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The 15 Best Electric Toothbrushes You Can Buy in 2023, Tested
Whether you're after healthier gums or AI-guided brushing, get a white smile and healthier teeth with brushes that polish, buff and clean, no matter your budget
Ever had that dream where your teeth fall out? Supposedly, it means you've had a conversation you regret – but in a world of fluoridated water, that nightmare should never become a reality. Which is good, because you've got enough to worry about without wondering whether you're going to wind up looking like Shane McGowan in the noughties.
But still, there's some truth to those jokes Americans make about British teeth. We don't always visit the dentist enough, we don't floss enough, and we don't always brush our teeth properly.
The best way to avoid that disappointed sigh from your hygienist is to brush properly (and floss, and maybe stop mainlining Haribo, yeah?). And the easiest way to ensure you're cleaning effectively is to invest in one of the best electric toothbrushes. Because who has the time for a manual these days?
Here are our favourites, but read on for more detail, along with tips to boost your brushing technique.
Are electric toothbrushes better than a manual brush?
Yes, say actual, proper dentists. A study from the Oral Health Foundation found electric toothbrushes resulted in 18% less tooth decay over an 11-year period compared with their manual cousins.
There's nothing magic about electric toothbrushes – the heads just move quicker and scrub your teeth more efficiently than you can manage by moving your arm up and down. That said, you only get the benefits if you use a good toothpaste. You should also be flossing after each session to get any debris out of the areas where bristles don't reach.
So how do I use an electric toothbrush properly?
The technique is slightly different from manual brushing, as the head moves by itself. Rather than scrubbing, you simply position the brush head at a 45-degree angle toward the gum line, then slowly move it across your teeth, resting for a couple of seconds on each.
Work in sections – bottom row outside, bottom row inside, top row outside, top row inside, then the chewing surfaces – to make you don't miss any areas. It should take around two minutes in total (and many of the brushes on this list even have built-in timers, so you've got no excuse).
One big mistake people make with electric toothbrushes is pushing too hard – this can irritate your gums and damage your teeth, so think of it more as a polishing pressure than hardcore scrubbing (again, the best electric toothbrushes will warn you if you're pushing too hard).
Are there different kinds of electric toothbrush?
Clever boy – there are indeed. Oscillating brushes, such as the Oral-B Genius 9000 Crossaction, have rotating heads that pivot on an axis thousands of times per minute. In the opposite corner you've got sonic brushes, such as the Spotlight Oral Care Sonic, which vibrate at high frequencies – like, tens of thousands of vibrations per minute – to dislodge debris. If your technique's solid then neither is better than the other, it just comes down to personal preference.
Do I need a smart toothbrush?
No one needs a smart toothbrush, but if you're looking to level up your oral hygiene (and it's not a bad shout, as research has shown that proper brushing can reduce your risk of Alzheimer's and heart disease) then they can certainly help.
Most use artificial intelligence to map your mouth and brushing patterns, flagging up any spots that you regularly miss and giving you tips on technique. You pay a premium for the privilege, but it's always nice to know what's going on in there.
Which electric toothbrush is best?
That all depends on what you're looking for. Fortunately, we've rigorously tested the market leaders to find out which electric toothbrush is best for different jobs, whether you're looking for something smart, something affordable, or just something that looks nice on your sink (and yes, the pretty one will also clean your teeth brilliantly).
How we test
317 testers tried a range of electric toothbrushes over a two-week period. They judged how easy they were to use, the design, battery life, features and overall performance. They also used a disclosing tablet before and after brushing their teeth to see how effectively each brush was at removing plaque.
The 15 best electric toothbrushes you can buy in 2023
Maria is our Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager, and since joining in mid-2022, she has managed the testing for mutiple categories including scalp scrubs, collagen supplements and retinol serums. In addition to her master's degree in chemical engineering and a diploma in cosmetic science, she recently received her MBA from the London College of Fashion, focusing on case studies within the beauty industry. Prior to joining the company, she worked within the global technical team at the Estee Lauder Companies for over six years, collaborating with the chemists and engineers to launch luxury beauty products at scale and to quality. She has also worked as a formulation scientist within the pharmaceutical industry and takes this evidence based approach into all her product testing.
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