Deciding on the Best Electric Toothbrushes for Use with Braces

Not every toothbrush is good for those with braces. It has to be gentle while also able to blast away plaque. It should do all the work for you, but leave you with the cleanest mouth possible.

Braces are supposed to be straightening your teeth to give you the best smile possible for the future. If you’re not careful, though, braces can hide bacteria that can ruin your teeth. It’s the best and worst thing that can happen to your teeth.

You’ll need to care for your braces and teeth properly to avoid serious issues like gum disease and cavities. If you care enough about your smile to get braces, you don’t want to ruin your teeth.

This guide will help you decide what’s the best electric toothbrush for braces.

A Short Comparison of Top 7 Electric Toothbrushes for Braces

ModelSettingsIncludesPrice
Waterpik WP-950 (Editor's Choice)2 & 105 tips, 4 heads Check price
Oral B Pro 7000 (Good Alternative)65 Heads Check price
Philips Sonicare 510031 Head Check price
Sonicare DiamondClean43 Heads Check price
Philips HealthyWhite31 Head Check price
Oral-B Frozen Kids22 Heads Check price
Xtech XHST-10053 Heads Check price

7 Best Electric Toothbrushes for Braces

Waterpik WP-950 Complete Care 7.0

This is a combination of brushing and flossing in one device. With a combo like this, you’ll be getting cleaner teeth. Teeth that will make your orthodontist proud. The electric toothbrush has sonic technology that will give advanced vibrations to incredible cleaning.

Waterpik WP-950

The toothbrush has great features like the brushing timer. It will alert you to the fact that you’re done brushing. Instead of guessing at the time, the toothbrush will take the guesswork out of brushing. Dentists want you to brush for 2 minutes after every meal. That’s doubly important when you have braces.

There’s also a pacer for this toothbrush. The pacer will keep track of time, too. This alert will make sure you switch from one section of your mouth to the next. You’ll never spend more time in one area at the expense of another. Every thirty seconds, the toothbrush will vibrate.

Finally, there’s a water flosser with a huge reservoir. It will hold 90 seconds of water, so you can blast the area around your braces. The brackets and wires can block you from getting all the food particles after a meal. Between the toothbrush and water flossing, no food will get left behind.

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Our Impression

The water flosser and toothbrush from Waterpik will provide double the cleaning versus a toothbrush alone. The sonic toothbrush has a rechargeable battery that will allow this to be taken anywhere. If you have a child that needs to brush at school, this is a good option.

It’s ergonomic and slim enough to fit in their schoolbag. It’s also good for travel or for you to take to work. Pick the speed settings that work for you. Use the power of sonic technology to gently remove food from your braces without causing damage.

The water flosser is an added bonus to your oral hygiene. It will remove more plaque than brushing alone. It can get behind the brackets and wires. It’s great for the gumline, too. Braces can be on for months or years depending on your needs. You can’t wait that long to remove all the bacteria and plaque building behind them.

Pros:

  • Sonic toothbrush with variable speeds.
  • Timer and pacer for the toothbrush.
  • Portable for travel.
  • Water flosser with 90 second reservoir.
  • Five flossing tips included.
  • Four brush heads.
  • Hard travel case for the toothbrush.

Cons:

  • The noise of the water flossing can be surprising to beginner water floss users.

Oral B 7000 SmartSeries Electric Toothbrush

This toothbrush comes with Oral B’s oscillating power that will cover each tooth and remove plaque. The round brush head is a feature of this company that is available in all their toothbrushes.

Oral B 7000

In particular, this toothbrush comes with a variety of brush heads. The CrossAction brush head is the one that will prove useful for those who have braces and want a superior clean. The bristles are angled 16 degrees to get between the teeth and around the brackets and wires.

There are 3 brush heads included in this kit. There’s the CrossAction, ProWhite and Sensitive head. There’s also a SmartGuide, charger with storage, and travel case. The travel case is a great way to bring this toothbrush with you wherever you need it.

You can use the SmartGuide to ensure that you’re getting all areas of your mouth. It also has the ability to connect with Bluetooth technology and an app for your smartphone. Either way is convenient to track your brushing habits and see where you can improve.

Get Oral B Pro 7000 at Amazon

Our Impression

The fact that the head of the toothbrush can spin and surround each individual tooth is a plus. Every tooth will get the attention it needs to stay clean and healthy. It’ll address the gums and between the teeth while focusing on the braces, too. There isn’t an inch of tooth that won’t benefit from the brush head shape.

It comes with a variety of heads, too. That’s important when you have braces. Some people might find that the regular brush head is too powerful at first. New braces can make the teeth very sensitive. It’s a simple matter to exchange brush heads as needed. When the braces are tightened, it might hurt to use a regular brush head, too.

The SmartGuide will alert you to all kinds of data related to brushing. It’s done in real time, too. This allows you to make instant adjustments to your brushing. The pressure sensor is one of those features. Brushing too hard can have long-term effects on your teeth. It can wear on your braces as well as the bristles of the toothbrush.

Pros:

  • Various modes and speeds for cleaning.
  • Pressure sensor for gentle brushing.
  • Travel accessories.
  • SmartGuide for tracking data.
  • Three brush heads included.

Cons:

  • Charge can last for up to 10 days, but takes 20 hours to recharge.

Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100

This sonic toothbrush gives your teeth up to 31,000 brush strokes per minute. The sonic vibrations create powerful bubbles that push between the teeth. They also move behind the brackets and wires of your braces to power away plaque and bacteria.

Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100

The 5100 has three brushing modes. There’s the Clean mode for daily brushing. It’ll keep your teeth clean over time, and it’s normally what people use on an everyday basis. The White mode will remove stains on the surface of your teeth. It’s important to note that the White mode will get behind the brackets for a uniform whitening. The Gum Care mode is added to the end of normal brushing. It’s for an extra minute of gum massage.

When you’re brushing braces every single day, it can wear out your bristles. BrushSync technology will track the time you’ve been brushing as well as how hard. An alert on the handle will tell you when it’s time to replace the brush head.

The toothbrush has a QuadPacer and Smartimer, so you’ll spend time cleaning all areas of your mouth thoroughly. Over the recommended two minutes of brushing, 30 seconds should be devoted to each quadrant of the mouth. This toothbrush makes that easier.

Get Philips Sonicare 5100 at Amazon

Our Impression

The brushing modes are great for finding a speed and type of clean customized for your needs. This toothbrush focuses on having cleaner, healthier gums. That’s important for overall healthy smiles. The whitening mode and thorough cleaning mode will give you variety in brushing.

The pressure sensor will ensure that you’re brushing gently. There’s no reason to scrub and scrape the teeth. It won’t make your teeth any cleaner. It will cause problems in the future, though. The other features will help you brush longer, which is vital for those with braces.

There’s a travel case and charger that allow you to take this toothbrush on the road. It has 2 weeks of battery life, but if you need to be gone longer, the charger will travel. Keeping your braces clear of food is the number one priority when you get them. Your dentist will emphasize the need for brushing after every meal.

Pros:

  • Three modes of cleaning.
  • Smartimer and QuadPacer for longer brush times.
  • Battery will last for 2 weeks.
  • Includes a travel case and charger.
  • BrushSync replacement will alert when brush head is worn.
  • Pressure sensor for gentle brushing.
Cons:
  • Handle can be slick when the toothbrush is wet.

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Toothbrush

With this toothbrush, buyers get three brush heads. Each brush has its own focus, but all of them are good for people with braces. The Plaque Control brush removes plaque from all areas of the teeth. The Gum Care brush massages and cleans the gums to reduce swelling. The White brush head is the one that focuses on stains.

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean

There are 4 cleaning modes and 3 intensities with this toothbrush. There’s a Clean mode for daily brushing. The White mode can be paired with the White brush head to remove more stains. The Deep Clean + is more in-depth cleaning. Gum Health works on the gumline. The 3 intensities can be used depending on your sensitivity.

With all of the brush heads and cleaning modes, there’s a Smart Mode Pairing. It uses brush head recognition to pair the right mode with the right brush head. You click in the brush head you want to use, and the toothbrush selects the right mode.

Smart sensors are at work in this toothbrush. As you’re brushing, the location sensor will report to the synced app to track where you’re brushing. This is vital for finding areas of the mouth that need more attention. There’s a scrubbing sensor that will alert when you’re brushing too hard. These sensors help you build healthy oral hygiene habits.

Our Impression

With braces, you don’t want to brush too hard. It’ll ruin your toothbrush and cause problems with your teeth. This toothbrush will alert you to the fact that you’re brushing with too much pressure. The brush head should be allowed to do the work.

There’s a wonderful charging glass included with this toothbrush. It’ll sit on the counter without taking up a lot of shelf space. When you have braces, though, you want a toothbrush that travels. This one has a handy travel case. It’s a hard, premium case that can be slipped easily in your bag.

Once fully charged, the toothbrush will work for two weeks. That’s even when it’s used regularly. Braces require constant care, so you’ll need to brush after every meal. You’ll still get weeks of brushing from your toothbrush when you’re on the go.

Pros:

  • Sensors for pressure and location that will retrain your brushing.
  • Smart brush heads for mode recognition and brush head effectiveness.
  • Stylish charging glass that can be used as a rinse cup.
  • Luxurious travel case.
  • Three brush heads included in the kit.
  • Four modes and three intensities available.
Cons:
  • No ability to change the timing of the brush modes.

Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite Plus Electric Toothbrush

This toothbrush has many features that make it great for removing plaque and keeping your braces clean. It has two modes, which are Clean and White. The Clean mode is meant for cleaning on a daily basis. The White mode will polish your teeth, so you can keep a white smile even with braces. These modes can be paired with the three speeds available; low, medium, and high.
Philips Sonicare HX673102 HealthyWhite

The toothbrush comes with a timer and pacer. The Smartimer helps keep you on track for the 2 minutes that you need to brush. This is the time recommended by dentists that you brush after every meal. It ensures that you remove all the food leftovers that can cause cavities. The QuadPacer breaks that 2-minute timer into 30-second intervals. That’s how long you should dedicate to each quadrant of your mouth.

This toothbrush has a very long battery life. It will last for weeks with the same charge even when you have to brush more than twice a day. This makes it a perfect brush for travel. When you have braces, you have to dedicate time in the morning, at night, and after every meal to brushing.

The charge indicator will let you know when it’s time to slip this back onto the charger. It comes with a hard travel case. Simply place the toothbrush into its case and into your bag. It can be taken anywhere like school, work, or vacation. The charger is compact, too. If you need to bring the charger with you, that’s not a big deal.

Our Impression

The DiamondClean brush head has bristles shaped like diamonds that remove more plaque. The bristles can get in and around the brackets and wires you have in your mouth. This brush head comes standard with this HealthyWhite+ toothbrush. It pairs with any of the modes and intensities for a thorough cleaning.

Brushing more than twice a day can be a chore sometimes. It’s easy to believe that you’ve been brushing for a long time when you haven’t. The QuadPacer and Smartimer will keep you on track. It’ll ensure that you’re not skimping on the brushing because you’re in a rush.

While you might be focused on keeping your braces clean, this toothbrush does more. It’ll whiten teeth even behind the brackets. You won’t end up with spots where the braces were. It’ll address any gum problems before they get to be a huge issue, too.

Pros:

  • Smartimer and QuadPacer for keeping on track.
  • Holds a charge for up to 3 weeks.
  • Uses 3 intensity settings to get the cleanest mouth possible.
  • Includes hard travel case and travel charger.
Cons:
  • Can be louder than expected for new users who haven’t experienced an electric toothbrush.

Oral-B Rechargeable Pro-Health For Me Powern Toothbrush

This Pro-Health Kids toothbrush has a smaller brush head for little mouths. Kids with braces on their teeth will need a toothbrush that surrounds the bracket. This helps them to get a good clean. The electric toothbrush is better than manual for removing food from braces, too. Surrounding the tooth is what this style of circular brush does very well.
Oral-B Pro-Health For Me

The included brush heads are the sensitive ones. They are meant to give your child a gentle experience while brushing. That can be very important for a child with new braces. It’s also good for times when their teeth might be a bit sore from a session with the dentist.

The bristles of this toothbrush will fade over time to let you know when they need to be replaced. These indicator bristles take the guesswork out of when it’s time to change the brush heads.

It’s the Disney Magic Timer app that delights children and gets them to brush longer. They’ll also brush more often on their own when they’re entertained. The app can be downloaded to any device that takes apps. As your child brushes, a secret image will be revealed. This keeps them brushing longer.

Our Impression

It’s hard to get kids to brush on their own. They might not want to brush because the braces hurt. There are numerous reasons why a child might be reluctant to brush. It’s vital for their future teeth that they learn to take this process seriously.

Any toothbrush that makes it fun to brush is one that will get lots of use by reluctant children. If you have a child who fights you when it’s time to brush, this toothbrush will change your routine tremendously. Instead of fights, brushing time will become a pleasure.

The brush heads are made especially for small mouths and teeth. The handle is small enough for little hands, too. Your child won’t have a hard time holding this toothbrush on his own.

Pros

  • Waterproof toothbrush handle that’s made for small hands.
  • Round, miniature brush head that surrounds tiny teeth.
  • Gentle bristles especially for kids.
  • Disney Magic Timer App with fun activities.

Cons:

  • There’s no light to indicate if the brush needs charging or not.

Xtech XHST-100 Oral Hygiene Ultra Powered 40,000VPM

There are 5 brushing modes with this ultrasonic toothbrush. Each mode delivers 40,000 vibrations per minute for a thorough cleaning. The modes include Clean, Sensitive, White, Gum Care, and Massage.
Xtech XHST-100

Clean is for a normal daily brushing. Sensitive can be used by beginners or those who need a gentle vibration. White removes stains. Gum Care addresses the gums, and massage works at a lower power for stimulation. Sensitive is a good mode for those with braces or other dental work.

There is a built-in timer and pacer for making sure you brush for the recommended two minutes. Each area of the mouth needs the same amount of attention. The pacer will alert you to when it’s time to change sections. It delivers the same clean and attention to each quadrant of the mouth.

There’s a charging dock with this toothbrush. Attached to the dock, there is a UV sanitizing station. Brush heads can be placed into the station for sanitizing. The UV rays will kill 99% of the germs and bacteria that are left behind after brushing.

Our Impression

This toothbrush has many modes that will fit your needs while brushing. From day to day, you might have a variety of cleaning needs. When you have braces, they can hurt some days. Other days might be fine. It’ll depend on a few factors, but this toothbrush will speak to all your daily needs with the 5 modes of cleaning.

The timer and pacer will ensure that you won’t forget to brush for the right amount of time. When you get over 40,000 vibrations per minute, two minutes of brushing is a good amount of time to get the cleanest mouth possible. It’ll feel like you spent a half hour in the dentist’s chair getting a professional cleaning.

One of the best features of this toothbrush is the UV cleaning station. Your toothbrush will always have lingering bacteria and germs even if you rinse it after brushing. You can easily clean your toothbrush heads daily to remove all bacteria.

Pros

  • Five brushing modes for braces or sensitive teeth.
  • Two-minute timer for recommended brushing time.
  • 30-second pacer for paying attention to all areas of the mouth.
  • UV sanitizing station and charging dock.
  • Ultrasonic technology with 40,000 VPM.

Cons

  • The bristles of these brush heads are very soft, which might be a problem for some people.

Why are electric toothbrushes ultimate choice for braces?

More Brush Strokes

With an electric toothbrush, there are more oscillations and vibrations than you’d get with a manual. Many electrics will deliver thousands of brush strokes. There’s no way anyone can use a manual toothbrush and get as many strokes per minute. It would take weeks to get that kind of brushing clean without a motor.

Applying more brush strokes to the teeth means you’re getting a better clean. That’s vital when you have braces. Food debris and film needs to be removed from the wires and brackets. It can cause problems later if the teeth are not cleaned properly.

Attacks Plaque

The film you get on your teeth comes from a variety of sources. Bacteria, food, drinks, and sugars all leave their mark on the teeth. If you don’t clean that daily, it can lead to cavities and disease.

All of the particles left behind on the teeth cause plaque. It’s a result of sugar and acids in foods that you eat. It’s in the fluids you consume, too. Plaque that isn’t removed can eventually turn into tartar. This is a hardened film that collects near your gums. Electric toothbrushes remove plaque before it can turn into tartar.

Gentle Bristles

With a manual toothbrush, people tend to scrub very vigorously with hard bristles. This isn’t removing plaque. It’s actually causing damage to the teeth. The enamel can wear away under that kind of aggressive brushing.

The electric toothbrush has soft bristles that still remove bacteria and plaque. It’ll remove all the bad things from your teeth. At the same time, it’ll protect you from brushing with hard bristles. There’s no reason to scrub the teeth when you have vibrations to do the work.

Improves Gum Health

Plaque and bacteria that is allowed to sit on the teeth can cause cavities. It can happen at the gums, too. Diseases like gingivitis impact the gums. They become red and swollen.

When you brush, they can often bleed. It’s an early indication that a more serious disease is on the way. Periodontal disease comes after gingivitis unless a person brushes and flosses more regularly.

Periodontal disease causes the gums to recede. It actually attacks the bones holding the teeth in place. That can lead to tooth loss. With an electric toothbrush, you’re able to stop all of those awful gum problems before they can start. Gingivitis can even be reversed with care, attention, and the right toothbrush.

Alerts for Replacement

The metal of braces breaks down the bristles of a toothbrush. Most manual toothbrushes can last a few months before needing replacement. That isn’t true if you have braces. A manual toothbrush isn’t going to alert you when it’s time for a replacement.

Some electric toothbrushes will give you an alert. It’s based on the amount of brushing you’ve done. The pressure of the brushing is taken into account, too. There are sensors that will track habits. The bristles might even change color when they’ve been worn.

Tracks Habits

A manual toothbrush doesn’t have a brain to track and report your brushing habits. It isn’t able to tell you ways in which you’re brushing incorrectly. An electric toothbrush has a few ways it can track your brushing. Not only does it track your brushing, it can give you that data to help you make changes.

If you’re missing certain areas of the mouth, the toothbrush will tell you. It does this with an app, brushing guide, or real-time program hooked up with Bluetooth technology. That’s helpful when you have braces since you can see areas where you need special attention.

Timers

Dentists have always recommended that you spend at least two minutes brushing your teeth twice per day. When you have braces, you need to remove food after every meal.

There are timers and pacers for most of the electric toothbrushes. Those timers will keep track of the time you spend brushing. The pacer will ensure that every 30 seconds, you move to a new area of the mouth.

Pressure Sensors

It’s never about the scrubbing or scrapping involved in removing plaque. The brush strokes will remove bacteria and film while leaving enamel in place. As you get older, enamel can thin and leave you vulnerable to tooth decay.

You want to strengthen your teeth and enamel over time. You don’t want to scrub it away with aggressive brushing. Extra pressure on your teeth while brushing will also push your gums back. When your gums recede, it leaves your bones exposed.

How Philips Sonicare work for braces?

The sweeping motion and high vibrations of the Sonicare brand delivers brushing in areas that normally would be hard to reach. The vibrations work with toothpaste and water for foaming action that is forced between the teeth and behind brackets and wires.

After adding toothpaste to the brush head, add water and place the brush head into your mouth. Turn on the toothbrush only after it’s inside your mouth. Use a 45-degree angle to force foamy liquid between the teeth, along the gumline, and around the brackets. Allow the brush head to glide across the teeth while moving in a circular motion.

Make sure to position the brush head above and below the brackets to get all angles of the brace. Don’t forget the inner surfaces of the teeth.

How Oral-B electric toothbrush work for braces?

The circular shape of these brush heads are meant to surround the tooth. This ensures that you don’t miss any areas of the tooth including spaces between the teeth. The oscillating vibrations brush all the plaque and film from your teeth and braces.

Add toothpaste to the circular brush head and place it against your back molar. It’s best to start at the back and move forward, so you get all your teeth. Angle the brush head to allow it to hit the gum line and your teeth. Angle below and above the brackets and wires to get behind these bits.

It’s important that you don’t forget the inner part of your teeth or the chewing surfaces. These shouldn’t be ignored as you focus on cleaning your braces.

A Dental Professionals Point of View and Recommendations

Plaque, bacteria, and bits of food have to be removed from your teeth after every meal and before bed. This should be done whether you have braces or not. Unfortunately, while you’re straightening your teeth for a great smile later, it’s actually creating new areas for food and bacteria to hide.

A good electric toothbrush will attack plaque and bacteria that will hide behind the brackets and wires. It’s important that you use an electric toothbrush. Manual toothbrushes are hard to use even without braces. They don’t remove as much plaque, food, and bacteria from the teeth.

Most dentists recommend that those with braces use an electric toothbrush to get the best clean possible. It’ll help you avoid serious issues like gum disease as well as cavities. The best electric toothbrush for braces will be one that works gently on your teeth while blasting away plaque and bacteria.

Final Thoughts

We’ve given you much to consider in this guide to choosing an electric toothbrush for your braces. If you’re choosing for a child, make sure it’s one that will keep them entertained. Choosing for yourself and the rest of the family involves answering questions about your own lifestyle.

There are some that work better for people who travel. Those are also the toothbrushes that can be taken to school or the office for proper brushing after lunch. Some of the toothbrushes will also whiten and massage your gums. You shouldn’t ignore the rest of your oral hygiene needs, either.

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