As long as you can live without fast charging, it’s arguably the best-value smart brush out there. Even when you move beyond its Soft and Gum Care modes for the White and Polish options, you don’t quite get the power of a mid-range Philips brush, not oral b genius toothbrush to mention alternatives from Oclean or Ordo. However, your teeth feel clean after brushing and the Gum Care mode gives your gums a decent massage, while the Soft mode is ideal for first-time electric toothbrush users or those with sensitive gums.
There are also significant size and weight differences between different models. While I found larger, heavier brushes to be easier to hold while brushing, you may find you prefer a smaller, lighter brush for easy transport. Finally, I looked at cleaning, battery life and portability, as well as considering warranty for each toothbrush. All of these Sonicare brush heads come in standard and compact sizes (see picture, left).
And its compact head can maneuver into the back of the mouth for a thorough clean. The Nimbus Extra Soft Toothbrush retains less water than standard nylon bristles, so it doesn’t break down as quickly and can maintain its shape for longer. While it lacks a tongue or cheek cleaner, our testing team still recommends this toothbrush for anyone seeking an incredibly soft option. This sleek matte black option comes with carbon-coated bristles, designed to gently remove discolouration, which our testers found did just that.
The relatively gentle movement is also brilliant for massaging along the gumline. Right off the bat, Sonicare toothbrushes’ elongated head and rows of teeth-cleaning bristles look similar to manual their manual counterparts. Sonicare toothbrushes employ sonic technology (fast vibrations, basically), and the bristles move from side to side.
A great electric toothbrush for not a lot of money, even without the subscription plans. The two models offer similar cleaning capabilities, with the Sonicare toothbrush costing a whole $20 more. Each brand also offers an unwieldy number of brush head options whether you want to target specific issues like troublesome gums or plaque buildup. Oral-B brush heads range anywhere between $6 and $20 each (though the more expensive heads are meant to be used with the most premium Oral-B toothbrush); Sonicare brush heads range anywhere between $10 to $15 a pop. “I like that this electric toothbrush has a circular spinning brush head so I can just hold it over my teeth instead of moving it side to side,” said Select reporter Harry Rabinowitz.
The IPX7 model features five cleaning modes, a brushing timer and a huge 180-day battery life – perfect for travelling and charger-free trips while maintaining a bright smile – and it’s now just £18.99. Experts recommended choosing electric toothbrushes based on bristle texture—softer is better for your teeth—and adjustable speeds/modes so you can switch settings to fit your teeth and gum types. They also recommended features like timers and pressure sensors to prevent you from brushing too long (or not long enough), and too hard (or, you guessed it, not hard enough). Some brushes have extra features, and I tested all of these to gauge their effectiveness and usability.
According to Foreo, one full charge gives a whole year’s worth of battery power. Daruvuri noted that this toothbrush takes up less space than previous models she’s used since she doesn’t have to constantly keep it in a charger on her sink. Save over 50 per cent on this electric toothbrush from Oral-B and achieve dentist-like results from your own bathroom. The Pro 3 oral b genius toothbrush comes in this gorgeous pink colour and features the brand’s 360-degree visible gum pressure control and 3D cleaning technology to remove more plaque and maintain healthier gums. The visible gum pressure control stops pulsations and reduces speeds, visibly alerting you by turning to red if you’re brushing too hard and it’s rechargeable with a long-lasting battery.
Have a new brush head delivered every 3 months with the Philips Sonicare subscription program. The size and shape of the toothbrush handle are essential for comfort and grip. Some toothbrushes have ergonomic handles that naturally fit your hand, while others have non-slip grips for added control. Rubber grips help to prevent the brush from slipping out of your hand while in use—even more crucial when the toothbrush is wet. The slim design and carry case make it ideal for travel too, while no one reported any sensitivity after brushing.
Over the past eight years we’ve tested, and in many cases retested, more than three dozen different electric toothbrushes. We assessed what it’s like to use each brush twice daily over several months and—for our picks—years. This involved timing brushing sessions and battery lives, replacing brush heads (every three months, or more frequently as needed), and cleaning the handles and charging stands. To stress-test each brush shortly after unboxing, we dropped it onto a tile floor from chest height and submerged it in water while running for a full two-minute brushing cycle.