Buyers Guide: Electric and Battery Operated Toothbrushes

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A better toothbrush leads to a better clean. If you want to keep your smile looking its best, you need to make sure that you’re brushing correctly. The best way to do this is through an electric toothbrush. There are a variety of different electric toothbrushes with different features on the market today. Sorting through isn’t as easy as one might think. 

The main options for electric toothbrushes will vary by their power sources. Battery operated toothbrushes use standard batteries which can run out. More expensive electric toothbrushes use rechargeable batteries and a charging station. There are several brands producing great electric toothbrushes that you might want to try out. 

Battery Operated Toothbrushes

The most basic form of an electric toothbrush is a battery operated electric toothbrush. These are intended to be more affordable options, while still providing a benefit. Battery operated toothbrushes will use either AA or AAA batteries. They can use either one or two batteries. 

Brush heads can vary. In some cases, the brush head is fully attached to the whole toothbrush. In these cases, the entire device needs to be replaced. If it’s detachable, then just the brush head needs to be replaced after too much use. 

The downside to battery operated toothbrushes is they often don’t have a lot of extra bells and whistles that the pure electrics do. Not all of them feature timers, automatic shut offs or travel cases to keep them clean while on the road. 

Electric Toothbrushes

The first consideration for most people with an electric toothbrush is the type of brush head they want. While the traditional manual style can be popular with some, many other people prefer the round brush head that attempts to mimic the cleaning style of a dentist’s tool. 

Additional features are going to matter as well. Many electric toothbrushes are fitted with a timer, which will let you know once you have completed a proper 2 minute brushing. This usually means the brush turns off or it will do some extra buzzing in the hand. Some electric toothbrushes feature pressure sensors. This allows you to know if you are accidentally brushing with too much force and potentially damaging the enamel. Rechargeable electric toothbrushes will require refills of the brush head. These can usually be purchased in bulk if you want to save a little bit of money on them. 

Popular Brands

As mentioned, there are several brands and more than a few models of battery or rechargable electric toothbrush that you may want to try out. Some of the biggest names in electric toothbrushes are: 

  • Oral B - One of the biggest names in dental hygiene offers a wide variety of toothbrushes. Their rechargeable brushes start with timers, pressure sensors and excellent bristle density and softness. Their higher end smart brushes feature extra cleaning modes for specific goals. They also can connect via bluetooth to your phone or home network. This lets them track your brushing and learn from it. 
  • Arm & Hammer - A brand that once was only known for baking soda, Arm & Hammer have expanded and provide an excellent variety of battery operated toothbrushes. Different brushes are designed for different dental needs, with options for gum health and whitening available. 
  • Philips Sonicare - Sonicare brushes don’t rotate, but they offer strong oscillation and have large brush heads. Sonicare brushes have all the features that you’re looking for, and even their low to mid range offerings like the ProtectiveClean 4100 Plaque Control brush have quality features included. 
  • Pro-Sys - This name may not be as well known as others, but it’s a favorite type of brush of many dentists. It has incredibly soft bristles. The almost oval shape of the brush head gives plenty of coverage. Pro-Sys systems are often sold straight out of dental offices. Pricing is also excellent, with comparable models of other brands often being higher cost.