Best Electric Toothbrushes of 2023
Some models can help make sure you brush for the right amount of time, with the right amount of pressure
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Brushing your teeth regularly is essential. It keeps your breath fresh and helps maintain your oral health: Brushing twice a day for at least 2 minutes is one of the most important things you can do to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
And while just remembering to brush makes a big difference, some toothbrushes can help make sure you do it right, which is essential to get the most benefit from regular brushing. Good, consistent tooth brushing can help eliminate the sticky, germy film that builds up on teeth (known as plaque), which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Severe gum disease has been linked to larger health issues, including heart problems and diabetes.
But most people don’t brush their teeth for long enough, averaging about 45 seconds a session—less than half the recommend 2 minutes. And many people press the brush against their teeth too hard while they brush, which can cause damage to gums and tooth enamel in the long run.
Depending on what toothbrush you select, an electric toothbrush can help you brush long enough and correctly. Many models come with a timer, and some also include features like pressure sensors to prevent overaggressive brushing.
How We Tested Toothbrushes
CR evaluated the performance of powered toothbrushes using a panel of people between ages 18 and 65, all users of an electric toothbrush and in good dental health.
Cleaning performance: To see how well each brush cleaned, a dental hygienist measured plaque levels in volunteers after having them skip brushing and using other dental products for 24 hours. Each then brushed using one of the electric toothbrushes for 2 minutes. Before-and-after differences in plaque levels made up the cleaning performance score. If a toothbrush came with multiple brushing modes or brush heads, we scored it based on the mode and head combination that scored highest. This is the most important factor in the Overall Score of a toothbrush.
Ease of use: Testers told us about how easy it was to attach the brush head, how easy it was to recharge the device, and how comfortable the device felt to hold and use. We also factor in whether or not brushes have the most useful extra features: a timer and a pressure sensor.
Battery performance: A measure of how long it took for devices to charge (for the rechargeable brushes we tested) and how long it took for all models to run out of battery.
Noise: Testers were asked to evaluate the noise level for each device. Most devices are comparable on this front, so it’s a small factor in the Overall Score.
Below, you’ll find three of the best top-rated electric toothbrushes, in alphabetical order. Members can see our full toothbrush ratings and reviews here.
