The 2 Best Electric Toothbrushes of 2023

“What toothbrush do you recommend?” is probably among the top five most common questions I’m asked on Instagram and on my podcast.

Why trust my picks?

I obsess over reading studies. In dental school, I was known as “Mr. Consumer Reports” because I loved researching products. My wife often jokes about the assortment of electric toothbrushes in our bathroom, a testament to my quest to find the best. 

My two top picks for the best electric toothbrush you can get right now is based on 2,000 hours of my own research, as well as what I’ve seen in the dental chair for over 30 years in private practice as a general dentist.

My 2 Top Picks

Best for the Under 40 Crowd

The Oral-B Vitality ($30 on Amazon) is the best electric toothbrush for most people. This is my go-to recommendation for anyone under the age of 40 who is looking for the best electric toothbrush. At $30, you’re not going to get any of the bells and whistles that come along with Oral-B’s more expensive brushes, however, you’re still getting the exact same oscillatory brushing motion that those higher end models offer. 

Best for Age 40+

The Philips Sonicare 1100 ($20 on Amazon) is the best electric toothbrush for folks who are age 40 and up. The reason I recommended it for the over age 40 crowd is because this is when sensitivity and gum recession tend to be the main concerns. Sonic vibrations do a better job in this category, and this $20 Sonicare has none of the bells and whistles, but it has all of the same sonic brushing motion as the higher-end Sonicare offerings.

Make sure your electric toothbrush has:

Let’s start with the “must-haves.” According to the scientific research as well as the American Dental Association, an electric toothbrush should meet two basic criteria:

1. A powerful enough motor to do the work of brushing for you. I do not recommend electric toothbrushes that are battery-powered, as the motor is not powerful enough.
2. A two-minute timer.

I would add a third requirement to this criteria:

3. Quality bristles, because low quality bristles can cause sensitive teeth. More on that below.

Everything else is what I consider “bells and whistles”—these add-ons increase the price, but not the efficacy, of the toothbrush.

Do dentists recommend Sonicare or Oral-B?

For people under 40 years of age, the Oral-B Vitality is the best electric toothbrush, due to an oscillating toothbrush. Oscillating heads are most efficient at removing surface stains and breaking up the pellicle of fuzzy biofilm on your teeth. Typically, people in this age range are looking to whiten teeth and generally don’t need the stronger vibrations of a sonic brush.

For people over the age of 40 or if you have gum recession, the Philips Sonicare 1100 is the best electric toothbrush. Sonic toothbrush vibrations help to break up particles of food and bacteria in the open spaces of teeth exposed at the beginning of gum recession. Since recession can’t be reversed, it’s vital to slow it down as much as possible.

The difference between Sonicare and Oral-B, in a nutshell:

The oscillatory motion of an Oral-B has a slight advantage when it comes to reducing plaque and inflammation and removing stains, making teeth appear whiter. The sonic motion of a Philips Sonicare has a slight advantage when it comes to reducing gingival inflammation and reaching in between the teeth and gums, almost like floss does. (Source: Cochrane Review).

Do You Really Need an Electric Toothbrush?

Not everyone needs an electric toothbrush. Some people brush perfectly well with a manual toothbrush: they have the proper technique, reach all the hard-to-access spots, and use the correct motion and pressure to clean teeth without scratching the enamel.

But most of us stand to benefit from the assistance an electric toothbrush provides. The purpose of an electric toothbrush is to move in such a way that the human hand cannot—making it easier for you. Manual and electric toothbrushes can be equally effective—but only if the proper technique is used. Proper technique is hard even if you have full mobility and an electric toothbrush can make it a lot easier.

A manual toothbrush can do everything an electric toothbrush can. A 2014 Cochrane review found electric toothbrushes result in less plaque and gingivitis than manual brushes.

But for anyone who struggles to get a good brush on a daily basis, electric toothbrushes can attack plaque without scratching enamel, providing a quality brushing experience.

An electric toothbrush can help:

• People who brush twice a day but still have areas in their teeth and gums dense with plaque
• People who do not have enough flexibility in their hands to reach the deep crevices of their mouth
• People struggle with staining
• People who brush too hard and are at risk of scratching their enamel

The “Nice-to-haves”

If one of the “bells and whistles” features helps you improve your brushing technique, then I am all for the extra investment.

What to avoid when choosing an electric toothbrush

Absolutely must avoid at all costs are knock-off bristles—these are bristles that are offered via Amazon and look like they’re from Oral-B or Philips Sonicare but, in fact, are not. When a manufacturer takes shortcuts, the result is low quality bristles with sharp or jagged edges which damage teeth.

Do You Need an Electric Toothbrush?

Not everyone needs an electric toothbrush. Some people brush perfectly well with a manual toothbrush: they have the proper technique, reach all the hard-to-access spots, and use the correct motion and pressure to clean teeth without scratching the enamel.

The purpose of an electric toothbrush is to move in such a way that the human hand cannot—making it easier for you. Manual and electric toothbrushes can be equally effective—ONLY IF the proper technique is used. Problem is, proper technique is hard and an electric toothbrush can make it a lot easier.

But for anyone who struggles to get a good brush on a daily basis, electric toothbrushes can attack plaque without scratching enamel, providing a quality brushing experience.

An electric toothbrush can help:

• People who brush twice a day but still have areas in their teeth and gums dense with plaque
• People who do not have enough flexibility in their hands to reach the deep crevices of their mouth
• People struggle with staining (especially those of us who love our morning coffee)
• People who brush too hard and are at risk of scratching their enamel

In fact, a 2014 Cochrane review found electric toothbrushes result in less plaque and gingivitis than manual brushes.

A manual toothbrush can do everything an electric toothbrush can. Bust most of us stand to benefit from the assistance an electric toothbrush provides.

What Makes a Quality Electric Toothbrush

Over the last 30 years I have seen thousands of patients interact with electric toothbrushes and I have personally seen the pros and cons of their use. In addition, I am constantly evaluating new toothbrushes.

The key job of a toothbrush is to remove plaque from teeth and gums. A quality toothbrush will remove plaque consistently and from all areas.

By using a plaque score, which compares the levels of plaque a patient has between appointments, and the personal feel of the mouth after brushing, we can see how well the toothbrush attacks plaque. Americans, especially those eating a Western diet filled with refined carbohydrates, have thick plaque layers which sit on top of the biofilm, the protective layer referred to as “the skin of our teeth.”

The biofilm is what nourishes the tooth, it keeps it moist and supplied with calcium. With too much plaque in the biofilm, the tooth won’t be able to get the nutrients it needs, which can lead to cavities.

Length of life: Most rechargeable toothbrushes should last two weeks before needing a new charge. Those with replaceable batteries should last a few weeks as well, long enough to take a week’s vacation without needing to replace the batteries.

Head shape and size: Head shape and size are important in accessing hard-to-reach areas, such as between the cheeks and molars.

Quality of bristles: Bristles make contact with the tooth; a bristle made of cheaper material will wear down quickly and become too sharp, scratching the enamel. But even a quality toothbrush needs the toothbrush head replaced often, at least every 3 months. Whenever possible, I recommend replacing the toothbrush head every month to ensure that it does not wear away the enamel.

Type of motion: Sonic vibrations vs. oscillatory motion is better depending on age. Like I said before, people with gum recession or over 40 will probably benefit more from a sonic brush. Those concerned more about whitening (often under 40) will see more distinct results from an oscillating brush.

Keep in mind that over-brushing with any type of brush, including manual brushes, can lead to the destruction of gum tissue. No matter what brush you’re using, be gentle.

Final Notes on Electric Toothbrushes

Manufacturers of electric toothbrushes design their devices for instant gratification. They know that customers judge a product after their first time using it, and evaluate the product by how their teeth feel after brushing.

Most electric toothbrushes will instantly remove the pellicle, and there will be a smooth feeling on your teeth. While this is good, it’s not the only thing one should take into account when picking a toothbrush.

Toothbrush abrasion is bad for the enamel and gums, and good habits such as brushing frequently and replacing the toothbrush head will be far better for your teeth than buying a top-of-the line electric toothbrush.

The best electric toothbrush is the one that you love to use, use consistently, and allows or promotes the proper technique. The toothbrush alone won’t make a difference if the head is not changed often and if the head is too big for hard-to-reach areas of the mouth.

As brushing becomes a routine habit, one of simple muscle memory, we tend to multitask while brushing; i.e. checking our email on a smartphone or performing a chore outside of the bathroom. The automation of an electric toothbrush can help us in this case.

However, the bells and whistles of an electric toothbrush such as bluetooth connectivity, or various settings such as “whitening” or “sensitive” may ultimately distract from proper habits and technique. Ultimately, an electric toothbrush should lead to better oral health with less effort and vibratory and oscillatory movement on your part.

Whether you have been using an electric toothbrush for years and need a replacement, or thinking of picking one up for the first time, The Oral B vitality is the one I currently recommend.

Got more questions about electric toothbrushes? Ask me and I’ll answer your question on the next episode of my podcast!