Top 5 compared
The best electric toothbrushes
That smooth, just-been-to-the-dentist feeling every morning and every night.
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The top 5 at a glance
An electric toothbrush moves the head for you, so the job is guiding it round the mouth rather than scrubbing. There are two kinds. Oral-B’s small round heads rotate back and forth; sonic brushes, like Philips’ Sonicare, vibrate a normal-shaped head instead. Both clean well, and it comes down to which feels better.
Every brush here times the two minutes, and most nudge you every 30 seconds to move on to the next part of the mouth. Most have a pressure alert too, for anyone who presses too hard. Sonic brushes can feel strong at first, which is what the gentler settings are for, and the Sonicare 2100 has an EasyStart setting that builds the power up over the first 14 brushes.
What matters
- Spare heads: which kind fits, and how easy they are to find.
- Battery life, if it goes away without the charger.
- A two-pin charger needs a bathroom shaver socket or an adaptor.
#1Philips Sonicare AdvancedClean Limited Edition (HX3792, pink)
£75–£100
- Screen with head-change reminder
- Lights up if pressed too hard
- Five modes, including Sensitive
- Only one head in the box
A sonic brush with a small screen on the handle that shows brushing time, pressure and battery, and reminds you when the head needs changing. Five modes run from Sensitive to Gum Pro and Deep Clean, and a light ring at the base glows when you press too hard.
What owners say: Owners find it leaves teeth feeling squeaky clean, like the choice of modes and how light it is, and say a charge lasts well; some think it costs too much, and durability gets mixed reports.
A closer look: Pair the G3 Premium Gum Care head in the box with Gum Pro mode if gums are the worry. When the screen says the head is due, swap it rather than waiting for the bristles to splay, since a worn head cleans less well.
Best for: On-screen feedback
- Type
- Sonic
- Modes
- 5
- Pressure alert
- Yes
- Travel case
- Travel pouch
- Heads in the box
- 1
- Spare heads that fit
- Sonicare click-on heads
- Battery life
- Up to 14 days
- Power and charging
- Built-in battery, USB charger (plug not stated)
#2Philips Sonicare 2100 Series Electric Toothbrush
£59.99 RRP
- Buzzes every 30 seconds
- EasyStart builds power gently
- Two intensity settings only
- No pressure alert
- Only one head in the box
Two intensity levels, Medium and Low, plus EasyStart, suit someone who has never used an electric toothbrush, and a charge lasts up to 14 days. The Intercare head in the box has extra-long bristles made to reach between the teeth and into awkward spots.
What owners say: Owners say it cleans well, is simple to use and goes a long time between charges, though opinions differ on how comfortable it feels.
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.
Best for: Extra-long bristles
- Type
- Sonic
- Modes
- 2 intensities
- Pressure alert
- No
- Travel case
- No
- Heads in the box
- 1
- Spare heads that fit
- Sonicare click-on heads
- Battery life
- Up to 14 days
- Power and charging
- Built-in battery, USB charger (plug not stated)
#3Oral-B Pro 3 3000 Electric Toothbrush
£75–£100
- 360° pressure light
- Three modes, including Sensitive
- Two heads in the box
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. Oral-B says the head’s 3D action removes up to 100% more plaque than a manual toothbrush.
What owners say: Owners say it cleans teeth well; the gripes are battery life, with some charging it every few days, and the price, which some find high.
A closer look: With sensitive gums, start on the sensitive mode and step up once they’re used to it. A battery that lasts over a fortnight means it can go on holiday without the charger, and Oral-B’s standard round heads fit, so replacements are easy to find.
Best for: Classic Oral-B heads
- Type
- Oscillating-rotating
- Modes
- 3
- Pressure alert
- 360° light
- Travel case
- No
- Heads in the box
- 2
- Spare heads that fit
- Oral-B Pro heads
- Battery life
- Over 14 days
- Power and charging
- Built-in battery, two-pin charger
#4Oral-B iO3 Electric Toothbrush (with travel case and spare head)
£50–£75
- Brush slows if pressed hard
- Travel case in the box
- Spare head in the box
Oral-B’s iO brush in its simplest form: three modes, a pressure sensor that slows the brush and lights red when you scrub too hard, and a two-minute timer that buzzes every 30 seconds. A travel case and a spare head come in the box, so it’s ready for a trip from day one.
What owners say: Owners say it leaves teeth feeling properly clean, is easy to use and runs quietly; battery life, reliability and the design all draw mixed reports, with some brushes failing within months.
A closer look: If it suddenly goes gentle mid-brush, ease off: the pressure sensor slows the brush as well as lighting up, so it’s asking for a lighter touch, not running out of battery. Its small round head gets round the back teeth more easily than a long manual brush.
Best for: Slowing down if you press hard
- Type
- Oscillating-rotating, plus micro-vibrations
- Modes
- 3
- Pressure alert
- Yes
- Travel case
- Yes
- Heads in the box
- 2
- Spare heads that fit
- Oral-B iO heads
- Battery life
- –
- Power and charging
- Built-in battery, two-pin charger
#5Demita Sonic Electric Toothbrush with 8 Brush Heads
£10–£20
- Eight heads in the box
- Up to 30 days per charge
- No shaver socket needed
- No pressure alert
Eight DuPont brush heads come in the box, which the maker reckons is two years of changes, and there are five modes to choose from. It’s a plain sonic brush for anyone who wants the feel of an electric one without paying for a screen or an app.
What owners say: Owners find it gets teeth very clean and like the eight heads and choice of settings; the complaint is reliability, with some reporting the battery or the brush giving out within a year.
A closer look: Each head has its own coloured collar, so a family can share one handle with a head each, and a four-hour charge lasts up to 30 days by the maker’s figures. It makes sense for a student, as a spare for holidays, or for someone who just wants to try an electric brush.
Best for: Lots of spare heads
- Type
- Sonic
- Modes
- 5
- Pressure alert
- No
- Travel case
- No
- Heads in the box
- 8
- Spare heads that fit
- Demita heads
- Battery life
- Up to 30 days
- Power and charging
- Built-in battery, USB cable (plug not stated)
Side by side
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Philips Sonicare AdvancedClean | #2Philips Sonicare 2100 | #3Oral-B Pro 3 | #4Oral-B iO3 | #5Demita |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best budget | ||||
| Picked Rating | 8.9 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 8.4 |
| Price | £75–£100 | £59.99 RRP | £75–£100 | £50–£75 | £10–£20 |
| Type | Sonic | Sonic | Oscillating-rotating | Oscillating-rotating, plus micro-vibrations | Sonic |
| Modes | 5 | 2 intensities | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Pressure alert | Yes | No | 360° light | Yes | No |
| Travel case | Travel pouch | No | No | Yes | No |
| Heads in the box | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Spare heads that fit | Sonicare click-on heads | Sonicare click-on heads | Oral-B Pro heads | Oral-B iO heads | Demita heads |
| Battery life | Up to 14 days | Up to 14 days | Over 14 days | – | Up to 30 days |
| Power and charging | Built-in battery, USB charger (plug not stated) | Built-in battery, USB charger (plug not stated) | Built-in battery, two-pin charger | Built-in battery, two-pin charger | Built-in battery, USB cable (plug not stated) |
| Best for | On-screen feedback | Extra-long bristles | Classic Oral-B heads | Slowing down if you press hard | Lots of spare heads |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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