6 Best Electric Toothbrushes for Braces – Reviews and Buying Guide

Brushing your teeth is really important if you wear braces. With these best electric toothbrushes, keeping your mouth clean and healthy is much easier.
By
Daniel
Daniel
Writer
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
reviewed
Reviewed By
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 29, 2023
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Oral hygiene is a very important part of our general well-being and cleanliness, and that is why we are constantly reminded by dentists to brush regularly and properly. It becomes even more vital when you are wearing braces as food can get stuck between your teeth and the wires, and plaque can easily build up around the brackets and brands. To prevent this from happening as a brace wearer, you need more than a regular toothbrush.

According to studies, electric toothbrushes are more efficient for removing plaque that builds up on the teeth. Research shows that brace-wearing individuals using electric toothbrushes decrease the risk of gum redness, bleeding, plaque, and gingivitis compared to those using regular toothbrushes. So, what are you waiting for? In our bid to provide you with a list of the 6 best electric toothbrushes for braces, we considered key factors like the number of modes, brush head type, pressure sensor, timer, runtime, and extra brush heads. The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100 is definitely our top pick due to its perfect performance.

Quick Summary

  • "A toothbrush that features all the high-tech advantages – including a pressure sensor, three modes and an automatic timer – suits brace wearers who wish to keep their teeth clean"
  • "Innovative FlossAction brush head is a great choice for people with braces – its tiny bristles entirely surround each tooth"
  • "It’s ‘smart’ for a reason – not only does it offer all the features a modern electric toothbrush should possess – it also can be connected to your smartphone"
  • Most Innovative Brush Head: Triple Bristle Best Sonic Electric Toothbrush
    "The unusual form of its brush head is indeed a great tool to keep each and every tooth free of plaque and gingivitis"
  • Most Sensitive: Philips Sonicare Essence
    "Easy-to-use toothbrush with an automatic timer – great offer from a reliable manufacturer"
  • "Affordable pick, still functional and versatile – thanks to its five brushing modes"

Top 6 Electric Toothbrushes for Braces Review 2024

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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 4995 people in the past 30 days
9.6
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.3
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.2
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.3
9.6
Features
  • Number of modes: 3
  • Brush head type: Optimal Gum Care, oval
  • Pressure sensor: yes
  • Automatic timer: yes
  • Runtime: up to 14 days on one charge
  • Extra brush heads: no

 More features: BrushSync technology indicates when to replace the brush head; travel case included

The next product on our list is the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100 Electric Toothbrush. Featuring the Sonic technology like the previous Philips Sonicare model, this brush can sweep plaque away easily, thereby providing you with a remarkably effective, but gentle clean. Also, the electric toothbrush comes with an inbuilt pressure sensor which alerts you if you are going too hard on your teeth, to help protect your gums and teeth.

Furthermore, the toothbrush comes with a BrushSync technology which communicates with your brush to choose the intensity and optimal mode automatically. Moreover, the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean works well with all Philips Sonicare brush heads. The BrushSync technology keeps a tab on how long you have been utilizing your head for, and how hard you have been brushing. Moreover, there is a light on your handle which lets you know when it’s time to replace the head. That way, you can ensure your brush head is always at its best.

This toothbrush enables you to tailor your cleaning according to your desires, with an option of three modes. The first one is the clean mode, which is great for superior cleaning. The second is the white mode, which is perfect for getting rid of surface stains. The third mode is the Gum Care, which adds an extra minute of brushing with reduced power so that you can massage your gums gently.

    What makes it stand out?
  • Easy-Start helps you acclimatize to your toothbrush
  • Two-minute timer
  • Automatic shutoff
  • BrushSync technology
  • Cleans efficiently
    Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
  • No rubber grip on the handle
  • Too expensive
Also Product Ranking:
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 4530 people in the past 30 days
9.5
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.0
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.0
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.4
9.5
Features
  • Number of modes: 5
  • Brush head type: FlossAction, round
  • Pressure sensor: yes
  • Automatic timer: yes
  • Runtime: up to 10 days on one charge
  • Extra brush heads: no

More features: MicroPulse bristles; compatible with all Oral B brush heads

Oral-B is a giant when it comes to the manufacturing of toothbrushes, and this toothbrush is a further proof of their unmistaken excellence. For strange reasons, Oral-B likes using odd numbers in their series of brushes, but not like that matters though. The Oral-B Pro 5000 is an incredible electric toothbrush with a wide range of mouth-watering features.

Being a very sleek and well-designed toothbrush, the Oral-B Pro 5000 is fitted with the perfect blend of important features and extras – all at a reasonable mid-range cost. This smart toothbrush provides a blend of rotating, pulsating, and oscillating movements to get to plaque accumulation in areas that are difficult to reach. The end result is squeaky-clean teeth and gums, much like if you had used an electric toothbrush and high-power cordless water flosser combined. As already implied by the name, this toothbrush features Bluetooth connectivity which enables users to keep a tab on their progress in a smartphone app.

Again, the incredible intelligence of the toothbrush shines through with pulsation and lighting patterns that alert users when they are pushing too hard, when it is time to move to a new part of their teeth, and when they have been brushing for too long. Besides, the brush works well with a wide variety of brush heads from Oral-B. This toothbrush’s combination of high-tech extras, cleaning power, stand-alone features, and a reasonable price tag make it appealing to many buyers.

    What stands out?
  • Five different brush settings
  • Comes with a travel case
  • Built-in Bluetooth technology
  • Long-lasting battery
    What cons did we manage to find?
  • Very expensive
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 3224 people in the past 30 days
9.3
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.2
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.2
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.0
9.3
Features
  • Number of modes: 6
  • Brush head type: CrossAction, round+ 1 ProWhite + 1 Sensitive
  • Pressure sensor: yes
  • Automatic timer: yes
  • Runtime: up to 10 days on one charge
  • Extra brush heads: 2

More features: Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity (smartphone compatible); comes with a travel case

With the Oral-B Pro 7000 Electric Toothbrush providing up to 800 movements per second, brace-wearing individuals don’t need to exert much energy into breaking up and getting rid of the accumulated plaque.

The toothbrush from Oral-B provides six inbuilt brushing modes: daily clean, whitening, deep clean, sensitive, massage, and tongue cleaning. The toothbrush comes with a very sophisticated pressure sensor technology which tells you when you are going too hard and warns you to take it gently.

The makers claim that the toothbrush has been designed to withstand 500 Pa of pressure, you can be hopeful that the toothbrush will still be working well long after you have taken your braces off, and keep serving you for a long period.

Like other Oral-B models, this toothbrush claims to take out 300 percent more plaque alongside the gum line than a traditional toothbrush, which is very encouraging. With the inbuilt Bluetooth application, the brush provides you with the motivation to maintain your brushing routine, and it allows you to concentrate on ensuring that your teeth are cleaned properly.

The toothbrush comes with a two-minute timer, three brush heads, visible pressure sensor, smart coaching through the App, and a travel case. Basically, everything required to make sure that your teeth stay spotless during your braces-wearing period comes with this toothbrush.

    What are our favorite features?
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • The display provides information
  • Six brushing modes
  • Effective removal of plaque
    What could be better?
  • Bulky handle
  • Poor battery
Also Product Ranking:
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 6474 people in the past 30 days
9.3
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
8.8
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
8.9
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.1
9.3
4
Features
  • Number of modes: 3
  • Brush head type: triple sided, angled bristles
  • Pressure sensor: no
  • Automatic timer: yes
  • Runtime: up to 3 weeks on one charge
  • Extra brush heads: 1

More features: produces 31,000 brush strokes

If you are looking for an electric toothbrush with the latest technology, the Triple Bristle Electric Toothbrush might be an ideal option. It comes with a patented design, which makes the teeth-cleaning process a lot easier. The maker of the brush has adopted a scientific approach, so this brush will make your teeth become whiter and cleaner.

Also, the three-sided brush head reduces soreness, plaque, and bleeding risks in gum. The toothbrush can treat the top, front, and back parts of your teeth at the same time. The head of the brush is designed to perfectly clean all the crannies of the oral part, thereby eliminating the risk of diseases like gingivitis.

Additionally, the brush comes with the sonic technology which causes vibrations and creates micro-bubbles for your teeth’s thorough cleaning. The toothbrush creates over 30,000 strokes, and it features an Auto Timer which is great for pausing the procedure and for brushing the quadrants of the teeth.

The toothbrush also comes with three different modes for teeth cleaning. One of them is the Gentle or Soft mode, while the other two include High clean or Massage modes. Besides, the toothbrush’s handle is ergonomic, and it can be easily gripped or held.

This battery-operated brush gets charged really rapidly, and its excellent battery is capable of lasting more than three weeks. The package also includes a charger. You can easily clean the toothbrush with a wet cloth. There is also a charge indicator at the bottom of the brush. Overall, this is a great toothbrush with great value for money.

    What are its best features?
  • Cleans and whitens the teeth within a couple of minutes
  • Comes with Triple Bristle
  • Powerful battery
  • Reasonably priced
    What could be improved?
  • Takes some getting used to
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 8286 people in the past 30 days
9.2
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
8.7
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
8.7
Features & Benefits
Product Review
8.8
9.2
5
Most Sensitive

Philips Sonicare Essence

Features
  • Number of modes: 1
  • Brush head type: Philips Sonicare, oval
  • Pressure sensor: no
  • Automatic timer: yes
  • Runtime: up to 10 days on one charge
  • Extra brush heads: no

More features: fits all Philips Sonicare snap-on brush heads; battery light indicator

Just like Oral-B, Philips Sonicare is also a household name in the business, and their Sonicare Essence is one of the most popular electric toothbrush models on the market. The toothbrush comes with the patented sonic technology, allowing the brush to give 31000 strokes per minute, which is several thousand more than what a traditional toothbrush can provide. This enables the Sonicare toothbrush to clean better, get to hard-to-reach areas, eliminate plaque, and ward off gum infections such as gingivitis.

The Sonicare Essence, like any great electric toothbrush, features a two-minute timer and an automatic shutoff, thereby making sure your teeth are brushed properly. Another great feature this brush has is its Easy-Start feature. This feature increases the brush’s power gradually over the first twelve uses. It helps your mouth get used to the new toothbrush and prevent bloody gums and other common issues with changing brushes.

Furthermore, the brush comes with a two-year warranty and works for around two weeks on a single charge. Also, it has a base that makes storing it easy when idle. In general, this is a great electric toothbrush. Sadly, it doesn’t come with replacement heads, which might influence your buying decision since 2-pack costs around $30. However, this is a very budget-friendly choice, and is one of the best electric toothbrushes under $50.

    Why are we impressed?
  • Easy-Start helps you acclimatize to your toothbrush
  • Two-minute timer
  • Automatic shutoff
  • Backed by a two-year warranty
  • Cleans efficiently
    What negatives must you be aware of?
  • Replacement brush heads are expensive
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 7266 people in the past 30 days
9.0
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
8.5
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
8.7
Features & Benefits
Product Review
8.6
9.0
Features
  • Number of modes: 3
  • Brush head type: “W” shape bristles, oval
  • Pressure sensor: no
  • Automatic timer: yes
  • Runtime: up to 30 days on one charge
  • Extra brush heads: 2

More features: pauses every 30 seconds to remind you to change the range of brushing

If you are in search of an electric toothbrush that will save you lots of money but provide you with an excellent brushing experience, don’t look beyond the Fairywill Sonic Electric Toothbrush. While it lacks some of the bells and whistles of more expensive models, it compensates for it with a very low price.

Fortunately, this toothbrush seems to be well made. It comes with soft bristles and the corners cut primarily appear to be in the construction quality of the unit instead of its principal functionality. You are left with a very cheap oscillating-rotating toothbrush.

It also comes with five different cleaning modes, which allow you to customize the operations of the brush to your needs. Besides, you can change to bristles that will fit your needs and what you have on your hands is a great toothbrush.

In truth, it can’t really compete with the more expensive modes when it comes to extra features, but it performs well speaking of the core functionality. It’s very cheap, so don’t expect anything exceptional but it’s a decent buy for people on a budget.

    What are our favorite features?
  • Five different cleaning modes
  • Several types of replacement heads
  • Rechargeable battery
  • Great value for money
    What could be better?
  • The brush has a cheap feel
  • Durability is in question

Things to Consider

An electric toothbrush is not something you should buy without adequate knowledge. Our buying guide contains several buying tips that will help you make a well-informed decision.

Which toothbrush is better for braces – manual or electric?

There are some important advantages that electric toothbrushes have over manual toothbrushes when it comes to braces. Research has shown that they are more efficient at cleaning the teeth. In a study carried out for over three months, it was revealed that electric toothbrushes got rid of plaque 11% more effectively than manual models. Additionally, there was a drop in bleeding gums as well as a huge drop in gingivitis.

Cleaning braces

Unlike manual models, electric toothbrushes do not need the brushing motion, so, you don’t need to put as much effort into cleaning, and you will still get a better result. All you need to do to use the electric toothbrush is to turn the toothbrush on and place its head on your teeth – just watch the brush head do the work. Since you don’t need to put extra pressure, you will not need to worry about not pushing enough or pushing too hard.

Features to consider while choosing the electric brush for braces

As great as an electric toothbrush sounds, choosing the wrong model may give you a very sour experience, which may negatively affect your perception of electric toothbrushes going forward. In order to avoid this, consider the following factors before choosing your electric toothbrush.

Number of modes

While some electric toothbrushes provide several brushing modes or speeds for different applications, other come with only one mode. Being able to change modes for either a more vigorous or a gentler brushing is great, particularly if you have some regions in your mouth that are sensitive. A gentler mode is usually preferable for people with braces to prevent causing further gum irritation. For a deeper (yet still gentle) clean, consider getting a water flosser for braces.

Brush head type

There are two primary types of heads for electric toothbrushes. The first one is a rotating brush head, which effectively sweeps away plaque and food particles. A sonic head brush, on the other hand, vibrates, rather than rotate, to effectively clean the teeth. Research has proven that rotating brush heads are more effective at decreasing gingivitis and plaque than sonic brush heads. For brace-wearing people, this difference is very crucial.

Rotating heads are recommended by most dentists for braces, as they’re able to clean in the tight areas between the teeth and the wire better.

Pressure sensor

A lot of people exert too much pressure when brushing their teeth. Bristles only need to skim the teeth’s surface. Over time applying too much pressure can cause gum recession and damage the wires and fixings placed carefully with a brace. Those toothbrushes with inbuilt pressure sensor will alert you when you brush too hard, to enable you to fix the problem, keep your mouth in the best possible condition and prevent avoidable trips for brace repairs.

Pressure sensor

Automatic timer

Most electric toothbrushes usually come with a two-minute timer. However, some toothbrushes provide an extra feature known as a “quad pacer.” This feature breaks the two minutes into 30-second divisions. This enables you to distribute your brushing equally into your mouth’s four quadrants for a smooth cleaning at all times.

Runtime

There is a significant difference in the strength of rechargeable batteries. While there are some that last for over 184 minutes – that is more than six weeks of brushing twice daily for two minutes – others will not last as long. In fact, there are some electric toothbrushes that require recharging after only 16 brushes.

Before you purchase your toothbrush you should consider how often you are likely going to be recharging it. If you intend to keep the toothbrush’s charger readily and the battery regularly topped up at all times, then choosing a model with a powerful battery doesn’t have to be top of your priority list. If you, however, prefer to keep the charger stored away, or you want to take your toothbrush along on long journeys without taking the charger, make sure you find a model with a very powerful battery.

Extra brush heads

All the big brands manufacturing electric toothbrushes offer varieties of extra brush heads that are compatible with their toothbrushes. Alongside regular brush heads, you will also find extra heads for whitening, sensitive teeth, plaque removal, orthodontic work, and several others.

Extra features

Many electric toothbrushes from the higher end offer varieties of extras, like applications to keep a tab on your brushing activities, facial recognition, colorful lights, and motion sensors. While these features truly sound exciting, they aren’t essential and just protrude the cost of the brush.

FAQ

How to brush teeth with braces?

Using an electric toothbrush is simple. Apply some toothpaste on the brush. Hold your toothbrush at an angle of 45-degree, pressed up against your teeth gums to start the procedure. Turn the brush on, and begin in this area, where your teeth and gums meet. Don’t ever begin from the bottom as you will likely push food particles and bacteria up into your gum line this way, which only further irritates them.

Massage into the tiny space between your teeth and your gums to remove any particles of food. Work your way down your whole gum line at the top. Move further to your teeth, and move down every tooth vertically, and then the tiny space in between the teeth. Several people utilize these improperly because they are so accustomed to manual brushing.

Allow your brush to do the bunch of the task. You are only concentrating on positioning, basically automating the procedure as much as possible. As soon as you are done with the top row, work your way down to the bottom row. Firstly, work your teeth, moving in between each tooth, and then spit it out. Now, you will need to return and get out the bottom gum line, since other things have been going down on them. Now, spit, rinse, and you are done with the brushing.

What can I do with a smartphone compatible toothbrush?

The new Oral-B PRO 5000 electric toothbrush, as well as the Oral-B 7000  model, are revolutionary toothbrushes with a first-of-its-kind Bluetooth technology. The Bluetooth technology offers focused care and guidance throughout your dental care journey. All you need to do after buying the toothbrush with a Bluetooth option is to download the accompanying application to receive real-time feedback while you clean for better brushing habits.

With the application, you can adjust your brushing routine according to your needs. It enables you to select particular dental care journeys depending on your oral health objectives, like fresher breath or whiter teeth, to aid the achievement of your best clean. Utilize the Oral-B application to share your progress with your dentist, which allows them to give detailed instructions and recommendations for you to follow at home. Also, the application stores your brushing data up for to six months, which allows you to share or report the latest developments with your dentist.

How often should I change the brush head?

You will have to replace electric brush heads as soon as the bristles are tattered. Replacements are very expensive and worth purchasing in packs to cut down on the cost. Most Philips Sonicare and Oral-B toothbrushes are compatible with an assortment of brush heads, designed to provide a more specific clean, for example flossing, whitening, or multi-directional cleaning

Our verdict

Everyone in the world wishes to have clean and glittering teeth. While the condition of your teeth could bring lots of praises on you, it could also damage your esteem amongst your friends and family. This becomes even more challenging when you are wearing braces but the best toothbrush for braces could make everything easier for you.

If after you’ve read our reviews, you are still struggling to settle on a particular model, we could help with some recommendations. Our first recommendation is the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100. With the integrated Easy-Start feature which helps you get used gradually to the brush and the BrushSync technology which communicates with your toothbrush to choose the intensity and optimal mode automatically, it is surely a great option.

Another great toothbrush you could consider is the Oral-B Pro 5000 SmartSeries Electric Toothbrush. Featuring the Bluetooth connectivity, five different brush settings, and a long-lasting battery, it’s not difficult to see why we rate this brush so highly. The only drawback is its expensive price tag, but it gives good value for money.

Our third and final recommendation is the Triple Bristle Best Sonic Electric Toothbrush. It’s a brush with a three-sided design, which means it can treat the top, front, and back of your teeth simultaneously. Besides, it packs a very powerful battery which is capable of lasting more than 21 days on a single charge. In general, you can’t go wrong with this toothbrush.

9,6
Total Score
Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100 - Editor’s Choice
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