If you don’t own an electric toothbrush, it’s worth thinking about getting one for your daily dental routine. Their powerful rotating or oscillating heads can help remove plaque and protect gums more effectively much better than manual brushing. Plus, lots of electric toothbrushes have features like built-in timers to help you brush properly every time. Interested? Here’s all you need to know about going electric with your oral hygiene…
How do I choose an electric toothbrush?
Here are a few of the most important things to consider when you’re choosing a new electric toothbrush:
Brushing technology. Is oscillating or sonic best for you? Oscillating brushes clean in rotating, circular movements and are effective at plaque removal. Sonic toothbrushes vibrate at high frequencies to create rapid bristle movements, for intense cleaning with potential for whitening.
Brush head options. Look out for different brush head to suit any particular needs you might have. For example, softer bristles for sensitive teeth and gum care.
Pressure sensor. Some electric toothbrushes come with a pressure sensor, giving you alerts you if you're applying too much pressure. This helps prevent damage to teeth or gums.
Brushing modes. Different modes are designed for specific types of oral care (such as sensitive, massage, deep clean) so go for the one that suits you best.
Timer. A handy built-in timer will make sure you brush for the recommended 2 minutes.
Battery life. Long battery life takes the hassle out of finding a charger every week. It’s especially useful if you’ll be taking the electric toothbrush on your travels a lot.
Compatibility with braces. Do you wear braces? Then look for brushes with specific modes or heads designed for cleaning around them.
Best adult electric toothbrushes
The best adult electric toothbrushes will include features like multiple cleaning modes, a built-in timer and compatibility with various brush heads.
The Oral B iO Series 10 electric toothbrush ticks all the boxes. Artificial intelligence recognises your brushing style and guides you to brush every tooth, showing your progress in the Oral-B app in real time. And a smart pressure sensor lights up red when you brush too hard, white when you brush too softly, and green when it's just right. There are also 7 smart brushing modes, so you’ll find one that suits you - Daily Clean, Sensitive, Gum Care, Intense Clean, Whitening, Super Sensitive or Tongue Cleaning.
Best kids electric toothbrushes
If you’re looking for a kids electric toothbrush, go for one with gentle vibrations, small brush heads and a timer to help them brush thoroughly!
Kids love the Oral B Pro Junior electric toothbrush. Its extra-soft bristles use a 3D cleaning action that oscillates and rotates to remove plaque, so your child can keep their smile whiter and healthier. There are 3 brushing modes - Daily Clean, Polish and Sensitive, and the built-in timer reminds them to switch areas every 30 seconds, so they won't miss a spot.
Best sonic electric toothbrushes
As we mentioned above, sonic electric toothbrushes work differently from oscillating models. Their rapidly vibrating bristles are great for effective plaque removal, and they’re also popular with anyone looking for a clean that feels gentler.
The Philips Sonicare ExpertClean 7300 electric toothbrush is a great shout. Choose from 3 modes - Clean for everyday brushing, Gum Health for sensitive gums, and Deep Clean+ for a thorough deep clean.
Built-in smart sensors let you know when you're brushing too hard, and BrushSync tracks how long you've been using the same electric toothbrush head – a reminder on the handle lights up when it's time to replace it. You can also connect to the Sonicare app via Bluetooth, and get personalised brushing reports to help you improve over time.
Best Bluetooth electric toothbrushes
Bluetooth toothbrushes work by connecting to a smartphone app that can analyse your brushing habits. And help improve them, of course. They offer features like real-time tracking and personalised feedback, so they’re a great at helping you improve your dental hygiene.
The Oral B iO 6 electric toothbrush is a fantastic Bluetooth toothbrush. Just like the Oral B iO Series 10 electric toothbrush mentioned above, it lets you view the progress of your brushing in the Oral-B app in real time. It also features a handy interactive display that shows brushing modes and reminds you to replace heads when they’re too old.
Best electric toothbrush under £100
On a budget? There are some great electric toothbrushes for less than £100, packed with smart features to help your cleaning routine.
Check out the Philips Sonicare 3100 electric toothbrush. For its price, it’s got loads of impressive features. Advanced Sonicare technology pulses water between your teeth and along your gums to remove stubborn plaque – according to Philips, it's 3x more effective than manual brushing. There’s also a smart pressure sensor on board, which lets you know when you're going too hard on your gums and teeth. And the BrushSync feature tracks how long you've been using each head and reminds you when you're due a new one.
Best Electric Toothbrush Under £50
If you’re on a really strict budget, the Oral B Pro 1 cross action electric toothbrush is brilliant value for money.
You can give each and every tooth a deep clean with the round brush head – inspired by dentists – and the 3D cleaning technology gets rid of plaque. The toothbrush also stops pulsing if you brush too hard, helping to protect your gums. It also has a long last battery, so you can take it with you on your travels and leave the charger at home.
FAQs
What is the best electric toothbrush for travel?
Looking for an electric toothbrush to take on your travels? You should consider compact models with features like long battery life, USB charging, and a brush head cover. Most importantly perhaps, you’ll want one with a travel case to keep it safe.
Which electric toothbrush does the dentist recommend?
It's best to ask your own dentist for personalised advice for your dental health. UK dentists don’t officially endorse any particular type or brand or toothbrush, but they’re most likely to recommend electric toothbrushes from reputable brands like Oral-B and Sonicare. These brushes are known for their effective cleaning and include handy features like timers to ensure proper brushing time.
Are Oral-B electric toothbrushes the best?
Oral-B electric toothbrushes are definitely up there with the best around. They’re famous for their design, quality of brushing, and having lots of features to improve your dental care. These include Bluetooth connectivity, timed brushing and different cleaning modes.
It pays to trade-in. Ker-ching!
We offer trade-in for most types and makes of devices, even if they’re damaged and non-working.
If you’re interested, head to our trade-in page and check that your old tech is eligible for trade-in. You’ll also see a handy calculator that will give you an instant valuation.
Then bring your device to one of our stores and we’ll confirm its value, take it off your hands, and give you a gift card to spend on the tech you really want. Easy.
