Toothbrush Buying Guide

What Are the Biggest Brushing Mistakes People Make?
Most people don’t brush their teeth for long enough, averaging about 45 seconds a session, instead of the full 2 minutes. And many press too hard while brushing, which can damage gums and tooth enamel over time. 

Are There Any Steps You Can Skip If You’re in a Rush?
It’s okay to occasionally skip a brushing because it takes about 24 hours for plaque and bacteria to form on your teeth. But you should try to brush twice a day, and floss once.

You don’t necessarily need to switch from a manual toothbrush to an electric one if your dentist says you’re doing well with your current setup. You can do a fine job brushing your teeth with either.

There is some research that indicates powered brushes might do a slightly better job of warding off gingivitis and gum disease. And an electric brush can help some people remove plaque more effectively, especially for those who don’t have the dexterity to reach every surface of their teeth, as may be the case with young kids or older adults with arthritis. However, pushing too hard with a powered brush can wear away dentin—which can also happen with a manual brush. 

Whether your brush is manual or electric, the American Dental Association recommends changing your brush (or brush head) every three to four months, or whenever the bristles are “visibly matted or frayed.” If you have trouble staying on top of this yourself, you can consider an electric toothbrush subscription, which generally sends replacement heads every three months or on a customized schedule. We conducted a study with both Quip and Burst users to learn more about their experiences with those subscriptions, and Quip and Burst brushes are in our main electric toothbrush ratings as well. 

Whichever brush you choose, use a gentle touch, and purchase a brush with soft bristles and the ADA seal of acceptance. Still on the fence? Read our guide to who should use an electric toothbrush.  

Electric toothbrushes don’t just sit there; they do everything but shake, rattle, and roll. Brush heads tend to be either sonic (they vibrate side to side) or spinning (they rotate very fast in one direction, then the other, and bristles may pulsate in and out).

CR tested 18 electric toothbrushes that cost from $9 to $220. Most had rechargeable bases; three used either AA or AAA batteries. Most had built-in 2-minute timers, plus “quadpacers” that signaled every 30 seconds so that you spend an equal time on each quadrant of your mouth. A higher price is likely to get you settings such as a pressure sensor, alternate brushing modes, a charge-level display, or Bluetooth connectivity.

How We Tested
We tested these brushes using a panel of 20 people between ages 18 and 65, all electric toothbrush users in good dental health. Each product received an Overall Score based on cleaning performance, ease of use, battery performance, perceived noise, and extra features. To see how well each brush cleaned, a dental hygienist measured plaque levels in volunteers after having them skip brushing and using other dental products for 24 hours. Each then brushed using one of the electric toothbrushes for 2 minutes. Before-and-after differences in plaque levels made up the cleaning performance score. If a toothbrush came with multiple brushing modes or brush heads, we scored it based on the mode and head combination that scored highest.

What We Found
The cheapest models didn’t remove plaque as well as moderate to expensive models, but among the better-performing brushes, spending more didn’t necessarily improve cleaning performance. All but one of the electric brushes we recommend earned at least a Good rating for ease of use, a measure of comfort and ease in charging devices and changing brush heads, indicating that none were particularly uncomfortable or hard to use. There was little noticeable difference in noise generated by moderate to expensive models. 

Bottom Line
While more manufacturers are moving into the powered-brush market, in our tests three Oral-B and two Philips Sonicare models continue to receive a recommendation from CR. Our panelists thought that the recommended Oral-B brushes produced less vibration and were more comfortable to use. But Philips’ batteries tended to last longer and charge faster. Whichever you buy, brush thoroughly.

Whichever brand of toothbrush, toothpaste, or floss you choose, using proper brushing and flossing techniques is critical for adequately removing plaque, which causes cavities and gum disease.

Brushing Basics
What to use: Choose a brush with soft bristles, which are gentler on the gums and may clean better because they’re more flexible. The brush design does not appear to influence effectiveness, so choose any one you like.

How often: Brush twice a day, for 2 minutes each time. And rinse your mouth after eating sugary or starchy snacks.

How to brush: Hold the brush with the bristles angled 45 degrees toward the gum line, so one row of bristle tips can slip slightly under the gums. Jiggle the brush head with a short, vibrating motion, then move on to the next spot. When using a powered brush, you can simply set it against two teeth at a time as you methodically move around your mouth. Finally, scrub the chewing surfaces.

Brush gently to avoid harming the gums; removing plaque doesn’t require much pressure. Brush both the outer and inner surfaces of your teeth and the tops of molars. Brush your tongue, too, to remove bacteria and freshen breath (or use a tongue scraper, sold at drugstores for about $1).

Flossing Fundamentals
What to use: All flosses clean effectively. 

How often: Floss once a day to remove plaque and food particles your brush can’t reach.

How to floss: Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around a finger; wind the rest around the same finger on your other hand. Use a careful sawing motion to slide the floss between your teeth down or up to the gum line; then gently move the thread slightly under the gums. Next, curve it into a C shape against the side of one tooth and sweep it up and down. Repeat for both sides of each tooth, unwinding clean floss from the first hand.