Best electric toothbrushes for good oral health and a pearly-white smile

The iO3 is where Oral-B gets serious about cleaning power without drowning you in unnecessary tech features. It’s the sweet spot of the iO range, in my opinion - you get the brushing performance that makes the iO series worth considering, plus the essential features that actually matter, without paying for smart connectivity you’ll likely never use. 

It’s also particularly good if you’re planning to share a toothbrush with family members, since there’s no app tracking to get confused by multiple users (and the heads are interchangeable easily). I can vouch for this personally, as it’s the toothbrush my DH and I use at home.

What really sets this one apart is the brushing technology. Oral-B have combined their classic round brush head design with micro-vibrations that make your teeth feel clean in a way that’s noticeably better. You get three modes to choose from - daily clean, whitening and sensitive - though you’ll need to learn the vibration patterns to tell them apart since there’s no display (and I’m not convinced a toothbrush alone can help whiten your teeth). 

The pressure sensor is helpful, though: it glows red if you’re brushing too hard (which can damage your gums) and green when you’re doing it just right, which is something most other brands don’t offer. 

The practical stuff lets this model down, though. Battery life is a disappointing two weeks for one person brushing twice a day, or barely a week if you’re sharing with a partner. Even worse, it takes up to 16 hours to fully charge. There’s no USB charging option either, so travelling means having to take the specific charger. If you’re the type who travels frequently, this will annoy you. For us, we can manage and have done so previously by charging fully before any holiday we take. 

For its price point, it’s decent value if you can live with the charging limitations. The cleaning performance genuinely justifies the cost - your teeth will feel cleaner than with cheaper alternatives – and having a proper pressure sensor makes a real difference to your gum health. Just make sure you're happy to keep it plugged in most of the time, because the battery situation means this isn't a grab-and-go kind of toothbrush.

The SURI stands out because it’s designed with the end of its life in mind, which is refreshing in a market that sees over four billion plastic toothbrushes end up in landfill every year. The aluminium body is sold, looks sleek in your bathroom, and the brush heads are made from plant-based materials that SURI will actually recycle for you when you’re done with them. Just pop the used heads in the included biodegradable bag and send it back - no cost, no hassle. It’s not just greenwashing either - this thing actually works well, according to several Mumsnet users on our Talk boards. 

What’s most impressive is how well it cleans despite being so compact. At half the size of traditional electric toothbrushes, it’s much easier to handle and guide around your mouth. The sonic technology delivers 33,000 sonic vibrations per minute, creating enough movement to get your saliva actively helping with plague removal. It’s surprisingly quiet too, so you won’t wake the house during early morning brushing sessions. The battery life is genuinely impressive - over a month between charges - and when you do need to top up, it only takes four hours via the included USB charger. 

There are some compromises worth mentioning, though. You’re getting just two cleaning modes rather than five or six you might find elsewhere. There’s also no pressure sensor to guide your technique - which to be honest, is the main reason it hasn’t earned best overall in our roundup - and the one-year warranty is shorter than competitors offer, like Philips and Oral-B. Replacement heads aren’t cheap either, at £15 for three. Though they do last well and the recycling service adds value. 

So, if you’re in search of an electric toothbrush that performs well while actually addressing sustainability concerns, the SURI delivers on both fronts. It’s particularly good if you travel frequently (thanks to its compact size and excellent battery), prefer quieter operation, or simply want something that looks and feels more refined than the typical plastic alternatives.

Spotlight Oral Care’s Sonic Pro toothbrush builds on everything that made its predecessor - the Sonic - great. But with this one, an extra Polish Mode is included that cranks up to 50,000 vibrations per minute for extra powerful cleaning. The toothbrush is designed with dentist-developed technology that gives you a professional-level clean at home. 

There are four settings to choose from: gentle for sensitive teeth, clean mode for everyday use, white mode to tackle surface stains and the heavy-duty polish setting. There’s also a smart pressure sensor to protect your gums from overzealous brushing, while the two-minute visual quadrant timer keeps you on track - there’s even a micro-point tongue cleaner (which are basically soft, micro-pointed bristles) for tackling bad breath at the source. 

The battery life is genuinely impressive at up to 70 days, too, depending on which mode you use (in fact it offers the longest battery life in our roundup). The toothbrush charges via USB-C with a magnetic charging base and in the box, you’ll get this along with three replacement heads, a travel case and a user manual - everything you need to get started. 

That said, it’s not perfect. The flush on and off button can be tricky to locate and is sensitive to touch should you accidentally press it during use. Customer reviews on Spotlight Oral Care’s website also share how the supplied heads don’t match what’s shown in the manual. But these are minor gripes for an otherwise solid performer.

Combine Swiss precision engineering with oral hygiene and the result is the Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro electric toothbrush. This isn’t your average toothbrush - it’s designed with a unique angled handle and tiny teardrop-shaped brush heads that actually make you think about your brushing technique. 

The result? A genuinely thorough clean that reaches the spots other brushes tend to miss, especially if you have braces, implants or just a small mouth in general. 

What sets this inclusion apart is the attention to detail in its design. Those small brush heads are around 30% smaller than typical sonic brushes. Meaning you’re cleaning one tooth at a time rather than sweeping across several. The heads used ultra-fine Curen filaments instead of regular nylon bristles - which means they’re gentler, absorb less water, and have rubber backing to protect your gums.

You get seven intensity levels ranging from 44,000 to 84,000 vibrations per minute, plus three different head types: power for deep cleaning, sensitive for tender gums, and single for getting around braces and implants. Plus, the hydrodynamic cleaning action pushes fluid between teeth to blast away plaque - so it’s almost like you have your own inbuilt flosser with this one. 

Sure the six-sided handle might be odd, but that angular design helps you to grip it properly and maintain the recommended 45-degree angle to your gumline. It’s also noticeably quieter than others in this roundup, charges via USB (with an actual UK plug included!), and comes with a sturdy travel case. The 60-minute battery life gives you about two weeks of brushing, which is decent if not spectacular.

Of course, this somewhat premium experience unsurprisingly comes with a premium price. At RRP £190 if you buy direct from Curaprox, it’s roughly three times more expensive than equally effective brushes from Oral-B and Ordo. Plus, the replacement heads cost £10 each rather than £3 for Oral-B alternatives. You're also missing some features you'd expect at this price point, like a pressure sensor (a must have, according to both our experts) to warn against brushing too hard. 

With that said, if you've got the budget and appreciate the refined design and smaller heads, the Hydrosonic Pro delivers exceptional cleaning. But for most people, you can get the same clean for significantly less money elsewhere.

The Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9400 is what happens when a toothbrush gets serious about actually making you brush properly. This isn’t just about sonic cleaning - it’s designed to coach you through every session. 

The brush removes up to 20 times more plaque than a manual toothbrush and delivers up to seven times healthier gums, but the real magic happens when you pair the app that transforms your phone into a personal dental hygienist. 

You get four cleaning modes to cover every need: clean for daily use, white+ for tackling stains, deep clean+ for a deep scrub, and gum health for gentle care along your gum line. Each mode has three intensity levels, so whether you’re dealing with sensitive teeth or want maximum power, you’re covered. The smart pressure uses a vibrating ring light too, to warn you when you’re brushing too hard. 

What sets this electric toothbrush apart is the app experience. Instead of the usual four 30-second quadrants, it breaks your mouth into six 20-second zones for a more thorough coverage. The sensors actually track whether you’ve cleaned the front and back of your teeth properly, and if you miss a spot, the TouchUp feature sends you back to finish the job. No more lectures from your dental hygienist - your toothbrush will do that for you, except in a less intimidating way. 

The charging setup is admittedly quirky - your toothbrush sits in a glass holder that goes on a charging base, and it uses a two-pin shaver plug rather than a USB or UK plug. Some find this charming and premium-looking, but others might find it inconvenient compared to modern charging options, like SURI’s. The travel case doubles as a portable charger, though, with a built-in USB cable - but it is a bit bulkier than others in this list. 

At over £200, this is definitely an investment, but if you’re someone who struggles to maintain good brushing habits and in need of something that helps you cover all bases, then this is the one for you. 

If there’s one electric toothbrush in this guide that most definitely gives you an exceptional, dentist-clean feeling - it’s this one. Dubbed the “Rolls Royce” of electric toothbrushes by British GQ, the Oral-B iO10 uses 3D-tracking to ensure you’ve properly cleaned every bit of your teeth. 

The magnetic motor is gentler on your gums than other Oral-B models, and the pressure sensor works brilliantly - turning red when you brush too hard, while slowing the motor down until you ease off. The iO Sense charging stand shows you which areas of your mouth you’ve covered without needing to open an app, which compared to the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9400 above, is genuinely useful as you’re not left holding your toothbrush and phone at the same time. 

The AI tracking monitors 16 different zones in your mouth and tells you exactly where you’re missing spots. Its colour screen makes it easy to switch between the seven cleaning modes, though you’ll probably only use two or three regularly. After each brush, you’ll be graded, as the device encourages you to do better at your next brushing attempt - a smart way of motivating you to clean your teeth properly, I’ll admit. 

The problem starts with the price for this device. With an RRP of £800, it’s very expensive. Although in fairness, electric toothbrushes are almost always discounted and you can snap this model up for between £350 and £400 over on Amazon or Boots at certain points in the year. 

The iO-specific brush heads cost £8 each to replace, and the battery life is a disappointing two weeks for a premium brush. The travel case needs its own charger instead of a USB-C, making it less convenient than it should be, too. That’s not all - the smart features, while incredibly helpful on paper, may get old quickly for most. The tracking is reportedly not always accurate - which for this price, would be very frustrating IMO. 

Regardless, if you’re an individual who appreciates smart devices that are designed to help you (and save you money on future dental procedures), this electric toothbrush from Oral-B is a worthy addition to your smart home and collection, if you have the budget for it. 

The Ordo Sonic+ sits in that sweet spot where decent performance meets affordable pricing. With an RRP of £60 (although you can sometimes snag a £40 deal at Amazon or Boots), it delivers many of the features you’d expect from brushes twice as expensive, making it a great choice if you want to upgrade from manual brushing without breaking the bank. 

What sets the Ordo apart from other budget options is its thoughtful design details. The oval-shaped brush head is different to round heads usually favoured by brands like Oral-B, or the standard rectangular sonic heads. No, Ordo’s design follows the natural contours of your teeth more closely. Combined with 40,000 sonic pulses per minute, it creates effective fluid dynamics that help clean between teeth and along the gum line. 

Plus, the four cleaning modes included cover most scenarios you’ll actually use on a daily basis: clean, sensitive, white for tackling surface stains and massage for gum stimulation. The two-minute timer with 30-second quad pacer helps to keep you on track, and the battery life lasts at least three weeks between charges. Which actually, puts it ahead of much more expensive alternatives like the Oral-B iO series. 

With all that said, there are compromises at this price point. The most significant being the lack of pressure sensor - which is something our dental experts consistently highlight as important for gum health. Plus the build quality, while perfectly functional, doesn’t have the more premium feel of Philips or Oral-B alternatives. 

Regardless for many, especially those making their first move to electric toothbrushes, the Ordo Sonic+ hits the mark. 

A dark horse in the world of electric toothbrushes, this particular lesser-known brand delivers exceptional value and performance - all for the fraction of the price of a more premium brand. With an RRP of £89, you can usually find it on Amazon for just £35, which means it’s an affordable toothbrush that puts the more expensive brushes to shame… Especially when it comes to battery life.

The standout feature with this one is game-changing: 300 days of battery life. That’s nearly a year between charges. Plus, when you do finally get a low battery warning, you’ve still got another 25 days of use before it stops completely. This makes it a perfect choice for frequent travellers, busy families or anyone who simply can’t be bothered with regular charging routines. 

Delivering up to 37,000 vibrations per minute across three well-chosen modes, the SonicYou caters for sensitive teeth and gums, whitening and daily cleaning. While this is fewer modes than premium alternatives, it covers the essentials without overwhelming you with options you’ll likely never use. 

What’s particularly clever is the colour-fading bristle design. The brush head bristles literally fade in colour when it’s time to replace them, eliminating any guesswork about replacement timing. You get both medium and soft brush heads in the box, plus a protective case for travel, adding significant value at this price point IMO. 

There are some trade-offs at this price, though. Most notably, there’s no pressure sensor to warn against brushing too hard - which is something, as mentioned, that’s expert-recommended. The brand recognition is also limited compared to the likes of Philips and Oral-B, which might concern some buyers, as long-term availability of replacement heads will be a consideration. 

Regardless, for anyone seeking exceptional value, an incredible battery life or in need of a reliable backup brush, the Silk’n SonicYou punches well above its weight.

And now for something a bit different. The ISSA 3 is unlike any other electric toothbrush on the market, and that’s both its biggest strength and potential weakness. 

Swedish company FOREO is behind this particular toothbrush, and the standout feature here is definitely the battery life: a full year of power from a single USB charge. That’s 365 days of regular brushing without needing to plug it in. For frequent travellers, students heading off to university or anyone who hates the faff of wires and charging, this is certainly a winner. Even the impressive Silk’n SonicYou at 300 days doesn’t quite match this. 

What makes the ISSA 3 genuinely different is its hybrid brush head design. Instead of traditional nylon bristles, you get medical-grade silicone bristles combined with PBT polymer bristles. FOREO claims this makes it up to 10,000 times more hygienic than regular nylon brushes because silicone is naturally bacteria-resistant and non-porous.

The four-in-one design is clever, too, with the back of the brush head featuring textured silicone for cleaning your tongue and inner cheeks. Rather than replacing your natural brushing motion entirely, the ISSA 3 is designed to work with the manual technique you already know - just with added sonic pulsations. The 16 intensity levels mean you can find the perfect setting for your teeth and gums.

With all that said, there are some significant compromises to consider. Unlike premium alternatives from Oral-B or Philips, there’s no pressure sensor to warn against brushing hard and the unconventional design means there are no specific cleaning modes, like whitening or gum care. The replacement heads are designed to last six months rather than the typical three months for traditional brush heads, though, which arguably helps offset the higher initial cost. 

So, if you're looking for an electric toothbrush that's genuinely different, offers exceptional battery life, and takes a more hygienic approach to oral care, the ISSA 3 is the one for you.

There’s no doubt about it, this is a pricey option for a kids’ toothbrush. That said, the Philips Sonicare for Kids proves that getting children excited about oral hygiene needn’t be a daily battle. This isn’t just a scaled-down adult toothbrush. Instead it’s been designed from the ground up with children’s needs, attention spans and developmental stages in mind. 

Suitable for children aged 4 to 10 years old, this brush is effective for kids thanks to its combination of proven Sonicare technology with age-appropriate features. The gentle pulsing action delivers the same plaque-removing power as adult Sonicare brushes, but at two carefully calibrated intensity levels - gentle and extra gentle - that won’t overwhelm sensitive young gums or newly erupted teeth. Plus, the compact brush head is perfectly sized for small mouths, ensuring effective cleaning without being uncomfortable. 

The real genius with this electric toothbrush lies in how it tackles the motivation problem that every parent faces. The free Sonicare for Kids app turns brushing into an interactive game, complete with coaching and rewards that keep kids engaged for the full dentist-recommended two minutes. The SmarTime ensures they brush long enough, while the KidPacer tech guides them to switch mouth areas every 30 seconds for thorough coverage, helping them to build proper technique from day one. 

This particular edition is the Design a Pet version, and adds another layer of engagement thanks to reusable stickers that let your kids transform their brush into different animals. It’s a small touch, but one that helps to give children ownership over their brush and their brushing routine. The slim handle is great for little hands, too.

There are some limitations worth noting, though. The replacement heads can be pricey when bought individually, and you’ll eventually need to upgrade to standard size heads as your DC grows. The app dependency might not suit all families, and there’s no pressure sensor. Lastly - the 14-day battery life, while shorter than adult models, is perfectly adequate for family life and comes with a clear battery indicator to avoid unexpected flat batteries during the morning rush.

With an RRP of £60, it’s expensive for a kids’ toothbrush, I won’t lie. But if you can nab one at sale price - which it often is at Amazon and Boots - you can pick one up for £30 or less. But either way, it’s an investment in both immediate dental health and long-term brushing habits that will serve your DC well into their teens.