“Two minutes is a lot of time,” she says. Dentist Hemita Klose of West Village Dental Studio recommends the 7000 model because of the external clock that lets you keep an eye on how long you’ve been brushing.
Oral-B’s version of a tricked-out toothbrush, the 7000 Smart Series, has all the standard features plus six cleaning modes (including one for your tongue), a light-up pressure sensor, and even Bluetooth connectivity, so you can track your brushing habits on your phone. Brushing too hard can do the same, which is why dentist Inna Chern likes brushes with pressure sensors that beep or stop moving when you’re being too aggressive to “eliminate the possibility of overzealous brushing.” Finally, the two-minute timer, which vibrates every 30 seconds when it’s time to move to the next quadrant of your mouth, ensures you brush for enough time.Ĭosmetic dentist Lana Rozenberg likes that Oral-B brushes generally “have more features” and are “more advanced than the others.” Another cosmetic dentist, Leonard Umanoff of Brooklyn-based LuxDen, agrees, saying that he recommends all Oral-B electric toothbrushes that have a built-in timer, as this helps make sure you’re brushing long enough to adequately get rid of plaque. “Hard-bristled toothbrushes are wonderful if you’re going to clean the grout from your bathroom tile, but they’re not for use in the mouth,” says Messina, who explains that harder bristles can damage gums and enamel. This basic, rechargeable model offers the three main features dentists recommend: soft bristles, a pressure sensor, and a timer. Orthodontist Janet Stoess-Allen, who is also a fan of this Oral-B brush, says that because teeth are curved, “rotating heads are more effective in getting to all sides of them.” These brushes can rotate 44,000 times per minute - which Levine says causes “a lot of disruption of plaque” - and one study shows that rotating and oscillating toothbrushes have a small edge over comparable ones that simply oscillate. Identifiable by their small, round brush heads, Oral-B toothbrushes both rotate and vibrate (or oscillate). It’s mostly personal preference.” Since the differences can be so subtle, we asked 21 dentists to break down their picks for the best electric models right now, below.īest rotating, oscillating electric toothbrushes Sonya Krasilnikov, a dentist and co-founder of Dental House, says, “Choosing between Sonicare and Oral-B is like picking between a Mercedes and BMW. After that, you shouldn’t really stress - at least not when it comes to picking among dentist-approved electric options. “The seal of acceptance says that a product does what it says and says what it does and is safe and effective when used as directed,” says dentist and ADA consumer adviser Matt Messina. The most important thing to remember is that any toothbrush you buy should feature the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance. Some dentists said that one isn’t necessarily better than the other, while others appreciate the power of sonic slightly more. “A rotating brush oscillates in circles and pulsates to remove plaque, while a sonic one vibrates at a high speed,” explains dentist Dan Di Cesare of Ironbound Dental Center. Plus, dentist Marc Schlenoff, vice-president of clinical development at dental office Tend, tells us that electric toothbrushes help lessen the force put into cleaning teeth and gums, reducing the risk of gum recession and wearing away tooth structure.Įlectric toothbrushes tend to fall into two camps: rotating and sonic. “The reason an electric toothbrush is great is that it continues to work while you’re not thinking about it.” Today’s toothbrushes will even tell you what corners need cleaning and time you so that you hit the two-minute mark, she adds. “I’m a person who doesn’t sit there in the mirror and completely focus on brushing my teeth I tend to be distracted and do other things,” says cosmetic dentist Amanda Lewis of Dallas-based Contemporary Family Dentistry.
In fact, dentist Jonathan Levine points out that in one independent study, all types of powered toothbrushes outperformed manual ones in reducing plaque and gingivitis. That’s not to say the shiny new toothbrush you bought from an Instagram ad won’t clean your teeth.
The brushes have years of research behind them, and it shows. And it’s the classic dental-care brands - think Philips Sonicare and Oral-B - that often earn our experts’ stamp of approval. Almost all the dentists we’ve talked to say electric toothbrushes are actually better for your overall oral health than manual brushes (there’s just some places those OG bristles can’t reach).