No matter how convenient electric toothbrushes may be, it’s still essential to brush twice daily with good brushing habits of two minutes each morning and evening to prevent cavities, gingivitis and gum disease.

Mode’s toothbrush doesn’t connect with an app or have multiple modes, but its sonic vibrations offer a professional-level clean that rivals any dentist visit. Plus, its straightforward design and charging travel case make this toothbrush extremely portable.

Features

Electric toothbrushes use the sonic vibrations produced by electric motors to more effectively and conveniently remove plaque than manual brushes can. Furthermore, their less tedious nature makes brushing less of a task for those with limited dexterity or other devices such as braces. Some electric brushes even come equipped with features like built-in timers (to ensure you brush for two minutes each session) or pressure sensors to warn of excessive force being applied that could cause gum tissue damage.

Some models come equipped with apps that offer real-time feedback on brushing habits and technique, with most collecting various amounts of personal information that may be shared with affiliates or third parties for various purposes.

If you want an electric toothbrush with additional bells and whistles, options range from $40 up to hundreds of dollars. More expensive models typically include extra settings and accessories as well as sleek travel cases; but it’s important to weigh these extra features against both your budget and personal priorities when making your decision.

Design

An electric toothbrush offers many advantages: they’re less abrasive than traditional brushes and more efficiently remove plaque than their predecessors, while being easier for people with dexterity issues or braces to use. Furthermore, many have features like pressure sensors or timers to encourage proper brushing sessions.

Electric toothbrushes typically last 3-5 years, saving money in the long run while diverting hundreds of traditional plastic toothbrushes from landfills. Their outer casing, usually made of plastics that can be recycled through sorting and melting processes, and nylon bristles can be cut up and reused to make new brushes. Nickel can even be recovered via leaching and precipitation processes (Sullivan).

Even with their disadvantages, electric toothbrushes should still be considered essential for optimal oral health. If maintaining regular brushing habits proves challenging for you, an electric toothbrush could provide invaluable assistance in meeting this goal.

Battery life

Battery life for electric toothbrushes is of critical importance, saving money and helping to divert hundreds of plastic toothbrushes away from landfills. Rechargeable brushes that last 3-5 times longer than their typical AA counterparts save both money and space in landfills.

Oral-B Vitality stands out as our top pick due to its combination of value, features, and durability. Equipped with a two-minute timer and equipped with its FlossAction brush head – as well as being compatible with an app that records more comprehensive brushing data – its rechargeable battery lasts 30 days, which is twice or three times longer than most battery operated toothbrushes on the market today.

Their app utilizes a map of your mouth divided into 16 zones to provide live feedback on where you may be brushing too hard or too little, setting brushing challenges to help ensure consistent brushing habits similar to how language-learning apps like Duolingo use gamification for language acquisition. Be mindful, though: nearly all electric brushes that pair to apps collect various amounts of your personal information which may then be shared (anonymously or not) for marketing purposes by third parties.

Overall

Quality electric toothbrushes depend on various factors, including cleaning ability, comfort and value. In our tests, the Oral-B iO Series 9 was our favorite for cleaning ability and featured smart features like facial recognition and pressure sensing technology that warns users when they brush too hard. Furthermore, it comes equipped with charging travel case as well as three replacement brushes – making this an exceptional value buy.

Quip offers an attractive yet quiet solution, using AAA batteries (though there are rechargeable options as well). Our testers found it just as effective but with much lower noise output.

Quip brushes don’t feature an automated two-minute timer or quadrant pacing feature, but that shouldn’t deter anyone. Keep in mind that almost all brush/app combos collect data which is shared with affiliates, third parties and researchers that some users may find unacceptable.