7 Best Toothbrushes for Cleaning Teeth & Removing Plaque (2024)

Everything We Recommend

Types of Toothbrushes & What to Look for

In 2024, there are many toothbrushes to choose from that will fit your budget, personal preference, and oral care needs.

Some things you should consider before buying a toothbrush include:

  • Price — The average price of an electric toothbrush falls between $25 and $280
  • Features Some toothbrushes have basic functionalities, while others are more advanced
  • Convenience — Do you want a smaller toothbrush that is easy to travel with or a larger toothbrush with more features?

Manual toothbrushes are cheaper than electric toothbrushes. However, electric toothbrushes remove plaque through vibration (oscillation), which is significantly better than manual brushing.1

7 Best Electric Toothbrushes in 2024

Here are our top recommendations for the best electric toothbrush in 2024:

Oral-B Pro 1000

Best Overall Toothbrush
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If you’re looking for an electric toothbrush with deep cleaning capabilities, the Oral-B Pro 1000 is for you. This rechargeable electric toothbrush removes up to 300% more plaque buildup than a manual toothbrush.

The brush is also sturdy and affordable, making it an excellent introduction to electric toothbrushing.

Cost: $

Features:

  • Pressure sensors, which stop movement if you’re brushing too hard
  • Two-minute cleaning timer with 30-second intervals
  • Removes plaque in hard-to-reach areas between teeth
  • Compatible with 11 Oral-B brush heads for different brushing modes

Snow LED Electric Toothbrush

Best Toothbrush for Whitening
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Famous for its teeth whitening kits, this is Snow’s entry into the electric toothbrush space. This first-of-its-kind toothbrush features a built-in LED for enhanced whitening. The blue LED penetrates the enamel to remove deeply-set stains.

Cost: $$$

Features:

  • LED light for enhanced whitening
  • Rechargeable battery that lasts days
  • Four cleaning modes
  • Two-minute brushing timer with 30-second intervals
  • Sonic technology
  • Two brush heads included with the purchase

Burst Electric Toothbrush

Best Charcoal Toothbrush
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The Burst 1000 Sonic electric toothbrush uses innovative charcoal bristles to remove stains and bacteria from your teeth. A major highlight is the outstanding 4-month battery life. The brush also sports an attractive design yet is surprisingly affordable.

Cost: $$

Features:

  • Charcoal bristles
  • Sonic vibration technology
  • It comes with three cleaning modes, a 2-minute timer, and a quad-pacer
  • Thirty-day battery life
  • Brush heads last four months (compared to 3 for non-charcoal brush heads)
  • Lifetime warranty (with subscription)

Colgate®️ HUM Electric Toothbrush

Best Smart Electric Toothbrush
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Most people miss up to 40% of their teeth while brushing. Colgate’s Hum toothbrush solves this issue.

Its motion sensors can tell what areas of your mouth you’re missing. It points them out on the Colgate app in real time to help you brush better.

The app gives you personalized brushing advice and points you can use to buy replacement brush heads and other items.

Cost: $$

Features:

  • Smart sensors analyze brushing in real-time
  • Sonic vibration technology
  • Compatible with iOS and Android
  • Links to Apple Health
  • Automatic data uploading (Bluetooth)
  • Replaceable heads are available for purchase

Philips Sonicare 4100 Electric Toothbrush

Best Smart Toothbrush
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Philips is a brand that prioritizes innovation. Based on our research, the Sonicare 4100 electric toothbrush is the best smart rechargeable option on the market.

It removes seven times more plaque than manual toothbrushes. It’s also safe for people with braces, fillings, crowns, and veneers.

Its microchip-enabled technology synchronizes the handle with the brush head. This allows it to remind you when to change the brush head.

Cost: $$

Features:

  • Two-minute brushing timer with 30-second intervals
  • A built-in pressure sensor in the brush head
  • Smart brush handle and brush head
  • Gentle for sensitive teeth and dental work

SNOW Child’s Battery Powered Toothbrush

Best Toothbrush for Kids
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Snow’s “bear-y” fun toothbrush provides a powerful cleaning experience. It comes in 5 fun colors and requires just a single AAA battery (included). The brush head is replaceable.

Features:

  • Battery-powered
  • Replaceable brush heads
  • One AAA battery is included
  • Bear-y cute shape

Cost: $

Ollie SmartClean Sonic Toothbrush

Best Sonic Toothbrush
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Ollie’s SmartClean Sonic Toothbrush uses sonic technology to help you brush your teeth more efficiently. Their brand also offers a no-hassle 90-day trial and pay return shipping if it’s not for you. This means you can test the toothbrush first before committing to it.

Features:

  • 2-minute timer
  • Five brushing modes
  • Three brush head styles
  • Lifetime warranty

Manual vs. Electric Toothbrushes: Which is More Effective?

We consulted one of NewMouth’s in-house dentists, Dr. Khushbu Aggarwal, regarding her recommendations for the best toothbrushes. According to her, the best toothbrush depends on the user.

Electric Toothbrushes

People with less dexterity may prefer electric toothbrushes because they can clean teeth more effectively without moving their hands around too much. Dentists also recommend them over manual toothbrushes because they provide a deeper clean.

  • Electric toothbrushes remove more plaque with the use of vibrations and automatic circular motions
  • Models have built-in timers to help you brush for two minutes
  • They also have 30-second intervals, indicating when to brush a different quadrant of your mouth
  • Electric brushes have four quadrants — two on the bottom and two on the top — for optimal cleaning

Manual Toothbrushes

Manual toothbrushes also remove plaque but are less effective than electric versions. Dr. Khushbu recommends a toothbrush with soft bristles to avoid damaging the enamel.

Some people find manual brushing with the right technique extremely difficult or impossible. According to Dr. Khushbu, the correct brushing technique is moving the toothbrush in “gentle circular motions right at the gum line and on all other surfaces of the teeth.”

This technique can be difficult for those with small, detailed hand movements. Children also fall into this category, as they don’t have good manual dexterity. For many people, switching to an electric toothbrush can significantly improve their oral health status.

Why You Can Trust Our Recommendations

Methodology

The NewMouth editorial team analyzed dozens of products available today to determine the available products. Our evaluation and recommendations are based on the following:

  • Dentist input and experience ⁠— 30% of the total score
  • Our own testing experience — 25% of the total score
  • Effectiveness — 15% of the total score
  • Ease of use — 15% of the total score
  • Affordability and value — 15% of the total score

Our Qualifications

1. Dental Experts

NewMouth is a leading and trusted online resource for dental information, including:

  • Product recommendations
  • Primary dental care
  • At-home oral health care
  • Orthodontics
  • Procedures
  • Costs
  • And more

We have a dedicated team of medical writers, expert researchers, licensed dental professionals, and medical reviewers who create and oversee every content we publish on our site.

2. Extensive Research and Testing

These factors determine our recommendations:

  • Consulting with our in-house dentists
  • Spending hours researching the full range of products available
  • Reading through hundreds of customer reviews from multiple sources
  • Testing some of the products listed in this article
  • Reading through research papers on the safety and efficacy of these oral care methods

3. Comprehensive Review Process

After extensive research and product testing, this article also underwent an intensive review process:

  1. Two in-house editors reviewed and fact-checked this article
  2. One of our in-house dentists reviewed it for accuracy
  3. We regularly update and review this piece to ensure pricing, product details, and other specs are up-to-date

In this article

7 Best Toothbrushes for Cleaning Teeth & Removing Plaque (2024)

FAQs

7 Best Toothbrushes for Cleaning Teeth & Removing Plaque? ›

This study has lead us to conclude that when compared with ultrasonic and sonic toothbrush, multidirectional toothbrush has shown better plaque reduction and it can be safely used by children to maintain their oral hygiene.

Which toothbrush removes the most plaque? ›

This study has lead us to conclude that when compared with ultrasonic and sonic toothbrush, multidirectional toothbrush has shown better plaque reduction and it can be safely used by children to maintain their oral hygiene.

What toothbrush is best for cleaning? ›

Soft bristles are gentler on the teeth and gums. "I always recommend that everyone uses soft bristle toothbrushes," says Dr. Horowitz. Not only do soft bristles clean just as well as more rigid bristles, but they also help prevent complications to the teeth and gums.

Which Oral-B toothbrush is best for plaque removal? ›

The Oral-B pro series onwards are the best type of brush to go for. This includes the genius and smart range. These brushes are best as they tend to have more power which will remove plaque efficiently. These brushes also have a built in timer and pressure sensor to prevent you from over brushing your teeth and gums.

What toothbrushes do dentists recommend? ›

The two major brands that have been tested and approved by the ADA are the Sonicare and Oral B (Braun) Triumph brushes.

What breaks down hard plaque on teeth? ›

Brushing with baking soda can safely and effectively remove plaque. While still abrasive, baking soda toothpaste is not as hard as the enamel that makes up teeth and can remove plaque without damaging the enamel.

How do you remove hardened plaque? ›

Some toothpastes contain baking soda as it acts as a gentle abrasive to remove plaque from teeth. Make a paste by stirring a few drops of water with half a teaspoon of baking soda. Apply the paste to your teeth using your toothbrush and brush your teeth gently with the paste for one minute, then rinse well with water.

Do dentists recommend Oral-B or Sonicare? ›

Sonicare's heads are large and flat compared to Oral-B's small round brushes, and they're long-lasting, according to Wellspring Dental dentist Mandy Nebel, who prefers Sonicare over other brands. This specific model — one of two from the brand accepted by the ADA — is a more entry-level Sonicare.

Does Sonicare or Oral-B remove more plaque? ›

Plus, an Oral-B electric toothbrush like the Oral-B Pro 1000 even removes 26% more plaque than Sonicare DiamondClean* and 100% more plaque than a regular manual toothbrush.

Are electric toothbrushes better at cleaning teeth? ›

Now, they're more popular than ever. But do they really make a difference in cleaning your teeth? Actually, yes: Electric toothbrushes are generally considered more effective at removing plaque and keeping teeth clean than manual toothbrushes.

What do dentists use to remove plaque? ›

When you visit your dentist's office for a checkup and cleaning, your dental hygienist typically uses specialized tools to remove hardened debris and food from your teeth. Among these dental tools is a scaler or curette – known as a plaque scraper or ultrasonic tooth cleaner – to remove the plaque and tartar buildup.

Do electric toothbrushes really remove plaque? ›

A review of studies showed that, in general, electric toothbrushes do decrease more plaque and gingivitis than manual toothbrushes. After three months of use, plaque was reduced by 21 percent and gingivitis by 11 percent. Oscillating (rotating) toothbrushes seem to work better than just vibrating toothbrushes.

What machine do dentists use to remove plaque? ›

Dental Scaler

They're usually made of stainless steel and are sterilized before and after each use to prevent the spread of infection. During a dental cleaning, the dental hygienist will use a scaler to remove any hard deposits of plaque and tartar that have accumulated on the teeth.

What toothbrush do people who hate to brush their teeth use? ›

ISSA™ 3 Sonic Toothbrush

The soft silicone bristles prevent the problem of brushing too hard and the discomfort of harsh nylon bristles. When you feel comfortable enough, you can use the ridges on the back of its head to gently clean your tongue and your cheeks.

What toothpaste do dentists use during cleaning? ›

Dental hygienists use a flavored polishing toothpaste made of pumice, flavoring, and usually a tiny amount of fluoride. This normally follows the scaling process, which is when hygienists use metal tools to scrape plaque and tartar from your teeth. The polishing toothpaste is much more coarse than regular toothpaste.

Do fancy toothbrushes make a difference? ›

In short, the answer is yes and no. Expensive toothbrushes are not better simply because they are expensive. They are better because they have the best essential features. These brushes tend to be more expensive.

Does Sonicare or Oral B remove more plaque? ›

The award-winning Oral-B iO Series Electric Toothbrush is clinically proven to remove more plaque vs. Phillips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart toothbrush. Oral-B is the first electric toothbrush brand to be accepted by the American Dental Association for effectiveness and safety.

Can you brush away hardened plaque? ›

While you may be wondering how to remove tartar from your teeth without a dentist, it is best to seek help from a dental professional for a clean and accurate job! Once plaque hardens into tartar, a toothbrush can't remove it.

What device most effectively removes plaque from between the teeth? ›

The Interdental Brush

Plus, numerous clinical studies have demonstrated its effectiveness at reducing plaque and controlling gingivitis (gum inflammation). The cleaning surface of an interdental brush is similar in shape to a small, conical pipe cleaner.

Do electric toothbrushes remove more plaque? ›

Powered brushes reduced plaque and gingivitis at least as effectively as manual brushing. Ionic brushes statistically significantly reduced plaque and gingivitis.

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