You do not need an electric toothbrush to keep your teeth healthy. The NHS says it does not matter which type you use, as long as you clean every surface of every tooth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Many people find an electric brush makes that easier. If you buy one, a simple model with a 2-minute timer and a pressure sensor is all most people need.

Electric or manual?

The NHS says both work well. Some people find it easier to clean thoroughly with an electric brush.

UK dental guidance for dentists, published on GOV.UK, says there is moderate-certainty evidence that powered brushes reduce plaque and gum inflammation (gingivitis) more than manual brushes. It also says it is not clear how much difference that makes in everyday life, and that teeth can be cleaned well with either type. There is no evidence either way on whether powered brushes prevent tooth decay.

So an electric brush can help, but technique and brushing twice a day matter more than the brush.

How to brush properly

These steps are the same whichever brush you use.

  1. Brush twice a day for about 2 minutes. Make one of those times last thing before bed.
  2. Use a fluoride toothpaste. Adults need at least 1,350ppm fluoride: check the tube.
  3. Clean the inside, outside and chewing surfaces of every tooth. With an electric brush, guide it slowly from tooth to tooth and let it do the work. Do not scrub.
  4. If your brush buzzes every 30 seconds, move to the next quarter of your mouth.
  5. Spit out the toothpaste. Do not rinse with water, because that washes away the fluoride.
  6. Clean between your teeth every day with floss or interdental brushes. The NHS suggests doing this before you brush.

If you use a fluoride mouthwash, use it at a different time of day, such as after lunch, not straight after brushing.

Oscillating-rotating or sonic?

There are two main designs.

Type How it works Example makers
Oscillating-rotating A small round head turns quickly back and forth Oral-B
Sonic A longer head vibrates side to side very fast Philips Sonicare

The UK dental guidance says the evidence is not strong enough to say any one type of powered action is better than another. Choose the one you find comfortable and will use every day.

Features that matter

  • 2-minute timer with a 30-second pacer. It tells you when to move on, so you cover your whole mouth.
  • Pressure sensor. It warns you, and slows the brush, if you press too hard.
  • A small head with soft or medium bristles. The UK guidance says medium and soft bristles are less likely to harm your gums.
  • Rechargeable handle. Many models last about two weeks between charges.
  • Cost of replacement heads. You will buy these for years, so check the price before you choose a handle. Oral-B says to replace the head every 3 months, or sooner if it looks worn. Some Philips models tell you when a head needs changing.

Lots of cleaning modes, screens and colour lights are nice to have but not essential.

Smart (app-connected) toothbrushes

Some brushes connect to a phone app by Bluetooth. The app can show which areas you have missed, time your brushing and warn about pressure. For some people, especially children, this makes brushing feel more like a game.

Before you pay extra, think about the downsides:

  • The novelty can wear off. Many people stop opening the app after a while. The brush still works without it.
  • The app needs support. Features depend on the app being kept up to date for your phone. Philips, for example, promises software updates for 2 years after purchase for its smart children’s brush. After that, the smart features may stop working, but the brush itself should carry on as a normal electric brush.
  • Your data. The app collects information about when and how you brush. Read its privacy policy first, especially if the brush is for a child.

Smart brushes cost more. Compare the price bands below: a basic electric brush is often less than half the price of an app-connected one.

Children and people with braces

Children

The NHS advice on brushing depends on age:

  • Under 3: start brushing as soon as the first tooth comes through. Use a smear of toothpaste with at least 1,000ppm fluoride. An adult does the brushing.
  • 3 to 6: use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste with 1,000 to 1,500ppm fluoride. Your child brushes, with you supervising.
  • 7 and over: use toothpaste with 1,350 to 1,500ppm fluoride. Children can brush on their own, but it helps to watch that they do it properly and for about 2 minutes.

Children should spit out after brushing and not rinse. Make sure they do not eat or lick toothpaste from the tube.

The NHS does not say children need an electric brush. If you choose one, buy a children’s model with a small, soft head and gentle settings. Check the maker’s age guidance: some adult brushes, such as the Philips Sonicare 4100, are sold for ages 12 and over.

Braces

With fixed braces, the NHS advises brushing with fluoride toothpaste in the morning, at night and after meals. It also advises using an interdental brush every day to clean between your teeth and under the wires. NHS orthodontic advice says an electric or a manual brush is fine. Change your brush heads when the bristles look worn, and follow your orthodontist’s advice.

Our picks

These are models whose makers’ UK pages were checked on 28 October 2026. Prices move, so each has a rough band.

Low-cost pick: Oral-B Pro 3 3500

Oral-B Pro 3 3500 (affiliate link) is an oscillating-rotating brush with a 2-minute timer that buzzes every 30 seconds. Its pressure control lights up and slows the brush if you press too hard. It has three modes: daily clean, sensitive and whitening. This version comes with a travel case. Expect to pay about £30 to £50.

Low-cost sonic pick: Philips Sonicare 4100

Philips Sonicare 4100 (affiliate link) is a sonic brush with a 2-minute timer and a 30-second pacer. Its pressure sensor warns you and reduces the vibration. It reminds you when the head needs changing, and a charge lasts up to 14 days. It is sold for ages 12 and over. Expect to pay about £40 to £60.

Smart pick: Oral-B iO5

Oral-B iO5 (affiliate link) connects to the free Oral-B app, which tracks where you have brushed and coaches you. It has a smart pressure sensor that warns if you brush too hard or too softly, and a light ring that shows when your 2 minutes are up. Ordinary Oral-B heads do not fit iO handles, so you need iO heads. Check their price before you buy. Expect to pay about £80 to £130.

For children: Philips Sonicare For Kids Smart

Philips Sonicare For Kids Smart (affiliate link) has a 2-minute timer with light and sound, a 30-second pacer and two gentle modes. It connects to the Sonicare For Kids app, which includes a parent dashboard. A charge lasts up to 21 days. Philips gives software updates for 2 years. Expect to pay about £80 to £90 from Philips, often less elsewhere.

Which should you buy?

  • Most adults: the Oral-B Pro 3 or Philips Sonicare 4100. Both have the features that matter.
  • If you want coaching: an app-connected brush such as the Oral-B iO5, if you think you will keep using the app.
  • Children: a children’s model, with an adult supervising until at least age 7.
  • Someone with arthritis or a weak grip: the UK dental guidance says people who lack manual dexterity may need help brushing, and that special grip handles may help. A chunky electric handle can be easier to hold. Ask your dentist or hygienist.

Questions people ask

Can an electric toothbrush damage my gums or enamel?

Not if you use it gently. Damage is more likely from pressing too hard or using hard bristles. A pressure sensor and a soft or medium head help. If your gums bleed or feel sore, see your dentist.

How often should I change the head?

Oral-B says every 3 months, or sooner if the bristles are worn. Worn bristles clean less well.

What if I have sensitive teeth?

Use a soft head and a brush with a sensitive mode, and do not press hard. If your teeth stay sensitive, see your dentist. Sensitivity can have causes that need treatment.

Will an electric toothbrush help with bad breath?

Cleaning well helps. The NHS advises brushing twice a day, cleaning your tongue once a day and cleaning between your teeth every day. See a dentist if bad breath does not go away after a few weeks of this.

Is an electric toothbrush worth the money?

For many people, yes, because the timer and pressure sensor make good brushing easier. But teeth can be cleaned well with a manual brush too. If money is tight, a manual brush used properly is fine.

What matters most: the brush or the technique?

Technique. Brushing twice a day for about 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste, and cleaning between your teeth, protects your teeth whichever brush you use.

When to get help

Go to A&E or call 999 if:

  • the area around your eye, or your neck, is swollen
  • swelling in your mouth or neck makes it hard to breathe, swallow or speak
  • you have a serious injury to your face or jaw, or bleeding from your mouth that will not stop

Do not drive yourself.

Call 111 or use NHS 111 online if you need urgent dental help and you do not have a dentist, or cannot get an urgent appointment.

Ask your dentist for an urgent appointment if:

  • toothache lasts more than 2 days, or painkillers do not help
  • your gums are very sore and swollen
  • teeth feel loose
  • you have an ulcer, red patch or lump in your mouth that does not go away

See your dentist (not urgent) if your gums bleed when you brush, or bad breath does not go away. The NHS suggests a check-up if you have not had one for 2 years, or 1 year for under-18s.

A pharmacist can advise on pain relief while you wait for a dental appointment. Your GP practice cannot give dental treatment.