubles as USB charger, allowing you to easilly recharge your toothbrush virtually anywhere without the need to carry an additional, bulky charger around. Priced at just under $190, this is one of the most expensive electric toothbrushes on the market. But if you’re looking for the best – in terms of quality, aesthetics and cleaning power – then the DiamondClean is the one you want.
Best Value: Oral-B Pro 7000 SmartSeries Electric Toothbrush
If you’re looking to get the best “bang for your buck” then look no further than the Oral-B Pro 7000 SmartSeries. This electric toothbrush is loaded with value. This high-tech electric toothbrush uses a specially designed “CrossAction” brush head, which has a round shape to give it a better ability to thoroughly clean each individual tooth. Addtionally, CrissCross bristles are set an angle to help it reach in between your teeth to lift out plaque. One very unique feature of the Oral-B 7000 is that it can connect to your smartphone wirelessly via bluetooth. This allows your toothbrush to “communicate” with your smartphone, sending it information about your brushing habits, which you can track via charts and graphs.
The Oral-B Pro 7000 also has a pressure sensor that can detect when you’re pressing too hard on your gums, and will alert you by lighting up and pulsating. Additionally, the Oral-B has 7 different cleaning modes, each designed to provide you with a different benefit. There’s the Daily Clean for normal use, the Whitening mode that is designed to remove stains from your teeth, Deep Clean which extends the session time to give you a more thorough clean, Gum Care and Sensitive for an extra gentle clean, and Tongue Cleaner which helps rid bacteria from your tongue.
In addition, the rechargeable battery can hold a fairly long charge and can be used for up to 10 days on a single charge. The Oral-B Pro 7000 is is a great toothbrush all around, offering a slew of features and accessories and, although it is priced slightly on the higher side, we feel it offers terrific overall value for money spent.
Best Budget Model: Waterpik WP-900 Complete Care Water Flosser & Electric Toothbrush
If you’re looking for a good-quality electric toothbrush that’s relatively inexpensive, then the Waterpik WP-900 Complete Care is your best bet. With a price of under $100 (at the time of this writing), it won’t break the bank and you’ll get an electric toothbrush that, although doesn’t have many of the more desirable features that you’d typically find on the higher-end models, is still quite effective at removing plaque from your teeth and gumline.
The Waterpik WP-900 electric toothbrush uses Sonic technology to gently but effectively clean your teeth. Even a lower end electric toothbrush like this one will still remove about twice as much plaque as a manual toothbrush, so even if you can’t afford an Oral-B 7000 or a Sonicare DiamondClean, you’re still much better off using this than a regular manual toothbrush. It not only delivers superior teeth cleaning, but it also makes brushing more effortless as it doesn’t require the back and forth motion necessary for manual cleaning.
Additionally, it comes with a water flosser that will allow you to clean between your teeth and along your gumline. The user can control the pressure of the water stream, making it highly customizable to the user’s preferences. And the included water reservoir has a storage compartment that will allow you to conveniently store your brush heads and accessories. The Philips Waterpik WP-900 also features a smart timer, which will cause the toothbrush to turn itself off after the recommended brushing time of 2 minutes.
How To Select The Best Electric Toothbrush
Cleaning Method & Brush Speed
There are 2 main types of electric toothbrushes: sonic & rotating/oscillating. Sonic toothbrushes have brush heads that vibrate from side-to-side at up to 40,000 strokes per minute. Oscillating toothbrushes, on the other hand, have brush heads that are round in shape and rotate between 4000 to 6000 times per minute. Neither type of brush head or cleaning motion appears to be noticeably better than the other, as each have their advantages and disadvantages over the other. A sonic toothbrush might be better at performing certain cleaning tasks, while an oscillating toothbrush might be better at another.
Advanced Features & Accessories
Electric toothbrushes can come with many different, unique features and accessories. Many of the higher end electric toothbrushes come with pre-programmed cleaning modes that allow you to perform different functions with your electric toothbrush, such as cleaning your gums or your tongue. Other features include UV sanitizers that kill bacteria and built-in water flossing systems. Most electric toothbrushes come with travelling cases that allow you to easily take your toothbrush with you when going on vacation or business trips.
Rechargeable vs. Battery Operated
Most electric toothbrushes are rechargeable, however, you can also purchase models that run off of your standard Duracel battery. These are usually much less expensive than the rechargeable models, but we don’t recommend them as they simply don’t clean nearly as effectively as a rechargeable Sonic or oscillating toothbrush. They’re also quite inconvenient to use as you will have to replace the battery frequently.
Price
Perhaps the most important consideration of all is how much you can or are able to spend. Electric toothbrushes typically range anywhere from $10 to $200. Because of this large price range, it’s a good idea to first determine how much you are willing to spend, as it will help you narrow down your options to only those models that are within your budget. If you’ve never owned an electric toothbrush before, you can get a basic model at a very affordable price.
Comparison Chart
Our Top Pick
Philips Sonic DiamondClean
Yes
Yes
Brush Heads Included
2 Years
$150+
Best Value
Oral-B Pro 7000 SmartSeries
Yes
No
(CrossAction, ProWhite, Sens.)
2 Years
$100+
Best Budget Model
Waterpik WP-900
Yes
No
1 Water Flosser Included
2 Years
Under $100
Best “2-in-1” Model
Waterpik WP-950
Yes
No
1 Water Flosser Included
2 Years
$100+
Top Rated
Oral-B Pro 5000 SmartSeries
No
No
Brush Head Included
2 Years
Under $100
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