Best Electric Toothbrushes to Keep Your Teeth Healthy, According to Dentists

For something no-frills that you can get at the drugstore, Dr. Levine says this is the best you can get—it’s been a recommendation of his for a long, long time. “Without all the bells and whistles that newer models come with, this one stands the test of time and is still being used widely,” he says. “With regular use, this brush may help whiten your teeth, promote oral health, and is infinitely more effective than just a standard brush.”

Subscription services have made everything in millennials’ lives easier, and thanks to Burst, that convenience extends to brushing teeth, too. The service delivers a new brush head every 90 days, plus a lifetime guarantee for subscribers. According to dentists, the device itself is great, too. “Burst bristles are very soft, which allows for very gentle yet effective brushing, and the toothbrush is especially good for anyone prone to gum recession,” says San Francisco-based dentist Christina Kenerson, DMD. Plus, it comes in the most beautiful rose gold color, which can up the luxury factor in your bathroom in a big way for a an extra $20. Burst is also a favorite of Dr. Huang, who says the bristle is compact, charcoal-infused, and has both short and long bristles, which helps the brush clean hard to reach areas more efficiently. “This brush has the longest battery life I’ve seen (1 month per charge),” she says.

Consider this the Toyota Camry of toothbrushes. It’s a good, solid choice that hits right at the middle of the market price-wise. It has five different brush heads, 25 different settings, and a two-minute timer so that you can know when you’re done brushing without having to sing through the alphabet twice. “It feels good in your hand and caters to brushers with sensitivity,” says Dr. Levine. “And with so many add-ons, there’s a brush head for everyone.” The charging station and plug are not waterproof, so you’ll want to keep them somewhere other than on your sink, but since the battery stays charged for over a month you won’t need to dig them out of the cabinet all that often, anyway.

Quip toothbrushes are slim, affordable, and American Dental Association-accepted. They have 30-second pulses, a two-minute timer, and can sync with an app to track your bushing habits. Dr. Kantor says they’re simple to use and effectively clean teeth. And if you tend to forget to replace your brush heads, you can sign up for subscription service where a new head is sent every few weeks, making it easier to keep up with a healthy oral care routine.

If you’ve got sensitive teeth and gums, this is the best of the best to keep them healthy and happy. “The bristles are soft, so they won’t irritate most patients’ gums, and it has five settings for everything from gentle brushing to a deep clean,” says Dr. Levine. The only downside to this brush is that it’s most effective when it’s fully charged, so be sure to keep the battery juiced up. “This Sonicare leaves your teeth feeling very clean,” she says. Dr. Huang is also a fan of this toothbrush, which she says has powerful sonic energy, plus an app that tracks sensory coverage so you are able to see exactly where you are bushing, what is missed, and get feedback on brushing techniques.

If you’re not a particularly good brusher, this toothbrush may help you get better. It’s a pick from Dr. Kantor because not only does it have Sonicare technology, which can remove up to four times more plaque than a manual toothbrush, but it also shows a 3D map of your mouth so you can see which teeth you’re brushing and if you’re brushing too much or too little. The app shows you any spots you’ve missed, progress reports, and when you need to replace your brush heads. You can even send reports to your dentist if you want.

Dr. Saw says her favorite electric toothbrush is the Oral-B iO electric toothbrush. “I love how it vibrates and oscillates similar to what we utilize in my dental practice to clean teeth. It also has a pressure sensor that displays a red light if I brush too hard, as brushing aggressively can cause gum tissue recession,” she says. It has five modes, a two-minute timer, and a travel case. “I was definitely wowed away when I first used it as my teeth felt squeaky clean like I had just got them professionally cleaned,” says Dr. Saw.

Dr. Saw says she would recommend this high-tech toothbrush to anybody. It’s sleek and has one-touch control, as well as technology that monitors pressure, motion, and coverage. “It senses how you brush and adapts automatically, changing intensity if you are brushing too hard,” says Dr. Saw.