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In 2023, there are many toothbrushes to choose from that will fit your budget, personal preference, and oral care needs. Many manual and electric toothbrushes are effective against cavities, gum disease, and other oral health conditions.
Some things you should consider before buying a toothbrush include:
Manual toothbrushes are cheaper than electric toothbrushes. However, electric toothbrushes remove plaque through vibration (oscillation), which is significantly better than manual brushing.7
Everything We Recommend
Best Overall (Editor's Pick) — Oral-B Pro 1000 Electric Toothbrush
Best Whitening Toothbrush — Snow LED Electric Toothbrush
Best Charcoal Toothbrush — Burst Electric Toothbrush
Best Smart Toothbrush — Colgate Hum Electric Toothbrush
Best Smart Toothbrush — Philips Sonicare 4100 Electric Toothbrush
We consulted one of NewMouth's in-house dentists, Dr. Khushbu Aggarwal, regarding her recommendations for the best toothbrushes. According to her, the best toothbrush depends on the user.
People with less dexterity may prefer electric toothbrushes because they can clean teeth more effectively without moving their hands around too much.
Dentists may also recommend electric toothbrushes over manual toothbrushes because they provide a deeper clean. They remove more plaque with the use of vibrations and automatic circular motions.5,6
In addition, almost all electric toothbrush models have built-in timers to help you brush for two minutes. While brushing, your role is simply to ensure the bristles touch every surface of your teeth.
Many also have 30-second intervals, indicating when it is time to brush a different quadrant of your mouth. There are four quadrants total: two on the bottom and two on the top.
Manual toothbrushes also remove plaque but not as effectively as electric versions. Dr. Khushbu recommends a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid damaging the enamel.
It's also worth noting that some people find manual brushing with the right technique extremely difficult or impossible. According to Dr. Khushbu, the right brushing technique is moving the toothbrush in "gentle circular motions right at the gum line and on all other surfaces of the teeth."
This technique can be difficult for people who have trouble with small, detailed hand movements. Children also fall into this category, as they don’t have good manual dexterity. For many people, switching to an electric toothbrush can greatly improve their oral health status.
If you are looking for an electric toothbrush with deep cleaning capabilities, the Oral-B Pro 1000 is for you. This rechargeable electric toothbrush removes up to 300% more plaque buildup than a manual toothbrush.
The brush is also sturdy and affordable, making it a good introduction to electric toothbrushing.
Cost: $
Features:
Known for its teeth whitening kits, this is Snow's entry into the electric toothbrush space. This first-of-its-kind toothbrush features a built-in LED for enhanced whitening. The blue LED penetrates the enamel to remove deeply-set stains.
In addition, it also boasts four cleaning modes, a two-minute timer, and sonic technology for a deeper clean.
Cost: $$$
Features:
The Burst 1000 sonic electric toothbrush uses innovative charcoal bristles to remove stains and bacteria from your teeth. A major highlight is the outstanding 4-month battery life. The brush also sports an attractive design yet is surprisingly affordable.
Cost: $$
Features:
Most people miss up to 40% of their teeth while brushing. Colgate's Hum toothbrush solves this issue. Its motion sensors can tell what areas of your mouth you're missing. These blind spots are then pointed out in real-time on the Colgate app to help you brush better.
The app gives you personalized brushing advice and points you can use to buy replacement brush heads and other items.
Cost: $$
Features:
Philips is a brand that prioritizes innovation. Based on our research, the Sonicare 4100 electric toothbrush is the best smart rechargeable option on the market. It removes seven times more plaque than manual toothbrushes. It's also safe for people with braces, fillings, crowns, and veneers.
Its microchip-enabled technology synchronizes the handle with the brush head. This allows it to remind you when it's time to change the brush head.
Cost: $$
Features:
Snow's "bear-y" fun toothbrush provides a powerful cleaning experience. It comes in 5 fun colors and requires just a single AAA battery (included). The brush head is replaceable.
Features:
Cost: $
The NewMouth editorial team analyzed dozens of different products available today to determine the available products.
Our evaluation and recommendations are based on:
NewMouth is a leading and trusted online resource for dental information, including product recommendations, primary dental care, at-home oral health care, orthodontics, procedures, costs, and more.
We have a dedicated team of medical writers, expert researchers, licensed dental professionals, and medical reviewers who create and oversee every piece of content published on our site.
Our recommendations are determined by:
After extensive research and product testing, this article also underwent an intensive review process:
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