They require less effort than manually brushing teeth, can help users avoid over scrubbing (especially those with high-tech features like pressure sensors) and most come equipped with timers to encourage a thorough brushing session. Every mouth is different, so you’ll want to find what works for you specifically. Dr. Alag recommends a timer, pressure sensor, battery power, and multiple brushing modes. A timer will make sure you’re brushing oral b toothbrush heads for the recommended two minutes, while multiple brushing modes help you make sure your specific needs (like sensitivity, for example) are being met. If you travel for long periods of time, you may want to look into a battery-powered toothbrush, rather than rechargeable, so you have a longer battery life. We were able to maneuver it easily, though because it spins very quickly, it can create a bit of a mess if you aren’t used to it.
He adds that features like vibrating timer guides and two-minute alerts take the guesswork out of your routine. And if you have special dental requirements, like sensitivities or receding gums, look for features like pressure sensors and multiple speed and intensity settings. Used properly, even basic electric toothbrushes can deliver an effective clean. But it’s important to change your brush head every three months, to prevent bacteria from building up in the bristles, affecting your oral health and general well-being.
It comes with ‘SenseIQ technology’ which promises to sense pressure, motion, coverage, duration and frequency up to 100 times per second and adapts to your brushing in real time. You’ll also find that most brands have options at varying price points, from entry-level electric toothbrushes to top-of-the-range models complete with app support and guided brushing tech for a more fulfilling and thorough clean. After seeing it splashed around on social media—and even on Time’s 2020 best invention list—we also tested the Willo.
During physical testing, we adhered to the ADA’s recommended two-minute brush. People with sensitive teeth know all about spending too much time brushing too lightly to avoid tooth and gum pain. The Oral-B iO Series 5’s multiple sensitivity modes and built-in light-up pressure sensor allow you to get the coverage you need in the two-minute timeframe you want. The Bluetooth connectivity and customizable features on the Oral-B app make this toothbrush a strong choice for people with receding gums or who are prone to over-brushing.
Elsewhere, we’ve looked at a combination of user reviews, specs, and features to pick the cream of the electric toothbrush crop. This toothbrush is made by one of the two biggest brands in electric toothbrushes. (The other is Philips Sonicare.) It comes with a timer (to make sure you brush for 2 minutes) and a pressure sensor (which alerts you if you are brushing too hard). Oral-B first debuted its Genius series in 2016, when you needed to mount your phone on your bathroom mirror so it could watch you brush and coach you to do better. But now, several models later, it can figure out just how you are brushing without connecting to your phone camera. Their toothbrushes tend to skew cheaper than Sonicare, and replacement brush heads also run on the cheaper side.
Oral-B’s signature feature is its circular brush head, which looks more like a tool that you would see at the dentist’s office. The brush head on an Oral-B toothbrush oscillates, as opposed to Sonicare’s side-to-side motion. For a broader comparison of things such as brushing modes and replacement brush heads, check out our comparisons hub page. If you want to standout and own something a little different to Oral-B and Philips, then you could try Ordo.
If the brush didn’t include a built-in timer, we set one for two minutes to make sure each brush got the full amount of time, brushing at the recommended 45-degree angle to the gums and making sure to clean every part of the mouth. We then noted what the brushing experience was like, including whether our teeth felt clean, if anything was left in our teeth afterward, and how loud the brush was. Trying out the Series 5 made us feel like our previous manual toothbrush was a relic of the caveman era. We were amazed by its smart features and app abilities, though we did have to read the instructions during setup to make sure we knew how to select our chosen mode and what the different colored lights meant. Once you know them, though, they’re straightforward and simple, with different lights for brushing too hard, too soft, or just right.
However, familiarity with the location of the mode button over time should make this easier. This brush features gum-protection technology, an intuitive color display, and a powerful motor for the ultimate clean. It’s oral b toothbrush heads also the most expensive option, which is why you may want to consider their other models first. As more features and technology are added to the brush to help with your oral hygiene, the price also increases.
Experts told us that the RotaDent electric toothbrush has a 360-degree rotating head for efficient cleaning that gets under the gumline. It’s a very basic toothbrush in its design — there are no smart features, brushing modes, pressure sensors or timers, for example. You can purchase multiple different types of replacement brush heads for this electric toothbrush, which will typically cost you about $21 per brush head. The Pro 1000 model from Oral-B comes with all the features most of our experts recommend, for one of the lowest prices. It has a two-minute timer (with a nice-to-have quadrant alert at 30-second intervals) and is compatible with a wide selection of affordable brush heads. We’ve recommended this brush since 2015, and it continues to perform well in long-term testing.
With the app, the company says, that’s stretched to 2 minutes and 22 seconds on average. However, if you are looking for a high-end electric toothbrush with all of the recent technology, you can expect to pay anywhere from $150 to $300. The Oral-B electric toothbrush charging time typically takes about 12 to 22 hours to reach a full charge, depending on the model. Charging an Oral B electric toothbrush is essential for maintaining its performance and prolonging battery life.