The best electric toothbrushes of 2023

If you’re doing it right, you should spend at least 28 minutes a week brushing your teeth. If that sounds like a drag, it’s time for a toothbrush upgrade. An electric toothbrush works better than a manual toothbrush thanks to its ability to easily remove biofilm that can later turn to plaque, according to experts. Not only that, but many models have useful features, like an alert when you’ve sufficiently brushed. It makes achieving the American Dental Association’s recommended two minutes of brushing with toothpaste even more simple, and perhaps, delightful.

In a world full of electric toothbrushes from Oral-B, Philips, Colgate and more, how can you know which electric toothbrush is best for you? To help guide your shopping, we consulted dentists about the benefits and limitations of electric toothbrushes, how they’re different from manual toothbrushes and how to pick the best one for you. We also highlighted some electric toothbrushes dentists recommended.

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Best expert-recommended electric toothbrushes in 2023

To round up the best electric toothbrushes, we sourced expert-recommended options on the market at various price points. While shopping, experts said to consider factors like:

Timers to help ensure you’re brushing for the recommended two minutes
Pressure sensors to help prevent you from brushing too hard, which could hurt your gums
Brush head replacement indicators to remind you when it’s time to swap out the brush head
Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity if you’re looking for smart options that connect to companion apps

Similar to other dental products like mouthwashes, whitening products and water flossers, electric toothbrushes — and kids electric toothbrushes — can earn the ADA’s Seal of Acceptance. In order to do so, brands must submit scientific evidence that models meet specific safety and efficacy criteria so the ADA can evaluate them. However, this does not mean electric toothbrushes without the ADA Seal of Acceptance are ineffective — it just means brands have not voluntarily submitted their products for the ADA to review. Below, we noted which expert-recommended electric toothbrushes earned the seal, in addition to noting key features of each and the cost of replacement brush heads.

Best all-around electric toothbrushes

The rechargeable Philips Sonicare DiamondClean comes with three types of brush heads (plaque control, white and gum health, as well as a tongue care head), each designed to tackle hard-to-reach areas; a brush body; and a traveling case for convenient packing. Pair the brush, which has five brushing modes and three intensity settings, with the app on your tablet or phone and it will show you an automated progress report and real-time feedback on your brushing. You can purchase multiple different types of replacement brush heads for this electric toothbrush, which will typically cost you about $30 for a pack of two.

“This brush gives you personalized coaching to show you not only how to brush properly but what surfaces of the teeth you are missing,” said Dr. Sheri Doniger, an Illinois-based dentist. “It has sensors in the brush head to let you know if you are brushing too hard and potentially causing damage to your teeth.”

ADA Seal of Acceptance

Dr. Lawrence Fung of Silicon Beach Dental in Southern California recommended this rechargeable electric toothbrush brush, which pairs with an app that can track your habits over time and provide you with helpful oral care tips. The model offers six brushing modes: daily clean, gum care, sensitive, whitening, deep clean and tongue cleaner. You can purchase multiple different types of replacement brush heads for this electric toothbrush, which will typically cost you about $31 for a pack of two.

Experts told us that the rechargeable RotaDent electric toothbrush has a 360-degree rotating head for efficient cleaning that gets under the gumline. Beyond the two-minute timer, you can customize your brushing experience with various brush heads, like the hollow tip for veneers and crowns (so brushing won’t cause gum recession), short tip for general everyday use and long-tip bristles for wider spaces between teeth. You can purchase multiple different types of replacement brush heads for this electric toothbrush, which will typically cost you about $21 per brush head.

Best electric toothbrush for travel

The rechargeable Oral-B 9600 brush is Doniger’s recommendation for the best travel toothbrush. She noted that the body of the brush isn’t bulky and comes with a convenient travel case. It also has “position detection technology,” which uses Bluetooth and facial recognition to help you improve your daily brushing habits, the brand says. The brush also includes a built-in pressure sensor that warns you if you’re brushing too hard, helping you minimize the chances of damaging your gums. You can purchase multiple different types of replacement brush heads for this electric toothbrush, which will typically cost you about $31 for a pack of two.

Best affordable electric toothbrushes

ADA Seal of Acceptance

According to Fung, the rechargeable Oral-B Pro 1000 is the best affordable electric toothbrush. It has pressure sensors that let you know if you’re brushing too hard and an oscillating brush head that breaks up plaque. The Oral-B Pro 1000 also sports a timer that buzzes every 30 seconds to let you know when it’s time to brush a quadrant of your mouth. You can purchase multiple different types of replacement brush heads for this electric toothbrush, which will typically cost you about $31 for a pack of two.

ADA Seal of Acceptance

“I recommend [the Arm & Hammer Spinbrush] to my patients who want to try power before they commit to a higher-priced brush,” Doniger said. This brush features dual-action technology that the brand says combines a side-to-side bristle movement with a spinning movement. The toothbrush is powered by AA batteries and the brush head’s bristles fade in color over time to remind you to replace it, the brand says. You can purchase multiple different types of replacement brush heads for this electric toothbrush, which will typically cost you about $9 for a pack of two.

Best electric toothbrush subscription

ADA Seal of Acceptance

Doniger recommended using Quip if you’re looking for the convenience of an electric toothbrush subscription service. You can get brush head refills automatically delivered to your door every three months, which she said “is definitely a good idea to keep us all on track to replace that head.” You can also purchase the toothbrush without the subscription and buy replacement brush heads for $5 each when you need them. The water-resistant toothbrush is powered by AAA batteries and has a three month battery life, according to the brand. It offers timed sonic vibrations and pulses to guide you while you brush.

Doniger said she also likes that Quip provides the choice to add floss and toothpaste to orders, as well as sells a bundle kit that includes an electric brush, a mint anticavity toothpaste, a refillable gum dispenser with mint gum and a floss pick.

How to shop for electric toothbrushes

When it comes to choosing an electric toothbrush, “pick one you will use,” said Doniger. As long as it gets the job done, is comfortable for you to use twice a day and is paired with a fluoride toothpaste, any electric toothbrush is a suitable option. However, experts said there are some factors you can consider to help you narrow down the plethora of options available.

Timers: The ADA recommends brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day. Some brushes buzz every 30 seconds to let you know how much time to spend on all four quadrants of your mouth, a helpful tool to ensure you’re cleaning all your teeth equally and for long enough. “You will be surprised how long two minutes feel when you have only been brushing for less than a minute total without a timer,” Doniger said.

Pressure sensors: Pressure sensors alert you when you’re brushing too hard, eliminating the chance that you hurt your gums.

Brush head replacement indicators: “We tend to forget to change our brushes every three to four months, or after we are sick,” Doniger said. Brush head replacement indicators are built into the toothbrush handle and remind you when to change your brush head. The indicator is usually a small light that flashes on when it’s time to swap out the bush head — Doniger compared it to the change oil light on your car.

Connectivity: Some electric toothbrushes can connect to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and pair with a companion app, allowing you to view your brushing habits in real time. Doniger said they can monitor brushing quality and quantity — “If you are missing one particular area, they will let you know,” she said.

ADA Seal of Acceptance: Electric toothbrushes that earn the ADA Seal of Acceptance are evaluated based on data brands submit showing that they meet certain safety and efficacy criteria, like being safe to use on the mouth’s hard and soft tissue, for example. Remember that electric toothbrushes without the ADA Seal of Acceptance are not ineffective — it just means brands have not voluntarily submitted their products for the ADA to review. You can view a list of ADA-accepted electric toothbrushes here.

The benefits of electric vs. manual toothbrushes

There are several ways an electric toothbrush beats out a manual toothbrush in improving your cleaning regimen, experts said.

Electric toothbrushes are great at removing bacteria and are “much better than manual brushing, since they either have a spinning head or utilize sonic vibrations,” Fung told us. Their movement creates microbubbles that gently remove bacteria biofilm — a cause of bad breath, staining, gum disease and bleeding gums.

For the same reason, an electric toothbrush can also be helpful for tackling gingivitis, an inflammation caused by plaque on the tooth. “Plaque buildup may cause bad breath and [encourage] larger buildup in hard-to-reach places,” Doniger explained, adding that an electric toothbrush can help as long as it’s used according to its instructions.

Doniger also recommended electric toothbrushes for patients with periodontal disease, bacterial plaque or a history of dental decay since they require significantly less effort than manual toothbrushes. “Angling the brush into the gumline and slowly moving from one tooth to the other — while the power brush is actually doing the movement to break up the biofilm — is so simple,” she said. Electric toothbrush’s ability to scrub teeth for you is also beneficial for “those who have dexterity problems like the elderly, people with specific disabilities or children,” according to the ADA.

The limitations of electronic toothbrushes

Using an electric toothbrush the same way that you use a manual toothbrush — brushing as fast or as hard — can potentially lead to issues like gum recession, which can impact underlying tooth structure, said Dr. Joseph Field of the California-based Peninsula Center of Cosmetic Dentistry. Most electric toothbrushes are designed to do the scrubbing for you, so let them.

Are electric toothbrushes FSA or HSA eligible?

No. According to the FSA Store, electric toothbrushes (and manual toothbrushes) are not eligible for reimbursement with flexible spending accounts (FSA), health savings accounts (HSA), health reimbursement accounts (HRA), dependent care spending accounts and limited-purpose flexible spending accounts (LPFSA) because they’re considered general health products.

Can electric toothbrushes damage your teeth?

The short answer is yes, electric toothbrushes can damage your teeth, but so can manual toothbrushes and other dental hygiene products you use improperly. Improper brushing may lead to an increase in gum recession, gingival abrasion and potentially tooth wear, Doniger said. And over brushing can be problematic, too. If you over-brush on the enamel layer of your teeth, she said you may cause the enamel to be abraded away, leaving little notches on your teeth at the gum line. The tissues surrounding teeth are also fragile, so over-brushing can lead to micro-abrasions or tears, Doniger said.

With all that being said, “teeth should be cleaned with gentle brush motion, regardless of the type of brush you use,” Doniger said. If you’re concerned about improper or over brushing, talk to your dentist about proper brushing technique. They can walk you through how to brush at their office so you can avoid confusion at home.

Meet our experts

At Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

Dr. Sheri Doniger is an Illinois-based dentist who has authored numerous articles on topics like periodontal disease and new dental technology.
Dr. Lawrence Fung practices dentistry at Silicon Beach Dental in Southern California. He is also a clinical instructor at the University of California, Los Angeles Center for Esthetic Dentistry and is the current team dentist for University of Southern California Athletics.
Dr. Joseph Field is a California-based dentist who owns the Peninsula Center of Cosmetic Dentistry. He also holds a faculty appointment at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry.

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