6 Best Electric Toothbrushes for Receding Gums – Reviews and Buying Guide

The selection of the best electric toothbrushes that will help you to maintain gum health and prevent plaque buildup.
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
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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 28, 2023
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Receding gums can be a major dental health issue. In addition to causing sensitivity to hot and cold, this can eventually lead to plaque buildup, gingivitis, and even tooth loss. That is why it is important to take good care of your gums. The best electric toothbrush for receding gums can help you with that.

We reviewed over 30 models and selected 6 best with Oral-B Pro 7000 SmartSeries Black Electric Toothbrush as our top pick. We looked specifically for toothbrushes with features that are essential to people with sensitive teeth as a result of receding gums, such as a moderate cleaning mode and pressure sensors. We also considered battery life, as you want your toothbrush to last for at least 2 weeks on a single charge.

Quick Summary

  • "Awesome toothbrush with a pressure sensor, 3D cleaning action and Bluetooth connectivity. Up to 48000 brush movements per minute. 6 modes. Bluetooth-compatible to track brushing habits."
  • "Powerful, yet gentle on the gums, this model comes with 2 brush heads. 31,000 oscillations per minute. 3 modes and a timer. Up to 6-week battery life."
  • Best Value for Money: Fairywill P11
    "Great waterproof sonic brush with a quick charge time, runs on an advanced Maglev motor. 62,000 oscillations per cycle. 3 modes and 2-minute timer. 30-day battery life."
  • "Pack of 2 brushes that feature a remarkably long battery life and come with a USB charging travel case. 62,000 strokes per minute. 3 modes. 3-week battery life."
  • "Great features at a budget-friendly price, comes with a 2-year warranty. 30,500 strokes per minute. 2-minute timer with intervals. Battery lasts for 1 week of use."
  • "A more unusual model, features 2x the sonic power and ultra-soft silicone and PBT polymer bristles. 11,000 pulsations per minute. 16 speeds. 365-day battery life."

Top 6 Electric Toothbrushes for Receding Gums Review 2024

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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 3224 people in the past 30 days
10
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.9
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.9
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.7
10
Features
  • Cross Action round brush head
  • Up to 800 brush movements per second
  • 3D cleaning
  • 6 modes: Daily Clean, Gum Care, Sensitive, Whitening, Deep Clean, and Tongue Cleaner
  • Pressure sensor
  • Battery runs for 10 days
  • Bluetooth compatible to get real-time Oral-B app feedback
  • Limited 2-year warranty

If you believe in using health data to make your everyday routine better, the SmartSeries electric toothbrush from Oral-B is the model for you. The toothbrush is Bluetooth compatible so that you can get real-time feedback about your brushing and track your brushing habits over time in the Oral-B app on your phone.

The brush features Oral-B’s cross action brushing head with 3D cleaning, which is better than traditional brush heads at cleaning plaque off teeth while still feeling gentle on sensitive areas. At 48,000 oscillations per minute, this brush head packs a ton of power to keep plaque at bay and remove staining.

It is also designed with six different cleaning modes for whatever you need to focus on in your mouth. Of particular interest are the gum care and sensitive modes, both of which slow down the brush head to deliver cleaning while feeling light against receding gums and sensitive areas. The brush also has a pressure sensor to warn you when you are pressing down against your teeth, which can be a huge help for preventing gum recession. The timer is both built into the toothbrush itself as well as shown on a digital display attached to the charging base so you can see how much time is left.

Thanks to all this built-in power, the battery only lasts 10 days rather than several weeks. In addition, because of the low-wattage charger included, the toothbrush can take up to 20 hours to fully recharge from empty.

    What makes it special?
  • Bluetooth connectivity for tracking brushing habits
  • Six different cleaning modes
  • Cross action brush head with 3D cleaning
  • Pressure sensor
    What cons did we find?
  • Battery lasts 10 days and requires up to 20 hours to recharge
Also Product Ranking:
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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 4897 people in the past 30 days
9.5
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.3
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.4
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.3
9.5
Features
  • SmartClean optimized bristles
  • 31,000 brush oscillations per minute
  • 3 modes: normal, soft and massage
  • 2-minute timer
  • Battery runs up to 6 weeks
  • Includes 2 brush heads
  • 2-year warranty

This electric toothbrush from Brio is simple and inexpensive, making it perfect for those who want the benefits of an electric toothbrush for receding gums without all the bells and whistles.

The brush is relatively fast at a maximum speed of 31,000 oscillations per minute, which allows it to be very effective at cleaning plaque in non-sensitive areas. For sensitive teeth, it features a soft cleaning mode, and you can also use it to massage your gums thanks to the massage cleaning mode. The modes are easily controlled by a central button, making it easy to switch during a single brushing.

The toothbrush includes a two-minute timer with a sound reminder every 30 seconds to switch quadrants within your mouth for a full clean. While there are no specialty brush heads included, the brush does come with a second head as a backup or for shared use and Brio offers a brush head subscription program so you’ll never run out of fresh heads for the best cleaning power.

Another great feature of this toothbrush for those who like to keep it simple is the battery – it lasts six weeks on a single charge, so you don’t have to think about it often and this makes it a great travel electric toothbrush. If you do decide to take the charging base with you, it is very compact and easy to pack away.

    What do we love it for?
  • Multiple cleaning modes, including gum massage
  • Two-minute timer with 30-second intervals
  • Battery lasts six weeks per charge
    What were we disappointed with?
  • No accessory brush heads
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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 2514 people in the past 30 days
9.5
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.2
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.2
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.3
9.5
3
Best Value for Money

Fairywill P11

Features
  • Sonic toothbrush
  • 62,000 brushes each cycle
  • High-performance Maglev motor
  • Advanced nano-vacuum semi-transparent plating
  • 3 modes: Clean, Soft, Massage
  • 2-minute timer
  • IPX7 waterproof rating
  • 30-day battery life
  • Fast charge
  • Travel case included

Next on our list is a brand new and much-expected toothbrush from Fairywill. The P11 is a sonic toothbrush with an innovative Maglev motor inside, applying the magnetic levitation technology for better performance. You get up to 62,000 brush movements each cycle for an effective plaque cleaning.

The toothbrush also allows you to choose between three cleaning modes – the casual Clean mode, Soft for those spots where your teeth or gums need gentle brushing, and Massage for gum care. Each mode is lit on the display hidden behind the fancy ring, which looks really impressive.

The P11 comes with a 2-minute timer, beeping after every 30 seconds so you can brush every quadrant effectively. Thich is another feature to consider when you have receding gums, as it substantially improves your oral hygiene.

Another advantage to the brush is that it charges fast – it takes a couple of hours to charge the brush fully, and just about five minutes to charge it for a day. The battery lasts up to 30 days, which is less than Foreo or Brio, but much more than the majority of toothbrushes out there.

The toothbrush is also fully waterproof, covered by a 2-year guarantee, and comes packed in a handy travel case. Overall, we think that this is one of the best toothbrushes with advanced features for the price.

    What makes it stand out?
  • Good cleaning performance
  • Great price
  • Advanced features
  • Three modes
  • Long-lasting battery and fast charging
  • IPX7 waterproof rating
  • Travel case included in the purchase
    Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
  • The lighting on the ring is not straightforward regarding which mode you’re using at the moment
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 6542 people in the past 30 days
9.4
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.1
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.2
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.3
9.4
Features
  • Strokes per minute: 62,000
  • 4 modes: clean, white, gumcare, sensitive
  • SmarTimer and Quadpacer
  • DiamondClean brush head
  • Up to 3 weeks brushing time
  • Illuminated display
  • USB charging travel case

The FlexCare electric toothbrush line by Philips has had all the rave for a while now. It is the ultimate solution for complete whitening and cleaning of teeth. Phillips claim that you can have whiter teeth in a week’s time of using the toothbrush.

The toothbrush utilizes Phillip’s unique sonic technology and 4 brushing modes. Your smile will brighten after a short while when the brush head removes everyday food and drink stains from your teeth.

The unique sonic technology provides powerful vibrations that whip up your toothpaste to form plaque fighting bubbles. The bubbles are then driven deep between the teeth and along the gum line as your teeth experience about 62,000 gentle but highly effective brush movements. As a result, you get a month’s worth of manual brushing in just 2 minutes.

Furthermore, the toothbrush comes with 4 cleaning modes; clean, gum care, white and sensitive. The clean mode offers you an all-around cleaning, the Gum Care mode stimulates gums and improves gum health, the white mode removes stains from the surface of your teeth and the sensitive mode offers gentle but thorough gum cleaning.

If you travel a lot, this should be your go-to toothbrush. Its battery life is remarkably long. You can use it for 3 weeks on a single charge. Plus, it comes with a USB charging travel case that allows you to charge on the go. You can charge it using a wall outlet or USB port.

    What stands out?
  • Unique sonic technology that works to brighten the teeth
  • Long battery life-3 weeks
  • USB charging travel case
  • Offers excellent value for money
    What cons did we manage to find?
  • Sub-par handle quality
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 7646 people in the past 30 days
9.0
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
8.9
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
8.5
Features & Benefits
Product Review
8.7
9.0
Features
  • Advanced brush head design with extra-soft bristles
  • Strokes per minute: 30,500
  • 2-min brushing timer with 30-sec intervals
  • Recharge indicator
  • Battery runs for 1 week; needs min. 1h to recharge
  • Limited 2-year warranty

If you are looking to make the switch to an electric toothbrush, but don’t want to invest hundreds of dollars in your first electric model, this toothbrush from Waterpik offers most of the features of top-end models at a budget price.

At 30,500 oscillations per minute, the toothbrush may not boast the same speed as other electric toothbrushes – but this speed is more than enough to clear plaque and won’t leave your teeth aching as you’re brushing around receding gums. In addition, the toothbrush can switch to a slower speed for sensitive areas. The brush also has a built-in two-minute timer and makes a sound at 30-second intervals to let you know to switch areas of your mouth.

The brush comes with three different heads, although in all likelihood you will primarily use the standard head. The other two are variations on size to get at more precise areas and in between teeth, but opting for floss is more effective at cleaning these spots. The brush heads are inexpensive, so it is possible to buy several either as replacements or for sharing the electric base with a partner.

The battery runs for between one and two weeks and recharges quickly when needed. The indicator on the front of the toothbrush lets you know when the battery level is low. The biggest fault of this toothbrush, though, is that the battery is not replaceable without getting an entirely new toothbrush. Users found that the battery lasts between two and three years, just beyond the warranty period.

For cleaning particularly hard-to-reach or tough areas of your mouth, consider pairing this toothbrush with a water flosser in a packaged kit. Together, this toothbrush and the water flosser will keep your mouth clean and your gums feeling relaxed and healthy.

    What makes it stand out?
  • Built-in timer with 30-second interval sound
  • Rechargeable battery lasts up to two weeks
  • Inexpensive to replace brush heads
    Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
  • Battery is not replaceable and dies after 2-3 years
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 6699 people in the past 30 days
8.5
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
8.3
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
8.1
Features & Benefits
Product Review
8.3
8.5
Features
  • 2X the sonic power
  • Ultra-soft hygienic bristles (premium silicone + PBT polymer)
  • 11,000 high-intensity pulsations per minute
  • 16 adjustable speeds
  • Battery runs for 365 days after 1-hour charge
  • Waterproof
  • 1-year warranty

This electric toothbrush from Foreo is designed to be unique among toothbrushes, but the innovation comes with an expensive price tag.

First, this brush simply looks different from most other toothbrushes – electric or manual – on the market. The reason is that it is made primarily from silicone, which makes it both ergonomic to hold as well as fully waterproof for use in the shower.

Second, the battery is extremely unusual, in a great way. It is charged by USB for one hour, then offers enough juice to run the toothbrush for 365 days without recharging. This feature is a big deal if you travel and want an electric toothbrush along, since it means it can be charged anywhere and, more likely, won’t need to be charged during a trip of any length.

The toothbrush also features 16 adjustable speeds, allowing you to dial in the speed that feels most comfortable for your sensitive teeth and to adjust between sensitive areas and non-sensitive areas that you want to clean more deeply.

However, given the high price tag of this toothbrush – it is the most expensive in our roundup – there are a few features missing. It does not have a timer, which is essential for adequate brushing, since most people are in the habit of brushing their teeth for less than one minute. It also does not come with multiple brush heads for precision cleaning in between teeth.

    Why did it make our list?
  • Battery lasts for a full year on a one-hour USB charge
  • Fully waterproof
  • 16-speed adjustability
    What is not ideal about it?
  • Expensive
  • No built-in timer
  • No accessory brush heads

Things to Consider

Although no electric toothbrush can cure receding gums, the right one can prevent further decline and help get rid of plaque. This section will guide you through some of the key features.

Using an electric toothbrush for receding gums

The girl is brushing her teeth

Why use an electric toothbrush rather than a traditional manual brush to help deal with receding gums? The main reason is that electric toothbrushes encourage you to apply less pressure when brushing than you might with a manual brush – and pressure Trusted Source Receding gums: Causes, symptoms, and treatment The gums can recede due to inflammation or wear over time. Gum recession exposes the roots of teeth to decay and infection, and symptoms include sensitivity and pain. Catching and treating recession early can stop or reverse the process. Common treatments include deep cleaning, medication, and grafts. www.medicalnewstoday.com is a major cause of receding gums. The motion of electric toothbrushes allows you to hold it against your teeth without applying force, and the best electric toothbrushes have a built-in pressure sensor to warn you when you could be doing damage to your gums. In addition, electric toothbrushes can limit your brushing to two minutes if they have a built-in timer, so that you don’t overbrush and cause gum damage, or don’t underbrush, which can lead to plaque formation and worsen the gums situation. Although these might seem like subtle benefits, they can make a huge difference in whether your gums feel okay during brushing or as if they are under attack.

Cleaning modes

Some electric toothbrushes come with different cleaning modes for different purposes – for example, teeth whitening, deep cleaning, or gum massaging. These different modes can change the rate of vibrations and oscillations of the brush head, and a low-frequency cleaning mode may feel better against sensitive teeth and gums.

[wpsm_box type=”blue” float=”none” text_align=”left”]However, dentists have found that cleaning modes will not impact your dental health overall as long as you are using your toothbrush properly and regularly.[/wpsm_box]

Pressure sensors

Having a pressure sensor on your electric toothbrush can make a huge difference if you have receding gums,  since pressure is one of the main causes of gum recession. A pressure sensor will warn you if you begin applying force against your teeth rather than simply holding the brush head up to your teeth and letting it spin. Ultrasonic toothbrushes are known to have some of the gentlest cleaning actions, as they do not apply too much pressure on the teeth and gums.

Different brush heads

Brush heads of Oral B electric toothbrushes

Some electric toothbrushes come with multiple, different brush heads optimized for different purposes, such as cleaning more precisely in the cavities of your teeth or cleaning the area between your teeth. If you feel these are places that you typically neglect in your brushing, having these brush heads available can make a big difference in your cleaning. However, for the most part, you may be better off with just the standard brush head, good brushing techniques, and floss or a cordless water flosser for cleaning hard-to-reach places in between teeth.

Built-in timer

Look for a brush with a built-in timer that will limit your brushing to two minutes. This is important both for those who tend to overbrush – which can cause excess damage to your gums – and for those who tend to underbrush – leaving behind plaque to build up and cause problems. With a built-in timer, you don’t need to guess whether you’re brushing for an appropriate length of time.

Battery runtime and charging time

If you’re only planning on using your electric toothbrush at home and replacing it on the charging stand after each use, battery runtime will not be an important consideration. However, if you travel frequently, battery life can determine whether or not you’ll need to bring a charging stand with you, which can be bulky. Although charging time is typically less than the time between brushings, this is not true for all electric toothbrushes and is important to check when choosing a brush.

Waterproof capability

Electric toothbrush in water

You might think that all electric toothbrushes are waterproof, since they’re designed to be rinsed with water, but that is not necessarily the case.

[wpsm_box type=”red” float=”none” text_align=”left”]In fact, most electric toothbrushes are only water resistant and will not do well if left in water for an extended period. If you typically brush your teeth in the shower, you will want to look for a toothbrush that is fully waterproof.[/wpsm_box]

Conclusion

If you suffer from receding gums, switching to an electric toothbrush can make a significant difference in slowing the progression of the problem and even encouraging your gums to grow back. This is because electric toothbrushes encourage good brushing habits, including reducing the pressure on your gums, and often work more effectively at removing plaque than manual toothbrushes. Our guide highlights five of our favorite electric toothbrushes on the market today and covers everything you need to know to choose the best electric toothbrush for your needs.

References

1.
Receding gums: Causes, symptoms, and treatment
The gums can recede due to inflammation or wear over time. Gum recession exposes the roots of teeth to decay and infection, and symptoms include sensitivity and pain. Catching and treating recession early can stop or reverse the process. Common treatments include deep cleaning, medication, and grafts.
10
Total Score
Oral-B Pro 7000 SmartSeries Black Electric Toothbrush - Editor's Choice
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