The best electric toothbrushes

The entry to Oral-B’s iO range: quiet, simple to use, and with a pressure sensor that lights red when you scrub too hard.

• Oral-B iO cleaning
• Pressure sensor
• Quiet
• Long-lasting battery
• Travel case

What owners say: Owners say it gets teeth really clean, is worth the price, and like the travel case.

Heads up: It comes with a two-pin charger, so a UK three-pin adaptor is needed away from a bathroom shaver socket.

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A closer look: The red light is the useful part: most people press too hard, and the brush slows down to tell them. One button keeps it simple for anyone switching from a manual brush. The travel case means it can go away for the weekend without the charger.

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Oral-B’s classic round head with a 360° light that shows when you’re pressing too hard, and three modes including one for sensitive gums.

• 3 modes: daily, whitening, sensitive
• 360° visual pressure control
• 2-minute timer
• Over 2 weeks per charge
• Round brush head

What owners say: Owners say it cleans well and like having different speeds to choose from.

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A closer look: The sensitive mode is the one to start on for anyone with sore or receding gums, then step up once they’re used to it. The battery lasting over a fortnight means it can go on holiday without the charger. Oral-B’s standard round heads fit, so replacements are easy to find.

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A sonic brush that sweeps rather than spins, with two intensity levels and a pressure alert that warns before gums get sore.

• Sonic, 62,000 movements/min
• 2 intensity levels
• Pressure alert
• W2 Optimal White head
• 2-year warranty

What owners say: Owners call it the best brush they’ve used, with a deep clean, and find it easy to use and good value.

Heads up: Some owners find the vibration intense at first; the low setting helps.

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A closer look: Sonic brushes feel buzzier than Oral-B’s spinning heads, and the low setting is gentler for the first week or two. It’s a good choice for someone who prefers a normal-shaped brush head to a small round one. A 30-day money-back guarantee takes the risk out of trying one.

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Its EasyStart setting builds up the power over the first 14 brushes, which makes it a kind choice for someone who has never used an electric toothbrush.

• EasyStart for the first 14 brushes
• 2 intensity levels
• BrushPacer and 2-minute timer
• Intercare head
• Battery indicator

What owners say: Owners say it’s good quality and cleans teeth well, and like the pacer that tells you when to move on.

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A closer look: The pacer buzzes every 30 seconds to move on to the next quarter of the mouth, which is the habit that makes an electric brush worthwhile. The lit battery icon saves guessing when it needs charging. Philips’ standard click-on heads fit, so spares are easy to buy.

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Eight brush heads in the box, which is two years of replacements, and five modes, for less than a set of branded heads costs.

• 8 brush heads
• 5 modes
• Sonic, 40,000 VPM
• Coloured collars to tell heads apart

What owners say: Owners say it’s the best brush for the price, with plenty of heads and modes, and many notice a real difference to their brushing.

Heads up: A cheaper brush, and some owners find it stops holding its charge after a few months.

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A closer look: The coloured collars on the heads mean a family can share one handle, each with their own head. It’s a sensible pick for a student, a spare for holidays, or someone who just wants to try an electric brush. Start on the gentlest mode, as sonic brushes can feel strong at first.

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