Quick question for you: How often do you see anyone with really, really good teeth use a manual toothbrush? In my experience, these people almost always use electric toothbrushes. While there’s certainly nothing wrong with manual toothbrushes, everyone with really good teeth knows that the secret to spotless pearly whites is a solid electric toothbrush.
"Electric toothbrushes are the most effective and efficient way to keep your teeth, tongue, and gums healthier and cleaner, as they do a much better job at removing plaque than a manual toothbrush,” says Victoria Veytsman, DDS, a cosmetic dentist and the founder of Cosmetic Dental Studios. "It does most of the work for you to thoroughly clean and get those hard-to-reach places.”
How to Choose an Electric Toothbrush
Today’s electric toothbrushes don’t just have a spinning brush head. These toothbrushes are now equipped with tons of innovative features like timers, pressure sensors, and different cleaning settings that help make brushing your teeth both effective and fun.
The best part of all of the different electric toothbrushes available now is that you can buy a quality electric toothbrush on nearly every budget, and the benefits are tenfold. When choosing a toothbrush, Veytsman says you should always opt for a brush that has the ADA seal of approval. "Always look for extra-soft or soft bristles, as harder bristles can damage your teeth, ruining your enamel and root surfaces,” she says. "You also want to pay attention to how the brush moves, whether it oscillates, rotates, or just pulses. A combination of the three is good to get those tough spots to get in your mouth.”
How to Use an Electric Toothbrush
Unlike a manual toothbrush, you also have to do way less while you brush your teeth when you have an electric toothbrush. When you use a manual toothbrush, you brush your teeth from side to side, focusing on scrubbing motions to get into your teeth’s grooves. An electric toothbrush is a bit different, though. "Start at the gum line, and once the brush is on the tooth, move the head from tooth to tooth slowly, getting the entire surface of the tooth,” says Veytsman. "You’ll need to move the toothbrush to a 45-degree angle to get all surfaces.”
When you brush your teeth using an electric toothbrush, you'll need to reset expectations for how to brush your teeth. "Let the brush do the work,” says Matt Nejad, DDS. "Apply gentle pressure, and let the electric oscillation or sonic vibration do the cleaning. You should not be scrubbing or brushing with your hands or applying firm pressure.”
Keep reading to find the absolute best electric toothbrushes out there, including the one Kim Kardashian uses, which is currently $20 off.
1. Burst Oral Care Sonic Toothbrush
Not only will this lavender toothbrush look sleek and sophisticated in your bathroom, but it’s also been clinically proven to reduce plaque and bleeding gums. The innovative brush gives teeth 33,000 sonic vibrations per minute. This limited-edition lavender brush is the one Kim Kardashian uses, but it also comes in black, white, and pink.
2. Quip Silver Metal Electric Toothbrush
I've been using this toothbrush for years, and I can personally attest to the fact that it's one of the best toothbrushes I've used. "If you’re a subscription person, this one is perfect and has a 30-second timer for each section of your mouth," says Veytsman, also noting how easily it travels. Since I genuinely do not trust myself to replace toothbrush heads in a timely manner, I love that a new one just shows up at my door every three months.
3. Oral-B Pro 1000 Power Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush
In terms of affordable electric toothbrushes, this might be one of the best. Veytsman says that this brush has all of the best features, like a sensor that stops the brush from pulsating if you brush too hard and a timer to make sure you brush for two minutes.
4. Philips Sonicare Diamondclean Smart 9300 Rechargeable Electric Power Toothbrush
If you're willing to spend for it, you'll probably never go back to another toothbrush. "This one comes with everything you need: three brush heads, a traveling case, and can be paired with an app to monitor your brushing routine," explains Veytsman. This is the brush that Nejad recommends the most as well.
5. Oral-B Genius 7000 SmartSeries Black Electronic Power Rechargeable Toothbrush
This brush is compatible with every single Oral-B brush head, which means you can interchange them freely depending on what works best for you. With six different settings, this brush is truly perfect for anyone who wants complete customization.
6. Spinbrush Pro Clean
If you've never tried an electric toothbrush before, this is the perfect transitional brush for a beginner. It oscillates and scrubs to leave teeth squeaky clean.
7. Bruush Premium Set Electric Toothbrush
This brush basically has everything you could ever ask for. Sonic technology powers this toothbrush, which has a two-minute timer and six different cleaning modes. The bristles on this one are extra gentle, so it's good for even the most sensitive mouths.
8. Gleem Battery Electric Toothbrush
You can pause and resume this toothbrush whenever you need to since it has a memory function that picks up wherever you left off during the two-minute timer. It goes in 30-second intervals for perfectly timed brushing.
9. SmileDirectClub Electric Toothbrush With 3-in-1 Travel Case, Mirror Mount, and Stand
At $15, this toothbrush is a steal. The sonic vibrations are concentrated to the bristles, so you won't feel like you're operating a power tool. The innovative stand works as a travel case and a mirror mount.
10. Oral-B Io Series 9 Electric Toothbrush With 3 Replacement Brush Heads
You can't get a professional tooth cleaning at home, but this brush comes pretty damn close. It delivers such a deep clean that you'll feel like you just came from the dentist, and it's extremely customizable.
Not only does this toothbrush have four brushing settings and a timer function, but it also has 10 intensity settings.
11. Co. by Colgate The Co. Worker Electric Toothbrush
12. Hum by Colgate Smart Battery Toothbrush Kit
This toothbrush actually guides you to start brushing better so you can start developing better habits.
Other Oral-Care Essentials
Plaque-removing floss in the cutest case.
For a white and bright smile.
A gentler way to floss.
If you like individual floss picks, these are a more sustainable option.
This mouthwash has so many benefits that keep your mouth healthy.
Next, I Love Coffee, But My Teeth Are Spotless Thanks to These Whitening Products
