10 Best Electric Toothbrushes UK 2024 | Philips, Oral-B, and More

Rotating toothbrushes have a rounded head with bristles that move swiftly around the tooth, brushing away plaque to keep your teeth healthy and breath fresh. If you have sensitive teeth, a rotating brush is ideal as their gentle sweeping motion isn't too abrasive on the gums. Plus, they're the type most recommended for brace wearers, as the rotation can better reach between each wire. 

However, if you're switching to a rotating brush from a manual, you might find yourself having to change the usual way you scrub, as you'll need to hold the head on every single tooth to properly clean – which may test your patience somewhat! 

Sonic toothbrushes are shaped like a regular toothbrush, so instead of rotating, the bristles vibrate at a high speed. These advanced brushes create pulses that push water and saliva through your mouth and between your teeth, catching every last bit of plaque and much more rapidly removing build-ups of bacteria from your teeth, gums, and tongue.

Because this type of toothbrush is the latest on the market and does have some pretty cool and advanced technology, you will find you'll usually have to pay more for the privilege. Luckily, if you are more drawn to this type we've listed a whole range of different brands and models to make sure you find the best for your budget! 

Brushing your teeth isn't just important for removing plaque – it's also about general maintenance and hygiene. That's why some toothbrushes have several modes that change the movements and pressure for different purposes, like teeth whitening, daily cleaning, sensitive teeth, gum care, and tongue care. 

Another mode we'd highly suggest looking for in your brush is a built-in timer, which will make it easier to know when to swap to the other side of your mouth, or when you really have reached the recommended 2 minute brushing time. 

It's these extra modes, and which of them, that can really determine if it's the right toothbrush for you. It's important that your brush can help you with everything your dentist suggests, so having this sort of tailoring makes it worth every penny!

For more products which can help teeth look healthier and whiter, check out our guides on the best whitening toothpastes, mouthwashes for gums and oil pulling products.

Toothbrush technology is breaking boundaries with the latest smartphone activities. With some brushes, you can download official brand apps to learn more about dental hygiene and use the personalised experience to make sure that you hit every spot.

Depending on the app itself, you can access features such as location sensors that help to determine which teeth need the most attention. This is shown by presenting a 3D map of a set of teeth and highlighting the areas that could use some extra brushing.

Most also offer your very own progress tracker in real-time. Being able to see this information is a perfect way to not only keep track of your habits (which is great for forgetful brushers), but also to motivate you to take better care of your teeth. So, look for the features you think will help you get there! 

One of the most common errors made in dental hygiene is brushing with too much force – while you may think that vigorous scrubbing is exactly what that build-up of plaque needs, the pressure can actually be quite destructive to the protective enamel on your teeth. 

To help you avoid injuring your teeth and gums, some electric toothbrushes have a pressure sensor that flashes or beeps to alert you when there's too much being exerted. We'd recommend checking to see if your electric toothbrush uses this feature, particularly if your teeth and gums are sensitive.