The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (2024)

The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (1)

This piece was updated in November 2023 to reflect recent deals and add a new tried and tested toothbrush. We will be updating the article throughout Black Friday and Cyber Monday to ensure you're getting the best price.

When it comes to grooming, one of the most important things you can do is take proper care of your teeth. 'Manscaping' trends may come and go, but the need for proper dental hygiene is permanent.

There's a plethora of products out there that claim to help you with this — from whitening strips to smile 'gels' — but using one of the best electric toothbrushes twice a day, alongside regular trips to the dentist, is the surest way to keep your gnashers looking good.

It can be hard to know where to spend your money though, so let us walk you through it...

Best electric toothbrushes for 2023

How Long Should I Brush My Teeth For?

    Dentists recommend brushing for two minutes twice a day with toothpaste that ideally has fluoride in it. If you go just over or under, don't worry, your teeth aren't going to fall out, but you should stick as close to this routine as you can.

    Is An Electric Toothbrush Really Needed?

    According to official NHS advice, you can use either an electric or a manual brush, as long as you're cleaning consistently and thoroughly. However, an electric toothbrush does make cleaning a lot easier, which can help you stay motivated with your brushing.

    What Should I Look for in an Electric Toothbrush?

    From smart brushes that connect to your phone to help chart your cleaning habits, to AI that learns how and when you brush to give you advice on the best overall clean, the world of electric toothbrushes has evolved in the past few years. These more advanced features typically come with a heftier price tag, though, so only consider them if you have the cash to spend.

    The main thing to consider is whether you want an oscillating or sonic toothbrush. The former comes with a round brush head that can easily change direction and gently vibrates to remove plaque. Sonic brushes have an oval- or diamond-shaped brush head that vibrates more quickly to cover more surface area. There is little evidence to show which is more effective, so it’s down to personal choice.

    Other features to look for are the number of cleaning modes a brush has, whether it has a timer to help you stay on track, and if it has a pressure sensor to alert you to when you’re brushing too hard.

    How We Test

    317 testers tried a range of electric toothbrushes over a two-week period. They judged each one on how easy it was to use, the design, features and its overall performance. They also used a disclosing tablet before and after brushing their teeth, to see how effectively plaque was removed.

    Meanwhile, in the MH Lab, we tested how loud each model was in use via a noise meter.

    1

    Best Smart Electric Toothbrush

    Oral-B iO9 Black Ultimate Clean Electric Toothbrush

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (12)

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (13)

    Currently reduced by 55%, making the price tag a lot more palatable — this device from Oral-B is your ultimate brushing machine, and won’t need replacing for a very long time. Using AI technology, a smartphone app and an encouraging little smiley face on the brush itself, Oral-B has thought of everything you'll need for effective brushing.

    It’s got seven cleaning modes, a two-minute timer, a colour-coded pressure sensor and an interactive display — and it gave a powerful, effective cleaning performance on test.

    Key Specifications

    Brush action:Oscillating
    Number of cleaning modes:7
    Features:Charge light, two-minute timer, timer display, 3D teeth tracking with A.I, pressure sensor
    Included accessories:Charging travel case, magnetic charger

    2

    Best For Sensitive Gums

    Oclean X10, Smart Sonic Electric Toothbrush

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (14)

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (15)

    2

    Best For Sensitive Gums

    Oclean X10, Smart Sonic Electric Toothbrush

    Now 15% Off

    Our testers were big fans of the design of this toothbrush, praising its sleek finish and shape. They also liked how soft the bristles were, making it a great option for those with sensitive gums, with one tester commenting that it ‘didn’t hurt’ or make their gums bleed as they’d experienced with other brushes.

    Although the bristles are finer, testers still found the brush comfortably removed all the plaque build-up, with one noting their teeth looked whiter after just one day of use. However, some of our panel did find the intensity levels weren't as high as they would have liked because of the softer heads.

    This brush comes with heaps of high-tech features, including a digital interface to guide you through brushing visually, showing where you’ve already cleaned. It also uses emojis to give encouragement – some of our testers felt this was a little childish, but we’ll leave you to decide.

    Key specifications

    Brush actionMaglev Motor & Sonic Brushing time available
    Number of cleaning modes5
    Features2-minute smart timer and 30s zone switch reminder, pressure sensor
    Included accessories1 head, magnetic wall holder, USB cable

    3

    Best Value Electric Toothbrush

    Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Toothbrush

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (16)

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (17)

    3

    Best Value Electric Toothbrush

    Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Toothbrush

    If your daily coffee (or three) has been dulling your smile, this sonic toothbrush offers all the stain-removing qualities you need, without leaving teeth feeling sensitive after use. There’s a whitening mode as well as three different-sized brush heads to reach every area, including those tricky back corners.

    The high frequency sonic vibrations are designed to make sure your toothpaste coats every tooth, while also promoting oxygen flow to leave you with a whiter smile. Our testers noticed reduced plaque and fresher breath, too.

    Key Specifications

    Brush action:Sonic
    Number of cleaning modes: 3
    Features:Charge light, two-minute timer
    Included accessories:Three brush heads, travel case

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    4

    Best For An All-In-One Clean

    Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (18)

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (19)

    4

    Best For An All-In-One Clean

    Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige

    Now 59% Off

    Philips’ latest launch gave our testers’ teeth a satisfyingly deep clean, with all seeing a visible reduction in plaque – and earning some serious praise from the dentist.

    The swish design impressed too, while some testers raved about how much whiter their teeth looked after just two weeks. Our lab test did flag that it as loud in use; however, this didn’t seem to be an issue for testers. In fact, the panellists said they wanted to continue using this one after the trial.

    Key Specifications

    Brush action:Sonic
    Number of cleaning modes:5
    Features: Bristle usage indicator, pressure sensor, charge light
    Included accessories:Travel charging case, charging stand, charging cable

    5

    Best for Long-Lasting Battery Life

    FOREO ISSA 3

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (20)

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (21)

    5

    Best for Long-Lasting Battery Life

    FOREO ISSA 3

    Now 58% Off

    Not your average-looking toothbrush, this one is made from silicone, which is known for being more hygienic as well as hypoallergenic. The brush head combines polymer and silicone bristles too, making it tough on stains and bacteria but soft on gums.

    Testers said it was straightforward and comfortable to use, but some did find the oval brush head awkward to manoeuvre when cleaning.

    Its best feature is that it only needs recharging once a year, so there'll be no clutter around your bathroom sink, while testers liked the squeaky-clean feeling it left behind. There’s a catalogue of cleaning modes, too (16 to be precise), to help you find the setting that works best for you.

    Key Specifications

    Brush action:Sonic
    Number of cleaning modes:16
    Features:Charge light
    Included accessories:Travel pouch, USB charging cable

    6

    Best toothbrush with recyclable heads

    SURI Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (22)

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (23)

    6

    Best toothbrush with recyclable heads

    SURI Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush

    The Suri toothbrush is thoughtfully designed, using plant-based castor oil and corn starch to make the hard-working bristles, with a sleek, compact body you’ll be proud to display in your bathroom.

    We were impressed with the nifty holder you can stick in your shower or onto your bathroom wall, and our testers couldn’t stop talking about the self-sanitising charging case it comes with. In our lab, this toothbrush also left teeth sparkling clean and plaque-free, which is perhaps the most important part.

    The carefully crafted toothbrush heads can also be recycled with the brand, so if you’re on the path to conscious consumerism — or searching for a gift for the green warrior of the family — this one’s for you.

    Key specifications

    Brush action:Sonic
    Number of cleaning modes:2
    Features:Self-cleaning case, self-charging case, plant-based materials
    Included accessories:1 x UV light clean and charge case, 1 x charging stand and mount, 1 x USB-C cable, 1 x brush head return pouch

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    7

    Best Smart Electric Toothbrush for Beginners

    Oral B Genius X

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (24)

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (25)

    7

    Best Smart Electric Toothbrush for Beginners

    Oral B Genius X

    Now 54% Off

    If a manual toothbrush has always been your go-to, this smart electric brush may be just what you need to make the switch. It isn’t overwhelming for first-timers, as testers found the vibrations weren’t too overpowering, but it still left everyone with a whiter smile.

    The pressure sensor was appreciated too, helping to remove plaque without causing discomfort.

    Key Specifications

    Brush action: Oscillating
    Number of cleaning modes:Six
    Features:Bristle usage indicator, charge light, pressure sensor
    Included accessories:Charger stand, travel case (some models only)

    8

    Best Electric Toothbrush for Gentle Whitening

    Curaprox Black is White Hydrosonic

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (26)

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (27)

    8

    Best Electric Toothbrush for Gentle Whitening

    Curaprox Black is White Hydrosonic

    Now 11% Off

    This super-sleek matte black brush features carbon-coated bristles, which help to remove discolouration without damaging your enamel.

    Our panel didn’t report any gum discomfort while brushing, and found the brush head wasn’t rough on teeth either. The downside? There’s no pressure sensor and the visual cues for each cleaning mode could be clearer. That said, everyone wanted to continue to use it after the trial.

    Brush action: Sonic
    Number of cleaning modes:3
    Features:Charge light
    Included accessories:Travel case, 2x brush heads, charger

    9

    Best For Ease of Use

    Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Sonic Electric Toothbrush HX9391/92

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (28)

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (29)

    9

    Best For Ease of Use

    Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Sonic Electric Toothbrush HX9391/92

    Those wanting an easy morning routine will appreciate this Philips model. The two-minute timer is broken down into 30-second intervals so you know exactly when to change quarters of your mouth and the five cleaning modes, which cover the most common brushing needs, left our teeth feeling noticeably cleaner.

    There’s no pressure sensor, so make sure you aren’t brushing too hard, but the soft bristles don’t irritate sensitive teeth or gums. The USB travel case included also doubles up as a charger.

    Brush action:Sonic
    Number of cleaning modes:5
    Features:Charge light, two-minute timer with quad pacer, pressure sensor
    Included accessories:Travel case

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    10

    Best for Reducing Plaque

    SMARTECH ION-Sei Sonic Toothbrush with ION Technology

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (30)

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (31)

    10

    Best for Reducing Plaque

    SMARTECH ION-Sei Sonic Toothbrush with ION Technology

    Here’s a good-looking brush that marries German precision with Japanese tech to give your teeth the ultimate clean. There are no apps or Bluetooth involved; instead, there's an electric charge (created via the UV LED light and titanium dioxide bar in the handle) that draws plaque and bacteria away from your teeth.

    Testers found it was gentle on gums, but the larger brush head struggled to reach all areas of the mouth. Their breath smelt fresh and teeth looked whiter after use, though.

    Brush action: Sonic
    Number of cleaning modes:3
    Features:Charge light, two-minute timer

    11

    Best Subscription Option

    Ordo Sonic+ Toothbrush

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (32)

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (33)

    11

    Best Subscription Option

    Ordo Sonic+ Toothbrush

    Now 20% Off

    Ordo works as a subscription service, so you can arrange to have replacement toothbrush heads delivered straight to your door every one, two or three months.

    If you’re not up for the long-term commitment though, you can buy the stylish toothbrush separately. With four settings to choose from – including a massage option – testers felt like they were getting a customisable clean. The three-week battery life is also longer than most and it’s an affordable price.

    Brush action: Sonic
    Number of cleaning modes:4
    Features: Charge light, two-minute timer with quad pacer
    Included accessories:Travel cap, USB charger

    12

    Best Whitening Kit

    StylPro STYLSMILE Sonic Blue Light Toothbrush And Toothpaste

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (34)

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (35)

    12

    Best Whitening Kit

    StylPro STYLSMILE Sonic Blue Light Toothbrush And Toothpaste

    Want whiter teeth without using harsh chemicals? Try this whitening duo, which includes a blue-light toothbrush and toothpaste to gradually fade stains, yellowing and discolouration.

    It doesn’t cause sensitivity and testers were impressed with the overall results. Don’t expect the same deep-clean feel you get from more expensive models, but it will certainly leave teeth feeling fresher.

    Brush action:Sonic
    Number of cleaning modes:2
    Features:Charge light, two-minute timer
    Included accessories:Travel cap, replacement brush head, USB charging lead, toothpaste, LED accelerator tray with batteries, silicone mouth tray, three 3ml whitening gel syringes

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    13

    Best Electric Toothbrush For Braces

    Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (36)

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (37)

    13

    Best Electric Toothbrush For Braces

    Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro

    This sonic toothbrush features just one button, which switches between seven different cleaning modes – ideal for those who like minimal faff.

    The three different-shaped brush heads ensure you’re getting a deep clean but there’s no pressure sensor, which is disappointing for the price. Testers' teeth felt much cleaner after use and it's effective on braces, bridges and implants too.

    Brush action: Sonic
    Number of cleaning modes:7
    Features:Charge light, two-minute timer
    Included accessories:Travel case, charger, three brush heads

    14

    Best for a Dentist-Level Clean

    Silk'n ToothWave Electric Toothbrush

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (38)

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (39)

    14

    Best for a Dentist-Level Clean

    Silk'n ToothWave Electric Toothbrush

    If you’re looking for that super-clean feeling that you usually only get after visiting a dental hygienist, try this brush.

    It uses mild radio frequency waves to bring impurities and plaque to the surface of each tooth, leaving them looking cleaner and fresher. Our testers were pleased with the results and continued using it after the trial.

    Brush action: Sonic
    Number of cleaning modes:4
    Features:Charge light, automatic timer
    Included accessories:USB cable, two brush heads, charging cradle

    15

    Best for Travel

    Philips One Battery Operated

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (40)

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (41)

    15

    Best for Travel

    Philips One Battery Operated

    This battery-operated number would make a great back-up to have on hand when travelling. The battery will last up to 90 days, making it fuss-free to pack, and the slim case will take up less space in your luggage. Plus, its £30 price tag won’t sting if your suitcase gets lost in baggage control.

    When it comes to performance, it successfully reached all those tricky areas, leaving everyone impressed with its thorough clean. Overall, a great value buy.

    Key Specifications

    Brush action:Sonic
    Number of cleaning modes:1
    Features:2-minute timer
    Included accessories:Clip-close carry case

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    16

    Runner-up For Battery Life

    Silk’n SonicYou Mint Green

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (42)

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (43)

    16

    Runner-up For Battery Life

    Silk’n SonicYou Mint Green

    Now 45% Off

    This toothbrush lasts an impressive 300 days on a single charge, meaning you’re unlikely to get caught short of battery.

    Its premium look and feel was a hit with our panel too, and no one reported any sensitivity issues while in use. The oval shape did a great job at reaching every crevasse, which left most seriously impressed with their overall clean.

    Key Specifications

    Brush action:Sonic
    Number of cleaning modes:3
    Features:Charge light, 2-minute timer
    Included accessories:Replacement brush head and USB cable

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (44)

    Tested byNora Merik

    Beauty and Grooming Tester

    Nora is our Beauty and Grooming Tester and has a master's degree in cosmetic science. She is using her expert knowledge of product development, formulation, product evaluation and market research to test a wide range of hair and beauty products in the beauty labs for Good Housekeeping, Women’s Health, ELLE, Men’s Health. In the lab she uses a variety of methods such as the Diastron, The Multi Skin Test Centre, The VISIA Complexion Analyser to test anything from hydration, skin barrier function, pore size and more.

    The Best Electric Toothbrushes to Buy for a Brighter Smile, Tested (2024)
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