Compared to other electric toothbrushes, the battery life on this model is pretty average at around 14 days—some other models last for 30 to 60 days or more. After extensively testing eight other electric toothbrushes over three weeks, I found that the Oral-B Pro 1000 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush offers the best brushing experience for the price. This basic option doesn’t have as many gimmicks as a high-tech brush, but it struck the best balance between value and function. In fact, it performed just as well as other brushes twice or three times its price. It has a basic quadrant timer to make sure you’re cleaning all areas of your mouth, and a helpful pressure sensor to let you know if you’re brushing too hard. If you’re looking for an electric toothbrush to amp up your oral hygiene routine, the Oral-B Pro 1000 was one of the easiest to use—there are no brushing barriers here.
It’s worth noting that the supplied brush head felt stiff and the motor was so loud that we found it initially off-putting though. Its thick neck and forceful action (even on the lower settings) are definitely worth considering if you have sensitive teeth or gums. But for people who appreciate a job thoroughly done, after a brief period of adjustment to this toothbrush’s intensity, the results oral b genius toothbrush were consistently smooth. While the large brush head and long bristles make for slightly awkward maneuvering between areas, the toothbrush’s action takes care of the manual work—no elbow grease required. App features like timer alerts and easy-to-switch-between brush settings let you personalize your daily routine, making it a great option for people with specific dental requirements.
Though both brushes require you to rinse off the head after each use, the head of electric toothbrushes should be detached and cleaned separately. Also store your electric toothbrush standing up straight — this way it can dry between uses. Periodontist Scott H. Froum says, “storage of the device in a non-wet or humid environment is important.” A bathroom cabinet is a good place. The advantage of electric toothbrushes isn’t that they do what manual brushes cannot.
According to ADA guidelines, brush heads should be replaced every three months—the same as a manual toothbrush—so it pays to factor in that extra cost. Dr. Sulitzer recommends brushes with subscription head replacement options as a convenient (and often cheaper) way to regularly switch heads, without needing to keep it on the calendar. He also recommends brushes with 30-second quadrant timers as a great system to get the right amount of coverage in every part of your mouth. He adds that tooth sensitivity may be linked to brushing your teeth too hard, so make sure you are using a soft-bristled brush. The best electric toothbrushes will motivate consistent brushing, so I tested each brush in real life to see how well I could incorporate it into my daily oral hygiene routine. I used each of the eight brushes for two days in a row, morning and evening.
While neither sonic nor rotating brush heads are considered more effective by the dentists I spoke with, if you prefer the feel of a side-to-side vibration instead of a spinning brush head, you might prefer this brush. The multiple brushing modes and heads make it easy to adjust for the gentlest possible brushing experience, while still being effective at teeth cleaning. Spend around $70, about 40% more than the cost of our top pick and your brush likely comes with a travel case and a few extra cleaning modes, which vibrate the brush at different patterns or frequencies. These brushes also tend to move at a higher frequency, to the tune of 30,000 to 40,000 movements per minute, as opposed to a lower-end brush’s 8,000 to 20,000 movements per minute.
He also recommends selecting electric toothbrushes that are protected by at least a two-year warranty. A point of frustration is the low-battery indicator light, which is barely visible and led to a mid-brush shutdown during testing. And we question the audibility of the built-in pressure sensor, as the alert sound was barely distinguishable beneath the whirr of the motor. Those couple of drawbacks aside, this one-button wonder makes a great oral b genius toothbrush transition toothbrush to take you from manual brushing into the world of electric, for those who want a superior clean and prefer to keep things fuss-free. People with sensitive teeth know all about spending too much time brushing too lightly to avoid tooth and gum pain. The Oral-B iO Series 5’s multiple sensitivity modes and built-in light-up pressure sensor allow you to get the coverage you need in the two-minute timeframe you want.
The lack of a travel case, and of an easy storage solution, meant that over time I found this brush didn’t fit into my daily routine as seamlessly as some of the others did. However, the overall experience of using this brush remained pleasant and effective over time, and my mouth always felt refreshingly clean when I used it. After six months, this toothbrush still does a great job and has had no major issues. I used this brush regularly in rotation for two months, and then gifted it (with a new brush head!) to my partner, who reports great results. Previously someone who found consistent, two-full-minutes brushing to be a chore, he reports that the Oral-B brush made establishing a dental hygiene routine easy for the first time in his life.
Our tester liked its affordable price and overall cleaning power, but found the medium bristle to be a little tough on her gums. According to the American Dental Association, brushing twice daily for two minutes is the key to preventing cavities and gum disease. But with so many toothbrushes on the market—both manual and electric options—it’s tough to know which is best for your dental needs.
Not only do all the toothbrushes look nigh-on identical, but the manufacturers seem to have decided that confusion is good for business, producing several different ranges with different characteristics all at the same time. It’s hard to distinguish between so many similar products, while the boxes and adverts bombard you with pseudo-science and marketing-speak. Oral-B’s entry- and mid-level models, like the Pro 1000 or the Smart 3000, don’t feature a similar streamlined design as Sonicare, and they also look and feel a little more plastic-y. While Sonicare’s toothbrushes have grippy bodies, Oral-B toothbrushes feature ridges to aid in grip, which also take away from the aesthetic.
And if you don’t believe us, we’ve gone ahead and asked a true expert, Phillip Hundeshagen, R&D Senior Scientist at Oral-B, to guide us through the true benefits of using an electric toothbrush. Sadhana Daruvuri, Select social media editor, said she’s a fan of Foreo’s electric toothbrush. “The brush head is made out of medical-grade silicone, so it feels gentle on my teeth,” she explained. The brush head also has silicone ridges on its back, which acts as a tongue and cheek cleaner.