Oral-B Kids Electric Toothbrush Reviews

Good oral hygiene is a crucial part of every child’s health. It helps fight cavities and other oral and general health problems. Learning oral hygiene practices early also lays the foundation for healthy teeth and gums as an adult.

However, once kids are old enough to brush their teeth on their own, they may still have difficulty mastering the proper technique. They might struggle to brush in a circular motion, reach their back teeth, or brush for the right amount of time.

Electric toothbrushes can simplify the process, making it easier for kids to brush consistently and effectively. The kid-friendly designs also help promote healthy habits.

Oral-B Electric Toothbrushes for Kids

Oral-B offers a variety of electric toothbrush designs for kids three and older. Most of these designs feature popular characters for kids to enjoy brushing with.¹ They share some other key features, including:

• Oscillating brush head (as with any electric toothbrush)
• Built-in 2-minute timer

These models may also include: 

• Sensitive modes (vibrates more gently for kids’ teeth and gums)
• Replaceable brush heads
• Rechargeable handles

Oral-B also has an electric brush for slightly older kids (6 and up) that doesn’t have a sensitive mode. Instead, it includes a pressure sensor, which lights up if your child uses too much pressure while brushing.

Choosing the Best Oral-B Kids Electric Toothbrush

When choosing among Oral-B’s electric toothbrush models, you’ll want to factor in:

• Your child’s age — Most of Oral-B’s kid-friendly toothbrushes are intended for kids 3 and up. One model (featuring a pressure sensor) is meant for kids 6 and up.
• Sensitivity — Not all models offer a gentle mode.
• Your child’s preferences — Oral-B’s designs feature a variety of popular Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars characters.
• How long you need the toothbrush to last — Some models don’t have a replaceable brush head (brush heads need to be replaced about every three months).

Our Recommendations

Among all of Oral-B’s electric toothbrush designs for kids, we recommend the following:

Oral-B Chameleon Toothbrush with Color Changing Bristles (Ages 3+)

This model is our top pick because it has the most kid-friendly features, including:

• Two-minute coaching timer with 30-second intervals
• Replaceable brush head
• Rechargeable battery
• Sensitive mode
• Soft bristles that change color when the brush head needs to be replaced
• Four fun stickers featuring a friendly chameleon

Oral-B’s other rechargeable electric brushes for kids are the same base model, but they don’t include the color-changing bristles.

In addition, this model is currently the cheapest Oral-B Kids rechargeable brush on Amazon, at only $19.99.

Other designs feature popular Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars characters rather than the chameleon, but they can be considerably more expensive, ranging from $29.99 to $79.99.

Other Models

Oral-B offers three other electric toothbrushes for kids 3 and up:

• Rechargeable models with popular character designs — Disney/Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars characters are all available on Amazon. As we noted, these have replaceable brush heads but don’t feature color-changing bristles.
• Battery-operated with a fixed brush head — These are the cheapest but least cost-effective options. Though they’re only about $6 on Amazon, they must be thrown out once the bristles are worn down.
• Battery-operated with replaceable brush head — These aren’t rechargeable, but you can change the batteries. The replaceable brush head means they’ll stay in service longer than the cheapest model.

For kids 6 and up, you may want to try:

Oral-B Kids Electric Toothbrush with Coaching Pressure Sensor (Ages 6+)

This brush features a pressure sensor instead of a sensitive mode. This is intended to coach kids with more brushing experience on how much pressure to use. It also comes with one additional brush head.

How to Use an Oral-B Kids Electric Toothbrush

To use an Oral-B Kids electric toothbrush effectively, teach your child the following steps:

1. Add toothpaste — After lightly wetting the brush head, add a small smear of toothpaste. It should be about the size of a pea.
2. Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle — The brush should make contact with the teeth but also angle up toward the top gums or down toward the bottom gums. This makes it easier to clean effectively along the gum line.
3. Gently move the brush back and forth — Make gentle strokes over each tooth, going over the outside, inside, and top surfaces. For the top front teeth, turning the brush to a vertical angle can help them reach the whole tooth surface.
4. Brush each quadrant — After 30 seconds, the timer will pulse once. This lets your child know it’s time to move to the next part of their mouth (top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right). They can do this in any order, but all four quadrants should be brushed.
5. Brush your tongue — After 2 minutes, the timer will pulse three times, letting your child know they’ve brushed their teeth long enough. Have them follow this by lightly brushing their tongue to remove bacteria.
6. Spit out the toothpaste — Make sure your child spits all the toothpaste out to the best of their ability. Taking a small sip of water can help them with this. 
7. Rinse and clean the toothbrush — Turn the brush off and rinse it to remove any remaining toothpaste. Make sure the brush head and handle are free of any residue.

Disney Magic Timer App

Oral-B partnered with Disney to create the Disney Magic Timer App, which can help kids stay focused while brushing.

Your child can use the app to brush for two minutes with their favorite cartoon characters. It tracks their progress over time and rewards them by unlocking new designs.

You can find the Disney Magic Timer App on Google Play or the App Store.

Customer Reviews of Oral-B Kids Electric Toothbrush

We looked at hundreds of customer reviews to learn what parents are saying about Oral-B’s electric toothbrushes for kids. We focused on the rechargeable models since they offer the best value for your money.

According to parents who bought them, here are the major pros and cons of these toothbrushes:

Pros

• Effectiveness — Many parents said that the toothbrush was effective at helping their kids develop good brushing habits. They especially praised the two-minute timer.
• Four-part timer — The two-minute coaching timer includes 30-second indicators to help kids brush each quadrant for the right time.
• Comfort — Several customers said the brushes were soft and gentle on their kids’ teeth and gums, making brushing easy and comfortable.
• Brush head compatibility — Several reviews mentioned that Oral-B brush heads for toothbrushes for kids and adults were cross-compatible. This made their purchase even more cost-effective.
• Ease — Parents said the toothbrushes simplified the brushing process, making it easier for their kids to learn healthy habits. Some also noted that the brush was easy to clean after use.
• Size — Many customers said the brush head was perfect for their kids. One review even noted that it worked well for adults with small teeth and mouths.

Cons

• Design discrepancies — Many parents complained that they wanted a specific character for their child’s toothbrush and got a different one instead. Oral-B states that characters may vary, but this can be disappointing for kids.
• Effort to keep clean — Some reviewers noted they had to take extra care to prevent mold buildup, especially under the brush heads.
• Charging issues — Some customers said that the toothbrush didn’t seem to hold a charge for very long. These toothbrushes don’t have a battery-life signal or charging indicator, so it can be hard to tell when they’re fully charged.
• Bulky handle — Though these toothbrushes are intended for small hands, customers pointed out that the handles were bigger than some competitors.
• Timer confusion — While parents were happy about the two-minute coaching timer, some complained that the brush doesn’t turn off when the timer goes off. This led some kids to continue brushing their teeth for longer than needed.
• Noise — Some reviews mentioned that the Oral-B toothbrush was noisier than other brushes.

Oral-B Toothbrushes for Kids vs. Competitor Models

Here’s a quick look at how Oral-B compares to its competitors when it comes to electric brushes for kids:

Final Verdict on Oral-B Electric Toothbrushes for Kids

An Oral-B rechargeable toothbrush can be a great way to make brushing easier and more consistent for your child. 

It provides: 

• A four-part timer to help your child brush every tooth in each quadrant for the right amount of time
• The Disney Magic Timer App, which lets them brush with their favorite characters
• Cost-effective replacement brush heads
• A sensitive mode for small teeth

We recommend a rechargeable brush with a replaceable brush head. The alternatives can be less expensive but cost more in the long run. You’ll have to replace the entire brush every three months.

When Should Kids Start Using Toothbrushes?

Tooth brushing should begin as soon as your child’s first baby tooth erupts.² At this stage, use a soft-bristled manual brush and a tiny amount of toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice).

Kids can usually start brushing their own teeth around 8 years old. Still, they might need adult supervision to make sure they brush properly and don’t swallow the toothpaste.

Children under 3 tend to move around a lot, and a vibrating toothbrush may injure them. They may also find it frightening or overwhelming.

Electric vs. Manual Toothbrushes for Kids

Electric and manual toothbrushes can both be effective at removing plaque. Kids and adults can learn to use either toothbrush for satisfactory results. However, some studies have found electric brushes to remove more plaque than manual brushes.^3,4

Also, using a manual toothbrush requires more attention to toothbrush placement and movement. This can be difficult for kids to master, especially if they have trouble with instructions or fine motor skills.

Electric toothbrushes can help by:

• Providing consistent circular or side-to-side motions 
• Making it easier to reach every tooth
• Having a timer that lets your child know how long to brush for

These features make effective brushing less complicated. This makes teaching your child how to brush easier and ensures they’ll do a good job even if their technique isn’t perfect.

Summary

It’s important for kids to learn how to brush their teeth effectively. Many children suffer from cavities that could have been prevented with good oral care.

Electric toothbrushes can make it easier to teach kids good oral hygiene at an early age. They simplify techniques and often provide a timer to help kids brush for the required time.

Oral-B and other brands offer electric brushes specifically for young kids, including kid-friendly designs and soft brush heads.