Yahoo News The 7 best electric toothbrushes for 2018
If you brush your teeth regularly and properly you could live longer. That's no exaggeration. The research is overwhelming: our oral hygiene has the ability to affect our general health, and having the best electric toothbrush is crucial.
In 2016, for example, scientists discovered that brushing your teeth regularly could slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The research found that gum disease can speed up mental decline by six times.
How do you go about upping your oral hygiene game (short of becoming best friends with a dentist)? Many would recommend an electric toothbrush and, over the past fifty years or so, they have become staples in bathrooms all over the world. But is an electric model really what's best for you?
The evidence, and the expert advice, says yes. The Telegraph caught up with dentist Dr Toby Edwards-Lunn, who helped pen a detailed guide on how best to brush teeth, and he was unequivocal on the benefits of going electric.
"This day and age the technology is so good, you don't need to put any elbow grease into it. The brush does it for us", said Dr Edwards-Lunn. "From the age of six to 96, all my patients are aided by using an electric toothbrush."
Simply switching to an electric toothbrush cannot guarantee healthy teeth. A good toothpaste, brushing technique, brushing at the right time and flossing are all crucial too. But an electric toothbrush is certainly a good start.
Will electric toothbrushes help with gum disease?
"Patients who use electric toothbrushes are a lot less likely to suffer from gum disease", says Dr Edwards-Lunn, co-founder of Dr Heff's Remarkable Mints, a sugar-free mint that helps protect teeth from tooth decay and acid attacks throughout the day. "Unfortunately, gum disease is a multifactoral disease. Just having an electric toothbrush doesn't mean you won't get it. But it will mean the risk is much reduced. The most important thing is removing the plaque."
And with more than half of patients the dentist sees having a high plaque score – even those who brush twice a day – moving to an electric option will certainly help.
Will electric toothbrushes help with receding gums?
"Gums recede for lots of reasons. Patients can be susceptible to it, or they can sometimes brush too hard. They can have past problems with gum disease, which could have caused it. And they can have a thin biotype of gum, where it's a genetic thing.
"Because an electric toothbrush does the work for you, and will hopefully tell you when you're pushing too hard, it can help protect against further recession."
Will electric toothbrushes whiten my teeth?
"There's a common misconception with whitening teeth. All the on-shelf products won't whiten your teeth, they will reduce the amount of stain on your teeth. You've got extrinsic stains, which are on the outside of the teeth, from food, drinks and cigarettes.
"Intrinsic stains are down to age or genetics. Tooth whitening in the dental surgery affects intrinsic stains. By using an electric toothbrush you are going to reduce the likelihood of putting on extrinsic stains, but will not remove the stain once they're already in."
Can electric toothbrushes damage my teeth?
"Yes. If you're pushing too hard, or you are timing your brush incorrectly. For instance, on a night out you probably will be putting acidic and sweet things around your teeth. You'll probably damage your teeth by brushing them. After something sweet or acidic leave it for about 45 minutes."
The same goes for breakfast, where acidic things like fruit can soften the outer surface, and immediate brushing would be harmful.
As for scratching the teeth, as long as you don't push too hard, you should be all right.
With Dr Edwards-Lunn's advice in mind, The Telegraph tested a variety of toothbrushes on the market, from high-tech smart toothbrushes to cheaper options. While some have three-figure prices, the good news is, according to Dr Edwards-Lunn, spending around £40 will stand you in good stead. Unless mentioned, the products tested all had the magic two-minute timer, so no more excuses.
(N.B. Many electric toothbrushes are sold with two-pronged power plugs. With shaving sockets something of an ancient relic in the UK, it's worth checking if you need an adapter before buying.)
1. Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Deep Clean
There's a lot to like about this toothbrush, starting with the promise on the box: "Removes up to 10 X more plaque", (I assume the "up to" means my brushing technique is still important). There's the fact it's pretty stylish: the brush is plain white, and it comes with a travel USB charging case that looks more like a Bluetooth speaker.
Then there are the variety of settings: Gum Health, which adds an extra minute for low-powered gum brushing; Deep Clean, a three-minute power wash; and White, which supposedly works harder to remove those coffee and tea stains you're likely to get in the morning.
I opt for Sensitive, which goes easy on the precious gums. Even so, it's far more potent than what I'm used to (a manual brush). During my first use, the toothpaste slides off the vibrating bristles. When I reload, and successfully get it to my mouth, I quickly learn the golden rule: don't open your mouth while brushing, or it will splatter everywhere.
The brushing itself is good, and I like the extra features – if not the undersized accompanying cup. Essentially, it's a very good electric toothbrush, charges quickly and stays powerful for a long time. But a glance at the price will show that those features do come at a premium.
Telegraph rating: 8/10
2. Oral-B Pro 2000
When we asked Dr Edwards-Lunn what the best electric toothbrush was, his answer was unequivocal: the Oral-B Pro 2000 is "reasonably priced" at £30, and high performing. Without costing an arm and a leg (or a tooth), its round heads provide an excellent clean.
All the usual features are there, the two-minute timer for example, and it tells you when you brush too hard, which is handy.
Why's the Oral-B Pro 2000 so much cheaper than the Philips Sonicare? I hear you ask. Well, with the Sonicare you get a bunch of extra features - the various brush settings; the glass holder; the funky travel case. While we liked these additions, if you're not looking to spend too much, the Oral-B is a good option, and there's very little in it in terms of actual brushing.
Telegraph rating: 8/10
3. Colgate Pro Clinical 250+
This toothbrush has a really simple design and minimal features. It promises 5 X more plaque (compared to Philips' 10). "Tough on plaque, gentle on gums" was the tagline – I like the sound of that.
The Colgate Pro Clinical 250+ essentially cuts out the faff and keeps the essentials: soft bristles, a handy travel case, and the all-important timer. If toothbrushes were massages, this Colgate would be a calming Swedish rather than a back-cracking session. The soft bristles would be ideal for those with sensitive gums. It's also one of the quickest to fully charge, at just 10 hours.
And, most importantly, it can all be yours for under £30.
The does-what-it-says-on-the-tin option.
Telegraph rating: 8/10
4. Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart Black HX9924/14
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart Black HX9924/14 was tested by Olivia Walmsley. This is her verdict.
I'd previously used an Oral-B Pro 2000, and had been fairly satisfied. I was curious about the Phillips model, mainly because of the enormous price difference. The matte black toothbrush, with its fancy glass holder-come-charger certainly looked smart. The action of the brush took a little getting used to - it seemed to vibrate a lot faster (31000 pulsations per minute, according to the leaflet) than the Oral-B, and as a result did have a tendency to splatter toothpaste around the bathroom. On the plus side, my teeth did feel squeaky clean after brushing.
I experimented with various modes (there are five: clean, for everyday cleaning; white, to remove surface stains; deep clean and gum health) and the three speeds, before settling on a medium speed, gum health setting. The brush was able to remove stubborn strips of plaque along the gum line on my back molars that I'd struggled to tackle with the Oral-B.
I downloaded the app, which tracks where you've brushed, highlights where you haven't and alerts you if you're pressing too hard – useful if you have problem gums like me (early stages of gum disease according to my dentist), as too much pressure can be more harmful than too little. I have to admit that I gave up using it pretty quickly though. There's only so much time I can devote to my teeth, much to my dentist's dismay.
The glass holder got jettisoned quite quickly too, as the brush often fell over in it, and stopped charging. But the sleek travel case with built-in charger is a particularly useful addition, as was the special tongue cleaning brush head. All in all, this is an impressive toothbrush but it should be, at this price.
Telegraph rating: 8/10
5. Sonic Chic Urban travel toothbrush
These are very chic – more like lipsticks than toothbrushes. "They look like jazzed-up e-cigarettes" says a colleague. They come in several designs, with names like "Tribal Quest", "Proud Peacock" and the somewhat startling "Loud Leopard".
With soft bristles it doesn't attack the teeth, but I had a couple of issues with this electric toothbrush. Firstly, most options have grooves on the back of the head to aid gum cleaning; the Sonic Chic Urban didn't.
It also comes with a regular, non-rechargeable battery. This makes sense for a travel toothbrush as you don't want to be charging on the go. But it also makes it harder to tell if the power is still at its peak, which the experts say is crucial for an effective brush.
It was just too dainty and petite for my hands, making it slightly uncomfortable to hold. Nevertheless, it's probably good as a second option, for travelling light but keeping your teeth extra clean, and at under £30 you won't have to break the bank to get one.
Telegraph rating: 7/10
6. Waterpik Sensonic Professional SR3000
The Waterpik Sensonic Professional SR3000 was tested by Telegraph lifestyle writer Richard Jones, who had this to say:
"It doesn't really promise anything boundary pushing, apart from what looks like a solid, dependable electric toothbrush – your teeth's best friend, shall we say.
"For the most part it's easy to get your head around. It has two settings: light buzz and gum-bruisingly rapid. It has three stages of battery power and buzzes every 30 seconds to tell you to start brushing another part of your mouth - a pretty handy feature."
Like many electric toothbrushes, it takes a while to fully charge (24 hours), and comes with a two-pronged power plug, so you'll need an adapter.
Telegraph rating: 7/10
And the best for kids: Brush Baby KidzSonic 6+
According to the experts, children should use electric toothbrushes too. OK, I'm 20-years older than the target audience, but for what it's worth, I loved this brush.
It's battery powered, which is always easier, though you have to ensure the brushing is still effective. The bristles are incredibly soft, so they won't scratch children's teeth or damage their gums.
But the best feature, undoubtedly, is the flashing disco lights, which makes brushing fun (for this 26-year old at least).
Telegraph rating: 8/10
Our Favourites
What we found when testing electric toothbrushes is that there's fairly little difference between the myriad options available – in terms of brushing effectiveness at least. As Dr Edwards-Lunn says, you don't have to pay through the roof to get a good device. Brushing technique, time, and a fully charged toothbrush are what's important, rather than the bells and whistles.
Still, we did have our favourites. The Colgate Pro Clinical 250+ was very simple to use; it even arrived charged. The Sonic Chic Urban was a little too dainty, but an excellent travel option. Philips' Sonicare range is expensive, but some useful features – like various different settings - were welcome.
When price is taken into account, the best option is probably the expert's choice, the Oral-B Pro 2000.
