You can keep your teeth and gums healthy with a good brushing technique, twice a day. And for most of us, this is easier to achieve with an electric toothbrush. However, the choice of which model to buy can feel overwhelming.
You can spend a small fortune on additional features & gimmicks, but spending big doesn’t translate to cleaner teeth.
The good news is that you can buy a great electric toothbrush for under £50. This doesn’t get you a fancy case, USB charging or Bluetooth connectivity, but based on clinical evidence, it’s the right option for clean teeth & healthy gums.
Best Electric Toothbrush UK
Verum recommendations are based on research & results from clinical trials (more on this later). There’s good evidence that using an electric toothbrush, correctly, will give you the results you desire.
Over the last decade, numerous tests and studies have analysed the benefit of using a powered toothbrush, compared to the manual equivalent. Importantly, they all conclude that you will have healthier teeth and gums by using an electric toothbrush. There are two main options in the UK are Oral-B & Philips Sonic.
Oral-B vs. Philips Sonic
Oral B favour rotating head technology, while the Sonic system is used by Philips. Published research has been very clear on the overall benefits of an electric toothbrush. And although the difference between the two types of brushing is small – the research favours the rotating brush. You’ll find the best rotating head toothbrushes below.
Many of us, make the same two mistakes when cleaning our teeth – we press too hard & are reluctant to spend 2 minutes doing the job properly. To help with this, both our best buys have a pressure sensor and timer – easy!
Pressing too hard with any brush is bad for your gums and a pressure sensor makes it easy, to get this right. And while an electric brush is superior to the manual equivalent, it’s not a magic wand. Two minutes of brushing is required.
The evidence for good oral hygiene is clear and this is easier with the best electric toothbrush…
Affordable Electric Toothbrush
Oral-B Pro 1 CrossAction
It takes two minutes to brush your teeth properly. The timer incorporated into this electric toothbrush helps you get into a good habit by giving alerts every 30 seconds, meaning you can attribute equal time to each quadrant.
Also important is the pressure sensor, which cuts the pulses should you press too hard. This gives you a clear signal if you’re pressing too hard, although there’s no light on this model.
The heads are easy to swap. So each family member can have their own brush head, identified by a colour loop.
The Oral-B Pro 1 CrossAction doesn’t have fancy features, but it will give your teeth a really good clean. Plus, it’s cheaper than a single NHS filling!
It’s possible to spend a small fortune on an electric toothbrush, but this model does everything you need it to.
Oral-B Pro 1 | Verdict Price £30
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Best Electric Toothbrush under £50
Oral-B Pro 3
The Oral-B Pro 3 ranks as one of the best selling electric toothbrushes in the UK. And for good reason. As with all good Oral-B toothbrushes, the rotating brush head oscillates, rotates and pulsates to deliver the proven technology to get your teeth clean. Plus, it has a couple of additional features that make it worth a few quid more.
How long does the battery last on an electric toothbrush?
The lithium battery means it will stay charged for longer. If used by one person, morning & night, the battery will last around two weeks – twice as long as cheaper models.
To make sure that excessive pressure isn’t applied while brushing, a sensor not only cuts the pulse action to the brush but also illuminates a small light on the handle. This helps improve the brushing technique.
The timer does the same job as all Oral-B toothbrushes, buzzing every thirty seconds to help you brush each quadrant of your mouth equally.
In addition to the better battery and pressure sensor light, this electric toothbrush has an additional setting for sensitive teeth. This setting gives a gentle and slower clean, that may work better for you.
The Oral-B Pro 3 is a great buy – ticking all the boxes. It has the right cleaning action, a timer, pressure sensor, a good battery and a setting for sensitive teeth. Yes, you can spend a lot more on an electric toothbrush, but if you want a great electric toothbrush and can go without connecting it to your phone, this is for you
Oral-B Pro 3 | Verdict Price £45
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What Else Do I Need to Know?
As you are almost certainly aware there are numerous websites with toothbrush reviews. Some rely on a single test or one person’s view. Rather than take a snapshot, Verum has checked user opinion and scrutinised manufacturer claims, but ultimately recommendations are based on respected clinical research.
Research
In 2014, Cochrane research was summarised as “Powered toothbrushes reduce plaque and gingivitis more than manual toothbrushing in the short and long term.” Plus, in 2019 the ‘Journal of Clinical Periodontology’ published findings from an eleven-year study confirming the same results.
Rotating Head
While the research is very clear on the advantages of electric vs. manual, there is also a marginal view that the rotating head, preferred by Oral-B is the better technology. This conclusion coupled with the lower prices leads to the Verum recommendations.
Healthier Teeth & Gums
Around half the UK population still use a manual toothbrush. While regular manual brushing and good technique will yield similar results to the electric equivalent, maintaining healthy teeth and gums is far easier with an electric toothbrush.
Good oral hygiene has never been more important. Lockdowns have resulted in fewer dentist appointments. Most of us have missed a checkup or hygienist visit over the last couple of years. Looking forward, there’s every reason in 2023 to use an electric toothbrush and benefit from cleaner teeth.
The recommended models are compatible will all Oral-B brush heads and while the CrossAction head (supplied) is right for most people, it may be worth ordering extras or trying alternatives to find the perfect brush for you.
Comparison
| Oral B Pro 1 | Oral B Pro 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Oscillate, Rotate & Pulsate | Yes | Yes |
| Pressure Sensor | Pulse | Pulse & light |
| Timer | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | 7 days | 2 weeks + |
| Case | No | Yes |
| Number of Heads | 2 | 1 |
BEST SELLER
BEST BUY
UK Verdict
The recommendations above are based on long-term, respected and recognised research.
Some expensive electric toothbrushes come with Bluetooth technology that connects to your smartphone, giving you additional information on how well you are brushing your teeth. If you feel that you will use this technology, beyond the first few brushes, then it may be worth the extra hundred or so pounds! Other premium features include fancy carrying cases and USB charging. Some are nice to have, but probably don’t justify the price tag.
Perhaps an unpopular recommendation with manufacturers, but the Verum Best Buy electric toothbrush costs less than £50. It’s hard to justify spending more.
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