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Any parent can tell you that sometimes getting your kids to brush and floss their teeth is — well — like pulling teeth. Something about the act of improving their oral hygiene is repellent to them. But electric toothbrushes for kids have come a long way, and now, they're so cool that they actually make kids want to brush their teeth. But before you invest in one, there are a few things you should know.
Best Electric Toothbrushes for Kids
Why Electric?
“There are definitely a handful of pros to using an electric toothbrush,” (though any brush is really better than none at all) says dentist Dr. Lauren Becker. She notes, “For kids, an electric toothbrush can often have features that will encourage brushing, like music or timers to make sure they brush for a proper amount of time.” Plus, research has found that electric toothbrushes do a better job at cleaning the teeth than traditional, manual brushes.
That being said, electric toothbrushes aren't for all kids. Becker tells Best Products that kids should "start using electronic toothbrushes after they turn 3 to avoid any safety issues."
What to Look For
- Bristles: Any toothbrush a child would use, including a kid's electric toothbrush, should have soft bristles, sometimes, the softer the better like the Hum brush. Becker notes that this is because "They are best for your gums and help get to the hard-to-reach places," according to Becker.
- Size: The brush head should fit comfortably in their mouth and easily in their hand like the Philips Sonicare. Little hands like a bigger brush that's easier to hold.
- Brush head: The brush head should be easily removed because they need to be changed frequently, according to Becker. She says, “I recommend replacing a toothbrush or brush head every 3 months. However, if you’re sick or notice the brush is starting to wear down before then, you may need to replace it earlier.”
- Style: After speaking to several dentists and hygienists, it is clear they prefer the sonic style, but those can be intense for little mouths. However, they do the best job at cleaning. Littler kids may prefer a rotating brush.
- Extras: Some toothbrushes light up, some play music, and some even have games and Bluetooth connectivity to show your children how they're brushing and where they can improve through the use of an app. Kids love these features, and they make a huge difference in their willingness to brush.
The electric toothbrushes for kids on this list have been evaluated and tested by myself and several children — and they are really the best of the best out there. Check out our top picks below!
1
Best Overall
Philips Sonicare Kids’ 3+ Bluetooth Connected Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush
If you've ever wondered what it's like to have a purple monster tell you how to brush your teeth and guide you through all two minutes of brushing, this is the brush for you.
OK, it's really for kids, but the monster is cute, and he really does guide you through brushing through the Phillips app. This is a sonic toothbrush with super soft bristles, a musical timer, and an easy grip handle.
Our testers loved how the app tracks your brushing, gives out rewards, and encourages good oral hygiene. The battery lasts 14 days, which is impressive, given how much it does. All of the features combined with the affordable price point make this our winner for best overall.
More: Best Karaoke Machines for Kids
Key Specs
Age Range | 3 to 10 |
---|---|
Style | Sonic |
Cost of Replacement Heads | $18 for two |
Timer | Yes |
2
Best Grip
Burst Kids’ Electric Toothbrush
Now 29% Off
There's no easier toothbrush for your 3-year-old to hold than this one from Burst Kids. It has a silicone exterior that's designed with preschoolers in mind. A sonic toothbrush, it vibrates 3,000 times per minute and has two modes: regular and sensitive.
There's a 2-minute timer that pauses every 30 seconds to make sure your child brushes the proper amount of time by changing where they're brushing, and one charge lasts an entire month. The charging dock is easy for kids to use even if they're not paying the most attention.
Our tester, aged 3, has the Cocomelon variation of this toothbrush and brushes just for that reason. Another tester, aged 6, has the blue and says of his brother’s taste, “Cocomelon is for babies, and I’m not one.” Also, “It feels nice on my teeth and gets all the gross off.” A rousing endorsement if there ever was one.
Key Specs
Age Range | 3 to 6 |
---|---|
Style | Sonic |
Cost of Replacement Heads | $21 for 3 |
Timer | Yes |
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3
Three Modes of Brushing
Vekkia Dragon Lord Sonic Rechargeable Kids’ Electric Toothbrush
Now 23% Off
Let me guess — you've never heard of this brand. I hadn't either until I started researching this article, but before I got it in the hands of a tester, I was already impressed by its 9,000+ positive reviews.
It’s a stellar kids’ electric toothbrush. A sonic brush with 31,000 vibrations a minute, a 2-minute timer that pauses every 30 seconds to remind kids to move it around in their mouth, three modes of brushing, and the charge lasts up to 60 days.
Our tester loved the “funny monster on the outside,” and her mom loved how much cleaner her daughter’s teeth looked, and apparently, so did her dental hygienist!
Key Specs
Age Range | 5 to 10 |
---|---|
Style | Sonic |
Cost of Replacement Heads | $12 for four |
Timer | Yes |
Not all kids vibe with sonic toothbrushes, and that's OK. This rotating style is a bit less jarring to sensitive mouths and works really well. It's pretty basic, with no embedded timer, instead relying on a plastic hourglass to keep the time.
It's easy to hold in hand, with a wide base and gripping rubber on the front. It also has a fun cover to keep anything nasty from getting on it. The cup isn't dishwasher-safe, so make sure to hand wash it after use. The whole thing is powered by two AA batteries that are not included.
Our tester especially loved the look of this toothbrush and the effective and gentle spinning head.
Key Specs
Age Range | 3 to 5 |
---|---|
Style | Rotating head |
Cost of Replacement Heads | $8 for two |
Timer | Kind of? |
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Augmented reality really is where it’s at, and it’s where your child will be when they’re brushing their teeth with this smart toothbrush.
The Hum sonic kids' electric toothbrush has a corresponding app that uses the camera of the phone or tablet to place your child into a new toothbrush monster world, where they are coached on their brushing with instructions and games, winning prizes, and generally having a good time. The augmented reality also detects if your child is brushing in one spot for too long or missing any areas of their mouth. There’s a 2-minute timer included in the app and a special dock for your phone.
The soft bristles really shine in the Hum. They’re made with Colgate’s patented floss tip technology that really gets between teeth and along the gumline. Our tester has sensory sensitivities, and they loved how gentle and soft the brush was, and that it felt easy to them, in spite of their aversion to electric toothbrushes.
The kit includes AA batteries that power the brush, and they last over a month.
Key Specs
Age Range | 5 and up |
---|---|
Style | Sonic |
Cost of Replacement Heads | $10 for two |
Timer | Yes |
When you’re traveling, you probably don’t want to take a $40 toothbrush with you. Or, perhaps, you don’t wish to spend big bucks on a toothbrush. That’s where Oral-B comes in. It’s a basic, spinning-head toothbrush with two options: on and off. It gets the job done for $6, and you won’t feel terrible if your kid uses it to brush your cat’s teeth. (Ask me how I know.)
My kids use these when we vacation, and they’re happy to have them. They really hate manual toothbrushes by this point, so they’re glad to keep up the clean. For a budget brush, these are great.
Key Specs
Age Range | 6 and up |
---|---|
Style | Rotating head |
Cost of replacement heads | $5 for two |
Timer | No |
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Around 5 years ago, you couldn’t listen to a podcast or the radio without hearing an ad for Quip. There was a lot of hype, and honestly, they were meh. Their kids’ electric toothbrushes are actually awesome, though. Sonic, small, and affordable, with a timer that breaks two minutes into 30-second segments and a lovely grip. They use AA batteries, and they seem to last forever.
My daughter, aged 11, said, “It does a 10/10 job at cleaning my teeth.” As her mother, I will add that the cover is brilliant and has saved my daughter’s bacon more than once.
Key Specs
Age Range | 10 and up |
---|---|
Style | Sonic |
Cost of Brush Head Replacements | $10 for one |
Timer | Yes |
My son is 14 and was over most of the kids' electric toothbrushes. He was kind of jealous of my and my husband's fancier toothbrushes, but he's not getting a $300 toothbrush. This was the compromise, and it turns out, it's not a compromise at all.
First off, the charger is so cool. It’s a magnetic charger that works right on the plug with no cords. And don’t worry about it covering your outlets — it rotates. It vibrates at 38,000 brushes per minute, has a 2-minute timer, and the charge lasts forever, but you’ll never test it because you just plug it back in. Yes, it’s IPX7 waterproof, so your teen doesn’t shock themselves or burn the house down — which concerned me greatly.
It should be mentioned that while this is a pricey toothbrush, it has a lifetime warranty, so if anything gets screwed up, they'll replace it. Like some other electric toothbrushes, there's a brush head subscription, and for $10 every three months, they send you a new head.
And just look at that aluminum body and silicone handle. So attractive. My son (who is autistic) tells me that “it’s not too much, and it’s really soft.”
Key Specs
Age Range | 13 and up |
---|---|
Style | Sonic |
Cost of Replacement Heads | $10 every three months |
Timer | Yes |
Cat Bowen
Senior Editor for Commerce, Reviews
Cat Bowen has been covering parenting and home for over a decade. At Best Products, she has tested hundreds of products for parents and for the home, often spending dozens of hours per product to ensure her reviews are accurate and informative. Prior to joining the team, she was at Romper where she covered everything from breastfeeding to child sleep habits to abortion rights access. You can find her work on Bustle, Romper, and more. Cat is a bit of an intellectual magpie and perpetual student, most recently receiving a graduate degree in gender studies where she examined a topic that vexes so many — pockets in women’s clothing.