The replacement brush heads for the ProtectiveClean 4100 are slightly more expensive at $27 for three ($9 each); the Oral-Bs replacement heads can be as cheap as $5 to $6 each, making the Oral-Bs expenses a little lower in the long run. Its a very comfortable and well-designed brush as well, with pulse alerts to help you keep track of your brushing if youre not using the app, and a clear battery indicator to let you know when its running down. The Pro 1000 has been around for a while and continues to outshine more expensive models with fancier features. We have answers. The Oral-B SmartSeries Black 7000 comes with a digital guide, another (unnecessary) abstraction of a timer, and six brushing modes programmed to a separate power button. That doesnt matter much, as its easy to have your brush live on its charger in your bathroom. Its also twice the price. The system accurately tracks your brushing and shows you spots you've missed. Colgates Hum is a lower-cost smart toothbrush with uniquely designed brush heads and the option of a rechargeable or replaceable battery-operated handle. If you go to the dentist regularly, you have probably fibbed onceor 100times: Yes, doctor, I have been flossing regularly. My mouth felt cleaner after using the Willo than the two Autobrush models I tried, but neither brand delivered exactly the same feeling as a good scrub, and of course none of these devices can scrub your tongue. A company spokesperson said that our tester may have been applying too much pressure while using these brush heads. In our experience, the Vibe battery lasts well over three weeks on a single charge, with twice-daily use. In September 2017, the Pro 1000 was among the first five electric toothbrushes to receive the ADA Seal of Acceptance. We tested the Willo, a mouthguard-style robotic toothbrush, and found the brushing experience to be subpar. To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories. Its hard to distinguish between so many similar products, while the boxes and adverts bombard you with pseudo-science and marketing-speak. Alternatively, you can opt for a sonic or ultrasonic brush, which has a head that vibrates very quickly at frequencies that buff the tooth surface, break up plaque and force toothpaste through the gaps between your teeth and around the gum line. In the case of a toothbrush, this might mean it becomes less powerful or not lasting as long while traveling. Although it has the fewest fancy features of the models we tested, it does have the most important things experts recommenda built-in 2-minute timer and access to one of the most extensive and affordable lines of replaceable toothbrush heads availablefor the lowest price. We spoke with several experts on the subject of oral health, including dental school faculty at leading research universities, a professional dentist, and a consumer advisor appointed by the American Dental Association (ADA), which confers a Seal of Acceptance on dental care products that seek the certification and meet a set of agreed-upon criteria. And while we feared the worst from the NiMH battery, it actually lasted a reasonable 43 minutes in our tests. Other nice-to-have features include a brushing timer and pressure sensors to warn you when youre pressing too hard and risking damage to your gums. In addition to the non-smart Quip, in 2019 we tried two other $25-plus battery-powered toothbrushes, from Gleem and Smile Direct Club, plus three sub-$10 ones: the Arm & Hammer Spinbrush Pro Series, the Colgate 360 Total Advanced Floss-Tip Sonic, and the Oral-B Pro-Health Battery Toothbrush. Its not the only brand with an OLED display and a quiet, magnetic motor. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. The only one that might help is sensitive mode for people who find the brushs normal oscillations too jarring. A company spokesperson confirmed that the earned heads are indeed free; no shipping or handling costs are associated with this offer. Some of us just cant get on with a brush thats too chunky or too thin, while others need extra grip around the handle. The app will also track your use over time and give you hints, tips and news. Though it's not a substitute for regular string floss, it's better than nothing or for using in between.. The Oral-B Pro 3000 3D White Smart Series is another smart brush that has earned the ADA Seal. It comes with a travel case and charger, and a subscription costs $5 for a new brush head every two or three months. Brushing with the Quip is pleasurable, as its vibrations are just powerful enough to get my mouth sparkling clean without feeling too intense, though the thin neck felt precarious when I was really scrubbing away. There are dozens of ways to tote around your photo and video gear. Some retailers sell replacement brush heads in bulk, and some manufacturers regularly issue coupons, which can both help keep costs down. Hamilton Beachs new Brightline electric toothbrushes come in two versions: the perfectly functional 86700 base model, which has three brushing modes (two more than needed), and the 86710, which has two additional superfluous modes (for a total of four more than needed) as well as a control panel. Over $100 will get you a couple more modes on your brush, a travel case that can charge the brush on the go, and perhaps a pressure sensor that lights up once activated. Truthfully, at the end of the day, for pennies and minutesyou dont need all of these more costly brushesyou can choose oral health, Dr. Lopez-Howell said. The ProtectiveClean 4100 is about the same price as the Oral-B Pro 1000, but online prices can fluctuate. All you really need out of an electric toothbrush is a two-minute timer to make sure you brush your teeth for the right amount of time. I do it because I have to, but its a time-consuming, uncomfortable processtwo minutes standing in front of the mirror can feel like an eternity. If you have the basic brush and want Bluetooth, you can swap out your motor for a Bluetooth one for $25. The head it comes with has two moving parts: one that moves up and down vertically and a longer set of bristles at the top that flop back and forth. (In fact, we like the Quip Kids model as an electric toothbrush for children pick because of this gentler brushing motion.) Its the new king of sensibly priced brushes. All the same, while the action feels a little rough and rattly in comparison to the brands more expensive models, it still gives your gnashers a thorough clean, which you can tailor by switching out the CrossAction brush head for a Sensitive or Precision Clean head. The body survived drop tests on the floor and into water. Although the stylish design (of the more expensive metal model) and the quiet operation are both impressive, we found the Quip toothbrushs vibrations to be weak. You can spend a little bit less and get a nice oscillating brush head if you go with Oral-B's Pro 1000.. In fact, in some ways this is your ideal first Sonicare brush; the chunky handle is comfortable to hold while brushing, and theres an easy start feature where the brush takes things easy during the first week of use while steadily ramping up to its full 31,000 brush movements per minute. Not only do all the toothbrushes look nigh-on identical, but the manufacturers seem to have decided that confusion is good for business, producing several different ranges with different characteristics all at the same time. It's a fantastic brush in terms of cleaning, but other brushes have better apps. Like the Pro 1000, the ProtectiveClean 4100 is not trumped up with unproven features, and it includes everything you need in an electric toothbrush. Key specs Cleaning modes: 3; Battery type: Li-ion; Accessories included: One brush head, charger; Battery life (tested): 87 mins; Warranty: Two years, Price: 110 | Buy now from Amazon | Buy brush heads now from Amazon. (When that device is invented, I'll be the first in line.). It doesn't show real-time tracking, but I didn't miss that feature. A great electric toothbrush for not a lot of money, even without the subscription plans. The OLED touchscreen can be unresponsive, while the app simply tracks the frequency and efficiency of your brushing, and sometimes struggles to make a stable connection to the brush. Weve tested 12 water flossers okayed by the American Dental Association. As long as you can live without fast charging, its arguably the best value smart brush out there. While it wont replace your dentist, this is as close to a professional clean at home as youre going to get. Snow has one, but any should be fine.. If you need the guidance, invest in the guidance.. Its also difficult to clean, heavy, and requires a lot of bathroom counter space. Approximate cost of ownership ($45 brush handle + four Oral-B replacement heads) after. And like the Pro 3000, the Genius has an on-board pressure sensor that flashes red when you brush too hard (no app necessary). But as someone who generally brushes too hard, she felt this offered a clean that was much gentler to her gums. As with other smart toothbrushes, we found this capability and the accompanying app unnecessary. The Hum comes with a charging base and a travel case.. Most last for around six months, but if they need replacing more often and the brush heads are expensive, the running costs can soon mount up. Brushing daily is necessary, but it's not always easy. Cant stretch to one of Oral-Bs iO Series brushes? We also encountered issues pairing our brush to the app on several occasions. But this is a distinction between different types of brushes made by different manufacturers, not expensive brushes versus cheap ones. If the companys free head-replacement offer holds true, and the brush lasts long enough, the one- and three-year ownership costs are both $75a bargain. Electric toothbrushes make the whole experience easier. Fancy the performance and app-enabled features of the DiamondClean Smart? Like its predecessor, there are multiple brushing modes to choose from, including whitening, intense and tongue clean. Its durable, lasts well and has a good battery life. Thats enough to maintain your routine for a solid 40 days or more. Its still not what you might call cheap, but its a premium brush at a price you might find easier to swallow. Her latest picture book, The Real Santa, follows a determined little Black boy's journey to discover what the jolly icon truly looks like. It has an onboard two-minute timer and seven total brushing modes (six more than needed). Here are the best disposable coverings weve tested and researchedand where you can find them. The Conair Opti-Cleanis cheap for a rechargeable brush, but it did not survive a dunk in the water. It's currently unavailable. Stolyar didn't like the toothpaste it came with, but she said using her regular toothpaste worked fine, though she had to spend a little extra time to keep the brush clean. Whats more, its one of the few Oral-B brushes to have no vibrating 3D action to break down plaque and work in between your teeth, just a simple, back-and-forth oscillation to clean the surface. The rear pressure sensor is now a 360-degree ring, which makes it a little more visible while youre brushing, and Oral-Bs timer works as well as ever. Like the Diamond Clean Smart it works with the Sonicare app to track your brushing and dish out reminders, guidance and tips. Per the ADAs recommendations, the only necessary thing in toothbrushing is a basic toothbrush that you use properly. Christopher Null's reporting contributed to this guide. These features are fun and can be genuinely useful if you sometimes neglect your dental workouts. Nancy Redd is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter covering everything from Santa hats to bath bombs. However, all these types of brushes are pretty easy to clean, which is a nice added feature for those with limited dexterity. (See our blog post on these battery-powered toothbrushes for more.). Most are marketed as working in 30 seconds. Find out how often youll need to replace the brush heads, too. They work with companion apps that time your brushes, keep a diary of your activity and provide oral hygiene tips or snippets of news. Wired may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. AquaSonic currently sells Vibe-compatible replacement heads only in a two-pack that costs $10 ($5 apiece, which is more expensive than Oral-B and Philips Sonicare heads bought in more-economical packs). In promotional materials, the companies claim their devices can simultaneously clean all of a persons teeth in mere seconds. Even if you dont use the app, its a hit with kids thanks to the replaceable stickers and the built-in timer and jingle. In our experience, a cotton swab is well-suited for getting gunk out of any small divots in the brush handle. The DiamondClean has five cleaning modes (four too many) that you must manually cycle through if you need to turn the brush off before reaching two minutes. When it works, its an elegant brush with a USB charging option that feels as powerful as our Oral-B pick. Plus, like the more expensive iO brushes, its pressure-sensing indicators and built-in OLED screen give you instant feedback on your brushing and whether youve done the full two minutes or slinked off early. There are many types of brush heads, and they vary from brand to brand. You need to register the brush to receive one year of warranty coverage. Electric toothbrushes cost about 10 times as much as a manual toothbrushes, and you have to replace the brush heads at the same frequency (every three months), each for about the same cost as a manual brush. The one-button simplicity is a great featurethere are no useless cleaning modes. Purchased individually, the least expensive replacement heads cost $5, which is generally more than what Oral-B heads cost but less than the price of Philips Sonicare heads. Like the Oral-B Pro 1000, the ProtectiveClean 4100 has earned the ADA Seal. Like the Vibe, the 507 and 508 are each covered by a one-year warranty, and their starter kits come with eight brush heads. This makes them more effective at cleaning around and in-between your teeth where plaque and tartar tend to build up. 7/10 in his review of toothbrush subscription services, Though it's not a substitute for regular string floss. My teeth aren't shining bright after a month of use, but they are clean. The more advanced models have sophisticated pressure and motion sensors to allow them to track your brushs progress around the mouth and make sure youre reaching every corner, and not skimping on the back teeth or the areas behind your teeth. However, weve heard an increasing number of complaints from readers and long-term testers regarding this brushs durability, with multiple people reporting that their brushes conked out within a year of use. Even with frequent cleaning, weve found that rubberized white surfaces of the Pro 1000 handle can become discolored over time. Key specs Cleaning modes: 4; Battery type: Li-ion; Accessories included: Brush head, charging cradle, travel cap; Battery life (tested): 2hrs 27mins; Warranty: One year. Apples laptops are expensive, and youll have to make some hard choices to pick the right one. Bring memories back to life by taking your old pictures into the future. This brush is quieter than our recommended Oral-B model, with a more subtle motion (though the vibrations can feel slightly more uncomfortable when the back of the brush knocks against your other teeth). The Vibes charging stand is similar to those of the Oral-B Pro 1000 and Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100. So we looked for, at minimum, brushes with a two-minute timer, but still wanted to test higher-end brushes to compare their usability against that of the simplest models. Key specs Cleaning modes: 7; Battery type: Li-ion; Accessories included: One brush head, brush head refill holder, magnetic charger, travel case with integrated charger; Battery life (tested): 14 days minimum; Warranty: Two years, Price: 50 | Buy now from Amazon | Buy brush heads now from Amazon. In our experience, the Hums vibrations arent as strong as the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100s and not as weak as the Quips. For years, we recommended Goby as our pick for people who prefer an electric toothbrush with replacement brush heads available through a subscription. Replacement heads cost $12.50 each, making them some of the most expensive weve considered. Water flossing does still hurt at first, unfortunately, so start with the soft-pressure setting. Weve tested more than 60 packs and have rounded up our favorites. A great budget electric toothbrush with all you need to keep your teeth and gums in shape. Not that this is too much of an issue; Philips states that the battery should last you three weeks of brushing, and our tests put that on the conservative side. The Oral-B iOs magnetic charging dock provides a full charge that lasts up to two weeks in just three hours. Generally speaking, we do not recommend smart toothbrushes for most people. We wouldnt recommend any of these brushes over our rechargeable picks, which produce stronger-feeling vibrations. If you cant find the Oral-B Pro 1000, or if you prefer a quieter brush, we recommend the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100. Its been a couple years since the first app-connected, or smart, electric toothbrushes became available, but they still dont offer enough features for the added cost for us to recommend them for most people. They are simply less effective and much more costly than our picks. The ProtectiveClean 4100, which has a two-minute timer with quadrant pacing, also has twice the battery life of the Oral-B, lasting two weeks on a single charge instead of one week (in our tests it lasted for 16 days of use), so it might be a better choice for travelers who dont want to pack another charger. A great way to transform your childrens teeth-cleaning. (The only way to opt out of your anonymized data being disclosed with affiliates and third parties is to not download or use the app at all.). What About the Smart Oral-B iO? If youre looking for an electric toothbrush that costs less: The AquaSonic Vibe is the closest to a Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush dupe weve found. You still get a top-notch cleaning experience, with Oral-Bs oscillating brush heads leaving teeth feeling smooth and polished, along with five different modes including gum care, whitening and sensitive. READ NEXT: The best water flossers | The best teeth-whitening kit. The Colgate Smart Electronic Toothbrush E1 also uses on-board sensors and artificial intelligence to track the brush heads location as you move it around your mouth. Plus, we are not aware of studies that show brushing longer in smaller areas has an added beneficial effect in removing plaque.. We applied the same buying model to the Philips Sonicare line and tried not to buy brushes that were differentiated only by their unnecessary features. You've probably seen blue-light devices on your Instagram feed, and they typically work in conjunction with a gel. Wed like to see a pressure sensor and a charging indicator, but if you only have 20 to spend on a toothbrush, this is as good as it gets. Probably not. (The regular Hum has three.) I talked to two dentists who echoed this sentiment: Bill Busch of North Kansas City Dental and Joseph Salim, owner of Sutton Place Dental Associates, have tried the silicone AutoBrush and have patients who have used it. After more than 100 total hours of research, interviewing experts, evaluating nearly every model available, and testing 36 toothbrushes ourselves in hundreds of trials at the bathroom sink, weve found that the Oral-B Pro 1000 is the best electric toothbrush for most people. This brush is based on Philips last-generation Sonicare technology, which isnt a huge issue, but it still uses a NiMH battery. I also really like this brand's cheap electric toothbrush, mentioned in our Honorable Mentions. But in practice, we preferred using our electric toothbrush pick and our water flosser pick separately. But it's still expensive for a toothbrush. We chose not to test this ultra-expensive ($400) brush. Were here to help you work that out. *At the time of publishing, the price was $50. It has recently rounded out its lineup with a toothbrush that has LED lights right in the brush head. In addition to a good toothbrush, you'll need a few other things to keep your mouth clean. In addition to a quick rinse and wipe between uses, you may find it worthwhile to periodically remove the brush head to clean this junction. Anyone with mobility issues can have a hard time brushing on their own, and mental health can also take a toll on oral care. Most of Philips Sonicares brush heads are oblong with soft bristles and lack options for additional structural elements, like rubber flaps or polishing cups, so you get fewer options than you do with Oral-B. It has less cleaning power overall, but it would be great for a kid's first electric brush. Our pick was included in the first group of electric toothbrushes to receive theADA Seal of Acceptancein September 2017.2 But regardless of the manufacturer, powered electric toothbrushes have been shown to provide superior dental care to manual toothbrushingthey remove more plaque and reduce gingivitis at statistically significant rates.3 If you find yourself struggling to meet two minutes, if you tend to brush unevenly, or if you find manual brushing to be too much labor, upgrading from a manual toothbrush to an electric one that automates these elements may make sense. However, we've found a few planet-friendly alternatives for more traditional tooth-brushing.. Many other pricey smart toothbrushes and their apps do this, some better than others (read on). Other brands have toothbrushes that move faster, slower, and at roughly the same speed as this. al., Powered/electric toothbrushes compared to manual toothbrushes for maintaining oral health, Cochrane, June 17, 2014, CM Stanford, et. Most electric toothbrushes have brush-head subscriptions now, but the Shyn's handle and brush heads are cross-compatible with Philips Sonicare products. Electric toothbrushes cost about 10 times as much as manual toothbrushes, and you have to replace the brush heads at the same frequency (every three months), each for about the same cost as a manual brush. Its time I came clean: I hate brushing my teeth. Compared with other toothbrushes, the motion was a little violent. Thanks to Oral-Bs magnetic motor technology, the clean is as quiet as it is impressive, with five different brush modes to cover gum care, whitening and sensitive teeth as well as intense and daily cleans. However, there were only 10 participants, they brushed under supervision only some of the time, and they used each toothbrush for only three days. People with sensitive teeth may find that their teeth are less sensitive when the brush head moves slower or less pressure is applied, said Dr. Messina. Once we understood the features of all the products, it was a matter of getting them in hand and seeing what it was like to hold them, charge them, use them, replace their heads, and have our brushing sessions timed and monitored. The Ordo Sonic+ makes a pretty good case for itself, though, thanks to a mix of great design, good technology and an interesting subscription model. Updated April 2022: We've added Izzo's Oral Care Kit and Oclean's X Pro Elite to our Honorable Mentions. As with other smart toothbrushes, we believe the E1 is overkill for most. These use a mouthpiece full of bristles that typically brush one section of teeth (top or bottom) all at once. Powered/electric toothbrushes compared to manual toothbrushes for maintaining oral health, Efficacy of the Sonicare toothbrush fluid dynamic action on removal of human supragingival plaque, Effects of dynamic fluid activity from an electric toothbrush on invitro oral biofilms, Wirecutters 100 Most Popular Picks in April 2021, Quip Review: What to Know Before You Buy an AAA-BatteryPowered Electric Toothbrush. We found only one small, old, imperfect study that compared brushes with 2,100, 2,500, and 3,500 brushstrokes per minute and found that the middle frequency was the most effective at removing plaque (at most 1.5 times better than the other frequencies and yielded about 50 percent fewer plaque sites than the highest frequency). Water flossing is a good alternative. Not quite so keen on the price tag? As far as whitening goes, all toothbrushes help remove surface stains when used with a toothpaste because toothpastes contain mild abrasives and detergents for this purpose, said Dr. Messina. Still, we would not recommend that most people pay considerably more than the cost of our picks for this (or for any other) smart toothbrush. al., Efficacy of the Sonicare toothbrush fluid dynamic action on removal of human supragingival plaque, Journal of Clinical Dentistry, January 8, 1997, CK Hope, et. In brush-only mode, the Sonic Fusion SF-01, which is warrantied for three years, has quadrant pacing. al., Effects of dynamic fluid activity from an electric toothbrush on invitro oral biofilms, Journal of Clinical Periodontalogy, July 1, 2003, Maria Lopez-Howell, ADA spokesperson, phone interview, September 21, 2017. Whats more, it delivers an excellent clean, with three modes Sensitive, Daily Clean and Whitening that take you all the way from a softer brush thats easy on the gums to a more intense polish that should help get rid of staining. We briefly tested the iO at the January 2020 Consumer Electronics Show. Per our testing, Philips Sonicare brush heads are interchangeable, and all the Sonicare brushes we tested were able to accommodate each others heads. To check battery life, we also leave the toothbrush running while standing up and time how long it takes for the battery to run down. In this price range, youll also get a small boost in battery life. It's lightweight, relatively affordable, and has a nice stand with a charger that clips onto it when it needs some juiceyou won't have to do that often, because the battery lasts a good while. Relative to the hundreds of the thousands of brushes we have sold over the years, I would not say its a common issue though. If you have trouble with your Goby brush, email help@goby.co: 99.9% of customers get a response within 24 hours during the week, Goldberg wrote, and if a replacement is required, the replacement is delivered within 2-5 business days. Like our top pick and runner-up, the Goby toothbrush has earned the ADA Seal. You can use this toothbrush without ever connecting to the app, which, like others, tracks brushing data. Cheaper Alternative: The new Hum Smart Rhythm ($25) is a battery-powered brush with two cleaning modes. Its CrossAction, FlossAction and PrecisionClean heads all feel quite different in use. The sturdy Waterpik Ion is the one wed get. No matter the toothbrush (manual or powered, smart or not), brush twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste, floss once daily, and visit your dentist to make sure that youre doing the right thing.. Bundled extras such as travel cases may also come in handy, and especially so if the toothbrush can be charged in the case using a USB cable its one fewer charger to carry. We compared the brushes on all these usability points to arrive at our conclusion. When activated, the ultrasensitive pressure sensor alerts you with a beep that we found overly loud compared with alerts from the competition (fortunately, you can turn the pressure-sensing beeps off). The Pro 1000s timer goes off every 30 seconds, alerting the user of the time by briefly pausing. The Pro 1000 was also quite comfortable to use. Best hair dryer: The finest hair dryers we've tested, The best blood pressure monitors you can buy, Best nail strengthener to repair and protect damaged nails, 23andMe review: The most flexible DNA test, GHD Air review: Stylish, powerful, and quiet but not cheap, Oral-B Pro 3 3000 review: The price is white, Oral-B iO Series 6 review: State-of-the-art cleaning, Oral-B iO review: The smart toothbrush with a smart app, Best Oral-B Toothbrush head: Find the best clean for you, The most effective at-home teeth whitening strips to buy, Find the best Oral-B electric toothbrush for your needs. Both of Waterpiks Sonic Fusion models have earned the ADA Seal. (Most are at least double the price of a standard electric toothbrush.) Because brush heads must be replaced roughly every three months, the total cost of owning an electric toothbrush adds up. Progress is tracked using sensors in the brush that have been trained via an algorithm and, when used in tandem with the app, can highlight areas for improvement over time. We were surprised by how much we liked brushing with the Triple Bristle Go, another $25-plus disposable-battery-powered brush that has an onboard two-minute timer. We could not find any independent studies comparing toothbrush models or brands, and all the ones tested for the fluid dynamics aspect are Sonicare brushes, which are all 31,000 movements-per-minute brushes. This is, in theory, meant to improve how well it brushes your teeth. The additional cleaning modes are extraneous, so theres no reason to pay for them. As a bonus, you can charge it using nearly any wireless charger not just the USB pad provided and the battery lasts for over 160 minutes. The other major flaw of the Pro 1000 is that the starter head is a departure from the usual rotating/pulsating motion of most powered Oral-B brushes. It is similar to our top pick in form and function, except it has three cleaning modes (two more than necessary), and connects to an app via Bluetooth. The efficacy of this movement varied depending on the distance and time spent, and nothing will remove 100 percent of the bacteria/plaque all the time, but this is a significant, if secondary, effect generated by a sonic toothbrush. So not only does the motor power the bristle rotation, but it also uses some of that energy to gently vibrate the brush head at the same time.