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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 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:
These models may also include:
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.
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.
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:
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.
When choosing among Oral-B’s electric toothbrush models, you’ll want to factor in:
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:
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.
Oral-B offers three other electric toothbrushes for kids 3 and up:
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.
To use an Oral-B Kids electric toothbrush effectively, teach your child the following steps:
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.
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:
Here’s a quick look at how Oral-B compares to its competitors when it comes to electric brushes for kids:
Two-Minute Timer | Rechargeable | Replaceable Brush Head | Character Designs | Lowest Price | |
Oral-B Kids | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | $19.99 |
Philips Sonicare Kids | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | $29.96 |
Quip Kids | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | $19.97 |
Colgate | No | No | No | Yes | $4.98 |
An Oral-B rechargeable toothbrush can be a great way to make brushing easier and more consistent for your child.
It provides:
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.
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.
Possibly, but be careful. Children under 3 tend to move around a lot, and a vibrating toothbrush may injure them. They may also find it frightening or overwhelming.
Using a manual toothbrush is best until your child can hold still. Even then, you’ll need to brush for them until the age of at least 8.
We recommend Oral-B over Colgate for kids’ toothbrushes. Oral-B offers models that:
- Include a two-minute timer with 30-second intervals
- Have replaceable brush heads
- Are rechargeable
- Use circular motion
Colgate-branded electric brushes for kids don’t include any of these features. They offer some designs that kids may enjoy, but beyond that, they don’t do anything other than turn on and off.
However, Colgate has an additional brand called Hum, which includes both kids’ and adults’ powered brushes. These brushes have many of the same features as Oral-B ones and are in the same price range (about $20 to $30).
Electric toothbrushes for kids are similar to those for adults but tend to differ in a few ways.
Electric toothbrushes for kids often have a sensitive or gentle mode or a pressure sensor. This helps kids learn to brush with the right amount of pressure and avoid injury. At the very least, a children’s toothbrush should have a smaller brush head and soft bristles.
In addition, these toothbrushes are often made with designs intended to appeal to kids, such as pictures of popular Disney or other characters.
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