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.
1
Best dual oscillating and sonic electric toothbrush
Oral-B iO10 Electric Toothbrush
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2
Best sonic electric toothbrush
Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Toothbrush
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3
The best oscillating electric toothbrush
Oral-B Genius 9000 CrossAction Electric Toothbrush
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6
The best luxury electric toothbrush
Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige
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7
The best smart electric toothbrush
Oral-B iO9 Black Ultimate Clean Electric Toothbrush
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8
The best electric toothbrush for travellers
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Electric Toothbrush
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9
The best electric toothbrush for a deep clean
ION-Sei Sonic Electric Toothbrush
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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
1
Best dual oscillating and sonic electric toothbrush
Oral-B iO10 Electric Toothbrush
Now 63% Off
If you want to take your dental hygiene routine up a notch and love a bit of smart tech, this is the brush for you. Our testers liked that it uses both traditional oscillation and sonic vibrations, so you get the best of both worlds.
It also uses AI technology to help guide you through your brushing, delivering a really thorough clean, and colourful flashes let you know if you’re pressing too hard or not using enough pressure. Our testers liked that it vibrates to let you know when it's time to move onto a new section of your mouth, although some found the vibration a little too subtle.
It offers a range of settings so you can customise to your preference, with testers finding it easy to switch between them. Plus, it remembers the last setting you used, so you don’t have to reset every time.
Testers also praised the brush’s sleek design, with no grooves or gaps for toothpaste to get stuck in and appreciated the convenience of being able to charge it in its carry case.
Key specifications
Accessories | 1 head, smart charger, chargeable travel case, refill holder |
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Brushing | Micro-vibrations |
Cleaning modes | 7 |
Battery life | 2 weeks |
Pressure sensor | Yes |
For a super-simple brush that tackles both plaque and discolouration, look to this top-scoring model. There’s just one button that switches between the three cleaning modes – sensitive, clean and white – while the sonic brush head ensures every inch of your mouth is cleaned, including those hard-to-reach back corners.
Our testers liked how comfortable and gentle it was on sensitive teeth, but found it still had the cleaning power needed to remove stubborn stains and leave breath smelling fresh.
They did find the on/off button overly sensitive and the high-pitched noise when in use annoying, but these are minor niggles for an otherwise reliable electric toothbrush.
Key specifications
Accessories | Three brush heads, travel case |
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Brushing action | Sonic |
Cleaning modes | Three |
Battery life | Up to 70 days |
Pressure sensor | No |
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3
The best oscillating electric toothbrush
Oral-B Genius 9000 CrossAction Electric Toothbrush
Now 42% Off
This brush is Oral-B’s mid-tier option, with useful tech to keep you brushing for longer. Our testers noticed reduced plaque levels after the trial period and the six cleaning modes, pressure sensor (to alert you to when you’re brushing too hard) and pace timer (to ensure you’re brushing each section of your mouth for long enough) will all help to keep your teeth in top condition.
It connects to an app on your phone via Bluetooth too, so you can get real-time brushing feedback and advice. Data is stored and synced to the app when you open it, so you don’t miss out if you don’t use it regularly.
Key specifications
Accessories | Phone holder, Travel case, charging stand, four additional brush heads |
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Brushing | Oscillating |
Cleaning modes | Six |
Battery life | 14 days |
Pressure sensor | Yes |
Similar in look to its predecessor, this toothbrush is made from the same bacteria-resistant silicone but has been upgraded to an improved slim-fit design and new brush head, which claims to be twice as effective at reducing bristle breakages.
The real highlight though is the seemingly never-ending battery life that lasts a staggering 365 days on a single charge. Its oval shape proved to be slightly awkward to manoeuvre in some areas, but did leave most with cleaner-feeling teeth, without being too rough on gums.
Key specifications
Accessories | Travel pouch, USB charging cable |
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Brushing action | Sonic |
Cleaning modes | 16 |
Battery life | 365 days |
Pressure sensor | No |
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If you’re finally ready to leave your manual brush behind, this is the best bet for your first venture into the world of electric. The majority of our panel found the vibrations weren’t too overpowering, managing to remove plaque without causing any discomfort.
The pressure sensor was a winner, helping to keep the over-vigorous in check, while the brush itself was smooth to manoeuvre. It wasn’t the most subtle when it came to noise levels; our lab test rated it as loud, however, most testers didn’t flag this as an issue.
Key specifications
Accessories | Charger stand, travel case (some models only) |
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Brushing action | Oscillating |
Cleaning modes | Six |
Battery life | 14 days |
Pressure sensor | Yes |
Philips' newest launch gave all of our testers a dentist-worthy clean, leaving almost everyone seeing a visible improvement in the amount of plaque on their gnashers. If you’re a fan of all things AI, it connects to the brand's very own app, to help you record your brushes and give you personalised tips to ensure you're taking good care of your smile.
The sleek design also earned it some brownie points, especially its slick travel case – because who says your electric toothbrush isn’t a fashion accessory? It did record as ‘loud’ on our noise meter but this didn’t turn off our panel, with nearly everyone looking to continue using it after the test.
Key specifications
Accessories | Travel charging case, charging stand, charging cable |
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Brushing action | Sonic |
Cleaning modes | Five |
Battery life | 14 days |
Pressure sensor | Yes |
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7
The best smart electric toothbrush
Oral-B iO9 Black Ultimate Clean Electric Toothbrush
Now 60% Off
The iO9's space-age design is backed up by a lot of tech under the hood, from artificial intelligence to real-time mapping of your mouth, which flags hotspots and missed areas.
The Oral-B app, which tracks achievements and scores you on your daily brushing performance, is fun for a while, but once you've figured out the best technique the urge to get your phone out every time you brush your teeth starts to wane.
Even without the app, our testers found it powerful and effective at cleaning thoroughly, with a useful colour-coded light system telling you how hard or soft you’re brushing. The seven cleaning modes also make it easy to adapt to more sensitive teeth and the tongue cleaning mode proved popular, too.
Key specifications
Accessories | Travel case, magnetic charger |
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Brushing action | Oscillating |
Cleaning modes | Seven |
Battery life | 14 days |
Pressure sensor | Yes |
8
The best electric toothbrush for travellers
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Electric Toothbrush
You want your electric brush to be smart, but you don’t want it to be complicated. Handily, Philips’ DiamondClean brush is another easy-to-use option. You can rotate through the five cleaning modes mid-brush using the button on the front, while soft, flexible bristles makes cleaning teeth gentle yet effective.
Instead of oscillating like some options on this list, both the Philips brushes we’ve covered use sonic technology that pulses water between your teeth, and this model offers a punchy 62,000 vibrations a minute. Our testers noted a visible reduction in plaque after the trial period and rated its USB travel case, which doubles up as a charger.
Key specifications
Accessories | USB travel case, charging stand |
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Brushing action | Sonic pulse |
Cleaning modes | Five |
Battery life | 14 days |
Pressure sensor | No |
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This electric toothbrush from Japanese-German brand Ion-Sei is as cleverly designed as you'd expect from a collaboration between two engineering powerhouses. The brush uses your body’s natural electrical charge via a UV LED light and a titanium dioxide bar in the handle to stop plaque growth, pulling it from your teeth to the brush.
There are three cleaning modes, which our testers rated, and it was surprisingly gentle on gums. Some testers found the brush heads a little too big to reach all teeth comfortably, but all were impressed by the brush’s futuristic looks.
Key specifications
Accessories | USB cable, charger stand |
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Brushing action | Sonic |
Cleaning modes | Three |
Battery life | 20 days |
Pressure sensor | No |
You can subscribe to almost anything these days, and toothbrushes are no different. The Ordo Sonic+ can be bought on its own or as part of a subscription, where you’ll get oral care products and a replacement head every two to three months.
You've got three colour options to choose from and there are four separate brushing modes to cycle through, for maximum comfort and cleaning. Our testers were also impressed with its three-week battery life.
Key specifications
Accessories | Travel cap for brush head, additional brush head, USB charger |
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Brushing action | Sonic |
Cleaning modes | Four |
Battery life | 21 days |
Pressure sensor | No |
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This is the brush to go for if you have sensitive teeth. It comes with three differently sized brush heads that are designed to clean your teeth and gums thoroughly, and will even tackle braces, implants and bridges. There are seven cleaning modes to pick from, but no pressure sensor, which is a little disappointing at this price.
Our testers liked its compact size and found it easy to control, even if the on/off button was a little sensitive. Teeth felt cleaner after use without damaging enamel or gums.
Key specifications
Accessories | USB cable, travel case, charger, three brush heads |
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Brushing action | Sonic |
Cleaning modes | Seven |
Battery life | 14 days |
Pressure sensor | No |
12
The best electric toothbrush for teeth whitening
Stylpro STYLSMILE Sonic Blue Light Toothbrush
Whether you’re a coffee addict or a red wine fan, this whitening duo uses blue light technology (instead of chemicals that leave teeth feeling sensitive) to eradicate even the toughest of stains. The kit comes with its own toothpaste too, which is activated by blue light to accelerate the whitening process.
Testers appreciated how straightforward this set was to use and were impressed with the variety of cleaning modes available on the brush. The panel said teeth looked noticeably cleaner after the trial, with most intending to continue to use the duo.
Key specifications
Accessories | Replacement toothbrush head, travel cap, USB charging lead, toothpaste, LED accelerator tray with batteries, silicone mouth tray, 3 x 3ml whitening gel syringes |
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Brushing action | Sonic |
Cleaning modes | Four |
Battery life | 14 days |
Pressure sensor | No |
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If you're trying to up your sustainability game, this toothbrush will help. The brush heads are made from plant-based castor oil and corn starch and can be returned to the brand directly to be recycled.
As for the clean, it left most impressed with how bright and plaque-free it left their pearly whites, while still being gentle on teeth. The standout feature for us though was the UV light case, which cleans your brush when its inside – brushing doesn't get any smarter than this.
Key specifications
Accessories | UV light clean and charge case, charging stand and mount, USB cable, brush head return pouch |
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Brushing action | Sonic |
Cleaning modes | Two |
Battery life | 30 days |
Pressure sensor | No |
Don't know where your charger is? That's not a problem – for 300 days at least – with this electric toothbrush.
It didn't spark any sensitivity issues and it was a doddle to reach every tooth. It banished morning fuzz and was a winner for its professional-feeling clean and premium look.
Key specifications
Accessories | Replacement brush head and USB cable |
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Brushing action | Sonic |
Cleaning modes | Three |
Battery life | 300 days |
Pressure sensor | No |
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New you've got your teeth sorted, it's time to fix your barnet with our pick of the best hair clippers.
Tested byMaria Kumar
Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager
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.