Some adults struggle with toothbrushing, so it comes as no surprise kids will struggle with it. Kids' teeth are easily prone to decay, so electric toothbrushes can clean even the trickiest of spots through vibrations and sound waves. However, the prevalence of products from well-known brands such as Oral-B or Colgate may make you wonder which electric toothbrushes would be the best to purchase.
To help you choose a suitable toothbrush for your child, we combined a buying guide and a list of the 10 best products after reviewing comments on e-commerce websites like Amazon. Our top pick was Philips' Sonicare for Kids, but we have nine other great options as well. Read on for the full list and helpful shopping tips, with research backed by a dental hygienist!
Jaeyoung is an oral health educator and dental disease preventer passionate about paving the way for patients to embark on their journey to proper oral hygiene. She graduated from UNC School of Dentistry in 2018 and served on the UNC SOD SPURGEON Student Government.
She's always trying to keep up with new dental research articles and products to help her patients choose compatible products that work with their lifestyles. She reviewed the buying guide and provided some extra tips, so you can find some great toothbrushes for your children.
We used the following criteria to pick electric toothbrushes for children, along with advice from Jaeyoung:
You should keep these points in mind and go through our Buying Guide below for more information.
Image | ![]() Philips Sonicare | ![]() Brusheez | ![]() 7am2m | ![]() Proalpha | ![]() Vekkia | ![]() Colgate | ![]() Oral-B | ![]() Arm & Hammer | ![]() Seago | ![]() Yuantongshun |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Sonicare for Kids | Electric Toothbrush Set | Sonic Electric Toothbrush | Sonic Electric Toothbrushes for Kids | Kids Sonic Electric Toothbrush | Battery Powered Toothbrush | Battery Powered Toothbrush | Kid's Spinbrush Spider-Man Powered Toothbrush | Colorful LED Sonic Toothbrush for Kids | Baby Electric Toothbrush |
Features | Best for Teaching Kids to Brush Their Teeth | Best Full Toothbrushing Kit Option | Best Mode Variation and Versatility | Best for a Wide Range of Ages | Best for Different Teeth and Gum Concerns | Best for Toddlers and Young Children | Best for Sensitive Mouths | Best for Ease of Use With a Button or Switch | Best for a Long-Lasting Battery Life | Best for Kids Under Three |
Price | $49.95 | $19.99 | $25.99 | $28.99 | $19.99 | $5.00 | $5.99 | $5.00 | $19.99 | $9.97 |
Brush head size | Standard size | Small | Standard | Small | Small | Small | Small | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
Operating system | Sonic vibration | Oscillating | Sonic vibration | Sonic vibration | Sonic vibration | Sonic vibration | Oscillating | Oscillating | Sonic vibration | Sonic vibration |
Modes | Low, high | None | Clean, white, polish, milder, sensitive | 4-6, 7-9, 10 or older | Clean, soft, massage | None | None | None | None | None |
Extra features | Built-in timer, Bluetooth wireless technology, toothbrush app | Sand timer, toothbrush cap | 2-minute timer, 60-day battery life | USB charging, reminder bristles, 3 modes, 2-in-1 brush | Built-in timer, waterproof | Soft bristles, lies flat | Soft bristles, ergonomic handle | Oscillating upper half, ergonomic design | LED light | Slower vibration speed |
Electrical supply | Rechargeable | 2 AA batteries | Rechargeable | Rechargeable | Rechargeable | AA battery | 2 AA batteries | 2 AAA batteries | 1 AAA battery | 1 AAA battery |
Link |
After looking through numerous customer reviews and our buying guide points, we combined a list of the 10 best electric toothbrushes based on categories such as electricity supply, age range, brush rotation, and more.
*Please note that these products were not picked by Jaeyoung Yoo, but chosen through extensive research and by combing through customer reviews by our staff at mybest.
HX6321/02
$49.95
Brush head size | Standard size |
---|---|
Operating system | Sonic vibration |
Modes | Low, high |
Extra features | Built-in timer, Bluetooth wireless technology, toothbrush app |
Electrical supply | Rechargeable |
PEKTUNI
$19.99
Brush head size | Small |
---|---|
Operating system | Oscillating |
Modes | None |
Extra features | Sand timer, toothbrush cap |
Electrical supply | 2 AA batteries |
$25.99
Brush head size | Standard |
---|---|
Operating system | Sonic vibration |
Modes | Clean, white, polish, milder, sensitive |
Extra features | 2-minute timer, 60-day battery life |
Electrical supply | Rechargeable |
$28.99
Brush head size | Small |
---|---|
Operating system | Sonic vibration |
Modes | 4-6, 7-9, 10 or older |
Extra features | USB charging, reminder bristles, 3 modes, 2-in-1 brush |
Electrical supply | Rechargeable |
$19.99
Brush head size | Small |
---|---|
Operating system | Sonic vibration |
Modes | Clean, soft, massage |
Extra features | Built-in timer, waterproof |
Electrical supply | Rechargeable |
CN08075A
$5.00
Brush head size | Small |
---|---|
Operating system | Sonic vibration |
Modes | None |
Extra features | Soft bristles, lies flat |
Electrical supply | AA battery |
Pro Health
$5.99
Brush head size | Small |
---|---|
Operating system | Oscillating |
Modes | None |
Extra features | Soft bristles, ergonomic handle |
Electrical supply | 2 AA batteries |
00766878000091
$5.00
Brush head size | Not specified |
---|---|
Operating system | Oscillating |
Modes | None |
Extra features | Oscillating upper half, ergonomic design |
Electrical supply | 2 AAA batteries |
$19.99
Brush head size | Not specified |
---|---|
Operating system | Sonic vibration |
Modes | None |
Extra features | LED light |
Electrical supply | 1 AAA battery |
$9.97
Brush head size | Not specified |
---|---|
Operating system | Sonic vibration |
Modes | None |
Extra features | Slower vibration speed |
Electrical supply | 1 AAA battery |
Nowadays, electric toothbrushes for kids have taken on many functions and shapes. Choosing a suitable one for your kids has become much more difficult. Hopefully, this buying guide can provide you with some tips in picking out the best one for your child.
Manufacturers usually indicate the targeted age group for each toothbrush. Some electric toothbrushes even have different modes to suit different needs. However, the mouth size of children varies, so you should take into consideration your child's age, mouth size, and gum condition when choosing a toothbrush.
If the brush head is too big, it cannot thoroughly clean the backside or corners of your kid's teeth. Meanwhile, if the brush head is too tiny, it cannot cover all the areas needed to be brushed. Furthermore, if your child has sensitive teeth or gums, you should look for a gentle brush head.
Some electric toothbrushes may look the same, but their operating systems can be completely different. There are two types of electric toothbrushes for children: oscillating and sonic vibration.
An oscillating brush has a spinning head and a round shape, so the brush rotates to remove the plaque. Since these brushers have a wider head design, children can use them to cover more surface area.
Children are newer to the brushing process, so having a wider brush can help them brush their teeth completely by lowering the risk of missing spots or cracks between the teeth.
Sonic toothbrushes vibrate to remove the plaque rather than spin. The bristles are in an oval shape, so they're longer and thinner than oscillating toothbrushes. Sonic toothbrushes are usually better for children with sensitive teeth or gums, so you may want to get this type if your child has mouth pain after brushing their teeth.
Many children don't exactly enjoy brushing their teeth. Some kids even throw tantrums! Luckily, nowadays, electric toothbrushes include various functions that can entertain your kids, educate them on oral care, and make them look forward to brushing their teeth.
Some toothbrushes can play songs and even talk to your kids once turned on. Some are equipped with LED lights that can change colors, and some are also connected to your smartphone, allowing you to track your kids' brushing habits or play some interactive videos on free apps.
Normally, an electric toothbrush only has one single mode. However, due to different oral care needs, many toothbrushes now come with various modes such as clean, sensitive, or massage so that you can adjust it to your child's needs.
If your kid's gums or teeth are sensitive, then choosing a toothbrush with multiple options is recommended, since the single-mode may not be gentle enough.
There are two types of electricity supply for electric toothbrushes: primary (or single-use battery) and secondary battery. Each has its own pros and cons.
An electric toothbrush with a single-use battery as a power source is convenient for kids to bring to school, kindergarten, or faraway trips. If the battery runs out, your kids can still use the toothbrush immediately just by putting in new battery.
However, if the battery nearly runs out, the toothbrush will not work properly. That means you have to estimate the time to replace batteries. Some electric toothbrushes have indicator lights to let you know when it's about to run out of juice.
Using an electric toothbrush with a rechargeable battery is a cost-saving and environmentally-friendly lifehack because you can just use your home's electricity source to recharge without having to buy new primary batteries.
However, if your child goes somewhere far away and you forget to recharge the toothbrush, your kids may not be able to use them. Before they set off on their adventure, check the battery level to prevent this from happening.
To get your kids using their ETB regularly, Jaeyoung recommends this: "Electric toothbrushes may be able to help kids brush more and better, but the most important thing for them to understand is why they should be brushing and what bacteria can do to harm their teeth if they're not being brushed.
You can even bring their ETB to their dentist or hygienist so that a dental professional can show them how to use it properly and encouraged them on staying on top of their oral care."
"It's important to remember to advise your kids to not scrub with the ETB. They should be gently guiding the ETB along their gum line.
Some patients don't realize that they're using scrubbing motions with their ETB, resulting in the permanent loss of their gums (gum recession) and irreversible damage to tooth enamel from abrasion."
You may have some questions when it comes to electric toothbrushes for children, so we wanted to address a common one. If you wonder about the right age to introduce your child to electric toothbrushes, you can get the answers below!
If you look at what experts say, they recommend children under the age of three stick with manual toothbrushes. Once they reach three years old, they can start using electric toothbrushes. Either way, you should help children with the toothbrushing process until they can properly clean their teeth on their own.
After you get a toothbrush for your child, you may want to find some toothbrushing gear for yourself. If you're looking for some other oral care options, check out our other suggestions.
If you want to find other toothbrushes on the market, you can review Amazon's best-selling Power Toothbrushes, so you can find some great toothbrushes!
Author: Thuy Nguyen
Updated by: Garrett Garcia, 11/2/2021
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