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The Best Electric Toothbrushes, Tested and Reviewed
Keep your teeth shiny and clean with these dentist-recommended brushes, all backed by our extensive testing.
Adding in tongue scrapers and water flossers can amp up your teeth-cleaning routine, but the easiest way to improve your oral hygiene is to upgrade to an electric toothbrush. There are brushes with sonic (forward and backward) and oscillating motions that give a deeper clean than manual brushes, but the best electric toothbrushes have special features like built-in timers, compatible apps and pressure sensors to make sure you're brushing properly.
Our Top Pick: Oral-B Pro1000 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush. Our Lab pros gave this affordable toothbrush the highest overall scores and were impressed by its ease of use, rotating head for plaque removal and user satisfaction.
The product analysts and experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute tested over 15 toothbrushes in our Lab to find the best electric toothbrushes to evaluate factors like design, noise level, cleaning performance and durability. We also received and considered testers' feedback on the brushes' ease of use, app features and comfort while brushing. Ahead, discover the best electric toothbrushes in 2024 to keep your teeth pristine and healthy.
Best Deal
Oral-B Pro1000 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush
Pros
- Top-tested performance
- Easy to use the three different cleaning modes
- Gentle on teeth and gums
- Lightweight
- Budget-friendly, but still high-quality
Cons
- Charging base can build up residue
Quiet Mark noise rating: 1 out of 3 stars (Loud) | Battery life: 7 days | Modes: 3 (Daily clean, whitening and sensitive) | Pressure sensor: Yes | Alerts: Two-minute timer with 30 second interval alerts | Cost of replacement heads: $22 for 3 | Projected cost over 1 year: $62
Lab notes: With tens of thousands of five-star ratings on Amazon, this brush is best for anyone looking for a basic but effective electric toothbrush that will deliver a solid clean without any fancy bells and whistles. Our Lab pros gave it a perfect score for effective cleaning teeth and a nearly perfect score when compared to a professional teeth cleaning. Our experts were also impressed by the ease of use, its rotating head for plaque removal, a pressure sensor to prevent over-brushing and a two-minute timer. Plus, the cost is lower than comparable options.
Tester feedback: "This Oral-B brush has the perfect little angled brush that gets in between my teeth and gets all the plaque and food out that is hard to get with a traditional toothbrush," said one tester. Consumer testers also liked its lightweight, user-friendly design (although there is only one cleaning mode and no adjustable speed), though we noticed it was noisier than other models and some residue on the charging base after extended use.
App integration: This toothbrush offers great value, but it lacks some of the advanced features found in pricier models, like app connectivity.
Cleaning performance: 4.9/5
Philips Sonicare 4100
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Slim, lightweight design
- Two brush intensities
Cons
- Lower performance scores than other Sonicare toothbrushes
Quiet Mark noise rating: 3 out of 3 stars (Quiet) | Battery life: 14 days | Modes: 1 (Clean with high and low intensity) | Pressure sensor: Yes | Alerts: Two-minute timer with 30 second interval alerts | Cost of replacement heads: $10 and up for 4 | Projected cost over 1 year: $50
Lab notes: We love that the Sonicare 4100 offers all of the brand's must-have features at a great price, including a two-minute timer, pressure sensor and two intensity settings, which are especially helpful for sensitive gums or teeth. In our tests, it received nearly perfect scores for its ease of use, durability and quietness. It has a lightweight design and compact USB-A charger for easy storage. Its performance scores were slightly lower than premium Sonicare models, but you can get it for an eighth of the cost. Plus, you can get compatible replacement heads starting at $10 for packs of four, so you can swap the bristles more frequently for less money than other options, which is ideal for someone who brushes with tons of pressure or gets sick often (ahem, kids and teens).
Tester feedback: Many of our consumer testers felt it thoroughly cleaned their teeth. “I felt like I got a great clean each time with minimal effort,” said one tester. Another appreciated the brush head’s design: “The compact head fits farther back and reaches all around the back teeth better than a manual toothbrush.”
App integration: There is no app or connectivity for this toothbrush.
Cleaning performance: 4.5/5
Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige
Pros
- Top overall score in Lab tests
- Excellent performance
- Easy and intuitive to use
- Feature-rich
- Rechargeable via travel case
Cons
- Very expensive
Quiet Mark noise rating: 1 out of 3 stars (Loud) | Battery life: 14 days | Modes: 5 | Pressure sensor: Yes | Alerts: Two-minute timer with 30 second interval alerts | Cost of replacement heads: $27 and up for 2 | Projected cost over 1 year: $327
Lab notes: While it might be the most expensive on this list, it earned the highest overall score in our Lab tests (4.9/5), which is the average of its ratings for cleaning performance, ease-of-use, durability over time and user satisfaction. This toothbrush has the most advanced features of all the options on this list, including tracking missed spots, two intensity settings, sensors for your brushing movements and auto-adjustments of the vibrations if you brush too hard (which is helpful for sensitive gums). The elongated brush head, narrow shape and side-to-side moving bristles is best for those who prefer the feel of a traditional tooth brush and are trying to reach tricky spots.
Tester feedback: Our pros weren't the only ones who loved this brush — it received the best consumer satisfaction score. Several testers felt they had healthier gums and less plaque after using it. "I love this toothbrush," said one tester. "The vibrations tickle a bit and take a few days to get used to, but they make it super effective. My teeth feel like they’ve been professionally cleaned," another shared. Other testers noted that the toothbrush took up very little space on their bathroom counter.
App integration: This toothbrush pairs with the Sonicare app to guide you through brushing, alerts you to any missed spots and helps improve your brushing habits over time. "The app is easy to use, makes brushing fun and motivates me to brush more often," said one tester.
Cleaning performance: 4.7/5
Oral-B iO Series 9
Pros
- Feature-rich
- 7 cleaning settings
- Assesses 16 zones in mouth with AI
- Interactive color display
Cons
- Expensive
- Design is a bit bulky
Quiet Mark noise rating: 2 out of 3 stars (Average) | Battery life: 14 days | Modes: 7 | Pressure sensor: Yes | Alerts: Two-minute timer with 30 second interval alerts | Cost of replacement heads: $42 and up for 4 (brush comes with 3) | Projected cost over 1 year: $220
Lab notes: The iO Series 9 is one of Oral-B’s most advanced electric toothbrushes, and while it’s on the pricier side, it’s packed with smart features for a deep clean and comes with three replacement heads. In Lab tests, the Oral-B iO scored highly for effective cleaning, useful sensors and sufficient battery life. We were especially impressed by seven smart modes, including one for sensitive teeth and another for tongue cleaning. Plus, we also loved the features that help you brush better and properly: the built-in timer to alert you when to change the quadrant of your mouth and stop brushing and the Smart Pressure Sensor (which turns red if you're brushing too hard).
Tester feedback: Consumer testers were impressed, calling it “a game-changer,” “a joy to use” and “incredibly cool.” Many even said it felt like a professional cleaning and appreciated the sensor that is lit green when the pressure applied is appropriate and red when there is too much pressure, giving your teeth a proper cleaning. "I get a great clean and the features are beneficial without a ton of buttons," said one tester.
App integration: The Oral-B app includes real-time AI "coaching" to guide you as you brush, ensuring you never miss a spot. Testers praised the app and the multiple cleaning modes. “I like the functions. The sensor light shows if you’re using the right pressure, and the app tracks how thoroughly you brush, offering feedback for improvement,” said one tester. Others loved the interactive color display, which shows a smiley face when you’ve brushed for two minutes.
Cleaning performance: 4.4/5
Pros
- Fun designs
- Three brushing modes
Cons
- Not available via many third-party retailers
Quiet Mark noise rating: N/A | Battery life: 14 days | Modes: 3 | Pressure sensor: No | Alerts: No | Cost of replacement heads: $10 | Projected cost over 1 year: $60
Lab notes: SuperMouth, a Good Housekeeping Parenting Awards winner, makes oral care fun for kids with superhero- and supervillain-themed toothbrushes that are exciting for children. Our pros in the Parenting Lab were impressed by the three speeds and intensities (light clean, super clean and massage) and the gentle bristles that are soft on young gums, which means brushing will be a more comfortable experience for kids. Plus, the music will keep kids brushing for longer. Overall, this toothbrush has too strong of settings for very young children, but is an ideal electric toothbrush for kids ages 6 and up.
Tester feedback: Our parent testers loved that these brushes made teeth-brushing exciting for their kids, with one mom sharing, "My son now runs to the bathroom to brush his teeth." Other parent testers raved about the toothbrush's interactivity with their children: "It plays songs for her to brush her teeth to, it looks like a dragon that holds a flosser and tongue scraper and has a cap to keep the toothbrush covered," one said.
App integration: While the toothbrush itself will not connect to the SuperMouth app, it does bring the SuperHeroes and SuperVillains of the SuperMouth world to life with Augmented Reality. We think this app is a suitable way to engage with the character on their toothbrush and make brushing feel like an exciting adventure.
Cleaning performance: 4.7/5
Other electric toothbrushes we tested
- Laifen Wave: This sleek and compact toothbrush stands out for its unique head movement, according to our testing experts. The head oscillates with a “pivoting” motion that sweeps up and down over the teeth. The vibration may be too strong for some, but there are three modes so you can adjust. We do like that replacement heads are affordable at $10 for 3.
- Oclean X Pro Digital Sonic Electric Toothbrush: This sonic toothbrush impressed our testers with its effective performance and design that features an innovative smart screen for instant feedback on how well you cleaned. Claimed battery life is up to 30 days and at $100, we think it offers good value.
- Oral-B iO Series 2: The latest addition to Oral-B’s iO Series lineup, this toothbrush offers iO technology at an accessible price point. While it’s not as feature-rich as the Series 9 on our list, we love its user-friendly design and solid performance that’s not only quieter but gentler on the gums than the Pro Series.
How we test electric toothbrushes
Our electric toothbrush reviews are based on extensive in-Lab tests at the Good Housekeeping Institute. In our latest evaluations, we tested over a dozen electric toothbrushes in our Labs for performance, ease of use and durability.
We also sent samples to over 100 consumer panelists who reported good dental hygiene habits (brushing twice a day and having a professional cleaning every six months) to provide qualitative feedback on each toothbrush. After two weeks of use, they were asked to evaluate their overall satisfaction. Here's how we scored:
✔️ Performance: Product analysts evaluate the toothbrush’s overall functionality, its modes and how effectively it cleans teeth. We then measure battery life, charging time, the accuracy of the two-minute timer and the usefulness of any built-in sensors. To evaluate and compare noise levels in each toothbrush, each toothbrush is sent to Quiet Mark, our partner lab and independent global certification program that identifies how quiet or loud products are through scientific testing and assessment.
✔️ Durability: Each toothbrush is put through a drop test and a water-resistance test in our Lab to score its durability. For the drop test, each toothbrush is dropped from a 30-inch height, or the average height of a countertop, and then checked for any dents, scratches or damage. The water-resistance test is then performed in the Lab’s rain tester, exposing the toothbrush to various water pressures for two minutes.
✔️ Ease-of-use: Once the toothbrush has been measured and weighed, we provide feedback alongside consumers on the following questions: How easy is it to set up? How easy is the toothbrush head to put on? Are the controls conveniently located and easy to use? Is the toothbrush easy to charge? Is the app intuitive? Is the design ergonomic and easy to hold? Is it heavy or lightweight? Did the toothbrush create a mess while in use? Does its size take up too much space?
Product Analyst Chiara Butler tests an electric toothbrush at the Good Housekeeping Institute.
What to look for when shopping for an electric toothbrush
✔️ Power source: In our Lab tests, people greatly preferred rechargeable options to battery-operated ones. Our feedback showed the battery-operated brushes were ideal for travel, but they didn’t work as well as electric toothbrushes with rechargeable bases.
✔️ Timer: Many electric toothbrushes offer a timed brushing setting of two minutes, broken up into 30-second intervals, so you're thoroughly paying attention to your teeth — front to back and top to bottom.
✔️ Pressure sensor: Avoid sensitive gums by finding an electric toothbrush that gently vibrates when you press down too hard.
✔️ Connectivity: Certain electric toothbrushes feature Bluetooth technology so you can sync to an app to keep track of your brushing habits and access extra features like coaching and tips. Some of the more premium toothbrushes even leverage AI technology to give you feedback in real-time as you brush to understand which areas need improvement.
Electric vs. manual toothbrushes
“Not all electric toothbrushes are created equal,” says Sharon L. Huang, D.D.S., owner of Les Belles Dentistry in NYC. She estimates that two minutes with an electric toothbrush is equivalent to seven minutes of manual brushing.
Why? Because electric toothbrushes are more efficient at cleaning and more effective at reaching a lot of surfaces, especially hard-to-reach areas like molars in the back of your mouth. “When you use a manual brush, it depends on how you’re brushing [and the motion] versus an electric toothbrush which does the work for you,” she says.
Simply put: “We will never move as fast as a sonic brush,” which she favors for its power and ability to dislodge bacteria.
Do dentists recommend electric toothbrushes?
"Pretty much everyone can benefit from an electric toothbrush,” says Jamie Reynolds, M.D., an orthodontist based in Michigan. After he switched to an electric toothbrush, his own dental hygienist commented on how clean his teeth looked. “Personally, I won't be switching back to the old-fashioned way and don't recommend you do either!”
But remember, no matter which powered toothbrush you buy, the most important thing is your habits, says Dr. Reynolds. “An electric toothbrush isn't a magic wand. It still requires morning and night use — with around two minutes of brushing time — to be effective.” Use it as a way to up your brushing technique, not make up for it.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
The Good Housekeeping Institute’s Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab regularly tests oral care items like whitening toothpastes and baby toothbrushes.
This article was originally written by Olivia Lipski, a GH Institute writer and product analyst who covers tech, travel, fitness and home. She led the recent Lab and consumer testing of electric toothbrushes alongside our product testing experts. With years of product review experience, Olivia personally rotates between Philips and Oral-B toothbrushes because she loves both. For this story, she also consulted dentist Sharon L. Huang, D.D.S. and orthodontist Jamie Reynolds, M.D.
Most recently, Assistant Commerce Editor Isabella Cavallo updated this story with more details from Lab tests and consumer feedback. Cavallo covers all things tech, fitness, beauty and more, and she has experience reviewing products and comparing models to competitors to find the best options for you, the shopper.
Olivia (she/her) is a senior reviews writer and analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she tests and writes about tech, home, travel, fitness, parenting and health products. Since joining GH in 2021, she has continued to leverage her extensive product reviews experience by staying on top of the industry’s latest innovations and helping readers make better buying decisions. Olivia is a graduate of the George Washington University, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, political science and French, and she holds a master’s degree in communications from Sciences Po Paris.
Isabella (she/her) covers commerce and product-related content in the home, lifestyle, fitness, technology and beauty. She graduated from Binghamton University in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in English: Literature & Rhetoric. Before joining GH, she was an editorial assistant at Prevention, where she covered health topics and celebrity news.
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