The daily grind of brushing your teeth is a hassle. Most of us see it as a necessary evil, but that doesn't mean we enjoy it.

Manual toothbrushes get the job done, but an electric toothbrush is more effective. They also have ways to motivate you to pass that two-minute mark and leave you with cleaner, fresher teeth.

To minimize trips to the dentist, you'll want one of the best electric toothbrushes available today.

Philips is one of the market leaders in electric toothbrushes, and the Sonicare DiamondClean HX9372/10 makes it clear why. The original Sonicare toothbrush was released by GEMTech back in 1992, with Philips acquiring the company in 2000. The DiamondClean series is the top-of-the-range edition, with the HX9372/10 currently sitting atop the pile.

The brush comes with five modes; Clean, White, Sensitive, Gum Care, and Deep Clean. It has two internal timers to keep you on track too. The Smartimer alerts you when the recommended two minutes have elapsed, or three minutes if you're using the Deep Clean setting. The Quadpacer beeps every 30-seconds to help you cover all four quadrants of your mouth. The official replacement heads are reasonably expensive depending on where you buy them.

Fortunately, Sonicare toothbrushes all use the same fittings, and there are third-party options available at a significant discount. Notably, the device has a three week projected battery life. That far outstrips many brushes on the market, but, given the price, you'd expect it to. To charge it, all you need to do is place it into the charging glass. If you're traveling, there's a carry case too with a built-in charging battery. If you need a top-up, simply plug the travel case into any micro-USB charger.

Key Features
  • Five cleaning modes
  • Recharge the toothbrush by placing it inside in the charging glass
  • Battery lasts up to three weeks
Specifications
  • Brand: Philips
  • Brushing Guidance: Yes
  • Bluetooth: No
  • Brush Head Compatibility: Sonicare
  • Battery: Three weeks
Pros
  • Compatible with all Sonicare brush heads, including third-party options
  • Smartimer and Quadpacer timers
  • Comes with a travel case with micro-USB charging
Cons
  • One of the most expensive options
  • Lacks the smart features of similarly priced competitor models
Buy This Product
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean HX9372/10
Editors choice

2. Oral-B Genius 9600

9.20 / 10
Read Reviews

Not to be outdone by Philips, Oral-B also has a top-of-the-range electric toothbrush, the Genius 9600. The brush is one of only a handful that incorporates smart features alongside the standard brushing modes. The most notable feature here is the inclusion of Oral-B's Gum Protection Technology.

When you connect your toothbrush to the Oral-B app via Bluetooth, the software uses AI (another dubious marketing term) to analyze your brushing habits. It uses this data to generate an eight-week gum protection brushing routine. This same data is also used to help optimize your regular brushing, so you cover every area. There's also the chance to use the app's facial recognition to gather more data on your brushing habits.

Of course, these features are great, but only so long as it performs basic tasks well too. Fortunately, the Genius 9600 is probably the best electric toothbrush you can buy today. The Lithium-Ion battery provides up to 14 days use and can be charged using the included dock. It also comes with a travel case which supports USB charging. The SmartRing around the top of the brush uses colored LEDs to give you visual feedback on your brushing too.

If, like Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone, you're curious if the American Dental Association accepts the Genius 9600, you'll be pleased to hear that, yes, it does.

Key Features
  • Bluetooth-enabled
  • In-app brushing guidance and personalized routines
  • 14-day battery life
Specifications
  • Brand: Oral-B
  • Brushing Guidance: Yes
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • Brush Head Compatibility: Oral-B
  • Battery: 14 days
Pros
  • Personalized routines help improve cleanliness and gum health
  • Includes Oral-B's Gum Protection Technology
  • Supports all Oral-B replacement heads
Cons
  • Not everyone will utilize the Bluetooth-enabled features
  • Privacy-enthusiasts may not appreciate the in-app facial recognition
Buy This Product
Oral-B Genius 9600
Best value

3. Oral-B White Pro 1000

9.00 / 10
Read Reviews

If you're after a more affordable electric toothbrush, then you may want to take a look at the Oral-B White Pro 1000. It is one of the best selling toothbrushes for a good reason. It's reasonably priced, but still offers all the benefits of electric brushing. Sure, there aren't premium features here, but if you're after a dependable toothbrush that won't break the bank, this is it.

In contrast to premium brushes, the White Pro 1000 has just a single mode, Daily Clean. This mode fulfills the dentist-recommended two minutes of brushing. Brushing too hard, or applying too much pressure, can be bad for your gums. This electric toothbrush has a built-in pressure sensor that stops the brush if you push too hard. It is compatible with eight variants of Oral-B's replacement heads so that you can customize your brush to your needs. The battery should last up to 10 days and takes 22 hours to recharge fully.

Oral-B claims that the White Pro 1000 is 300 percent more effective at removing plaque than a manual toothbrush. Marketing material for most electric toothbrushes will say that their benefits are clinically proven. For the most part, you can ignore this. Trials, if they've been conducted, will be on tiny sample sizes and are often manipulated to draw the most outlandish conclusions and claims. That's not to say they don't work, but you shouldn't base your purchasing decision solely on these claims.

Key Features
  • Two-minute vibrating timer
  • Pressure sensor to prevent overbrushing
  • 10-day battery life
Specifications
  • Brand: Oral-B
  • Brushing Guidance: No
  • Bluetooth: No
  • Brush Head Compatibility: Oral-B
  • Battery: 10 days
Pros
  • Pulsations every 30 seconds to encourage full brushing coverage
  • Compatible with 11 Oral-B replacement brush heads
Cons
  • Only a single brushing mode
  • Lacking features and accessories found on more premium models
Buy This Product
Oral-B White Pro 1000

Most toothbrushes come with plastic-based bristles, but not the Boka Electric Toothbrush. This brush comes with activated charcoal bristles that are softer for a more comfortable experience and are naturally more hygienic, too.

The brush handle uses sonic vibrations and achieves an impressive 30,000 vibrations per minute. The minimal design is complemented with stainless steel accents. The battery can last up to 25 days on a single charge. When it's time to top up, you can recharge the brush via micro-USB.

Key Features
  • Activated charcoal bristles
  • 30,000 vibrations per minute
Specifications
  • Brand: Boka
  • Brushing Guidance: No
  • Bluetooth: No
  • Brush Head Compatibility: Boka
  • Battery: 25 days
Pros
  • 25-day battery life
  • Rechargeable via micro-USB
Cons
  • Replacement heads only available from Boka
Buy This Product
Boka Electric Toothbrush

Additional smart features can improve your brushing habits, but not everyone needs or wants a smart toothbrush. If you want the benefits of electric brushing, but without the extra clutter, and at an affordable price, try the Fairywill FW508. This toothbrush is visually very similar to the Philips Sonicare range, while also only costing a fraction of the price.

Instead of oscillating like the Oral-B brushes, the Fairywill FW508 uses sonic vibrations which deliver the equivalent of 40,000 brush strokes per minute. There are three cleaning modes here, too; Daily Cleaning, Sensitive, and Gum Massage. This is in contrast to the Oral-B White Pro 1000, which only offers a single mode at twice the price.

The brush can last up to 30 days on a single charge and only takes four hours to recharge via USB. As it doesn't rely on a charging dock, you don't need to worry about power requirements in other countries. Just plug it into your USB charger alongside your other electronics.

Key Features
  • Three cleaning modes
  • Sonic vibrations deliver the equivalent of 40,000 brush strokes/min
Specifications
  • Brand: Fairywill
  • Brushing Guidance: No
  • Bluetooth: No
  • Brush Head Compatibility: Fairywill
  • Battery: 30 days
Pros
  • 30-day battery life
  • USB rechargeable in four hours
Cons
  • Proprietary replacement heads can be hard to find
Buy This Product
Fairywill FW508

Devices from Oral-B and Philips dominate the market for electric toothbrushes. The Quip Electric Toothbrush is an all-new subscription toothbrush service. Much like the men's razor company Harry's, Quip's initial costs are quite low. The unusual, but well-designed Quip toothbrush is cheap, making it a great first-time electric toothbrush.

The brush head looks more like a traditional manual toothbrush than the small circular designs found elsewhere. The 1,200 bristles are soft for a comfortable brush. The Quip has a built-in vibrating two-minute timer and pulses every 30 seconds too. The electric motor operates at 15,000 brush strokes per minute, which is about standard for electric toothbrushes.

The thing that makes Quip different from most other electric toothbrushes is their subscription service. You can buy the brush and choose not to take out the subscription, but you won't get the most use out of it. The Quip's power is supplied by a single, rechargeable AAA battery, which lasts three months. The brush head also lasts three months. For $5 per refill, Quip will deliver you a new brush head and battery every three months.

Key Features
  • Replaceable Quip brush heads
  • Electric motor operates at 15,000 brush strokes per minute
  • Built-in vibrating two-minute timer with pulses every 30 seconds
Specifications
  • Brand: Quip
  • Brushing Guidance: No
  • Bluetooth: No
  • Brush Head Compatibility: Quip
  • Battery: Three months
Pros
  • Replaceable battery offers three-month battery life
  • Subscription service for convenience
Cons
  • Without subscription, an entry-level toothbrush
Buy This Product
Quip Electric Toothbrush

Colgate is best known for its range of popular tubes of toothpaste. However, the company has always had a line of toothbrushes, even if they aren't as known as alternatives from big brands like Oral-B and Philips.

The hum by Colgate is a smart electric toothbrush from the firm that uses sonic vibrations to clean your teeth. This Amazon-exclusive kit comes with the toothbrush handle, two brush heads, a charger, and a carrying case.

The Bluetooth-enabled device connects to the Colgate smartphone app to provide you with additional brushing guidance. You can also earn points for regular brushing that can be exchanged for rewards.

The brush has a two-minute timer and can last for up to 10 days on a single charge. When it runs out of juice, simply pop it onto the included stand to recharge the brush.

Key Features
  • Bluetooth support
  • Two-minute timer
Specifications
  • Brand: Colgate
  • Brushing Guidance: Yes
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • Battery: 2 AAA batteries
Pros
  • Personalized in-app brushing guidance
  • Earn points and rewards for regular brushing
Cons
  • In-app features come across as a novelty rather than useful
Buy This Product
hum by Colgate

FAQ

Q: Is an Electric Toothbrush worth It?

Manual toothbrushes get the job done, but it can be hard to track how long you've been brushing and whether you are getting full coverage, without also overbrushing and causing gum damage.

Although more expensive than manual options, electric toothbrushes come with built-in two-minute timers, replaceable brush heads for different purposes, and multiple cleaning modes.

Many models can alert you if you press too hard or miss areas. Some brushes even come with smart features. These varieties connect to your phone via Bluetooth and offer personalized guidance and tracking.

Q: How Often Should You Replace Your Electric Toothbrush?

Manual toothbrushes tend to need replacing every three months. This is to maintain effectiveness and ensure a comfortable brushing experience. Broadly, you should replace your electric toothbrush every three months too.

However, rather than replacing the entire brush, you can purchase replacement heads for most electric toothbrushes. The cost varies by type, but you will generally need to buy heads specified by the manufacturer.

Q: How Do I Choose an Electric Toothbrush?

When investing in an electric toothbrush, there are some crucial features to consider. Your choice of brush will depend on the type of brush heads you can use, the device's battery life, and the cost. Similarly, you should also consider whether you'd find smart Bluetooth-based features useful.