Since October 2021, the charging pedestal that accompanies any new 4100 (or 1100, 2100, or 3100 series brush from Philips Sonicare) has only a USB plug and not a standard, two-prong plug. A spokesperson for Philips Sonicare said that this change stems from the company’s effort to reduce waste and the amount of plastic used in its products. Customers who need a wall adapter can contact customer service to request one for free. Even with frequent cleaning, we’ve found that the rubberized white surfaces on the handle of the Oral-B Pro 1000 we bought in 2017 have become discolored over time. A 2021 redesign resulted in a sleeker Pro 1000 handle, with fewer grippy surfaces to clean—and potentially become discolored.
It enhanced their brushing experience and left their teeth feeling cleaner. Furthermore, dentists recommend replacing your toothbrush about every three months, so that’s about two years of toothbrushes. The many options for electric toothbrushes can quickly become overwhelming to wade through, but as Dr. Ada Cooper told me, the best electric toothbrush is the one that will get you to brush consistently for two minutes twice a day. Are you tired of using a manual toothbrush that doesn’t provide the thorough clean your teeth deserve?
Experts told us that the RotaDent electric toothbrush has a 360-degree rotating head for efficient cleaning that gets under the gumline. It’s a very basic toothbrush in its design — there are no smart features, brushing modes, pressure sensors or timers, for example. You can purchase multiple different types of replacement brush heads for this electric toothbrush, which will typically cost you about $21 per brush head. The Colgate Smart Electronic Toothbrush E1 (currently unavailable) also uses onboard sensors to track the brush head’s location as you move it around your mouth. The E1 vibrates but does not oscillate, and does so more quietly than most electric toothbrushes we’ve tested.
The built-in sensor offers real-time reminders so you’re applying the perfect amount of pressure in the right areas at all times. The best value brush will be the one that motivates you to establish and keep up with a consistent brushing routine. If that means the luxurious extras offered by a $200 brush do that job for you, then that brush has the best value. But in general, if you just want to get started with better dental hygiene, a great electric toothbrush doesn’t have to cost more than $40 or $50. Consider which features are most important to you, and weigh those when you consider which brush will offer you the best value.
Good news is, the popular Oral-B Smartseries 5000 Electric Toothbrush is 40 percent off for Prime Day to help improve your oral health without hurting your wallet. The Genius 8000 can track the brush’s position in your mouth, thanks to on-board location sensors oral b genius toothbrush and access to your phone’s front-facing camera. Smart capabilities aside, the brush itself, like our pick, is a reliable tool. Like other models in the Oral-B line, it has superfluous cleaning modes and is compatible with any of the company’s replacement heads.
This brush has three modes — normal, sensitive and deep clean — and it buzzes every 30 seconds to let you know when to move on to another quadrant of your mouth. The charger is small and easy to travel with, as is the carrying case, which fits two brush heads. Also, you can opt for a rechargeable brush if you get tired of replacing batteries. The American Dental Association recommends that everyone brush their teeth twice a day for two minutes each time.