7 Best Toothbrushes for Cleaning Teeth & Removing Plaque (2024)

Everything We Recommend

Types of Toothbrushes & What to Look for

In 2024, there are many toothbrushes to choose from that will fit your budget, personal preference, and oral care needs.

Some things you should consider before buying a toothbrush include:

  • Price — The average price of an electric toothbrush falls between $25 and $280
  • Features Some toothbrushes have basic functionalities, while others are more advanced
  • Convenience — Do you want a smaller toothbrush that is easy to travel with or a larger toothbrush with more features?

Manual toothbrushes are cheaper than electric toothbrushes. However, electric toothbrushes remove plaque through vibration (oscillation), which is significantly better than manual brushing.1

7 Best Electric Toothbrushes in 2024

Here are our top recommendations for the best electric toothbrush in 2024:

Oral-B Pro 1000

Best Overall Toothbrush
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If you’re looking for an electric toothbrush with deep cleaning capabilities, the Oral-B Pro 1000 is for you. This rechargeable electric toothbrush removes up to 300% more plaque buildup than a manual toothbrush.

The brush is also sturdy and affordable, making it an excellent introduction to electric toothbrushing.

Cost: $

Features:

  • Pressure sensors, which stop movement if you’re brushing too hard
  • Two-minute cleaning timer with 30-second intervals
  • Removes plaque in hard-to-reach areas between teeth
  • Compatible with 11 Oral-B brush heads for different brushing modes

Snow LED Electric Toothbrush

Best Toothbrush for Whitening
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Famous for its teeth whitening kits, this is Snow’s entry into the electric toothbrush space. This first-of-its-kind toothbrush features a built-in LED for enhanced whitening. The blue LED penetrates the enamel to remove deeply-set stains.

Cost: $$$

Features:

  • LED light for enhanced whitening
  • Rechargeable battery that lasts days
  • Four cleaning modes
  • Two-minute brushing timer with 30-second intervals
  • Sonic technology
  • Two brush heads included with the purchase

Burst Electric Toothbrush

Best Charcoal Toothbrush
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The Burst 1000 Sonic electric toothbrush uses innovative charcoal bristles to remove stains and bacteria from your teeth. A major highlight is the outstanding 4-month battery life. The brush also sports an attractive design yet is surprisingly affordable.

Cost: $$

Features:

  • Charcoal bristles
  • Sonic vibration technology
  • It comes with three cleaning modes, a 2-minute timer, and a quad-pacer
  • Thirty-day battery life
  • Brush heads last four months (compared to 3 for non-charcoal brush heads)
  • Lifetime warranty (with subscription)

Colgate®️ HUM Electric Toothbrush

Best Smart Electric Toothbrush
7 Best Toothbrushes for Cleaning Teeth & Removing Plaque (4)

Most people miss up to 40% of their teeth while brushing. Colgate’s Hum toothbrush solves this issue.

Its motion sensors can tell what areas of your mouth you’re missing. It points them out on the Colgate app in real time to help you brush better.

The app gives you personalized brushing advice and points you can use to buy replacement brush heads and other items.

Cost: $$

Features:

  • Smart sensors analyze brushing in real-time
  • Sonic vibration technology
  • Compatible with iOS and Android
  • Links to Apple Health
  • Automatic data uploading (Bluetooth)
  • Replaceable heads are available for purchase

Philips Sonicare 4100 Electric Toothbrush

Best Smart Toothbrush
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Philips is a brand that prioritizes innovation. Based on our research, the Sonicare 4100 electric toothbrush is the best smart rechargeable option on the market.

It removes seven times more plaque than manual toothbrushes. It’s also safe for people with braces, fillings, crowns, and veneers.

Its microchip-enabled technology synchronizes the handle with the brush head. This allows it to remind you when to change the brush head.

Cost: $$

Features:

  • Two-minute brushing timer with 30-second intervals
  • A built-in pressure sensor in the brush head
  • Smart brush handle and brush head
  • Gentle for sensitive teeth and dental work

SNOW Child’s Battery Powered Toothbrush

Best Toothbrush for Kids
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Snow’s “bear-y” fun toothbrush provides a powerful cleaning experience. It comes in 5 fun colors and requires just a single AAA battery (included). The brush head is replaceable.

Features:

  • Battery-powered
  • Replaceable brush heads
  • One AAA battery is included
  • Bear-y cute shape

Cost: $

Ollie SmartClean Sonic Toothbrush

Best Sonic Toothbrush
7 Best Toothbrushes for Cleaning Teeth & Removing Plaque (7)

Ollie’s SmartClean Sonic Toothbrush uses sonic technology to help you brush your teeth more efficiently. Their brand also offers a no-hassle 90-day trial and pay return shipping if it’s not for you. This means you can test the toothbrush first before committing to it.

Features:

  • 2-minute timer
  • Five brushing modes
  • Three brush head styles
  • Lifetime warranty

Manual vs. Electric Toothbrushes: Which is More Effective?

We consulted one of NewMouth’s in-house dentists, Dr. Khushbu Aggarwal, regarding her recommendations for the best toothbrushes. According to her, the best toothbrush depends on the user.

Electric Toothbrushes

People with less dexterity may prefer electric toothbrushes because they can clean teeth more effectively without moving their hands around too much. Dentists also recommend them over manual toothbrushes because they provide a deeper clean.

  • Electric toothbrushes remove more plaque with the use of vibrations and automatic circular motions
  • Models have built-in timers to help you brush for two minutes
  • They also have 30-second intervals, indicating when to brush a different quadrant of your mouth
  • Electric brushes have four quadrants — two on the bottom and two on the top — for optimal cleaning

Manual Toothbrushes

Manual toothbrushes also remove plaque but are less effective than electric versions. Dr. Khushbu recommends a toothbrush with soft bristles to avoid damaging the enamel.

Some people find manual brushing with the right technique extremely difficult or impossible. According to Dr. Khushbu, the correct brushing technique is moving the toothbrush in “gentle circular motions right at the gum line and on all other surfaces of the teeth.”

This technique can be difficult for those with small, detailed hand movements. Children also fall into this category, as they don’t have good manual dexterity. For many people, switching to an electric toothbrush can significantly improve their oral health status.

Why You Can Trust Our Recommendations

Methodology

The NewMouth editorial team analyzed dozens of products available today to determine the available products. Our evaluation and recommendations are based on the following:

  • Dentist input and experience ⁠— 30% of the total score
  • Our own testing experience — 25% of the total score
  • Effectiveness — 15% of the total score
  • Ease of use — 15% of the total score
  • Affordability and value — 15% of the total score

Our Qualifications

1. Dental Experts

NewMouth is a leading and trusted online resource for dental information, including:

  • Product recommendations
  • Primary dental care
  • At-home oral health care
  • Orthodontics
  • Procedures
  • Costs
  • And more

We have a dedicated team of medical writers, expert researchers, licensed dental professionals, and medical reviewers who create and oversee every content we publish on our site.

2. Extensive Research and Testing

These factors determine our recommendations:

  • Consulting with our in-house dentists
  • Spending hours researching the full range of products available
  • Reading through hundreds of customer reviews from multiple sources
  • Testing some of the products listed in this article
  • Reading through research papers on the safety and efficacy of these oral care methods

3. Comprehensive Review Process

After extensive research and product testing, this article also underwent an intensive review process:

  1. Two in-house editors reviewed and fact-checked this article
  2. One of our in-house dentists reviewed it for accuracy
  3. We regularly update and review this piece to ensure pricing, product details, and other specs are up-to-date

In this article

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

I am an expert and enthusiast assistant. I have access to a vast amount of information and can provide insights on a wide range of topics. Now, let's dive into the concepts mentioned in this article.

Best Overall (Editor’s Pick) — Oral-B Pro 1000 Electric Toothbrush

The Oral-B Pro 1000 is an electric toothbrush that is highly recommended for its deep cleaning capabilities. It is rechargeable and removes up to 300% more plaque buildup than a manual toothbrush. The brush features pressure sensors that stop movement if you're brushing too hard, a two-minute cleaning timer with 30-second intervals, and compatibility with 11 Oral-B brush heads for different brushing modes [[1]].

Best Whitening Toothbrush — Snow LED Electric Toothbrush

The Snow LED Electric Toothbrush is known for its teeth whitening capabilities. It features a built-in LED for enhanced whitening, with the blue LED penetrating the enamel to remove deeply-set stains. The toothbrush is rechargeable, has four cleaning modes, a two-minute brushing timer with 30-second intervals, and utilizes sonic technology. It comes with two brush heads [[2]].

Best Charcoal Toothbrush — Burst Electric Toothbrush

The Burst Electric Toothbrush is recognized as the best charcoal toothbrush. It uses innovative charcoal bristles to remove stains and bacteria from your teeth. The toothbrush has a remarkable four-month battery life and offers three cleaning modes, a two-minute timer, and a quad-pacer. The brush heads last four months (compared to three for non-charcoal brush heads) and come with a lifetime warranty (with subscription) [[3]].

Best Smart Toothbrush — Colgate Hum Electric Toothbrush

The Colgate Hum Electric Toothbrush is considered the best smart toothbrush. It features smart sensors that analyze brushing in real-time, sonic vibration technology, and compatibility with iOS and Android devices. The toothbrush links to the Colgate app, which provides personalized brushing advice and allows you to earn points for purchasing replacement brush heads and other items [[4]].

Best Smart Toothbrush — Philips Sonicare 4100 Electric Toothbrush

The Philips Sonicare 4100 Electric Toothbrush is another top choice for a smart toothbrush. It removes seven times more plaque than manual toothbrushes and is safe for people with braces, fillings, crowns, and veneers. The toothbrush utilizes microchip-enabled technology to synchronize the handle with the brush head, reminding you when to change the brush head. It features a two-minute brushing timer with 30-second intervals and is gentle for sensitive teeth and dental work [[5]].

Best Toothbrush for Kids — SNOW Child’s Battery-Powered Toothbrush

The SNOW Child's Battery-Powered Toothbrush is recommended as the best toothbrush for kids. It provides a powerful cleaning experience and comes in five fun colors. The toothbrush is battery-powered, requires a single AAA battery (included), and has replaceable brush heads [[6]].

Types of Toothbrushes & What to Look for

In 2024, there are various types of toothbrushes available to suit different budgets, personal preferences, and oral care needs. When buying a toothbrush, there are several factors to consider:

  • Price: The average price of an electric toothbrush falls between $25 and $280.
  • Features: Some toothbrushes have basic functionalities, while others are more advanced.
  • Convenience: Consider whether you want a smaller toothbrush that is easy to travel with or a larger toothbrush with more features.
  • Manual vs. Electric: Manual toothbrushes are cheaper than electric toothbrushes. However, electric toothbrushes remove plaque more effectively through vibration (oscillation) [[7]].

Manual vs. Electric Toothbrushes: Which is More Effective?

According to Dr. Khushbu Aggarwal, a dentist consulted by NewMouth, the best toothbrush depends on the user's needs and preferences. Electric toothbrushes are recommended for people with less dexterity, as they can clean teeth more effectively without requiring extensive hand movements. Electric toothbrushes remove more plaque through vibrations and automatic circular motions. They often have built-in timers to ensure brushing for the recommended two minutes and 30-second intervals to indicate when to brush a different quadrant of the mouth.

On the other hand, manual toothbrushes also remove plaque but are generally less effective than electric toothbrushes. Dr. Khushbu recommends using a manual toothbrush with soft bristles to avoid damaging the enamel. However, some individuals find it challenging to use the correct brushing technique with a manual toothbrush, especially those with limited hand movements or children. Switching to an electric toothbrush can significantly improve oral health for many people [[8]].

Why You Can Trust Our Recommendations

The recommendations provided in the article are based on a methodology that includes dentist input and experience, testing, effectiveness, ease of use, affordability, and value. The NewMouth editorial team analyzed products, consulted with in-house dentists, conducted research, and reviewed customer feedback. The article also underwent an intensive review process by in-house editors and dentists to ensure accuracy and up-to-date information [[9]].

I hope this information helps you understand the concepts mentioned in the article. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!

7 Best Toothbrushes for Cleaning Teeth & Removing Plaque (2024)

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