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When it comes to male grooming, one of the most important things you can do is take proper care of your teeth. 'Manscaping' trends come and go, but the want for proper dental hygiene is permanent — meaning you'll need to invest in order to keep your mouth feeling healthy.
Currently, there are hoards of products that are marketed to help you with this — from whitening strips to smile 'gels' — but using one of the best electric toothbrushes twice a day is truly the only way to keep your gnashers looking good. You need to know where to spend your money though, so let us walk you through it...
Dentists recommend brushing for two minutes twice a day with toothpaste that ideally has fluoride in it. If you go just over or just under the two minutes, don't worry, your teeth aren't going to fall out, but you should stick as close to this routine as you possibly can.
According to official NHS advice, you can use either an electric or a manual brush, as long as you're cleaning consistently and thoroughly. However, an electric toothbrush does make cleaning a lot easier, and that can help with motivation to keep brushing.
From smart brushes that connect to your smartphone to help chart your brushing habits, to Artificial Intelligence that will learn how and when you brush to give you advice on the best overall clean, the world of electric toothbrushes has evolved in the last few years. These more advanced features typically come with a heftier price tag, so only consider them if you have the cash to spend.
The main thing you should consider though is if you want an oscillating or sonic toothbrush. The former comes with a round brush head that can easily change direction and gently vibrates to remove plaque. Sonic brushes have an oval- or diamond-shaped brush head that vibrates more quickly to cover more surface area. There is little evidence to show which is more effective, so it’s down to personal choice.
Also look out for the number of cleaning modes a brush has, if it has a timer to help you stay on track, and a pressure sensor to alert you to when you’re brushing too hard.
317 testers tried a range of electric toothbrushes over a two-week period. They judged each one on how easy it was to use, the design, features and overall performance. They also used a disclosing tablet before and after brushing their teeth, to see how effectively plaque was removed.
Meanwhile, in the Men's Health Lab, we tested how loud each model was in use via a noise meter.
If your daily coffee (or three) has been dulling your smile, this sonic toothbrush offers all the stain-removing qualities you need, without leaving teeth feeling sensitive after use. There’s a whitening cleaning mode as well as three different-sized brush heads to reach every area, including those tricky back corners.
The high frequency sonic vibrations are designed to make sure your toothpaste coats every tooth, while also promoting oxygen flow to leave you with a whiter smile. We noticed reduced plaque and fresher breath, too. Key Specifications Brush action: Sonic Number of cleaning modes: 3 Features: Charge light, two-minute timer Included accessories: Three brush heads, travel case
Don't let the price tag put you off, this device from Oral-B is your ultimate brushing machine, and won’t need replacing for a very long time. Using AI technology, a smartphone app and an encouraging little smiley face on the brush itself, Oral B has made sure you’ll always be brushing your teeth properly.
It’s got every feature going - seven cleaning modes, a two-minute timer, a colour-coded pressure sensor and an interactive display - and it gave a powerful, effective cleaning performance on test. Key Specifications Brush action: Oscillating Number of cleaning modes: 7 Features: Charge light, two-minute timer, timer display, 3D teeth tracking with A.I, pressure sensor Included accessories: Charging travel case, magnetic charger
Philips’ latest launch gave all testers’ teeth a satisfyingly deep clean, leading to 86% seeing a visible reduction in plaque – and earning some serious praise from the dentist.
The swish design impressed too, while one tester raved about how much whiter their teeth looked after just two weeks. Our lab test did flag it as loud in use, however, this didn’t seem to be an issue for testers. In fact, 93% wanted to continue using this one after the trial.
Key Specifications Brush action: Sonic Number of cleaning modes: 5 Features: Bristle usage indicator, pressure sensor, charge light Included accessories: Travel charging case, charging stand, charging cable
Not your average-looking toothbrush, this one is made from silicone, which is known for being more hygienic as well as hypoallergenic. The brush head combines polymer and silicone bristles too, making it tough on stains and bacteria but soft on gums.
Testers said it was straightforward and comfortable to use but some did find the oval brush head awkward to manoeuvre when cleaning.
Its best feature is that it only needs recharging once a year, so there'll be no clutter around your bathroom sink, while 73% liked the squeaky-clean feeling it left behind. There’s a catalogue of cleaning modes, too (16 to be precise), so you can find the setting that works best for you.
Key Specifications Brush action: Sonic Number of cleaning modes: 16 Features: Charge light Included accessories: Travel pouch, USB charging cable
If a manual toothbrush has always been your go-to, we promise if you switch to electric, you’ll never look back. This one isn’t overwhelming for first-timers, as 93% of testers found the vibrations weren’t too overpowering, but it still left everyone with a whiter smile. The pressure sensor was appreciated too, helping to remove plaque without causing discomfort.
Key Specifications Brush action: Oscillating Number of cleaning modes: Six Features: Bristle usage indicator, charge light, pressure sensor Included accessories: Charger stand, travel case (some models only)
This super-sleek matte black brush features carbon-coated bristles, which helps to remove discolouration without damaging your enamel.
Our panel didn’t report any gum discomfort while brushing, with 93% finding the brush head wasn’t rough on teeth either. The downside? There’s no pressure sensor and the visual cues for each cleaning mode could be clearer. Everyone wanted to continue to use it after the trial, though.
Key Specifications Brush action: Sonic Number of cleaning modes: Three Features: Charge light Included accessories: Travel case, 2x brush heads, charger
Those wanting an easy morning routine will appreciate this Philips model. The two-minute timer is broken down into 30-second intervals so you know exactly when to change quarters of your mouth and the five cleaning modes, which cover the most common brushing needs, left our teeth feeling noticeably cleaner.
There’s no pressure sensor, so make sure you aren’t brushing too hard, but the soft bristles don’t irritate sensitive teeth or gums. The included USB travel case also doubles up as a charger.
Key Specifications Brush action: Sonic Number of cleaning modes: 5 Features: Charge light, two-minute timer with quad pacer, pressure sensor Included accessories: Travel case
Here’s a good-looking brush that marries German precision with Japanese tech to give your teeth the ultimate clean. There’s no apps or Bluetooth involved, rather an electric charge (created via the UV LED light and titanium dioxide bar in the handle) that draws plaque and bacteria away from your teeth.
We found it was gentle on gums but the larger brush head struggled to reach all areas of the mouth. Breath smelt fresh and teeth looked whiter after use though.
Key Specifications Brush action: Sonic Number of cleaning modes: 3 Features: Charge light, two-minute timer
Ordo works as a subscription service so you can arrange to have replacement toothbrush heads delivered straight to your door every one, two or three months.
If you’re not up for the long-term commitment though, you can buy the stylish toothbrush separately. With four settings to choose from - including a massage option - we felt like we were getting a customisable clean. The three-week battery life is longer than most and it’s an affordable price. Key Specifications Brush action: Sonic Number of cleaning modes: 4 Features: Charge light, two-minute timer with quad pacer Included accessories: Travel cap, USB charger
Want whiter teeth without using harsh chemicals? Try this whitening duo, which includes a blue-light toothbrush and toothpaste to gradually fade stains, yellowing and discolouration.
It doesn’t cause sensitivity and we were impressed with the overall results. Don’t expect the same deep-clean feel you get from more expensive models but it will certainly leave teeth feeling fresher. Key Specifications Brush action: Sonic Number of cleaning modes:2 Features: Charge light, two-minute timer Included accessories: Travel cap, replacement brush head, USB charging lead, toothpaste, LED accelerator tray with batteries, silicone mouth tray, three 3ml whitening gel syringes
This sonic toothbrush features just one button, which switches between seven different cleaning modes - ideal for technophobes.
The three different-shaped brush heads ensure you’re getting a deep clean but there’s no pressure sensor, which is disappointing for the price. Our teeth felt much cleaner after use and it's effective on braces, bridges and implants too. Key specifications Brush action: Sonic Number of cleaning modes: 7 Features: Charge light, two-minute timer Included accessories: Travel case, charger, three brush heads
If you’re looking for that super-clean feeling that you only get after visiting a dental hygienist, try this brush.
It uses mild radio frequency waves to bring impurities and plaque to the surface of each tooth, leaving them looking cleaner and fresher. Our testers were pleased with the results and continued using it after the trial. Key Specifications Brush action: Sonic Number of cleaning modes: 4 Features: Charge light, automatic timer Included accessories: USB cable, two brush heads, charging cradle
Being too aggressive with your brushing often leaves teeth and gums feeling over-sensitive.
This value buy still features a pressure sensor to alert you to when you’re brushing too hard, which is impressive at this price. The round brush head makes it easier to get to those hard-to-reach places and left us with a full 360-clean. Key Specifications Brush action: Sonic Number of cleaning modes: 2 Features: Charge light, automatic timer Included accessories: Charger, one brush head
This battery-operated number would make a great back-up to have on hand when travelling. The battery will last up to 90 days, making it fuss-free to pack, and the slim case will take up less space in your luggage. Plus, it's £30 price tag won’t sting if your suitcase gets lost in baggage control.
When it comes to performance, it successfully reached all those tricky areas, leaving everyone impressed with its thorough clean. Overall, a great value buy.
Key Specifications Brush action: Sonic Number of cleaning modes: 1 Features: 2-minute timer Included accessories: Clip-close carry case
This toothbrush lasts an impressive 300 days on a single charge, meaning you’re unlikely to get caught short of battery.
Its premium look and feel was a hit with our panel too, while no one reported any sensitivity issues while in use. The oval shape did a great job at reaching every crevasse, which left most seriously impressed with their overall clean.
Key Specifications Brush action: Sonic Number of cleaning modes: 3 Features: Charge light, 2-minute timer Included accessories: Replacement brush head and USB cable