Burst Sonic Toothbrush Review: Benefits, Features & Competitors

If you’ve been scrolling through Burst electric toothbrush reviews, you may wonder if this sonic brush lives up to the hype. You likely already know the Burst brush has a subscription for replacement brush heads and innovative charcoal-infused soft bristles.

But how good is the Burst sonic toothbrush at plaque removal, and how does it compare to other electric brushes? Our review answers these questions and explores everything you want to know before adding a Burst toothbrush to your oral hygiene routine.

Burst Sonic Toothbrush Review

We love the Burst Sonic toothbrush for its sleek design and premium features, all at an affordable price. The activated charcoal bristles on the toothbrush head make this innovative electric brush stand out from other dental hygiene products.

And the best part is you don’t have to worry about ordering replacement brush heads. Burst’s subscription model delivers a new brush head to your address every 12 weeks. 

We also love the Burst Sonic toothbrush’s long battery life, multiple cleaning modes, and budget-friendly price. The Burst brush battery life is superior to that of more expensive sonic brushes, including Philips Sonicare.

Features of the Burst Electric Toothbrush

Here are the key features that led us to recommend the Burst sonic toothbrush:

Charcoal-Infused Bristles

The Burst sonic toothbrush uses charcoal-infused bristles. Activated charcoal is specially formulated to absorb teeth stains and kill bacteria. According to our research, it helps remove plaque without irritating gums.⁴

The soft bristles are also flexible and contoured. They can easily reach into gaps and the gum line while being gentle on sensitive gums.

One Burst brush head lasts 4 months before needing to be replaced. Compared to the usual 3 months for other brands, this means more savings and greater convenience in the long run.

Sonic Technology

The Burst toothbrush’s sonic technology vibrates faster than traditional electric toothbrushes.

The Burst Sonic toothbrush also uses fluid dynamics to push toothpaste and water into the gaps between teeth and gum line. This technology helps clean your mouth more thoroughly and protects against cavities and gingivitis.

Here’s the Burst toothbrush brush strokes per minute (BPM) compared to other electric toothbrushes:

Three Brushing Modes

The Burst Sonic toothbrush motor has three cleaning modes — whitening, sensitive, and massage.

Here’s how we recommend using each setting while brushing:

• Whitening mode — The strongest setting helps remove stains as well as plaque
• Sensitive mode — The sensitive setting uses lower vibrations, which is great for those of us with sensitive teeth
• Massage mode — The lowest setting gently massages sensitive gums to boost circulation

Four-Week Battery Life

The Burst electric toothbrush boasts a long battery life. Used daily, it lasts an entire month on a single charge.

An indicator light will let you know the battery is running low. Just plug it into the included USB charging stand for roughly an hour, and you’ll be good to go for another four weeks.

Other Features

Other reasons we think you should choose the Burst toothbrush include: 

• A lifetime warranty under their subscription service
• Tapered multi-length charcoal bristles
• Two-minute timer to encourage optimal brushing
• Thirty-second interval pacer reminding you to move to the next quadrant of your mouth
• Charger has a USB port that plugs into a computer or battery bank
• Subscription service for regular replacement brush head deliveries
• Built-in pressure sensor

For anyone who wants a premium toothbrush without paying premium prices, the Burst sonic electric toothbrush is an attractive yet affordable alternative.

Our Experience Using the Burst Electric Toothbrush

The Burst toothbrush has quickly become one of our favorite electric toothbrushes. We were impressed with its various features and sleek design.

Here are our top observations:

• Battery life — The battery life lasts a full month on a single charge making the Burst brush super convenient for extended travel
• Brushing modes — The teeth-whitening effects weren’t significant but, more importantly, we didn’t notice any signs of abrasion or sensitivity
• Soft bristles — The bristles were very soft, so you’ll need a tongue scraper to clean the tongue effectively

The Burst brush heads subscription service is arguably a benefit since brushing with worn-out bristles damages the enamel. And since customers can cancel the subscription at any time, we find that there’s no risk.

Pros and Cons of the Burst Electric Toothbrush

Here are some pros and cons we found while reviewing the Burst toothbrush:

Pros

• Attractive design
• Superb battery life
• Sonic cleaning action
• Multiple modes
• Brush automatically turns off after 2 minutes
• Brush heads last 4 months
• Subscription replacement brush head service
• Built-in pressure sensors
• Lifetime warranty (with brush head subscription)

Cons

• Charcoal bristles could be a problem for some
• Need to sign up for a brush head subscription to buy the brush handle
• Bristles are too soft to effectively scrub the tongue
• Not one of the smallest brushes
• No ADA Seal of Acceptance
• Some people complain that the brush size makes it difficult to clean back teeth

Price Summary & Where to Buy 

You can buy the Burst kit on Amazon or on Burst’s website. It retails for $69.99 and comes with a Burst Sonic toothbrush, USB charging dock, and 1 brush head.

The Burst toothbrush is available in five colors:

• Black
• White
• Rose gold
• Lavender
• Berry

When you go to check out, you’ll be informed that you’ll receive a $7 delivery of a replacement brush head every 12 weeks. That’s less than $30 a year (not including tax).

Burst vs. Sonicare: Which Sonic Toothbrush is Better? 

The Burst toothbrush compares favorably in a head-to-head match-up with Sonicare brushes. Both are sonic toothbrushes, but there are three areas where the Burst brush is superior to many Sonicare models.

Here’s how they compare:

However, some Sonicare models have the ADA Seal of Acceptance and the Burst toothbrush does not. This is something to consider, especially if ADA acceptance is important to you.

Is the Burst Toothbrush Right for You?

If you’re looking for a sleek toothbrush with various premium features in an affordable package, we highly recommend the Burst toothbrush.

However, if you have weak enamel, you may wish to consider other options. If you don’t like subscriptions, Burst’s mandatory subscription for new brush heads may also put you off. But it’s worth noting you can cancel at any time by emailing them at hello@burstoralcare.com.

Are Charcoal Toothbrushes Safe?

Ultimately, there isn’t enough conclusive evidence for charcoal toothbrushes being either safe or unsafe.² People who are prone to sensitive teeth may need to exercise caution due to charcoal’s abrasiveness.

However, charcoal in oral care is not a new development as it goes as far back as ancient times. Some studies support charcoal’s antimicrobial properties in removing plaque and stains.

A 2018 study found that those who brushed with charcoal bristles for one week had half the bacteria as those who didn’t.⁴ Another in 2019 found that charcoal-infused bristles removed more plaque than traditional nylon bristles.³

Make sure to clean your toothbrush properly after each use to ensure safety. Rinse the brush and dry the handle thoroughly. Wash gently with soapy water or wipe down with rubbing alcohol if extra care is required.

Why Isn’t the Burst Toothbrush ADA-Approved?

Some dental professionals are hesitant to endorse charcoal in oral care, citing abrasiveness and other safety concerns.⁵ 

These concerns have led the American Dental Association to withhold its Seal of Acceptance from charcoal-based dental products, including the Burst toothbrush.

Summary

We highly recommend the Burst electric toothbrush because it offers premium features at an affordable price. We love the outstanding four-week battery life for travel and convenience. It also comes with a lifetime warranty (with subscription service). 

The Burst electric toothbrush uses sonic technology to provide a deeper clean than conventional electric toothbrushes or a manual brush. It has 3 cleaning modes, a 2-minute timer, and a quad pacer for optimal oral hygiene.

While the charcoal bristles offer some advantages, safety questions remain for people with teeth sensitivity. The replacement head subscription service is mandatory upon purchase, but you can cancel anytime.