The best electric toothbrushes you can buy

The best electric toothbrush overall

Why you'll love it: The Oral-B Pro 1000 is the best electric toothbrush because it's budget-friendly, highly effective, and compatible with a wide range of replacement brush heads.

The Oral-B Pro 1000 is a no-frills electric toothbrush, but it gets the job done, and it gets it done well. It comes with a CrossAction brush head that reaches into every nook and cranny between and within your teeth to scour away up to 300% more plaque than a manual toothbrush would remove.

If you prefer another type of brush head, however, there are plenty to choose from; the Oral-B Pro 1000 is compatible with nine different Oral-B heads, including whitening, sensitive, extra gum line cleaning, deep clean, orthodontic care, and floss action. Just twist and pull to switch out the brush head.

The toothbrush handle has an easily accessed on/off button, and the brush vibrates gently every 30 seconds to let you know it’s time to move on to the next quadrant of your mouth. The sections include the inside of upper teeth, outside of upper teeth, inside of lower teeth, and outside of lower teeth. Press too hard, and the toothbrush will stop rotating — overly vigorous tooth brushing is a major cause of gum irritation. When you let up the pressure, the brush will automatically begin to spin once again.

The Wirecutter chose the Oral-B Pro 1000 as their top-pick electric toothbrush, and Health also selected this electric toothbrush as its number-one choice.

On Amazon, the Oral-B Pro 1000 is one of the best-selling electric toothbrushes, with nearly 5,500 reviews and an average of 4.4 stars. Buyers like the brush’s simplicity, its effectiveness, and its reasonable price. Many also appreciate being able to swap out the brush head for one that better suits their needs.

Expect to recharge the Oral-B Pro 1000 about once per week. You’ll see a flashing red light when the battery is getting low. The recharging base is very small, so there's no need to clear much counter space.

Pros: Great price, effective at removing plaque, many types of compatible brush heads

Cons: Not as fast or as powerful as some newer electric toothbrushes

The best electric toothbrush that does it all

Why you'll love it: The Waterpik Complete Care Water Flosser and Sonic Toothbrush comes with a great electric toothbrush and a water flosser.

Regular flossing with string is effective, but water flossing gets the job done even more effectively — blasting between teeth, beneath the gum line, and into all the nooks and crannies of your back molars to remove sticky plaque, food bits, and bacteria. Waterpik has always been the top name in water flossers, but now the company has ingeniously combined a water flosser and an electric toothbrush in one convenient package. Just one cord to plug in and your toothbrush charges right on the water flosser’s stand.

You’ll get a Waterpik Sensonic Professional Toothbrush, which uses sonic technology to remove plaque from your gums and teeth. The brush has two speeds, a two-minute timer, and soft bristles that clean your teeth very effectively without irritating your gums. The kit includes a standard brush head and a compact brush head for precision cleaning.

The water flosser’s reservoir holds 90+ seconds-worth of water, and you can add a bit of mouthwash if you’d like for extra breath freshening. The flosser’s tip delivers a thin, powerful stream of water that painlessly and effectively blasts away plaque and debris not just from between your teeth, but also from beneath your gum line where string floss won’t reach. You can set the water pressure to your liking, and choose between five different types of tip.

Amazon buyers are very enthusiastic about the Waterpik Complete Care. It has more than 5,200 reviews and an average of 4.4 stars. While many users comment that it takes a bit of practice to learn how to use a water flosser without drenching your entire bathroom, most feel the device leaves their teeth and gums very healthy and clean.

A typical comment, “Best dental hygiene purchase I have ever made. My teeth look and feel better than ever. Cannot recommend this enough.”

On the downside, quite a few buyers say the water flosser is loud.

Pros: Doesn’t take up much counter space, superior to string floss, toothbrush is always charged and ready to go, reasonable price

Cons: Water flosser is loud, potential for getting your bathroom wet

The best electric toothbrush for kids

Why you'll love it: Getting your children to brush properly twice per day can be a struggle, but with the fun Philips Sonicare for Kids, they might actually beg to brush their teeth.

Kids and good oral hygiene is typically not a natural combo. Most kids are either reluctant to brush or do a poor job at cleaning their teeth. The Philips Sonicare for Kids makes brushing fun, however, turning a routine task almost into a video game, thanks to the free Bluetooth-compatible app that encourages and rewards good brushing techniques.

Like all Sonicare toothbrushes, the kids’ brush uses patented sonic technology for up to 75% more effective removal of plaque and debris than a manual toothbrush. It has a built-in two-minute timer and alerts the child to switch quadrants every 30 seconds while brushing. There are two speed settings, and the brush comes with eight stickers to customize the handle.

But where the fun really starts is with the free app that not only teaches kids about the whys and hows of good oral hygiene, it also turns brushing into a game. Your child will get to adopt a “Sparkly,” a cute little creature that gives brushing tips while your child “brushes” the Sparkly’s teeth. The app also tracks performance, making it easy to reward good hygiene. Just set your smartphone or tablet where your child can watch while brushing.

With nearly 1,000 reviews on Amazon and an average of 4.6 stars, there are definitely a lot of happy parents and kids out there brushing with the Philips Sonicare for Kids. Over and over, buyers comment that their kids went from brushing-resistant to actually wanting to brush their teeth. Many state that their child’s dental appointments are much, much better since switching to the kid’s Sonicare.

Says one pleased parent, “My 2.5-year-old began brushing happily and thoroughly every night just so he can see his "Sparkly" monster get a present. He is so excited and he used to dread brushing.”

The Philips Sonicare for Kids is recommended for ages three and up if the child is using the brush on their own. Younger children should have assistance from mom or dad, however.

Pros: App makes brushing fun, brush head is sized for children’s mouths, very effective at removing plaque and debris from teeth and gum line

Cons: None to speak of, although your child will eventually outgrow the cutesy app

The best state-of-the-art electric toothbrush

Why you'll love it: The Oral-B Pro 7500 Electric Toothbrush makes superlative use of technology with onboard sensors, timers, and a powerful app.

If you're an unabashed technology fan who also happens to be deadly serious when it comes to oral health, you have just met your new toothbrush. The Oral-B Pro 7500 Electric Toothbrush makes use of all the latest developments in electric toothbrush design, including a carefully designed brush head that uses three distinct motions to dislodge food bits, break up plaque, and polish away stains.

While in use, the circular brush head oscillates, rotates, and pulsates, leaving your teeth fresh-from-the-dentist clean with every brushing. All this action also helps promote ideal gum health. But while the Oral-B Pro 7500 electric toothbrush packs plenty of power, what it won't do is concentrate too much of that power: The toothbrush has a built-in pressure sensor that stops its motion and illuminates a light ring set into the handle if you are pressing too hard, thereby protecting tooth enamel from undue damage.

The toothbrush is a fine choice for people with varied oral health needs, as it can operate in five modes, which are gum care, daily clean, deep clean, sensitive, and whitening. And if those unique features were not enough, the Oral-B Pro 7500 also uses a 30-second vibrating timer that helps you brush each area of your mouth for the proper dentist-recommended amount of time.

But in many ways, it's the features that aren't even actually built into the toothbrush that make it a standout. The Oral-B Pro 7500 electric toothbrush is Bluetooth enabled and can link to an app on your phone or tablet. Using said app, you can track your brushing habits and can set goals for yourself. When you have a clear sense of how you are managing your oral health over time, you have the best chance of enjoying a lifetime with minimal tooth or periodontal issues.

An owner named Jean said this was her third Oral-B electric toothbrush in 30 years and was the one she "liked the best" thanks to its "durability, price," and the many features. A buyer called Amanda said it "works just as well as the professional toothbrush the dentist uses."

A DentistryBlogger review noted the Oral-B Pro's long 40-minute operating life between charges, while the product testers from Ezvid were impressed with the features enabled when the toothbrush "pairs with your smartphone" and helps "keep track of" your brushing habits. — Steven John

Pros: Protective pressure sensor, triple action cleaning, connects to app for comprehensive monitoring

Cons: Expensive option

The best electric toothbrush for gum care

Why you'll love it: If your gums aren’t what they used to be, the Philips Sonicare 2 Series Plaque Control will help bring them back to good health.

According to dental health website AsktheDentist, sonic toothbrushes, which oscillate at astonishing rates — up to 31,000 strokes per minute at full speed — are more effective at reaching and removing plaque between the teeth and beneath the gum line than rotating electric toothbrushes, making a sonic toothbrush the best bet for anyone with gum issues, those who are lackadaisical about flossing, and the majority of people over age 40. Of course, in the oral hygiene field, sonic toothbrush generally means Sonicare, by far the biggest name in the industry.

And out of the many Sonicare models available, the best bet for gum trouble is the Philips Sonicare 2 Series Plaque Control toothbrush. Like all Sonicare brushes, the sonic cleaning action drives fluid between the teeth and under the gum line to break up and remove more plaque than regular toothbrushes, yet the brush is gentle enough to use on orthodontics, implants, veneers, and sensitive teeth. The slim, angled neck makes it easy to reach way back in your mouth, and the timer lets you know when two minutes are up. In fact, the brush automatically turns itself off.

The Philips Sonicare 2 Series Plaque Control even eases you into the sonic brush experience by slowly increasing the power over the brush’s first 14 uses, giving you plenty of time to adjust to the ultra-oscillating speed.

The Wirecutter likes this toothbrush, saying it has everything you need in an electric toothbrush, and is quieter than competitor Oral-B. And it’s a bestseller on Amazon, with nearly 5,000 reviews and an average of 4.3 stars. Buyers love the brush’s powerful cleaning action and the reasonable price of this particular Sonicare model. However, a negative that is frequently mentioned is the high price of the replacement heads. Still, if you want a sonic toothbrush that’s powerful on plaque, yet gentle on your gums, and you don’t need a lot of bells and whistles, this is a great choice.

Pros: Excellent for gum care, reasonable price

Cons: Replacement heads are expensive

The best electric toothbrush for $60 or $75

Why you'll love it: The Goby electric toothbrush works great, costs less than others, and lets you subscribe to brush heads so you pay less over time.

Electric toothbrushes aren't all crazy expensive anymore, thanks to startups like Goby. We tried the Goby Electric Toothbrush and loved it.

I usually use a Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush, which costs more than $100, so I was blown away by the $60/$75 price tag of the Goby toothbrush. Equally surprising was just how good it was. I love the two different speed settings and how the moving bristles polish away stains on my teeth and any tartar or plaque that builds up.

The brush heads are a lot more affordable, too, at $6 compared to the $30+ price of Philips brush heads.

The electric toothbrush kit comes with the toothbrush, brush head, hygiene stand, USB charging shell, USB converter, and a hygienic brush cover as a one-time purchase for $75. Alternatively, you can choose to subscribe and pay only $60 for the brush.

If you subscribe, you'll get a new $6 brush head with free shipping delivered once every month or every 2 or 3 months. You'll save $15 on your electric toothbrush, and if you opt for 3-month deliveries, that comes out to $24 — making that not such a bad deal if you plan to replace your brush heads throughout the year (which you will more than likely want to do).

Read our full review for more info on Goby. — Malarie Gokey

Pros: Affordable, easy to use, great design, subscribe to brush heads

Cons: Not as many fancy settings as high-end ones

The best electric toothbrush for $20

Why you'll love it: The Fairywill Sonic Electric Toothbrush proves that you don't need to spend a lot of money to get cleaner teeth and a brighter smile.

First, let's get the negatives out of the way, which will take a surprisingly small amount of time considering the surprisingly small price tag of the Fairywill Sonic Electric Toothbrush. This toothbrush does not have a revolving head like many popular models, but rather has bristles that vibrate. And said vibration is a bit too intense for some users. Also, the heads have a tendency to stop working properly much sooner than you would experience from hardware from pricier brands.

But really, that latter point is no big deal, considering this toothbrush comes with three heads in the package and is priced at less than a third of the cost of many comparable units. While you may prefer the rotating action of other models, the intense vibration of the bristles on a Fairywill toothbrush will indeed break up plaque and polish away at stains.

The toothbrush has the same 30-second interval timer we've all come to expect from our electric oral care devices, and can be operated in three different modes, which are Clean, Soft, and Massage. Each setting uses a different intensity of "micro-brushes," which basically means vibration speed. Clean, the most intense, delivers 35,000 micro-brushes per minute.

The toothbrush charges via a USB cable, so to use an outlet, you'll need an adapter. Those are quite cheap, but also a slight inconvenience if you need to procure one separately. But for the college kid (or anyone else) on a budget but with USB ports abounding, this is hardly an issue.

With more than 500 reviews posted on Amazon, the Fairywill Sonic Electric Toothbrush has earned the hearts of the crowd, scoring a shining 4.7-star review average. A satisfied customer named Bernie says he has "found a treasure" in this low-cost, highly effective toothbrush. A user named Harry appreciated that it featured "different modes of brushing."

A review from TheGeeklyNews called the Fairywill "capable of improving oral health" in as few as "14 days of regular use," while a writer from Heavy was impressed that the toothbrush "holds a charge for about a month." — Steven John

Pros: Great low price point, holds charge for days or even weeks, multiple vibration settings

Cons: Vibration too intense for some users, attachment heads break too quickly

Check out our other oral care guides

The best whitening toothpaste you can buy for pearly whites

Adding a whitening toothpaste to your oral hygiene routine is a great way to keep your smile shining and your teeth clean and healthy. Colgate's Optic White Express White Toothpaste is our top choice because results show up in just three days.

You might also like the Crest 3D White Brilliance Teeth Whitening Two-Step System, the Dental Expert Active Whitening Charcoal Toothpaste, the Arm & Hammer Advance White Extreme Whitening Toothpaste, and the Sensodyne Pronamel Gentle Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste.

The best teeth whitening kits come with everything you need to whiten your teeth, are easy to use, and do not irritate your gums or teeth. The Active Wow Teeth Whitening Charcoal Powder has all of these features, plus it’s affordable, does not use harmful chemicals, and comes in different flavors.

You might also like the Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips, the Advanced Teeth Whitening Strips Kit by Utilax, the GLO Science Brilliant Personal Teeth Whitening Device, and the Miswak Club Natural Teeth Whitening Kit.

There's plenty to be said for the classic manual toothbrush: It can't run out of batteries and it's compact, lightweight, and portable. The Oral-B Pro-Health All-in-One Soft Bristle Toothbrush is our top pick because its myriad bristle types and built-in tongue, cheek, and gum cleaners leave your whole mouth clean and fresh.

You might also like the Primal Life Organic Charcoal Infused Bamboo Toothbrush, the SmileMakers Pre-Pasted Disposable Toothbrushes, the Colgate Premier Extra Clean Toothbrushes, and the Fridababy SmileFrida Toddler Toothbrush.

Used in tandem with brushing, flossing, and avoiding salt water taffy before bed, a good mouthwash can play a pivotal role in your oral health and hygiene regimen. Listerine Cool Mint Antiseptic Mouthwash is our top choice thanks to its ADA-accepted, clinically-proven ability to kill off germs that contribute to plaque buildup, bad breath, and gum disease.

You should also consider the Crest Scope Outlast Mouthwash, the CloSYS Gentle Mint Mouthwash, the Uncle Harry's Natural Products Miracle Mouthwash, and the ACT Anticavity Fluoride Rinse Mouthwash.

Nobody likes going to the dentist, but if you take good care of your teeth between visits, the cleaning will go easier.

We've researched and tested many tubes of toothpaste to find the best ones you can buy. Whether you want an all-natural toothpaste, one with fluoride, one with charcoal, one with whitening powers, or one that rebuilds your enamel to reduce sensitivity, we have a toothpaste for you.

• Best overall: Sensodyne Pronamel Gentle Whitening Toothpaste
• Best for kids: Hello Oral Care Fluoride Toothpaste
• Best for fresh breath: Colgate Total Advanced Fresh Toothpaste
• Best for sensitive teeth: Sensodyne True White Sensitive Teeth Toothpaste
• Best all-natural toothpaste: Nature’s Gate Natural Toothpaste
• Best with charcoal: Dental Expert Active Whitening Charcoal Toothpaste
• Best for stain removal: Colgate Optic White Platinum Stain-Less White Toothpaste

Daily use of dental floss can help remove plaque from your teeth and prevent gum disease. Here are our picks:

• Best overall: Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Comfort Plus Dental Floss
• Best for sensitive gums: Dr. Tung’s Smart Floss
• Best all natural floss: Tom’s of Maine Anti Plaque Flat Spearmint Floss
• Best for kids: Plackers Kids Flossers
• Best for braces: Platypus Orthodontic Flosser