Best Electric Toothbrushes in 2026: A Dentist's Picks for Every Budget

"Which electric toothbrush should I buy?" It is one of the questions my patients ask me most.

Three years ago I wrote a long guide to electric toothbrushes. Since then, some of those brushes left the market, prices changed, and a few new brands arrived. So here is the 2026 edition: fewer picks, and the research behind each one.

One thing before we start. The best toothbrush is the one you use twice a day, for two full minutes. No motor fixes a rushed brushing. But a good electric brush makes the right technique much easier.

My picks at a glance

Price: $ under $60, $$ $60 to $150, $$$ over $150 (US prices, October 2026).

Is an electric toothbrush really better than a manual one?

Yes, a little. And the research is fairly consistent.

The largest review comes from Cochrane, a group that pools all the good trials on one question. In 2014 they found 56 trials. In the 51 trials they could combine (4,624 people), electric brushes removed about 11% more plaque than manual brushes in the first three months, and about 21% more after three months. Gum inflammation (gingivitis) went down too: about 6% more in the short term and 11% more in the long term [1].

Those trials last weeks or months. What about years? A German study followed 2,819 adults in Pomerania for 11 years. The people who used an electric brush kept 19.5% more teeth, and their gums lost less support over time [2]. This kind of study shows a link, not proof: people who buy an electric brush may also take better care of their teeth in other ways. Still, it points in the same direction as the trials. (One of the authors had received a grant from Procter & Gamble, the company behind Oral-B.)

To be fair, the NHS says both types are "equally good, as long as you clean all the surfaces" [6]. I agree with the second half of that sentence. My honest summary: an electric toothbrush gives a small but real advantage, and that small advantage, twice a day for years, is worth it for most people.

Rotating or sonic: which type is better?

There are two main families:

• Rotating (oscillating-rotating): a small round head that turns back and forth very fast. This is Oral-B.
• Sonic: a longer head that vibrates from side to side at high speed. This is Philips Sonicare, BURST and SURI.

Studies that compare them find a very small edge for rotating heads. A 2022 network meta-analysis from Amsterdam (28 publications) ranked rotating brushes first for plaque removal after one brushing, then sonic, then manual. The authors called the advantage over sonic "very small" [3]. An older Cochrane review (2010, 15 trials) could not say that any one type is better than another, because too few trials tested the same types [4].

In real life, the gap between the two families is smaller than the gap between brushing well and brushing badly. So pick the one you enjoy using. Some people find a round head easier to guide from tooth to tooth. Others prefer the quieter, softer feel of a sonic brush.

What really matters when you choose

1. A pressure sensor. Pressing too hard can hurt your gums and the root surfaces near the gumline. A sensor that lights up, or slows the brush, when you press too hard is the most useful feature of all. Seven of my eight picks have one (the kids' brush does not).
2. A two-minute timer. Most good brushes have one, and many also tell you every 30 seconds when to move to the next quarter of your mouth.
3. The price of the brush heads. You change the head every three to four months [5]. Over five years, the heads can cost more than the handle. Check the price of a pack of heads before you buy the brush.
4. Soft bristles. The American Dental Association recommends a soft-bristled brush [5]. Oral-B, Sonicare and BURST all sell soft or sensitive heads.
5. Battery life. Two weeks is plenty at home. If you travel a lot, look for a month or more.

What you can skip: apps, AI tracking and long lists of modes. They are nice, but you do not need them to brush well. "Clean" mode is enough for most mouths, and "Sensitive" is enough for tender gums.

The best electric toothbrushes in 2026

1. Oral-B iO Series 3: best overall

2. Oral-B Pro 1000: best on a budget

3. Philips Sonicare 4100: best sonic for the money

4. BURST Pro 2.0: best new brand

5. Oral-B iO Series 9: the smart choice

6. Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige: the most advanced sonic

7. Philips Sonicare for Kids: best for children

8. SURI 2.0: best for travel

Implants, braces or gum disease? A few extra tips

• Any brush on this list works around implants and crowns. Use a soft head, and the "Sensitive" mode if your gums are tender.
• No toothbrush cleans well between the teeth. Add interdental brushes or floss once a day. A Cochrane review of 35 trials (3,929 adults) found that adding floss or interdental brushes to toothbrushing may reduce gum inflammation, and that interdental brushes may work better than floss [7]. The certainty of that evidence is low to very low, but the advice is cheap and safe.
• Ask your hygienist to choose the size of your interdental brushes. A brush that is too small does not clean. One that is too big hurts.
• With braces, clean each bracket from above, from below and from the front. Ask your orthodontist whether a special head would help you.
• Implants still need professional maintenance visits, even with perfect brushing at home.

Want more? Read my tips and tricks to floss and brush your teeth better, and if fresh breath is your goal, my guide to tongue scrapers.

How to brush with an electric toothbrush, step by step

1. Put a small amount of fluoride toothpaste on the head.
2. Place the head on your teeth before you switch it on. Less splashing.
3. Hold the bristles at the gumline, at about 45 degrees to the gums [5].
4. Do not scrub. Let the brush do the work. With a round head, move slowly from tooth to tooth and stay a few seconds on each. With a sonic brush, glide slowly along the teeth.
5. Spend 30 seconds on each quarter of your mouth, and clean the outer, inner and chewing surfaces.
6. Spit out the toothpaste, but do not rinse with water. Rinsing washes away the fluoride [6].
7. Rinse the head under the tap and let it dry standing up.

How often should you change the brush head?

Every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. That is the advice of the American Dental Association [5]. Several brushes on this list remind you when it is time.

Frequently asked questions

Is an electric toothbrush worth the money?

For most people, yes. Electric brushes remove a little more plaque and reduce gum inflammation a little more than manual brushes [1]. You do not need an expensive model to get that benefit.

Which is better, Oral-B or Sonicare?

Studies give a very small edge to rotating brushes like Oral-B [3]. The difference is so small that comfort should decide. Choose the one you will use every day.

Can I use an electric toothbrush on dental implants?

Yes. Use a soft head and gentle pressure, clean between your implants with interdental brushes, and keep your maintenance visits.

Can children use an electric toothbrush?

Yes, with a model made for children and with an adult's help. The Philips Sonicare for Kids is designed for children from 3 years old.

Is a cheap electric toothbrush good enough?

Yes, if it has a two-minute timer and a pressure sensor. The Oral-B Pro 1000 and the Philips Sonicare 4100 both cost under $60.

My final recommendation

If you only read one line, read this one: buy the Oral-B iO Series 3, or on a budget the Oral-B Pro 1000 or the Philips Sonicare 4100. Then spend the money you saved on interdental brushes and a professional cleaning.

And you? Which brush do you use, and would you change it? Tell me in the comments.

References

1. Yaacob M, Worthington HV, Deacon SA, et al. Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(6):CD002281. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002281.pub3
2. Pitchika V, Pink C, Völzke H, Welk A, Kocher T, Holtfreter B. Long-term impact of powered toothbrush on oral health: 11-year cohort study. J Clin Periodontol. 2019;46(7):713-722. doi:10.1111/jcpe.13126
3. Thomassen TMJA, Van der Weijden FGA, Slot DE. The efficacy of powered toothbrushes: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Int J Dent Hyg. 2022;20(1):3-17. doi:10.1111/idh.12563
4. Deacon SA, Glenny AM, Deery C, et al. Different powered toothbrushes for plaque control and gingival health. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;(12):CD004971. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004971.pub2
5. American Dental Association. Brushing your teeth. MouthHealthy. mouthhealthy.org
6. NHS. How to keep your teeth clean. nhs.uk
7. Worthington HV, MacDonald L, Poklepovic Pericic T, et al. Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal diseases and dental caries. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;4(4):CD012018. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012018.pub2