The 9 Best Electric Toothbrushes for Cleaner, Healthier Teeth, According to Dentists

Pros

• 3 brushing modes, including Sensitive and Whiten
• Pressure sensor lets you know when you're brushing too hard
• Built-in 2-minute timer with 30-second pulses
• Great value

Cons

• Brushing noise can be loud

“This is the brush I most often recommend to patients making the switch from manual,” says Vagan Tapaltsyan, D.D.S., Ph.D., a cosmetic, implant, and reconstructive dentist in California. “It has the essentials that actually matter, a two-minute timer and a pressure sensor, without paying for features most people never use. The small round head makes it easy to clean tooth by tooth.”

This toothbrush removes three times more plaque along the gum line than a manual brush, according to the brand, with a CrossAction brush head that oscillates, rotates, and pulsates. It offers three different cleaning modes—Daily Clean, Whitening, and Sensitive—and a built-in two-minute timer with 30-second pacing alerts. Plus, the pressure sensor automatically stops pulsations if you brush too hard to prevent harmful over-brushing.

What an editor says: “I’ve been using my Oral-B electric toothbrush for 20-odd years...I love it, never felt the need to upgrade, and it hasn’t tapped out on me yet,” says Senior Commerce Editor Charlotte Finigan. “I change the brush heads every season (so, approximately every three months) and I haven’t had a cavity in as many years as I've used it! I love that it’s small and easy to use—it pretty much just lives on its stand in my bathroom, and the replacement heads are my go-to buy for Prime Day (they’re always on mega sale then, so I stock up super cheap!)”

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Pros

• 4 brushing modes, including Whiten
• Built-in 2-minute timer with 30-second pulses
• Comes with travel case and 8 replacement heads

Cons

• No pressure sensor to alert when you're brushing too hard

This ADA-accepted sonic toothbrush from Aquasonic features several premium features you’d expect from pricier models—but at a much more affordable price of $40. It’s surprisingly powerful, delivering an impressive 40,000 vibrations per minute, and also comes equipped with four different cleaning modes, including a Whitening mode designed to remove daily surface stains. It also boasts ultra-fast wireless charging and a smart vibration timer (two-minute timer with 30-second pulses)—not to mention, it comes with a sleek travel case and eight replacement brush heads, which can last up to two years.

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Pros

• 8 cleaning modes and 3 intensity levels
• Real-time feedback on brushing pressure, motion, and coverage via the Sonicare app
• Smart sensor technology automatically adjusts intensity
• Comes with a charging travel case and extra brush head

Cons

• Pricey
• Some may not like the charging cup design; the toothbrush doesn't stand upright in the cup

“Philips Sonicare toothbrushes are powerful, durable, and reliable,” says Salm. The brand’s most advanced smart toothbrush is the DiamondClean 9900 Prestige, which claims to remove up to 20 times more plaque, results in 15 times healthier gums in six weeks, and shows 100% more stain removal in less than two days compared to a manual toothbrush. “If someone wants the premium experience, this is a great choice,” says Tapaltsyan. “It senses how you’re brushing and adjusts in real time, and the app coaching helps patients find the spots they keep missing.”

With three intensity levels and eight cleaning modes, this powerful toothbrush delivers 62,000 bristle movements per minute and features smart technology that gives you feedback, insights, and tips about your brushing techniques and habits. Specialized AI-powered technology monitors pressure, motion, and coverage to automatically adapt and adjust intensity, while the Philips Sonicare app offers features like real-time mouth mapping to show you which spots you missed.

What an editor says: Prevention’s Associate Commerce Editor, Hannah Jeon, recently tested this toothbrush and was super impressed with its features. “Not only does it always deliver an exceptional clean with a dentist-clean mouthfeel, I’ve found that its smart features—including a visual mouth map and real-time feedback on brushing pressure, motion, and coverage—have been truly useful in guiding (and improving!) my brushing technique,” she shared. “In fact, since using this toothbrush, I’ve noticed that I’ve experienced less bleeding and sensitivity in my gums—which I believe is a result of learning to brush more thoroughly and effectively overall.”

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9900 Prestige Full Review

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Pros

• Pressure sensor helps protect your teeth and gums
• 2 intensity settings
• Built-in 2 minute timer with 30-second pulses

Cons

• Doesn't offer multiple brushing modes

Another popular pick from Philips Sonicare, the 4100 series is a great choice if you have sensitive teeth and gums. “For patients who find oscillating brushes too intense, the Sonicare 4100 is a gentle, comfortable option,” says Tapaltsyan. “It has a pressure sensor and adjustable intensity, and the sonic action does a nice job around crowns, bridges, and other dental work.” The built-in pressure sensor not only warns you with a pulsing sound to ease off the pressure, but also automatically reduces the toothbrush vibrations. Delivering 31,000 brush strokes per minute, this toothbrush also offers two intensity levels and comes equipped with a 2-minute timer.

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Pros

• Pressure sensor lets you know when you're brushing too hard
• Built-in 2-minute timer with 30-second pulses
• Comes with a UV sanitizing travel case

Cons

• Pressure sensor only kicks in when you press quite firmly

SURI’s electric toothbrushes are designed to be sustainable—they’re made with plant-based brush heads made from cornstarch and castor oil, and the brand also offers a mail-back recycling program for used brush heads. The SURI Pro 2.0 toothbrush features medium-soft bristles and a sleek aluminum body, and comes equipped with a pressure sensor that pulses to protect from overbrushing. Offering two cleaning modes (Clean and Polish), this toothbrush also comes with a sleek travel case that features a built-in, battery-powered UV-C light, which kills up to 99.9% of bacteria (though you can also opt for just the toothbrush without a case).

Pros

• 3 cleaning modes
• Visible, light-up pressure sensor lets you know when you're brushing too hard
• Built-in 2-minute timer with 30-second pulses
• Comes with a travel case and extra brush head

Cons

• No display or visual indicator to show which cleaning mode you're using

“The iO Series 3 gives you Oral-B’s most advanced brushing technology at a reasonable price,” Tapaltsyan says. “The light-up pressure sensor shows you right away if you’re brushing too hard or too soft, which is one of the most common mistakes I see.” Unlike other toothbrushes on this list that just pulse when you’re brushing too hard, this pick features a visible pressure sensor: The distinct light ring on the toothbrush glows red when you’re pressing too hard, and green for when it’s just right.

Featuring gentle micro-vibrations that are great for sensitive teeth and gums, this toothbrush also features three smart cleaning modes (Daily Clean, White, and Sensitive) as well as a built-in two-minute timer.

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Credit: Colgate

Pros

• 2 cleaning modes, including sensitive
• Built-in 2-minute timer
• Affordable

Cons

• Not as powerful or effective as other electric toothbrushes
• Doesn't offer multiple modes or intensity levels

If you’re looking for something super simple and budget-friendly, consider this battery-powered electric toothbrush from Colgate that’s available for only $13. The affordable option has two cleaning modes (sensitive and regular) and a two-minute timer. “Colgate makes great electric toothbrushes. Small iterative changes over the years have made them increasingly efficient and effective,” says Keith Arbeitman, D.D.S., dentist and co-founder of the Arbeitman & Shein Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry in New York City.

Credit: Quip

Pros

• Lightweight and travel-friendly
• 2-minute built-in timer with 30-second pulses
• Travel cover also works as a stand and mirror mount

Cons

• Vibration isn't as strong as other electric toothbrushes
• Doesn't offer multiple modes or intensity levels

“I travel often, and Quip is hands down the most transportable toothbrush,” says Jennifer Plotnick, D.M.D., a dentist at Grand Street Dental in New York City. The holder doubles as a travel case and can mount to mirrors, glass, and tile—and it doesn’t require a charger as it’s battery-powered, with the battery lasting up to three months.

Offering gentle sonic vibrations with soft bristles that are great for sensitive teeth and gums, this toothbrush also has a two-minute built-in timer with 30-second pulses for an even clean. Quip also has a program where they send you a replacement head every three months since most people don’t change their toothbrush heads as often as they should.

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Pros

• 4 modes and 3 intensity levels
• Real-time feedback on brushing pressure and coverage via the Sonicare app
• Visible, light-up pressure sensor lets you know when you're brushing too hard
• Comes with charging glass, stand, and travel case

Cons

• Brushing noise can be loud

Another smart toothbrush from Philips, the DiamondClean Smart 9300 offers adjustable intensities to give you a personalized clean, says Kevin Sands, D.D.S., a cosmetic dentist and member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) in California. “It has three different intensities, so it’s great for people with sensitive teeth and gums or people who want a more intense brushing,” he explains.

This toothbrush also offers real-time feedback on coverage and pressure to identify spots you missed and guide your brushing technique via the Sonicare app. It’s a great mid-range option if you aren’t looking to splurge so much on the more advanced DiamondClean 9900 Prestige, but still want some of the smart features.

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