What does it take to own that coveted million-dollar Hollywood smile?
Would you believe me if I tell you some changes in your brushing equipment will be well enough? Fasten your seat belts as I make everything clear to you within the next few minutes.
Yes, you have guessed it right already. I am signaling toward electric toothbrushes. If you are willing to look around, you will see how almost everything around us is blooming with a touch of science.
Why should your toothbrush be an exception?
I do not mean a manual toothbrush is incapable of cleaning teeth. Of course, it does. But you can do it so much better with an electric toothbrush. The precision is there for you to witness.
Today, we have a marketplace that is saturated with a wide spectrum of electric toothbrushes from all kinds of manufacturers. Ask me which one is the best electric toothbrush among these. For all honesty, I cannot recommend a singular authoritative one.
A lot of our choices in electric toothbrushes boil down to personal preferences.
While we are still in the “indecision” mode, I would buy some more of your time to tell you about a few important considerations. In no particular order of priority, you will have to look at the design, comfort, features and more.
At this stage, it might appear that finding the best electronic toothbrush is more like digging a mole’s hole. But do not worry – I did all the research to keep you intact in your comfort zone.
In this article, I will lay down facts and products that will take you nearer to the right mix of price, technology, build quality and convenience in electric toothbrushes.
Straight recommendation: Philips Sonicare DiamondClean
Top 10 electric toothbrushes comparison chart
| Image | Name & Brand | Strokes per min | Modes | Battery Life | Bluetooth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[ identifier="B0052JN7XG" locale="US" tag=""] | [ identifier="B0052JN7XG" locale="US" tag=""]Philips sonicare diamondClean[/] | 31000 strokes | 5 | 3(w) | No |
[ identifier="B0095IMNI0" locale="US" tag=""] | [ identifier="B0095IMNI0" locale="US" tag=""]Waterpik complete care WP-900[/] | 38075 strokes | 2 | 3(w) | No |
[ identifier="B00YAR86BY" locale="US" tag=""] | [ identifier="B00YAR86BY" locale="US" tag=""]Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite[/] | 31000 strokes | 2 | 3(w) | No |
[ identifier="B00O8ODHOA" locale="US" tag=""] | [ identifier="B00O8ODHOA" locale="US" tag=""]Oral-B Pro 5000 SmartSeries[/] | 40000 pulsation & 8800 oscillation | 5 | 10(d) | Yes |
[ identifier="B00F9X34XS" locale="US" tag=""] | [ identifier="B00F9X34XS" locale="US" tag=""]Oral-B Pro 7000 SmartSeries[/] | 40000 pulsation & 8800 oscillation | 6 | 10(d) | Yes |
[ identifier="B00CR0EYZI" locale="US" tag=""] | [ identifier="B00CR0EYZI" locale="US" tag=""]Smilex Au-300e[/] | 18000 vibrations & 96 mllion ultrasonic pulses | 3 | 3(w) | No |
[ identifier="B00YAR7YP8" locale="US" tag=""] | [ identifier="B00YAR7YP8" locale="US" tag=""]Philips Sonicare Flexcare Hx9112[/] | 31000 strokes | 3 | 3(w) | No |
[ identifier="B00O9E5E68" locale="US" tag=""] | [ identifier="B00O9E5E68" locale="US" tag=""]Philips Sonicare Plaque Control [/] | 31000 strokes | 1 | 3(w) | No |
[ identifier="B01DT0K6J2" locale="US" tag=""] | [ identifier="B01DT0K6J2" locale="US" tag=""]Oral-B Pro 3000[/] | 40000 pulsation & 8800 oscillation | 3 | 10(d) | No |
[ identifier="B00QZ67O6G" locale="US" tag=""] | [ identifier="B00QZ67O6G" locale="US" tag=""]Philips Sonicare Flexcare Plus[/] | 31000 strokes | 5 | 3(w) | No |
Top 5 electric toothbrushes review
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean HX9332/05- Rocking the market since coming!
Our Impression
The Philips Sonicare DiamondClean is arguably among the most used toothbrushes in America.
Like most electric toothbrushes, the DiamondClean removes up to 100% more plaque from teeth compared to the manual brushes.
The company claims the toothbrush can whiten teeth in a period of a week and can provide with healthier gums in about 15 days.
The good thing about the toothbrush is that it comes with two brush heads.
The sonic technology patented by Sonicare is something that helps fluids which in turn stimulate the gums.
This works well with the five different modes: sensitive, gum care, polish, clean and white.
The quad-pacer built in the brush makes thorough cleaning possible throughout the mouth.
The noticeable results and stark better tones are evidently visible by the fourth week.
The sonicare technology is coupled with a dual charging system that comes with a charging travel case and a charger glass.
- Sparkling white cleaning.
- Comes with a travel charger case with USB.
- Not difficult to clean.
- Rinse, wipe and scrub cleaning.
- Five cleaning modes.
- Built-in quad pacer in the brush.
- Power button unresponsive after prolonged use.
- Unique design functions may not please all.
- Rare short-circuit burn issues.
- Wear-prone brush head.
Waterpik Complete Care WP-900 - Honourable mention
Our Impression
The Waterpik Complete promises to deliver effective flossing and brushing to compete with the most effective water flosser out there.
While the product claims to deliver healthier gums in just 14 days, it also measures up to the promise with a combination of pulsations and water pressure.
The toothbrush appears particularly effective when cleaning teeth and areas that are below the gumline.
These are the places where conventional flossing cannot reach regularly.
The toothbrush comes in a hard-sided and premium travel case custom-made for this model.
The Waterpik Complete Water Flosser and Sonic Toothbrush is ready for use with a 120VAC/60Hz. As of now, the product is available for use in North America only.
The company is pretty strict about the toothbrush being used in North America as guarantee will be declared void on use or sale of the toothbrush outside of North America.
On the secondary fronts, there is a plaque seeker tip an an orthodontic tip along with a pik pocket tip. (Read full review)
- Comes in hard-sided travel case.
- 2 functional jet tips.
- Additional plaque seeker tip.
- Additional orthodontic tip.
- Standard brush head ensures overall cleaning.
- Compact brush head promotes precision leaning.
- Slightly messy mode of operation.
- Handle button issues.
- Water leakage on handle popping out.
- Cheap material used in the cradle.
Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite Plus Toothbrush - Best electric toothbrush (below $100)
Our Impression
If you are someone who is just graduating from using a normal toothbrush to an electric toothbrush, the Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite Plus should be the ideal foil for you.
It could also be the fit if your budget is below $100. The toothbrush promises to remove up to twice the stains that a manual toothbrush can manage.
The company has used its patented sonic technology, which gives you up to 31, 000 strokes in a minute.
The toothbrush is also capable of removing up to 7 times more plaque compared to a manual toothbrush.
Perhaps the more interesting feature of the toothbrush is the dynamic fluid action that helps in cleaning between the teeth and along the gum line.
The clean and white mode in the toothbrush is proven to remove stains that are generally difficult to manage with a manual one.
Sonicare has also done well to add three separate intensity settings that help in easing up operations for people of all ages.
- Removes twice the stain manual brushes can manage.
- Visible difference in tone within a week.
- Better gum health in two weeks.
- 30, 000+ strokes every minute.
- Six custom settings.
- Head may fall off shortly.
- Charging issues with the handle.
- Battery light could be flaky.
- Charger replacement issues.
Oral-B Pro 5000 SmartSeries - Best budget-friendly electric toothbrush (editor top choice)
Our Impression
The Oral-B Pro 5000 SmartSeries comes with Bluetooth, a technology that has not found great coverage by the electric toothbrush brands.
But now that the technology has been used by Oral-B, you will be able to establish a Bluetooth communication between the smartphone and the brush.
You also get feedback in real time as the Oral-B app keeps focus on getting to the most important areas in your mouth.
The app also helps track your brushing habits over a period of time.
You keep getting effective oral care tips from the app, which runs in sync with your brushing habits.
It also helps in sensing the instances when you are using the brush too hard on the teeth.
The bristles are cross angles and the head is round to make sure the brush reaches every part of your mouth.
The oscillation in the brush is rotational and it helps the pulsation to remove twice the amount of plaque.
- Unique Bluetooth technology.
- Tracks brushing habits and give real-time feedback.
- Pressure sensor tells when pressure is tough on teeth.
- Professional and feedback-based tips from Oral-B.
- 100% more plaque removal than manual toothbrushes.
- Bluetooth connectivity not for conventional use.
- Slightly bulky brush handle.
- No indication for brushing mode.
- Low battery life.
Oral-B Professional Healthy Clean + Floss Action Precision 5000
Our Impression
The Oral-B Professional Healthy Clean comes with a great design that felicitates floss like cleaning in less time.
At least, you will not have to replace the flossing while using the brush for a while.
The 3D cleaning oscillation on the brush helps in rotating and pulsating so that the toothbrush can remove twice the plaque a manual toothbrush can remove.
There is a pressure sensor in the brush which indicates if extra pressure is being exerted on the brush.
There are 5 modes in the brush which help with deep cleaning, sensitive care, whitening, gum care and daily cleaning.
The 2-minute timer of the brush is able to pulsate once in every 30 seconds.
If you have any Oral-B rechargeable refills for the brush head, they will be compatible with this toothbrush as well.
The product comes with a battery indicator that makes the job even easier for the users.
- 5 modes of operation.
- 3D cleaning oscillation provides superior flossing.
- In-built battery level indicator on the handle.
- No need for replacement of flossing.
- Comes with explainer DVD.
- Limited function on smart guide clock.
- Two minute function could be redundant.
- Reminder not needed for adults.
What is an electric toothbrush?
An electric toothbrush is essentially a toothbrush where the automatic and rapid bristle motions are powered with electricity.
The motions vary between rotational-oscillation and back-forth oscillation and help clean teeth while protecting gums. The motor made motions can work at sonic speeds or below.
A piezoelectric crystal is used in ultrasonic-motion generating electric toothbrushes.
Braun oral-B and Philips Sonicare are leading Brand in this industry.(check out the differences between these two giants)
Types of electric toothbrush
There are broadly two types of electric toothbrushes.
- Battery powered
These are cheaper and offer greater portability.
These are the ideal products to start with for those who are not sure if they are ready for powered tooth brushing.
There is no great difference in cost of operation, though. You will have to keep changing the battery once in a while.(Read more)
- Rechargeable
The rechargeable electric toothbrushes are the ones that offer greater power and lesser portability than the battery-powered toothbrushes.
These brushes are for advanced users.
The greater power offered in the brushes leads to more efficient cleaning and greater support for the gums.
These are costlier than the battery-operated brushes and you should count in the cost of electricity too when comparing the prices.
Going by frequency of operation, electric toothbrushes are two major types
- Sonic electric toothbrush
The sonic toothbrushes are categorized under electric toothbrushes and are named thus because the vibrations they produce are in the human audible range.
Most modern toothbrush manufacturing brands like Sonicare and Oral-B manufacture this category extensively.
These brushes generally operate with a sweeping motion. (Check out our post on best sonic electric toothbrush)
- Ultrasonic electric toothbrush
These are rather new developments in the genre that make use of ultrasonic waves to clean teeth. A frequency between 20, 000 Hz and 2, 400, 000 Hz id generally considered ultrasonic.
The low amplitude and high frequency in these toothbrushes allow emission of the necessary vibrations. For more information, see our post on the best ultrasonic electric toothbrush.
What I look for in the right electric toothbrush?
- Suitable types
It is understood that electric toothbrushes come in several makes and models.
There are sonic and ultrasonic models. Some of the models are powered by battery and some are rechargeable.
Adult and kids electric toothbrush are different too.
Apart from these conventional divisions, you will also have to look into the other intricate details like the type of oscillation in the toothbrush.
- Handy size
The size of electric toothbrushes differs greatly from the size of manual toothbrushes and this something you will have to get adapted to.
Also, there are several differences in size within the genre itself. If you are buying a toothbrush for a child, the child being able to hold the brush should also be a priority.
- Battery life & charging system
If you are buying an electric toothbrush powered by a battery, it should offer at least enough life to last through a few brushing sessions.
The ones with a charging system are a little more complex.
Some models have equipped both dual chargers including travel chargers. You should make a pick wisely.
- Cost effectiveness
It is a given that electric toothbrushes will be costlier than the manual ones. But the features that command the pricings should be on your checklist.
There are several diverse feature sets that together decide the cost effectiveness of electric toothbrushes. Also, take into account the battery replacement charges.
- Brushing modes
The use of electric toothbrushes is not all about cleaning plaque more effectively. This is where the brushing modes come in.
There are up to 5 (sometimes more) brushing modes on better electric toothbrushes.
These help in functions like flossing, gum cleaning, sensitive care and whitening. Choose the ones that fit your bill.
- Additional features
Electric toothbrushes are laced with additional features as a norm. Some have a sensitivity button that helps in determining too much pressure.
Some have Bluetooth connectivity and allow you to control the toothbrush with your smartphone.
A few electric toothbrushes also come equipped with charge-supporting travel cases that allow you to charge them on the go.
- Travel friendly
Most electric toothbrushes and portable, which makes them pretty much travel-friendly.
The ones that operate with batteries will naturally create lesser fuss than the rechargeable toothbrushes.
But the power-operated ones too come with handy cases and portable travel docks which solve the issue. In all, most electric toothbrushes do not hit you hard while traveling.
- Warranty
Most noted electric toothbrush brands are known to provide warranties and after-sales services.
You should still be double sure about these and ask your retailer about the warranty.
It is important that the date of purchase is mentioned on the warranty card and signed by the retailer. This empowers you further.
It’s time to decide
The debate on the best electric toothbrush under a certain price point is far from over.
While many are still not comfortable with the idea of electricity in their toothbrushes, the proven capacity for better performance means you will have to accept them at some point or the other.
The choice is pretty much open and you may for any one of the five listed toothbrushes.
Final thought
Buying an electric toothbrush is different from buying a manual toothbrush chiefly because you will have to deliberate on a number of aspects. But the number of features available for the taking makes it quite worth the chase!