20 best electric toothbrushes for cleaner, whiter teeth

Taking care of your teeth is essential for preventing decay and gum disease, and our roundup of the best electric toothbrushes will help you do just that.

Though pricier than manual toothbrushes, think of them as an investment; the better you look after your teeth and gums now, the less likely you are to face costly and invasive dental treatment in the future.

What brand of electric toothbrush is best?

If you’re yet to take the plunge into the world of electric, we’ve found the best sonic and oscillating toothbrushes starting from as little as £20, all tried and tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute to help you buy with confidence.

How do electric toothbrushes work?

Electric toothbrushes are battery-powered brushes that make oscillating or sonic vibrating movements to remove plaque build-up, debris and bacteria. Most modern models feature two-minute timers, multiple cleaning modes and pressure sensors to help ensure optimum brushing.

Is an oscillating or sonic toothbrush better?

Sonic refers to the side to side vibrating motion of the brush filaments, while oscillating refers to the rotating and pulsating movements of the brush head. There is little evidence to show which is more effective.

Oscillating toothbrushes have round heads that can reach the back of teeth and effectively dislodge plaque. They have a brushing action of 2,500 to 8,000 rotations per minute and have more directional changes than a sonic brush.

Sonic toothbrushes have diamond or oval-shaped heads and can reach up to 24,000 to 40,000 vibrations per minute, making their motions faster than oscillating models. They help to clean a bigger surface area, as any fluid in the mouth is forced between the teeth and gum line by the powerful vibrations.

Are electric toothbrushes better than manual toothbrushes?

If you’re vigilant about looking after your teeth, both manual and electric toothbrushes can keep them healthy. However, dentists recommend going electric.

“They do the work for you and their bristles move in more directions than you could move the brush yourself,” says Dr Reena Wadia, periodontist and founder of gum clinic RW Perio. “They are effective at removing plaque because they’re designed to gently massage teeth and gums correctly, with many now featuring a pressure sensor that warns you if you’re pressing too hard.”

Will an electric toothbrush damage my teeth?

Brushing correctly will clean effectively without causing any harm. If you’re concerned about teeth sensitivity, look for toothbrushes that offer a gentle/sensitive setting or a softer brush head.

What’s the most effective way of cleaning?

“Place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the spot where the gums and teeth meet,” says Dr Wadia. “Angle upwards for the upper teeth and downwards for the lower teeth. Clean between your teeth — flossing or use of interdental brushes is the best way to get into these nooks and crannies.

“Use a toothpaste containing fluoride. If you have specific issues such as sensitivity, find a toothpaste that helps tackle this. Remember to spit and don’t rinse out your mouth after using the toothpaste, else it will wash away all the good stuff.”

How do I choose an electric toothbrush?

With so much choice on the market, choosing an electric toothbrush can feel overwhelming. Other than trusting our expert-tested top picks, below, keep an eye out for the following key features:

Timer: The best electric toothbrushes will have a buzzing timer to help you brush for the dentist-recommended two minutes. Look for brushes with quad pacers that buzz every 30 seconds to guide you through each quarter of your mouth (upper left, upper right, lower left and lower right).

Cleaning modes: Some toothbrushes offer different cleaning modes, such as deep clean and sensitive, which is useful if you have a specific concern, such as sensitivity or yellowing.

Pressure sensor: Good electric toothbrushes include a pressure sensor that lights up when you’re pushing too hard on your teeth to keep you from damaging them.

Electric toothbrush apps: Some toothbrushes released over the last few years are “smart”, with an app that connects to your phone. They provide you with tips on how to brush your teeth better, such as telling you if your pressure was too hard, if you missed a spot or if you didn’t scrub well enough.

How we test electric toothbrushes

We recruited a panel of 317 testers to trial 30 electric toothbrushes for a fortnight. They were asked to judge each model on its ease of use, design, features, battery life and overall performance. We asked them to use a disclosing tablet before and after brushing their teeth to determine how effective their toothbrush was at removing plaque.

We also measured how loud each device was using a noise meter in our lab, so you know if it’s going to make a racket before buying.