Best electric toothbrush for sensitive teeth and gums

Choosing the best electric toothbrush could make a tangible difference to your general health as well as giving you a better smile. Research into brushing teeth, published in 2016, found that good dental health could slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s and that gum disease can speed up mental decline. 

Dentists generally recommend brushing with an electric toothbrush over a manual model. If you're pressed for time, here's a quick overview of this year's four best. Read on for more detail on the benefits of electric toothbrushes and how to choose the right one for you.

Which are best electric toothbrushes in 2022? At a glance

• Best overall – Spotlight Oral Care Sonic
• Best sonic electric toothbrush – Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige
• Best value electric toothbrush – Oral-B Pro
• Best electric toothbrush for gum care – Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean

So why choose an electric toothbrush? Dr Richard Marques, who is based on London’s Harley Street, says: “When the technology was less advanced, it was possible to clean as well with a manual toothbrush, but now so much research has gone into them that any electric toothbrush is better than a manual toothbrush. They either use rotation and oscillation or vibration, and you’re able to clean your teeth without scrubbing too hard.” 

Many of the premium models on the market offer extra features such as different cleaning modes, pressure sensors and timers to upgrade your oral wellness. The only off-putting factor can be the price tag – while the price varies hugely by model and brand, for obvious reasons, electric toothbrushes cost a hundred times more than a manual brush you could pick up at the supermarket. But Marques says you don’t have to splash the cash to get good results.

He would recommend brushes from dentist-approved brands Oral-B, Phillips and Colgate, but there are some interesting new challenger brands on the market, as you’ll see below. It's worth noting that 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 adaptor before buying. 

How I tested the best electric toothbrushes

I tested each toothbrush for a week minimum, assessing cleaning power, exploring each toothbrushes’ extra features, and checking that the battery life actually matched up to what was written on the box. I combined this with expert insight from dentists themselves to come up with this list of the ‘best’. 

Best electric toothbrushes

1. Spotlight Oral Care Sonic electric toothbrush

£99.41, Amazon

Best overall 9/10

We liked: that it checks off style, performance and value for money in one

• Brushing timer
• Three modes (sensitive, clean and white)
• 15 hour charge for 70 day battery life
• Includes nine month supply of brush heads

I expected a lot from this brand, which was founded by two cosmetic dentists, and the Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Toothbrush more than delivered. 

I had never imagined that an electric toothbrush could be a stylish accessory, but this one has a smooth, ergonomic design that’s a minimalist’s dream. One brushed silver button switches it off and on, and toggles between three brushing modes: ‘Sensitive,’ ‘Clean,’ and ‘White.’ Other toothbrushes offer more speed settings, but I found this to be more than enough (and less confusing). It uses Sonic technology that moves bristles side-to-side at a rate of up to 48,000 reps per minute. 

The reason I love this toothbrush so much is the intuitive design coupled with the fact that I can feel the deep-cleaning effects (the closest I’ve got to a hygienist-standard clean at home). Even though it cleans powerfully, it doesn’t feel too harsh on my gums. It also has a remarkably long-lasting battery – I started by testing it daily for four weeks and only had to charge it once in that time. It’s definitely won a permanent place in my bathroom cabinet. 

Maybe it’s because it’s a bright white toothbrush (although it does come in black, or the prerequisite rose gold) or because the founders have such very white teeth, but the whole brand’s emphasis does seem to be on whitening. This toothbrush excels there, too, gently but efficiently removing surface stains. 

The brush heads come in three sizes, and the toothbrush also comes with a premium-looking travel case. As a fun extra, you can personalise it with your name. There are very few cons – if I were to find one, and this really is nit-picking, it would be that the button is very sensitive and can inadvertently turn on, especially when travelling. However, that’s not enough to detract from its all-round performance. As close to a perfect ten as you can get. 

2. Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige electric toothbrush

£299.99, Amazon

Best premium electric toothbrush 9/10

We liked: that it's quite simply the most impressive electric toothbrush on the market (just expect to pay for it)

• Timer and pressure sensor
• Five modes (clean, deep clean, white, gum health, sensitive)
• 16 hour charge for 14 day battery life
• Links to phone app

It’s no exaggeration to say that this is the best electric toothbrush out there. The reason it hasn’t won the top spot is because it’s incredibly expensive and, on balance, I think the Spotlight Oral Care offers a better balance of performance and affordability. 

But should money be no object, the Sonicare 9900 is probably the electric toothbrush for you. It has a very premium feel and comes in two stylishly muted colourways (I went for the soft gold colour). It’s also one of only two toothbrushes I tried that comes with a small, compact chargeable travel case, which is a huge plus. 

On first glance, it seems slightly lacking in brushing modes (it just has three speeds that you toggle between by touching a button on the front of the brush). However, the ‘SenseIQ’ technology means that the oscillation and speed automatically adjusts based on the pressure, motion and coverage of your individual brushing style. This is smart brushing, simplified. 

Like most premium electric toothbrushes, it’s based on sonic technology, and the bristles move up to 62,000 times as you clean. The AI-based Philips Sonicare app then gives real-time feedback and personalised recommendations. 

The Philips brush head feels especially premium, too. It’s designed for all-in-one cleaning with angled bristles for hard to reach areas and triangular tips to remove surface stains. It may be because I’m so impressed by the look and feel of the brush, but after one use my teeth feel hygienist clean and – I swear – look slightly whiter. 

3. Oral-B iO Series 9 Ultimate Clean electric toothbrush

£249.99, Amazon

Best for extra features 8/10

We liked: the app and smart technology

• Timer and pressure sensor
• Seven modes (daily clean, sensitive, gum care, intense clean, whitening, tongue cleaner, super sensitive)
• Three hours charging for 14 day battery life
• Links to phone app

This is Oral-B’s best electric toothbrush, and its most expensive. As with the Philips toothbrush above, it works with AI technology (via the Oral-B app) to give real-time feedback on your brushing technique. It will also remind you when to change the head on your toothbrush. 

On the brush itself, there’s a smart interactive display that lets you navigate between an impressive seven different brushing modes. It has a cutesy timer with a face that smiles at you when you reach the designated two minutes of brushing. There is – quite literally – something for everyone, as you can choose between Daily Clean, Sensitive, Gum Care, Intense Clean, Whitening, Tongue Cleaner, and Super Sensitive modes. It also has an enhanced optimal pressure sensor. 

As Oral-B is the most widely-used ‘dentist approved’ brand, this toothbrush cleans as well as you’d expect it to. It has a round brush head that combines oscillation and sonic ‘micro-vibrations’ for an extra-clean feeling. The handle is chunky and premium-feeling which is perhaps what you would expect given the hefty price tag. 

It comes with a travel case and magnetic charger, with a three hour quick charge time. The battery life is perfectly decent, but not as impressive as the Spotlight Oral Care brush in the top spot. 

I didn’t like the brush head quite as much as the Philips one above, as it’s smaller and round and doesn’t feel as though it brushes hard to reach areas as thoroughly. However, I do believe this largely comes down to personal preference. 

This is undoubtedly an excellent toothbrush with advanced technology and premium cleaning power. However, unless you’re really invested in getting hold of the latest tech, it’s quite a significant outlay. Another issue I had (albeit a very minor one) is that there is a small gap between the toothbrush head and handle, so toothpaste gets stuck between the two and requires cleaning. 

4. Ordo Sonic+ electric toothbrush 

£49.99, Boots

Best for style 8/10

We liked: the excellent battery life

• Timer
• Four modes (clean, white, massage and sensitive)
• 16 hour charge time for 21 day battery life

This is a stylish-looking sonic toothbrush that gives models four times the price a run for their money. 

You can buy the Sonic+ toothbrush individually, but I highly recommend the Ordo starter kit for £10 more It comes with mouthwash and a reusable mouthwash bottle, interdental brushes, Ordo toothpaste and the Sonic+ toothbrush itself.  

The toothbrush uses sonic technology, although it pulses at a lower frequency than the more expensive models above (40,000 pulses per minute). However, my teeth were still left feeling squeaky clean, and I especially liked how the brush has a central silicone bristle to help with removing surface stains. 

It has more than enough features for even the most scrupulous of brushers – four brushing modes (Clean, White, Massage and Sensitive), a two-minute timer and a seriously impressive three week battery life. The sleek design is not unlike the Philips Sonicare Prestige toothbrush and, although it doesn’t feel quite as premium, it’s an excellent toothbrush at a very nice price. 

5. Oral-B Pro 2 2500 CrossAction electric toothbrush

Recently replaced by the Pro 3 (£38.95, Amazon) which we are currently testing

Best value for money 8/10

We liked: the reliable performance

• Timer and pressure sensor
• Two modes (clean and sensitive)
• 22 hour charge for 12 day battery life

For (a lot) less than the iO Series 9 Ultimate Clean toothbrush, this bestselling Oral-B model offers reliable everyday cleaning with 3D brush movement that oscillates, rotates and pulses, decent battery life and a few of the essential extra features, like a pressure sensor and 2 minute timer.

It offers two cleaning modes (Daily Clean and Sensitive) which you click a simple button on the front of the toothbrush to switch between. The rubberised handle is comfortable to hold, and it comes with a travel case. 

It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of Oral-B’s more expensive toothbrushes, but it does the job reliably well. The lithium-ion battery lasts up to 12 days – in practice, after some use, I would say this is more like a few days, but that’s still decent performance for such an affordable toothbrush. There are different versions of this toothbrush on sale with different Oral-B brush heads, but you can switch between them as you see fit. 

Note: We are currently testing the newer Oral-B Pro 3 and will replace this review when it is complete.

6. Philips Sonicare 6100 ProtectiveClean electric toothbrush

Recently replaced by the Sonicare 7900 (£179.99, Amazon), which we are currently testing

Best for gum care 7/10

We liked: the special gum care mode

• Timer and pressure sensor
• Three modes (clean, white, gum care)
• 24 hour charge for 14 day battery life

For a more affordable Philips Sonic toothbrush, consider the ProtectiveClean. It’s designed to be especially gentle on gums, and is just as nice to hold as the top-of-the-range Philips model, which is three times the price. However, I found it fairly loud and slightly rattly – it almost sounds as though it’s going to take off in your mouth. Plus, this sounds pernickety, but the fact that there’s a gap between the brush head and the handle is a design flaw. 

That being said, it certainly delivers on cleaning performance, with a pared-back selection of premium features: three brushing modes and intensities, including a specialist gum care setting, a pressure sensor, quadrant timer and reliable 14 day battery life. For an electric toothbrush around the £100 mark, I’d recommend the Spotlight Oral Care brush, but if you’d rather opt for a well-known brand this is still a worthy contender. 

Note: We are currently testing the newer Sonicare 7900 and will replace this review when it is complete.

7. Colgate ProClinical 250R electric toothbrush

£32.55, Amazon

Best for those on a budget 7/10

We liked: that it's an affordable electric toothbrush from a dentist-approved brand

• Timer
• One mode
• 10 hour charge time for 12 day battery life

Look no further for a sonic toothbrush that won’t break the bank. It’s fairly basic, with only one speed and few of the extras you get with more expensive models, but it fits the bill. It has a compact, lightweight design and a small-ish brush head, which I like, but the materials undoubtedly feel cheaper and less sturdy than some of the other toothbrushes on this list. 

On testing I found it cleaned well – I have no complaints on that front, aside from the fact that it would be nice to have multiple speed options to choose from. It is powered by sonic technology and it offers five times the plaque removal of a manual toothbrush. There is a two-minute timer but no pressure sensor – however, I found the soft-bristled brush head to be especially gentle on gums. All in all, this is an excellent entry-level toothbrush that proves you don’t have to spend big to get a great clean. 

8. FOREO ISSA2 Electric Toothbrush

£76.14, Amazon

Best for beauty buffs 7/10

We liked: the unique silicone design

• Timer
• 16 modes (ie, 16 speed settings)
• One hour charge for 365 day battery life 

This unique electric toothbrush is from FOREO, a brand that usually makes high-tech face brushes. It has a similar ‘beauty tech’ vibe, with a smooth silicone handle and curvy design. It’s very simple to set up and use, and has an unbelievably long battery life of 365 days per charge (no, I don’t quite know how that works, either – but it’s true. I’ve never had to charge it). 

The brush is powered by sonic pulse technology that cleans at a maximum of 11,000 pulsations per minute. The head is made of silicone and PBT polymer bristles, which gives it a very different feel to other toothbrushes. Unlike the others, you're supposed to use it like a regular toothbrush, scrubbing up and down and in circles rather than holding it against the teeth.

I want to love it, but I’m not sure I do, as the head is quite wide and the silicone bristles a little squeaky. It has a huge range of 16 different speed settings, although they’re not separated into dedicated ‘modes’ as such, and I actually found that 16 is too many. It has an interval timer, which prompts you to move to a different area of your mouth every 30 seconds for a thorough clean, but again no pressure sensor. 

Frequently asked questions about electric toothbrushes

Do I need an electric toothbrush?

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.  

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