We found the replaceable brush head to be very similar to a manual brush, with W-shaped bristles that let us get into tight spaces (Philips doesn’t offer any alternative brushes like it does for its main Sonicare lineup). The bristles were soft and gentle, leaving our teeth feeling extremely clean and much better than a manual toothbrush. During our testing, we found a few specific functions to be extremely important during our brushing sessions. Below is a description of each functionality and options to look for when considering a toothbrush.

Some studies suggest that bleaching can lead to tooth sensitivity . However, this only applies to aggressive bleaching methods. Examples of aggressive bleaching methods include power bleaching, where high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (30 to 50%) are used to whiten teeth. 5We looked for brushes that offered an automated two-minute timer, the most useful feature according to the dental professionals we talked to. We also looked for 30-second quadrant timers, which keep you moving the brush to cover the entire mouth.

The Philips Sonicare brushes use high-frequency sonic vibration technology that produces a side-to-side motion with up to 30,000 strokes per minute. The vibration, as well as fluid dynamics, give the Sonicare toothbrushes cleaning power of up to 10 times greater than a manual brush. Oral-B The article is updated and reviewed again regularly to ensure pricing, product details, and other specs are up-to-date As we learned, brushing for a full two minutes is extremely important when brushing your teeth. Fortunately, every toothbrush we tested included a built-in two-minute timer, which allowed us to not cheat on our brushing session. Additionally, many toothbrushes also include a vibrating alert every 30 seconds that reminds you to move on to the next quadrant of your mouth, making it easier to remember to cover all of your teeth. Many toothbrushes, although not all, allow you to pause your toothbrush for up to 30 seconds without resetting the timer. Water jet flosser/sonic electric toothbrush Water jet flosser/sonic electric toothbrush Water jet flosser/sonic electric toothbrush Water jet flosser/sonic electric toothbrush Water jet flosser/sonic electric toothbrush Water jet flosser/sonic electric toothbrush Water jet flosser/sonic electric toothbrush Water jet flosser/sonic electric toothbrush Water jet flosser/sonic electric toothbrush Water jet flosser/sonic electric toothbrush Water jet flosser/sonic electric toothbrush Water jet flosser/sonic electric toothbrush Water jet flosser/sonic electric toothbrush Water jet flosser/sonic electric toothbrush Water jet flosser/sonic electric toothbrush Primary Device ID The seven modes include daily clean, intense clean, whitening, gum care, sensitive, super sensitive and tongue clean. Registered dental hygienist Nicole Barbour, who works for a practice in Newton, MA, told us that while most of the patients she sees only need a standard mode, a sensitive setting can be beneficial for those who are at higher risk for enamel wear, gingival attachment or tooth sensitivity. She also suggested that the gum care setting — when used with a compatible brush head — can help remove bacteria from the gum line. However, she did go on to say that there’s not enough independent data available as to whether or not all modes are in fact beneficial and exceed your regular standard mode. And for most patients, multiple mode options aren’t necessary.Amy King, a registered dental hygienist at Chestnut Dental Associates in Needham, MA, told us that she has seen a dramatic improvement in the oral hygiene of patients who use electric toothbrushes, so long as they use them correctly and with the appropriate settings. She sees “less inflammation and less bleeding,” and that “in some cases, people who use electric toothbrushes and admit to not flossing regularly, have gums that look as good if not better than those that floss regularly.”