Get healthy gums and a gleaming smile with our testers' pick of the best brushes
They say you’re never fully dressed without your smile, but if your teeth are in need of a little TLC, you’re unlikely to want to flash those less-than-pearly whites.
Is prioritising dental care on your 2023 to-do list? Ours too. And the good news is that the best electric toothbrush could potentially save you from an eye-wateringly high dentist's bill. There are lots of options on the market, but we’ve found the very best after rigorous real-life testing in the Women's Health Lab.
Is an electric toothbrush better than a manual toothbrush?
Ultimately, this choice comes down to personal preference, but celebrity dentist Dr Richard Marques recommends going electric.
‘Electric toothbrushes are more effective because they take a lot of the work and worry off your hands,’ he says. ‘Many modern models have variable functions so you can control the speed and intensity to suit your needs. They also have the edge over manual brushes because the oscillation (that’s the rotating and pulsating movement of the brush), removes surface plaque from teeth much more effectively.’
How should I use an electric toothbrush?
The beauty of electric toothbrushes is that they do most of the work for you. That said, Yusra Al-Mukhtar, dental expert and founder of dryusra.com, advises that holding your toothbrush at the right angle is key for achieving a proper clean.
‘Hold the brush head at 45 degrees to the tooth, aimed towards the gum, and apply minimal pressure,’ she says. ‘Then focus on each tooth surface for three to five seconds before moving onto the next one.’
Most electric toothbrushes have multiple settings and brush heads that are designed for specific purposes including whitening or freshening breath. Look for rubber sections to help with stain removal and softer bristles if your teeth are sensitive.
Sonic toothbrushes vibrate the fastest, but they tend to cost more than a standard oscillating toothbrush, and there is little evidence to suggest that they are much more effective at cleaning, so it's really down to preference.
Which electric toothbrushes do dentists recommend?
You’ll find our favourites below, but Dr Marques recommends Philips Sonicare electric toothbrushes to his clients. ‘They’re tough on plaque but gentle on the gums, and are a lot quieter than most other electric models,’ he says. ‘They’re at the higher end of the price bracket but they provide a superior clean.’
How we test
The Women’s Health Lab asked 317 people to trial a range of electric toothbrushes for a fortnight, judging each model on its ease of use, design, features, battery life and overall performance. They also used a disclosing tablet before and after brushing their teeth to determine how effective their toothbrush had been at removing plaque.
1. Best electric toothbrush: Spotlight Sonic Brush, £110
Our panel unanimously raved about this toothbrush, finding it gentle and fuss-free to use with a slim oval brush head that comfortably reached the back of their mouths.
It left their teeth feeling as clean as if they’d just been to the hygienist. The three cleaning modes and long-lasting battery impressed too, with everybody planning to keep using it.
Key specifications
Brush action: Sonic
Number of cleaning modes: 3
Features: Charge light, a two-minute timer
Included accessories: Three brush heads, travel case
2. Runner-up electric toothbrush: Oral-B Genius 9000 Electric Toothbrush, £203
This toothbrush offers great value for money for an Oral-B. It cleans brilliantly, successfully reducing plaque, and its six cleaning modes make it a trusty buy for tackling all teeth concerns.
Our testers loved the accompanying free app that offers real-time personalised brushing advice and reminders to change your brush head. It even lets you change the colour of the LED battery life indicator!
Key specifications
Brush action: Oscillating
Number of cleaning modes: 6
Features: Charge light, two-minute timer with a quad pacer, pressure sensor
Included accessories: Four brush heads, chargeable travel case, phone holder
3. Best for gently whitening teeth: Curaprox Hydrosonic Black is White, £150
This jet black brush won’t just add a hint of sophistication to your bathroom, it will do a great job at cleaning teeth, too. Designed with carbon-coated bristles, this aims to gently remove discolouration.
Easy to use, all our testers said it was gentle on gums – however some did miss having a pressure sensor – and reported that their teeth felt much cleaner after use.
Key specifications
Brush action: Sonic
Number of cleaning modes: 3
Features: Charge light
Included accessories: Travel case, 2x brush heads, charger
4. Most stylish electric toothbrush: Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige, £250.87
Philips’ latest launch is its snazziest yet. Not only did its sleek look go down well with testers, but it provided a deep clean, with all of our testers saying their teeth felt much cleaner after use.
It even tackled tough plaque, with testers seeing a visible reduction, leaving a better-looking, but also healthier smile. It did register as ‘loud’ in our lab test, but that didn’t stop testers wanting to use it in the future.
Key specifications
Brush action: Sonic
Number of cleaning modes: 5
Features: Bristle usage indicator, pressure sensor, charge light
Included accessories: Travel charging case, charging stand, charging cable
5. Best electric toothbrush for beginners: Oral B Genius X, £120
Still using a manual toothbrush? We promise this model will make the switch worth it. Almost all testers found the gentle vibrations just tough enough – especially for sensitive teeth and gums – leaving teeth squeaky clean. The pressure sensor was also a crowd-pleaser, but it wasn’t the quietest in our lab test.
Key specifications
Brush action: Oscillating
Number of cleaning modes: 6
Features: Bristle usage indicator, charge light, pressure sensor
Included accessories: Charger stand, travel case (some models only)
6. Best for long-lasting battery life: FOREO ISSA 3, £109
This one doesn’t look like your traditional toothbrush. It's made from medical-grade silicone that's both super hygienic and a breeze to clean. The best part? It can last a staggering 365 days on a single charge – so you basically only have to charge it on its birthday.
It was comfortable and straightforward to use, but some found the brush a bit difficult to manoeuvre at times. Performance-wise, testers said it thoroughly cleaned teeth, without causing any sensitivity.
Key specifications
Brush action: Sonic
Number of cleaning modes: 16
Features: Charge light
Included accessories: Travel pouch, USB charging cable
7. Most hi-tech electric toothbrush: Oral-B iO9 Ultimate Clean Electric Toothbrush, £250
If its luxury price tag doesn’t put you off, this top-of-the-range toothbrush is a solid all-round choice. Simple to use, it was one of the quieter and more comfortable models that we tested.
Our testers found it powerful and effective, giving a big thumbs-up to its sleek design and hi-tech interface. Its flashing pressure sensor warns you when you’re brushing too hard, which those with sensitive teeth appreciated.
Key specifications
Brush action: Oscillating
Number of cleaning modes: 7
Features: Charge light, a two-minute timer, timer display, pressure sensor
Included accessories: Magnetic charger, chargeable travel case
8. Best electric toothbrush for design: Philips DiamondClean Sonic Electric Toothbrush, £299
This powerful toothbrush comes with a travel case that doubles up as a charger, but its battery lasts an age anyway. Our panel liked its size and shape, finding it straightforward to use with plenty of speed settings to suit all cleaning needs. Their teeth felt noticeably cleaner after using it, though some would have appreciated a pressure sensor to keep them from over-brushing.
Key specifications
Brush action: Sonic
Number of cleaning modes: 5
Features: Charge light, two-minute timer with quad pacer
Included accessories: USB travel case
9. Best electric toothbrush for braces: Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro, £148.75
If you’re struggling with braces, implants or sensitive gums, this toothbrush has been designed with you in mind.
It comes with three different brush heads, including one especially for gums, while seven cleaning modes make reaching every nook and cranny a breeze. It’s a tad noisy and the battery life could be better, but it cleans well with an attractive, modern design that our testers rated highly.
Key specifications
Brush action: Sonic
Number of cleaning modes: 7
Features: Charge light, a two-minute timer
Included accessories: Three brush heads, charger, travel case
10. Best electric toothbrush for travellers: Ordo Sonic+ Electric Toothbrush, £49.99
This good-looking toothbrush boasts a generous three-week battery life, making it a smart buy for frequent travellers.
It offers a customisable clean with four brushing modes, including whitening and sensitive, and our testers found it easy to control. Gentle yet effective, it's also available as part of a monthly oral care subscription. It comes with a travel cap for tossing into your overnight or weekend bag, too.
Key specifications
Brush action: Sonic
Number of cleaning modes: 4
Features: Charge light, two-minute timer with quad pacer
Included accessories: Travel cap, USB charger
11. Best electric toothbrush for teeth whitening: Stylsmile Sonic Blue Light Toothbrush, £35
If you want to get your smile sparkling without the use of harsh chemicals, look to this teeth whitening set. The toothbrush vibrates powerfully, working hard to banish stains, while blue light activates the whitening gel to help neutralise discolouration.
It shuts off automatically after two minutes, taking the guesswork out of brushing, but some testers found the brush head too bulky. It could be better at cleaning in-between teeth, but it’s a saviour for big coffee drinkers!
Key specifications
Brush action: Sonic
Number of cleaning modes: 2
Features: Charge light, a two-minute timer
Included accessories: Travel cap, replacement brush head, USB charging lead, toothpaste, LED accelerator tray with batteries, silicone mouth tray, three 3ml whitening gel syringes
12. Best budget battery-operated brush: Philips One Battery Operated, £29.99
Going back to basics, this battery-operated toothbrush from Philips may only come with one cleaning mode but it gave our entire panel whiter teeth.
The brush managed to reach every tooth, with many loving its slim design, which also makes it convenient to travel with. No one reported any sensitivity issues either. A great first electric toothbrush if you don’t want to spend big.
Key specifications
Brush action: Sonic
Number of cleaning modes: 1
Features: 2-minute timer
Included accessories: Clip-close carry case
13. Best eco-conscious electric toothbrush: SURI Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush, £79.99
If you're looking to upgrade your current toothbrush for a more eco-conscious option, try SURI. The brush heads are made from plant-based castor oil and corn starch, and they can be sent back to the brand to be recycled.
This model also comes with a case featuring a UV light to clean your brush while you're not using it. And when it came to the brushing experience, most said the bristles were soft on teeth, yet provided a powerful polish.
Key specifications
Brush action: Sonic
Number of cleaning modes: 2
Features: 2-minute timer, charge light
Included accessories: UV light clean and charge case, charging stand and mount, USB cable, brush head return pouch
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