From mattresses to scales, it’s commonplace now for even the most basic products to be app-connected. Electric toothbrushes are one of the more curious entries in the “smart” device space. But, smart or not, toothbrushes serve one purpose: cleaning your teeth. The American Dental Association says both powered and manual brushes will effectively do just that, as long as you brush twice a day, for two minutes each, with a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste. People who find it easy to hit those marks can probably save themselves the money, but others might benefit from the encouragement provided by advanced brushes.
We wanted to test out some of these fancy electric toothbrushes to see just how useful their smarts are. After testing multiple brushes for a few weeks, I’ve come to the conclusion that they aren’t a necessity for everyone, but they could benefit certain folks — particularly those who respond to the gamification of their daily habits.
What to look for in a smart electric toothbrush
Apps
Related Post
For our purposes, any brush that communicates with a companion smartphone app is one we consider “smart.” Nearly all such apps track your brushing duration and frequency, and can do so whether you have the app open or not. The apps present historical data in graphs, calendars and other easy-to-digest visualizations. Most apps also let you set goals, access tips on better habits and reorder brush heads directly from the manufacturer.
More advanced devices let you adjust the settings and modes within the app and also guide you through brushing sessions with real-time feedback on where the brush is in your mouth. Other apps grant real-life rewards, such as gift cards, for keeping up consistent habits. Teledentistry is even part of the Quip app’s repertoire.
Most people will probably get the most out of the visualization offered by the tracking and history features. I found it satisfying to see a long string of properly executed morning and night brushing sessions, like I had hit some sort of personal milestone. The apps also make it easy to auto-ship brush heads, which could help ensure you replace them more regularly. The ADA recommends getting new bristles every three or four months and I, for one, am terrible at remembering to do that.
At first, I liked brushing along with the apps that were capable of visualizing my movements, but the novelty wore off after a week or so. Stopping to go find my phone just added another step, and I’d always end up sucked into the new notification abyss before I’d remember, oh yeah, I was going to brush my teeth. While the apps’ simple progress tracking is great, the added goals and awards lost their power to motivate me after a few weeks. Many of us are already setting countless objectives for ourselves; worrying about one more virtual award felt like homework for a class I didn’t have to take. The timer feature is what ultimately helped me brush better. My impulse is to put down the brush after about 45 seconds, which is nowhere near the ideal time. To use that you don’t even need the app though, as all smart brushes include a timer in the brush itself.
Brush mechanics
Whether they’re round or rectangular, all the brush heads vibrate, producing tens of thousands of movements per minute. All the handles emit haptic shakes and pauses to tell you to move to another section of teeth and when your session is done. Most of these electric toothbrushes have batteries that last a few weeks on a charge, or in the case of the non-rechargeable Quip, a few months on a set of disposable cells.
Advanced brushes, usually ones that cost more than $200, also include internal sensors that can detect the orientation of the brush in your mouth as well as the movement and pressure you apply. The brushes use that info to warn you if you’re pushing too hard, moving too fast or missing certain areas, with feedback in the form of lights, vibrations or in-app communication. Some brushes even have tiny, built-in screens that can give you a lot of the same info as an app, such as mode selection, timer duration and simple session assessments, so you don’t have to keep your phone beside you.
Price
A manual toothbrush from your local CVS will run you $4; smart electric toothbrushes can cost between $50 and $400 — quite the price jump. Even the least expensive smart brush offers app-based data tracking, plus haptic feedback and sonic vibrations from the brush itself. More expensive versions incorporate features like specialized heads, LED screens and internal sensors such as gyroscopes — all of which push up the price.
Best overall: Oral-B iO Series 7
Oral-B iO Series 7
The Series 7 has all the features you need (timer, vibrating head) plus a few nice-to-haves (LED screen, mode settings) at a price that’s not overly astronomical. Including manual and electric models, Oral-B makes around 75 different toothbrushes. Their latest and most advanced iO Series includes a whopping seven different models — with another on the way. Most of the iO series came out in 2020, which means the iO Series 9 isn’t a newer iteration of the iO Series 5, it’s just a more tricked out brush. The iO Series 7 has a good combination of app features and brush capabilities, and at $200, it sits in the middle of the smart electric toothbrush price spectrum.
While using the iO Series 7, an internal gyroscope and accelerometer detects where the brush is in your mouth. If you use the app to guide a session, a 3D illustration of your teeth gradually turns from blue to white as you clean different areas. I was impressed by how accurately it detected exactly where I was brushing, especially since I can’t stick to one area for too long before moving on to the next. But by the end of two minutes, it had pointed me to areas I’d missed and left me with teeth that felt noticeably cleaner.
The iO Series 7 has five different brushing modes, including Gum Health, Sensitive and Daily Clean. I mostly stuck to that last one, but when my six-year-old wanted to try it, I swapped in a new brush head and used the Sensitive setting, which worked great for him. The fact that it made a kindergartener want to brush his teeth might be worth the price right there.
The app accurately tracked unguided sessions, too, adding the time and duration to my stats whenever I synced the brush with my phone. Even without the app, the built-in LED screen on the handle provides a good amount of info, giving you mode selection and displaying a timer as you brush. Haptic shakes let you know when to switch to another quadrant of your mouth. A ring of light at the base of the brush head will flash red if you’re pushing too hard and glows green when you’re using the correct amount of pressure. At the end of a session, you’ll get a smiley face on the display if you went the whole two minutes, got good coverage and didn’t push too hard. You’ll get a smiley with stars for eyes if you really nailed it.
Oral-B’s top-end iO Series 9 is nearly identical to the Series 7 but costs $100 more. The pricier version comes with a full color LED screen, two extra modes (Tongue Clean and Super Sensitive) and adds another element to app-guided brushing, showing dots that you gradually erase as you brush. Both devices have hard travel cases, but the one for the Series 9 also acts as a charging case. Those are small luxuries that I don’t think justify the price bump though, especially considering the Series 7 did a great job getting my teeth cleaner than they’ve ever felt outside of a trip to the dentist.
Best budget: Quip Smart Electric Toothbrush
Quip Smart Electric Toothbrush
The app-connected Quip has a timer, tracks your progress and brushing history, and can result in real-world rewards — all at a fraction of the price of other smart brushes.
If proper motivation stands between you and better dental health, Quip’s Smart Electric Toothbrush might be worth considering. At just $25, it’s one of the least expensive options on the market, but it still offers many of the features you’d expect from a smart brush.
The Quip brush has a sleek and minimalist design, with a slender handle and a replaceable brush head. The brush operates on vibrations rather than rotations or oscillations, so it might take some getting used to if you’ve only ever used traditional electric toothbrushes. However, it still effectively removes plaque and cleans your teeth.
The brush does not have a built-in timer, but the companion app provides a two-minute timer that guides you through your brushing session. The app also tracks your progress and brushing history, making it easy to see how well you’re doing and identify any areas for improvement.
One unique feature of the Quip brush is its ability to earn real-world rewards. By consistently brushing for two minutes twice a day, you can earn points that can be redeemed for items like refills, toothpaste, and even electric toothbrushes for your family and friends. This added incentive can be a great motivator for those who struggle to maintain a consistent brushing routine.
Overall, the Quip Smart Electric Toothbrush offers a simple and affordable option for those who want the benefits of a smart toothbrush without breaking the bank. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of more expensive models, it still provides an effective cleaning experience and the added motivation of real-world rewards.
Conclusion
Smart electric toothbrushes can be a useful tool for those who are looking to improve their oral hygiene habits and stay motivated with regular brushing. The apps that come with these brushes provide valuable tracking and visualization features, making it easy to monitor your progress and identify areas for improvement. Features like timers, haptic feedback, and real-time brushing guidance can also help ensure that you are brushing correctly and for the recommended two minutes.
While smart toothbrushes may not be a necessity for everyone, they can benefit certain individuals, particularly those who respond well to gamification and the added motivation of rewards or achievements. Whether you opt for a higher-end model like the Oral-B iO Series 7 or a more budget-friendly option like the Quip Smart Electric Toothbrush, investing in a smart toothbrush can help you maintain a consistent and effective brushing routine for better overall oral health.
