When it comes to keeping your teeth gleaming, there’s a seemingly endless array of options to choose from. The two big dogs of oral hygiene, Oral-B and Philips alone offer dozens of different electric toothbrushes, ranging from affordable options like the Oral-B iO2 to brushes more expensive than a teeth whitening weekend in Turkey.
So, which electric toothbrushes are actually worth your money? And what features do you really need in a brush? I asked an expert, Dr Praveen Sharma, a specialist in restorative dentistry and scientific advisor to the British Dental Association. His advice is to forget the frills and focus on the fundamentals. “Look for a rechargeable brush with a built-in timer, a small head, and medium-stiffness bristles. Any other features are nice to have but not essential,” he explains.
No matter which electric toothbrush you choose, Dr Sharma says that “the most effective way to clean teeth is to use the correct technique, brushing all surfaces of the teeth for at least two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste”.
With that in mind, I’ve been putting a huge range of brushes through their paces. You can also find individual reviews written by the wider IndyBest team, from the Suri toothbrush to the Oral-B genius X. My guide to the best electric toothbrushes focuses on what really matters: a powerful and effective clean, a pressure sensor to protect your gums and long-term value for money.
How I tested
I’ve been testing electric toothbrushes since 2021. To ensure my recommendations include options for a broad range of dental needs, I have also enlisted the help of multiple other testers, including those undergoing teeth-straightening with invisible braces and those with implants and sensitivity. When trialling, the team of testers and I used each model for a minimum of one month, and paid close attention to cleaning ability, modes, pressure sensors, battery life, price and more.
Why you can trust us
IndyBest is The Independent’s expert-driven shopping section. We thoroughly test every product we feature in real-world conditions to bring you unbiased reviews based on our extensive testing. We include products to suit all budgets, from premium to affordable, and we only recommend products we think you’ll love.
Steve Hogarty is a tech journalist with more than a decade of experience testing and reviewing gadgets, which means he’s genuinely interested in the workings of an electric toothbrush. He’s tested dozens of electric toothbrushes from big and small brands, enlisted the help of other testers with a range of dental-care needs, and consulted oral health experts to determine which features to look out for.
Additionally, the wider IndyBest team provide in-depth insight on many aspects of oral hygiene. Apart from toothbrushes, both for adults and kids, the team has covered essential products, including the best water flossers and the best teeth whitening kits.
The best electric toothbrushes for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Oral-B iO2: £40, Boots.com
- Best sustainable brush – Suri electric toothbrush: £63.75, Amazon.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Ordo sonic+: £59.99, Ordolife.com
- Best premium option – Philips Sonicare 9900 prestige: £289, Amazon.co.uk
- Best for braces – Oral-B iO9: £180, Amazon.co.uk
