8 Best Battery-Operated Toothbrushes – Proper Oral Care!

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Daniel
Daniel
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Daniel is among our most talented writers: based on the dull expert reports he's able to make up a comprehensive, reader-friendly article which anyone can benefit from. Also read more
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Tom
Tom
Tom
Expert Consultant
Initially being an engineering specialist, Tom has never stopped learning and acquiring other knowledge and skills. Now he’s involved in technical support for a well-known read more
Last updated: August 27, 2023
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A toothbrush is a necessary tool for keeping your mouth healthy and clean. A battery-powered toothbrush can be the next step in oral hygiene, and a battery-operated one can be cheaper then electric ones and great for if you’re going on vacation. If you’re looking for the best battery-operated toothbrush, then one on this list may be a perfect choice.

We’ve examined over 35 different brushes available on the market and have included the top eight models it this list. Our favorite pick is the Colgate 360 Advanced Whitening Battery Powered Toothbrush. It offers replaceable brush heads and cleans at a great 20,000 strokes per minute. It also has a 2-minute built-in timer to help you get the best cleaning experience. If you are looking for something else, we have seven other fantastic models here.

When choosing battery-powered toothbrushes, it’s important to consider their capabilities and features. Bristles will tell you if it’s good for sensitive mouths or for children. Strokes per minute will describe its efficiency. The timer helps you to use it for the correct amount of time, and batteries type are important to know to have them at hand for replacements. For this research, we’ve spent 51 hours to gather the information from our reliable sources, experts, and customers. We broke down our findings in a table with quick-to-find information as well as in more detailed reviews for those who are looking for the particulars, followed by a buying guide for anyone ready to purchase their own best battery-operated toothbrush.

Quick Summary

  • "An impressive battery-operated toothbrush with tongue and cheek cleaner. It features 20,000 strokes per minute and has a built-in timer."
  • "This set of two toothbrushes comes at an affordable price. Each brush has split head design and controls the pressure applied to your teeth."
  • "If you are looking for a toothbrush with multiple settings, check this one. Moreover, it has a triple bristle head and a timer to achieve better cleaning performance."
  • Best Brush for Braces: Philips Sonicare HX3631/06
    "If you have braces and need a battery-operated toothbrush, check this marvelous option. It has a timer and a brush head replacement reminder."
  • "For you and your partner, it’s a great package of two brushes and four replacement heads. Each brush features oscillating cleaning and has reminders for replacement."
  • Best Brush for First Time Users: Colgate 360 Floss Tip-Sonic Power Toothbrush
    "If you have never tried a battery-operated toothbrush before, check this one. It has convenient on/off switch and floss-tip bristles."
  • "With this bright toothbrush design, your kids will be encouraged to clean their teeth. It has extra soft bristles and small handle."
  • Best Brush for Seniors: TempIR Sonic Wave
    "An amazing set of two brushes and extra brush heads with extra soft bristles. They provide efficient cleaning and are great for seniors."

Top 8 Battery-Operated Toothbrushes Review 2024

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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 2103 people in the past 30 days
9.9
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.5
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.5
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.4
9.9
Features
  • Bristles: soft, spiral bristles & polishing cups
  • Strokes per minute: 20,000
  • Batteries: AAA x 2 (included)
  • Timer: 2 min

More features: cheek and tongue cleaner, quiet operation, gentle on teeth and gums

The Colgate 360 Advanced Whitening Battery Powered Toothbrush is our Editor’s Choice due to its sonic vibrations, causing up to 20,000 strokes per minute for excellent cleaning capabilities. It’s gentle on teeth and gums and provides up to 5x plaque removal compared to a manual toothbrush.

The handle is slim and lightweight for easy control, and the toothbrush is quiet, too. The removable heads are easily replaceable and have bristles as well as polishing cups for stain removal. The two-minute timer will help you make sure that you’re brushing your teeth for the time recommended, and it comes with a tongue and cheek cleaner as well. It runs on 2 AAA batteries, which are included with purchase, and users will have to replace them as needed.

Some users complained that the brush was too hard for them, but everyone agreed that it had great cleaning power.

    What makes it stand out?
  • Tongue and cheek cleaner
  • 20,000 strokes per minute
  • Built-in timer
    Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
  • Brush can be too hard for some
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 7060 people in the past 30 days
9.8
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.3
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.3
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.6
9.8
Features
  • Bristles: soft
  • Strokes per minute: not specified
  • Batteries: AAA x 1 for each (included)
  • Timer: no

More features: split head design, massaging and polishing action, pack includes two brushes

The Oral-B 3D Luxe White Pulsar Battery Powered Toothbrushes is our choice for Best Value due to the cost and its cleaning capabilities. The split head design means that the bristles easily slide between your teeth for effective cleaning and plaque removal, and this brush will adjust to the contours of your teeth, making for a more personalized brushing experience.

This battery-operated toothbrush moderates the pressure applied to your teeth and gums, so you don’t have to worry about too much pressure on your gums or not enough scrubbing power on your teeth.

Bonus: this pack comes with two toothbrushes. It runs on a single AAA battery, which is included in the purchase, but it’s important to know that this brush is not meant to be used long-term. It’s meant for a few months of use, and then to be replaced as a whole. So, the user will not need to replace the battery, but the entire brush. And because the batteries cannot be removed, some users complained that their brush arrived with the battery already dead.

    What are our favorite features?
  • Two in one pack
  • Split head design
  • Battery replacement not necessary
    What could be better?
  • Some users stated the battery arrived dead
  • Entire toothbrush needs to be replaced after a few months use
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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 3764 people in the past 30 days
9.7
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.2
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.4
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.4
9.7
Features
  • Bristles: soft, triple bristle
  • Strokes per minute: not specified
  • Batteries: AA x 2 (included)
  • Timer: 2 min

More features: 3 modes, fading replacement indicator, 1-year warranty, pack includes tongue cleaner, extra brush head

If you’re looking for something unique and advanced, then this battery-operated toothbrush may be the best choice for you.

This brush features triple bristles for extra cleaning in those hard to reach spots. It also has three brush modes: high, sensitive, and massage, making it a great choice for users who have never used a battery-powered toothbrush before or who may have sensitive teeth or gums or who want to personalize their cleaning experience. It’s also a great choice for children as it ensures proper brushing that manual toothbrushes struggle to offer.

It has a built-in 2-minute timer with programmed pauses for you to change brush position in your mouth. It ships with 2 brush heads, a separate tongue cleaner, 2 AA batteries ready for use, and with a one-year warranty. Some users, however, complained that the battery compartment is very difficult to open, though there are videos online to show easy ways to do so. Others said it didn’t vibrate enough on their teeth, and that the handle vibrated too much for comfortable use.

    What are our favorite features?
  • Triple bristles
  • Great for users with sensitive gums
  • One-year warranty
  • Three different settings
    What could be better?
  • Difficult to access battery panel
  • Vibration may not be enough for some users
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 6039 people in the past 30 days
9.4
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.2
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.0
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.0
9.4
4
Best Brush for Braces

Philips Sonicare HX3631/06

Features
  • Bristles: medium
  • Strokes per minute: 15,000
  • Batteries: AA x 2 (included)
  • Timer: 2 min

More features: replacement reminder, 90-day full refund

Phillips Sonicare brushes are the #1 brand recommended by dentists, and this battery powered toothbrush operates at 15,000 strokes per minute. It comes with a built-in 2-minute timer for assistance in making sure your mouth gets the recommended cleaning.

This is a sonic toothbrush, which means it relies more on vibrations to break up plaque and tartar. This brush uses sweeping motions to help clean between your teeth and along your gum line, and the blue bristles fade after time, functioning as a reminder for when it’s time to replace the brush head. It operates with 2 AA batteries, which are included, though users will need to replace them as needed.

The gentle motion of the brush is great for users with braces or other dental work such as veneers, caps, crowns, or fillings. It comes with a 90-day full refund option. This one arrives with medium bristles, so if you need softer bristles, you will need to purchase a different head. And some users complained that it vibrated too much to use comfortably.

    What do we love it for?
  • Replacement reminder
  • 90-day refund option
  • Built-in 2-minute timer
    What were we disappointed with?
  • Ships with medium bristles
  • May vibrate too much for some users
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 7175 people in the past 30 days
9.3
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
8.8
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.0
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.1
9.3
Features
  • Bristles: soft
  • Strokes per minute: 3,700
  • Batteries: AA x 2 for each brush (included)
  • Timer: no

More features: dual-action technology with spinning heads, pack includes 2 brushes and 4 extra brush heads

These Arm & Hammer brushes come in a convenient pack of two with 4 replacement heads, making this a great choice for families or people not living alone.

These brushes are oscillating models, which means they rely on the spinning action of the brush head to deliver up to 3,700 strokes per minute instead of vibrations. The bristles provide better access to different areas, including in between teeth. These bristles are quite soft, so different people might enjoy using them. The green and blue bristles fade, letting you know when it’s time to replace them. They approximately last for 3 months. Unfortunately, this brush does not come with a timer.

Each toothbrush runs on 2 AA batteries, 2 of which come with the package, though, if you plan to use both brushes right away, you will need to purchase more batteries. And some users stated that it could be a bit noisy.

    What makes it stand out?
  • 2 brushes in the pack with 4 replacement heads
  • Oscillating models
  • Bristle reminder for replacement
    Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
  • Only comes with 2 batteries
  • May be too noisy for some people
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 9427 people in the past 30 days
9.2
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.0
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
8.7
Features & Benefits
Product Review
8.7
9.2
6
Best Brush for First Time Users

Colgate 360 Floss Tip-Sonic Power Toothbrush

Features
  • Bristles: soft, floss-tip bristles
  • Strokes per minute: 20,000
  • Batteries: AAA x 1
  • Timer: no

More features: cheek and tongue cleaner

This sonic toothbrush operates at 20,000 strokes per minute for a 4x deeper reach beneath your gum line compared to a manual brush. It has a tongue and cheek cleaner built-in and an easy on/off switch, so you don’t have to worry about continuously holding down a button to keep it working.

This brush has a full head, so it may not be a good choice for children, and it ships with soft bristles. It runs on a single AAA battery and may be a great option for users who have never used a battery-powered toothbrush before and want to know if it’s a good choice for them. The vibrations provide excellent performance with floss-tip bristles for healthier mouth cleaning. Finally, this brush does not have a replaceable head option, which means you will have to dispose of it and purchase a new brush once it’s reached the end of its lifecycle.

    Why is it special?
  • Good first-time sonic brush
  • Toggle on/off switch
  • Floss-tip bristles
    What are the flaws?
  • Does not have replaceable head
  • Full head may not work for kids
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 6925 people in the past 30 days
9.0
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
8.6
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
8.8
Features & Benefits
Product Review
8.8
9.0
Features
  • Bristles: extra soft
  • Strokes per minute: not specified
  • Batteries: AA x 1 (included)
  • Timer: no

More features: rotating powerhead, ergonomic handle with bright design

If you’re looking for a kid’s toothbrush, then this is the brush for you. This brush is specifically designed for kids ages 3 and older. With a Disney’s Frozen design, it’s meant to appeal to young kids to encourage them to brush their teeth.

The ergonomic handle is meant for users with small hands, and the rotating powerhead helps to clean multiple tooth and mouth surfaces. The extra soft bristles are meant to clean without being too harsh. The brush head is not replaceable, though, so users will need to purchase a new brush when this one wears out, but as children grow so quickly, they will need a larger brush at some point anyway.

This brush runs on a single AA battery, and the life of the battery should last as long as the life of the brush. It’s important to note, though, that this brush can feature the characters of Elsa and Anna, or Olaf and Sven, and there’s no guarantee which one you will get, so if your child cares strongly about the character choice, there’s a chance they may not be happy with what arrives. This was the biggest complaint of many users of this brush. Some other users felt it was too forceful and hard for a child’s mouth, though, while many other users stated that their children loved the brush, and it had encouraged great dental hygiene.

    What stands out?
  • Designed for children
  • Encourages great dental hygiene
  • Extra soft bristles
    What cons did we manage to find?
  • No replaceable head
  • User does not get to choose character on the brush
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 2711 people in the past 30 days
9.6
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.1
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.3
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.2
9.6
8
Best Brush for Seniors

TempIR Sonic Wave

Features
  • Bristles: extra soft, wave type
  • Strokes per minute: 30,000
  • Batteries: AAA x 1 for each brush (included)
  • Timer: no

More features: lifetime warranty, pack includes 2 brushes and 4 extra brush heads

This battery powered toothbrush can be used for adults or children, and this package ships with two brushes, which makes it a great choice for people who have partners or families and want more than one brush. It also comes with 4 extra brush heads, so you can be sure that your brush will last for a while before you need to purchase any new brush heads.

The bristles are extra soft for sensitive teeth and gums and work well for children and seniors who often have difficulty cleaning effectively. The back of the brush head comes with a tongue cleaner to help eliminate bad breath. This brush works with sonic waves instead of oscillation, to mimic dentist tools to break up tartar and plaque. It also has an ergonomic handle grip, making it a great choice for kids or even seniors.

Finally, this brush is backed up by a lifetime product replacement or refund guarantee, which is good as some users stated their brush stopped working after a few months or the on/off switch became difficult to toggle. The extra soft bristles were too soft for some users, but great for kids. And many stated the customer service for replacements was very good.

    What makes it stand out?
  • Two brushes with 4 extra heads
  • Built-in tongue cleaner
  • Lifetime warranty with excellent customer service
    Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
  • On/off switch may be difficult to toggle
  • Some users stated it stopped working after a few months


Things to Consider

Battery-operated toothbrush can be an important choice for any person who cares about their dental hygiene. These toothbrushes can offer better oral cleanliness than manual toothbrushes, which can make a big difference the next time you visit the dentist. It’s important to know the different options and capabilities of the various models, though, to make sure you purchase a battery-powered toothbrush that works for you and your needs. Some are sonic, some are oscillating, and not all are great for children, so users should familiarize themselves with the different options of the battery-operated toothbrushes.

How to pick the best battery-operated toothbrush?

8 Best Battery-Operated Toothbrushes - Proper Oral Care!Battery-operated toothbrushes can perform a variety of options when cleaning your teeth, gums, and even the rest of your mouth. You will need to know what kind of brush you want, sonic or oscillation, and the type of user who will be using the brush, whether a child, senior or someone with sensory issues, in order to know which toothbrush may be the best choice for your needs. Some come with replaceable heads, and some are only meant to be used for a few months before being replaced, so you will need to weigh these options when choosing the best battery-operated toothbrush.

Brand name

There are a couple of well-known brand names when it comes to toothbrushes. These tend to be: Phillips, Colgate, and Oral-B. This doesn’t mean that other brand names, though, such as Arm & Hammer, are a lesser brush or not worth your time and money.

In general, the more well-known brands have been used and tested by dental professionals who often give their stamp of approval.

The Phillips Sonicare, in particular, is the number 1 rated toothbrush of dentists, so if that’s an important consideration for you, then you may want to check out the Philips Sonicare HX3631/06, which is especially good for users with braces or other dental work.

Softness

The softness is one of the more important consideration when looking at any toothbrush, manual, or battery-operated. Bristles that are too hard may be painful or uncomfortable to use for those people who have sensitive mouths, and soft bristles, while great for children, elderly, or sensory issue users, may not do as good a job cleaning for those people who would like bristles that are more robust. Softer bristles tend to do a better job reaching between teeth and under gum lines, which is why they’re such a great choice for children who don’t typically have the skills to keep up on good oral hygiene. If you’re looking for a battery-operated brush with soft bristles, than avoid the medium rated bristles of the Philips Sonicare HX3631/06 or consider purchasing a replacement head with bristles that better fit your needs.

Performance

The performance of a battery-operated toothbrush can take into consideration a few things, but most often, it includes strokes per minute and what the brush is best at.

It’s important to understand the difference between an oscillating brush and a sonic brush. Sonic brushes use vibration to remove tartar and plaque, whereas oscillating brushes rely on rotating bristles to clean your teeth. Because of this, sonic toothbrushes will clean at a much higher stroke per minute rate compared to oscillating ones. One isn’t necessarily better than the other, but it is good to compare the strokes per minute to other brushes within the same category, but not between the two.

For a sonic brush with the most strokes per minute, look to the 30,000 strokes per minute of the TempIR Sonic Wave. For an oscillating brush, the ARM & HAMMER Spinbrush PRO+ Value Pack offers 3,700 strokes per minute of oscillation.

Ergonomic design

8 Best Battery-Operated Toothbrushes - Proper Oral Care!When brushing your teeth, you are expected to clean for at least two minutes at a time, so an ergonomic toothbrush choice can be very important. This is especially true for children. If the brush is too big for them to hold, or uncomfortable, they’re more likely not to brush their teeth effectively, and for many parents encouraging teeth brushing is already a hassle. The on and off buttons can make a difference, too. Many have toggle switches, but some require you to hold down a button. This can make a big difference if you’re someone who experiences arthritis in your hands, or nerve or motor issues where holding a button or toggling a switch may be difficult. For a brush with ergonomics in mind, check out the TempIR Sonic Wave, which is great for seniors.

Batteries required

All the toothbrushes on this list run on either AA or AAA batteries, either one or two. Many of the brushes ship with batteries included, and whether you will need to replace them or not depends on the brush.

For battery-operated toothbrushes that have replaceable heads, they will also have the ability to replace the batteries as well, as the point is to keep the body of the toothbrush as long as you want, only replacing the head and batteries as often as needed.

But for some brushes they are meant to be used for a few months, then disposed of, such as the Oral-B 3D Luxe White Pulsar Battery Powered Toothbrushes, which means their battery panels may not be able to be accessed at all, though the battery should last the lifespan of the toothbrush itself, which is pretty convenient for some people.

Timer

When brushing your teeth, you’re supposed to clean for at least 2 minutes. This can seem like a long time, and focusing on a clock while also trying to clean your teeth can be a hassle for some people. This is why some battery-operated toothbrushes come with a built-in timer. This timer will keep the brush running for the full 2 minutes before automatically shutting off when you’ve reached the correct time for cleaning. If this is something you’re interested in, then check out our Editor’s Choice, the Colgate 360 Advanced Whitening Battery Powered Toothbrush.

Package

Packaging can easily sway the consumer to another toothbrush, especially if you’re shopping for a family or more than one user. Some brushes come with more than one brush, as well as replacement heads, such as the ARM & HAMMER Spinbrush PRO+ Value Pack.

It’s important to note how many batteries it ships with as well if you’re planning on using both brushes immediately.

And packaging can also affect how happy the user is with the product as well, such as the Oral-B Battery Powered Kid’s Toothbrush. While users were pleased with the operation of this brush, many were unhappy since they were unable to choose the characters on this brush meant for children, resulting in unhappy kids.

Prices

Prices vary widely with battery-operated toothbrushes, and that’s mostly because they can be so different. A higher-priced model often means it has replaceable heads and batteries, but that doesn’t mean a lower-priced model wouldn’t be the perfect fit for your needs. Some packages come with more than one brush, as well, or replacement heads, batteries, even additional tongue cleaners, and this can all affect the final price of the brush. On our list, though, the most expensive model, at $30, is the Triple Bristle GO Sonic Toothbrush and the cheapest models are the $5 Colgate 360 Floss Tip-Sonic Power Toothbrush or the similarly priced Oral-B Battery Powered Kid’s Toothbrush, which is designed specifically for the needs of children.

FAQ

What is the proper way to clean my teeth with a battery-operated toothbrush?

There can be a bit of a learning curve when using a battery-operated toothbrush compared to a manual one. Instructions can vary, depending on the type of brush you purchase, but in general, there are some steps you can follow:
  1. Hold the brush against the side of your teeth, parallel to the ground
  2. Guide the brush head slowly from tooth to tooth. Follow the curve of your gums and teeth. You shouldn’t need to press too hard or move the brush too much.
  3. Let the toothbrush do most of the work.
  4. Brush for at least 2 minutes. Make sure you focus on all your teeth, including the hard to reach places.
  5. Rinse the brush head when you are done using it.

Following these steps will help you keep your mouth clean.

How often do I need to replace brush heads?

Brush heads are much like manual toothbrushes in that they’re not expected to last a lifetime. No, instead, they should be used for a particular period of time, and then replaced. Many brushes will tell you specifically in the product features how long they’re expected to last, and some brushes come with reminders that tell you when it’s time for a replacement, typically with brush bristles that change color. But, in general, the approximate lifespan of a brush head is about 3-4 months. After that, you should consider purchasing a replacement brush head.

How long do battery-operated toothbrushes last?

This depends on the type of toothbrush you purchase. All of them should last at least 3-4 months. If you’ve purchased a toothbrush without replaceable heads, they’re meant to last this long and then be disposed of, and a new replacement toothbrush purchased. This is why they are often inexpensive. If you purchase a brush with replaceable heads, then the brush can last for years as long as you take good care of it, regularly replace the brush heads and batteries, and keep it clean and dry.

Our verdict

Battery-operated toothbrushes are a great way to take your oral and dental hygiene to the next level and help you keep your teeth and mouth happy, healthy, and clean. If you’re searching for a battery-operated toothbrush, then chances are there’s a model that will fit your needs.

Our Editor’s Choice is the Colgate 360 Advanced Whitening Battery Powered Toothbrush. It cleans at 20,000 strokes per minute, comes with a cheek and tongue cleaner. This replaceable-head sonic brush also comes with a timer to make cleaning simpler.

If you’re looking for a model that won’t cost the earth, then the Oral-B 3D Luxe White Pulsar Battery Powered Toothbrushes could be the choice for you. This brush comes with two in a pack, and though it does not have replaceable heads, it sets you up to have over 6 months of cleaning at your hands.

Finally, if you’re interested in an advanced model with multiple cleaning modes, then the Triple Bristle GO Sonic Toothbrush is our choice. This triple-bristled, replaceable head toothbrush is absolutely great to achieve better cleaning performance.

We hope that this article helped you find the best battery-operated toothbrush, and your next visit to your dentist won’t disappoint you!

9,9
Total Score
Colgate 360 Advanced Whitening Battery Powered Toothbrush - Editor's Choice
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