While you can get similar results using a manual toothbrush, electric toothbrushes, though they cost quite a bit more than a conventional toothbrush, offer a variety of benefits including: ease of use, great for people with reduced movement in their hands, often times come with a variety of tools and features that can make brushing fun while ensuring enough time is being spent brushing teeth, and many others.
With that said, there are a few drawbacks of owning an electric toothbrush. The primary drawback being the initial cost and cost of replacement heads. While the initial cost will most likely cost you at least $40, the replacement heads need to be changed out every few months and can cost up to $10 each for OEM replacements.
Whether or not you’re in the market for an electric toothbrush, if you’re having trouble staying on top of your oral health, it might be a good idea too look into one.
We’ve done our research and suggest going with one of the two biggest brands in the industry: Oral-B and Sonicare. The difference between the two being how each brush head works. As illustrated below, the Oral-B toothbrush heads oscillate, while the Sonicare toothbrush heads use sonic vibrations to clean teeth.
Why we like Sonicare
During our review of the best electric toothbrushes, we picked the Philips Sonicare Series 2 plaque Control as the best alternative pick. Though most of our testers prefered the oscillation of Oral-B, some testers still fell in love with the sonic vibrations the Sonicare had to offer. Below you can see some of the specifications of the various Sonicare models we tested. Besides the great cleaning power the Sonicare has to offer, we also loved how quiet it was and some testers liked the way the brush shape fit their teeth.
No matter what brand or model you end up going with (or not going with at all), it’s important to remember that the equipment you choose is only useful if you use it.
Other Sonicare Models
Philips Sonicare Diamond Clean Review
Sonicare DiamondClean Electric Toothbrush Review” width=”300″ height=”200″ />Dynamic Sonic Cleaning Action
If you are new to a Sonicare toothbrush, then the DiamondClean’s high-speed vibrations has a high learning curve. However, you will soon get into the practice of gently guiding the brush-head around the teeth and gums. A full charge is good for up to three weeks.
Specifications
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- Type: Rechargeable electric toothbrush
- Box includes:
- 2 brush heads
-
- travel cap
- USB charging travel case
- Charging glass
- Charging stand with base
- Energy Consumption: 1.0 W
- Warranty: 2-year limited
Pros
- Smooth to use
- Easy to replace the brush head
- Precise timer
- Very Lightweight
- Excellent battery life
The Cons
- Hard to see battery indicator light
- Very pricey
Philips Sonicare HX9171/20 FlexCare Review
The Sonicare FlexCare has bristles specifically designed to curve around the gums and claims to give 4x more the surface contact than other electric toothbrushes. And if you brush to hard, this toothbrush features a pressure sense that will let you know when it’s time to let up a little bit.
Specifications
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- Type: Sonic Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush
- The box includesL
- FlexCare Platinum Handle
-
- AdaptiveClean brush head
- Charger
- UV sanitizer
- Travel case
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Three brushing modes
- Three levels of intensity
- Pressure sensor
- UV sanitizer
- Travel case
Cons
- Very expensive
- 24 hour charging time
Philips Sonicare HX8911/04 HealthyWhite Review
The Philips Sonicare uses a dynamic cleaning action that pushes fluid along the gum line and between the teeth, to effectively clean each and every surface every single time. With the DiamondClean heads, the bristles are diamond shaped with a medium stiffness to gently but effectively remove plaque and stains. It would be great if there was a travel bag or other options for charging it, but these are minor gripes when you consider everything this toothbrush has to offer.
Specifications
-
- Type: Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush
- Box includes:
- HealthyWhite Handle
-
- DiamondClean standard Brush Head
- Charger
Pros
- Lightweight
- Two powerful brushing modes
- Three intensity levels
- Battery life is 3 weeks
- 2 minute timer
Cons
- 24 hour charge time
- No travel bag
- A little on the pricey side