The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Electric Toothbrush for Kids

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Navigating the world of children's oral hygiene can feel like a constant quest, especially with the concerning statistic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlighting that over half of U.S. children will experience a dental cavity before reaching the fourth or fifth grade. While an electric toothbrush isn't a guaranteed solution to prevent dental issues, experts agree that these powered brushes can significantly aid in establishing and maintaining good oral health habits for youngsters.

This comprehensive guide is designed to simplify your decision-making process by presenting the top electric toothbrushes for kids, meticulously evaluated and tested to ensure effectiveness and child-friendly design. We'll delve into our top recommendation, a strong runner-up, and other noteworthy options, along with essential factors to consider before making a purchase.

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Everything We Recommend: A Quick Overview

We've rigorously tested numerous electric toothbrushes designed for children and have narrowed it down to a few exceptional choices. Here's a snapshot of our recommendations:

• Top Pick: Philips Sonicare for Kids Design a Pet Edition: This rechargeable toothbrush stands out as the best overall electric toothbrush for kids. Its quiet vibrations, smaller brush head and handle, built-in two-minute timer, long-lasting battery, and engaging interactive app make it a winner. It also comes with customizable animal stickers and readily available replacement brush heads. You can find it at Amazon and Best Buy for around $30.
• Runner-Up: Oral-B Kids Electric Toothbrush: This powerful and easy-to-grip toothbrush offers an oscillating (rotating) cleaning action. It features a thick, rubberized handle ideal for small hands. While it's a bit louder and doesn't include an app, it remains a solid choice, especially for children who might prefer the sensation of a rotating brush. It's available at Walmart for approximately $20.

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What to Consider When Buying an Electric Toothbrush for Kids:

Before diving deeper into our recommendations, let's outline the crucial factors to keep in mind when selecting an electric toothbrush for your child:

• Two-Minute Timer: A built-in timer is essential to ensure children brush for the dentist-recommended two minutes. Many brushes also include a 30-second quadrant pacer to encourage thorough cleaning of all areas of the mouth.
• Smaller Brush Head: A properly sized brush head is vital for children to effectively reach all their teeth, including those hard-to-reach rear molars.

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How We Picked the Best Electric Toothbrushes for Kids:

Our selection process involved extensive research, hands-on testing with children, and consultation with dental professionals. We focused on identifying toothbrushes that are effective, easy for kids to use, durable, and encourage good brushing habits.

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Why You Should Trust Our Expertise

At ClixNest, we take health and grooming seriously. Our team includes experienced professionals dedicated to providing unbiased and thorough product reviews. The author of this guide also penned our comprehensive guides to electric toothbrushes for adults and water flossers, demonstrating a deep understanding of oral hygiene products.

Our commitment to rigorous testing is paramount. Over the past five years, the author, along with their husband and children, has personally tested over 100 electric toothbrushes, including 30 specifically designed for children. Furthermore, we enlisted the help of 10 other children from ClixNest families to provide diverse perspectives on these products.

To ensure our recommendations are backed by professional expertise, our colleagues consulted with three board-certified pediatric dentists based in Minnesota, Saint Louis, MO, and Atlanta, GA. These experts provided valuable insights into the specific needs and considerations for children's oral hygiene.

Like all ClixNest journalists, we maintain complete editorial independence in our review process. We are never influenced by any business relationships or implications when making our recommendations, ensuring you receive honest and unbiased advice.

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Who Will Benefit Most from an Electric Toothbrush

It's important to clarify that children don't need an electric toothbrush to achieve good oral hygiene. Proper brushing technique with either a manual or electric toothbrush is sufficient. However, electric toothbrushes can make the process easier and more engaging for some children, potentially leading to better brushing habits.

An electric toothbrush can take some of the physical effort out of brushing, as the motor provides the cleaning action. A small study involving children aged 3 to 9 demonstrated that electric toothbrushes were more effective at removing plaque compared to manual brushes.

Many electric toothbrushes for kids incorporate fun and appealing designs, such as cartoon characters, animal themes, musical timers, or flashing lights, which can motivate young brushers. Some models even connect to interactive apps that track and reward good brushing habits. While there's no definitive data confirming that these apps lead to long-term better brushing, they can be a fun and engaging tool for some children. Our testing even involved some toothpaste spray incidents on an iPhone screen while evaluating these features!

Regardless of the type of toothbrush used, most children lack the dexterity and maturity to properly brush their teeth independently until around the age of 7. Therefore, adult supervision and guidance on proper brushing techniques remain crucial, even with an electric toothbrush.

Some parents may have concerns about the rapid vibrations or rotations of an electric toothbrush potentially harming their child's gums. However, with a reputable brand, this should not be a concern.

The primary drawback of electric toothbrushes is their higher cost compared to manual options. The brush handles typically start around $25, and replacement brush heads generally cost $5 or more each (and we strongly advise against using knock-off replacements). It's recommended to replace brush heads at least every three months, and potentially more often depending on how vigorously your child brushes.

Interestingly, for parents considering a more economical approach, some adult-sized toothbrush handles, like the Oral-B Pro 1000 and the Philips Sonicare 4100 (our top picks in our main electric toothbrush guide), are compatible with their respective brands' kid-sized replacement brush heads. Both Oral-B and Philips Sonicare have confirmed that an entire family could use a single handle with individual brush heads.

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Our Rigorous Testing Methodology

When selecting electric toothbrushes for our testing, we focused on identifying key features and attributes recommended by dental experts. The most crucial factor, according to our consultations, is a kid-size brush head. Children have smaller mouths and less space between their back molars and jaws compared to adults. A standard-sized brush head may not be able to effectively reach all the crevices, especially the back teeth. It's perfectly acceptable for children to continue using a small brush head even as their mouths grow, and some kids (and even adults) even prefer the smaller size.

Another essential feature we looked for was a two-minute timer. Most modern electric toothbrushes include an automated timer to help children brush for the full duration recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA). We particularly favored timers with 30-second quadrant pacing, which helps kids remember to brush all four sections of their mouth equally.

Our testing process has been ongoing since 2020, and we've evaluated 30 different children's electric toothbrushes with the help of 20 kids. During each testing session, we observed how easily the child could maneuver the brush around their mouth and whether the handle was comfortable to grip. We also assessed the durability of the brushes by noting how well they withstood being chewed on, twisted, dropped, and occasionally thrown around the bathroom (as kids will do!). We also checked if the brush heads detached easily during use, which could be a safety concern.

Each brush we tested had a two-minute timer, which the children used during every brushing session. We noted how intuitive it was for the kids to time themselves and recognize when the brushing was complete. Some of the brushes we tested wirelessly connected to apps designed to track and incentivize brushing. We tested these apps on an iPhone to evaluate their functionality and child-friendliness.

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Our Top Pick: Philips Sonicare for Kids Design a Pet Edition

The Philips Sonicare for Kids Design a Pet Edition consistently emerged as our top choice for the best electric toothbrush for kids. This vibrating toothbrush offers an effective and user-friendly introduction to electric brushing for children (and even some adults who prefer smaller brushes).

The handle is noticeably smaller and slimmer than most other electric toothbrushes for kids. Compared to our runner-up from Oral-B and the previous Philips Sonicare for Kids Sonic Electric Toothbrush, our younger testers found the smooth plastic handle of the Design a Pet Edition easier to grip and maneuver. The inclusion of adorable animal stickers allows children to personalize their brush, and these stickers also add a bit of grip to the handle, making it less slippery.

The brush heads are specifically designed for children's comfort and size. This model comes with one small, oval brush head featuring a rubberized back. This design is ideal for most children over the age of 3 and even adults who prefer smaller toothbrushes, allowing easy access to every corner of the mouth. For children with larger mouths, a larger replacement brush head is available at the same price, also with a rubberized back to prevent uncomfortable clanking against teeth.

A standout feature is the built-in timer that automatically shuts off after two minutes. Every 30 seconds, the toothbrush pulses and makes a gentle sound, reminding the child to switch to a different quadrant of their mouth. This is a valuable tool for teaching kids how to pace their brushing effectively over the recommended two minutes. After the full two minutes, the brush pulses again to signal completion and then turns itself off – a fantastic feature for busy parents!

The Philips Sonicare for Kids Design a Pet Edition also offers an optional, engaging, and interactive app. This model connects via Bluetooth to an app available for both iOS and Android devices. The app features an animated character that brushes its teeth alongside the child, with voiceovers providing encouragement. While the app doesn't track the child's actual brushing movements, it does pause the animation if the brush is turned off mid-session, incentivizing them to continue brushing. While brushing by quadrant isn't strictly necessary for good oral hygiene, some children may find it helpful to see a visual representation of the brushing process. We observed one of our 5-year-old testers attentively following the prompts while using the app.

It's worth noting that when you connect to the app, Philips Sonicare collects data about brushing habits, as well as personal information like your email address and social media profiles. According to their privacy policy, they may share some of this information with outside service providers, business partners, and other third parties.

A single charge of the Philips Sonicare for Kids Design a Pet Edition lasts for approximately two weeks, which was longer than most other toothbrushes we tested. The toothbrush offers two intensity levels that can be toggled by pressing the power button. Replacement brush heads are widely available, in a size rated for ages 3 and up and a larger version for ages 7 and up, both costing around $10 each. This model is currently available in only one color and sticker set. It comes with a two-year replacement warranty.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Some children may find the vibrations uncomfortable or ticklish. This isn't a fault of the brush itself, but rather a matter of personal preference, and some kids simply prefer the rotating motion of brushes like our runner-up from Oral-B. The rubberized backs of the Philips Sonicare children's brush heads can show teeth marks quickly and may start to rip off after less than a month of regular use by some younger testers. If your child tends to be rough on brushes or bites down on the brush head, you may need to replace them more frequently. Additionally, this model doesn't come with a storage case, and the protective cap for the brush head is easy to lose. However, inexpensive silicone covers are readily available as alternatives.

Buying Options: You can purchase the Philips Sonicare for Kids Design a Pet Edition for around $30 from Amazon and Best Buy. The approximate cost of ownership after one year (including the brush handle and four replacement heads) is about $60, and after three years, it's approximately $140.

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Our Strong Runner-Up: Oral-B Kids Electric Toothbrush

The Oral-B Kids Electric Toothbrush is a robust and effective option, earning its spot as our runner-up. It features an oscillating (rotating) cleaning action instead of the vibrations found in our top pick. This makes it the best oscillating toothbrush we've tested for kids.

Some children find the sensation of a rotating brush less ticklish than a vibrating one. As we noted in our adult electric toothbrush guide, there's no definitive evidence suggesting one motor type is superior to the other for plaque removal. However, if your child dislikes the feeling of vibrating brushes, the Oral-B Kids Electric Toothbrush might be a better choice.

One notable difference is that the Oral-B Kids Electric Toothbrush is louder than our top pick. The noise level is similar to our top pick for adults, the Oral-B Pro 1000. The handle is thick and rubberized, which our 3- and 5-year-old testers found easy to grip and maneuver, even with developing fine motor skills. They were able to move the brush around their mouths with more dexterity compared to longer brushes like the previous Philips Sonicare for Kids Sonic Electric Toothbrush.

The brush heads for the Oral-B Kids Electric Toothbrush are made of hard plastic with soft nylon bristles and proved to be more durable than the Philips Sonicare brush heads in our short-term testing. Oral-B's kid-size brush heads come in only one size, suitable for ages 3 and up, and cost approximately $5 to $9.50 each, depending on the theme (which often features popular licensed characters). This is less expensive than the $10 replacement cost for Philips Sonicare brush heads.

A single charge of the Oral-B Kids Electric Toothbrush lasts about a week, which is roughly half the battery life of our top pick. The toothbrush offers two spinning modes: sensitive and daily clean. It comes in a variety of colors, some featuring different licensed and Oral-B brand-owned character stickers. Oral-B provides a two-year replacement warranty for this toothbrush.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: While the Oral-B Kids Electric Toothbrush has a built-in timer with 30-second quadrant pacing (it pauses briefly to signal when to switch areas), it doesn't automatically shut off after the two-minute cycle is complete. This means either the child or an adult needs to remember to turn it off. Additionally, this model doesn't include a brush cap or a storage case. While brush caps are often lost anyway, and off-brand options for brush-head covers are available, the lack of these accessories is worth noting.

Buying Options: The Oral-B Kids Electric Toothbrush is available at Walmart for around $20. The approximate cost of ownership after one year (including the brush handle and four replacement heads, using an average replacement cost of $7.25) ranges from $35 to $48.50, and after three years, it ranges from $75 to $124.50.

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Other Excellent Electric Toothbrush Options for Kids

While the Philips Sonicare for Kids Design a Pet Edition and the Oral-B Kids Electric Toothbrush are our top recommendations, here are a couple of other good options to consider:

• Philips Sonicare for Kids Sonic Electric Toothbrush: If you're looking for a vibrating toothbrush that is larger in girth or has a larger brush head than our top pick, this is still a great option. It was our previous top pick and remains a highly effective brush. Older children might appreciate that it comes with a standard-sized brush head (the same size as those on Philips Sonicare's adult brushes) that also has a rubberized back. It's also compatible with the smaller replacement heads that come standard with our current top pick. Children who find the slimmer handle of our top pick difficult to grip might find the thicker, rubberized handle of this model easier to maneuver, although some may find it a bit bulky. This brush is also compatible with the Philips Sonicare app.

• Spinbrush Smart Clean: For parents seeking a rotating kids' toothbrush that is less expensive upfront than the Oral-B Kids Electric Toothbrush, the Spinbrush Smart Clean is a battery-operated (not rechargeable) option that was well-received by most of our testing panel. It's considered a semi-disposable yet effective and technically long-lasting alternative. It's compact and easy for children of all ages to grip, offering one cleaning mode and coming in two styles: glow in the dark and shimmery sparkle. Our testers found the glow-in-the-dark pattern to be universally appealing. Unlike most battery-operated oscillating toothbrushes, this model features a two-minute timer with 30-second pacing that automatically turns off upon completion. It is noisy, similar in volume to our Oral-B runner-up. It costs less upfront, around $15 for the brush and $5 per replacement head, making it a less significant financial loss if a child damages, loses, or refuses to use it. However, it doesn't come with a brush-head cover and tends to drain batteries (two AAs required) quickly. While Spinbrush suggests batteries will last for four to six weeks of normal use, our experience indicated they often lasted less than half that time. Unless you already use rechargeable batteries, you'll need to factor in the ongoing cost and environmental impact of disposable batteries.

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Examining the Competition

We tested several other electric toothbrushes for kids that didn't make our top recommendations for various reasons:

• Quip Kids Sonic Toothbrush: This was our former long-time pick, known for being one of the quietest and gentlest brushes we've tested, with a near-silent vibrating hum. However, compared to our current picks from Philips Sonicare and Oral-B, the Quip kids' brush requires more manual brushing action to achieve a complete cleaning, making it seem less effective for our child testers. (Its gentler vibrations did help keep bathroom mirrors cleaner from toothpaste spray, though.) Additionally, the cost of replacement heads has increased as free shipping is no longer offered, bringing the cost to over $9 per head, or even more if purchased on Amazon.

• Quip Kids Smart Sonic Toothbrush: This is the smart version of the Quip Kids Sonic Toothbrush, costing about twice as much. This bright yellow, Bluetooth-enabled brush pairs with an app (available for Android and iOS) to track a child's brushing technique and duration, aiming to motivate and reward good habits. The accompanying app seems more geared towards tweens or teens than the Philips Sonicare for Kids app, but it didn't offer enough novelty or excitement to keep our testers engaged. We also frequently encountered issues pairing the app with the brush.

• BriteBrush Interactive Smart Kids Toothbrush: This is actually a manual toothbrush with built-in sensors that track brushing motions. It uses voice commands, music (including a "Baby Shark" version), and games to encourage proper brushing technique and duration. While our 3-, 5-, and 7-year-old testers were initially drawn to the games and music, the sensor-prompted brushing commands were often confusing. For example, the brush would repeatedly instruct "Brush up and down!" even when the kids were brushing in a normal side-to-side motion.

• Brusheez Kids’ Electric Toothbrush Set: This battery-powered brush (uses two AAs) met many of our criteria: it's smaller than an adult brush and comes with a kid-sized rotating brush head that worked well for our young testers. However, our 3-year-old tester managed to completely break the brush head during normal use, likely by biting down on it slightly, which is common for that age group. The Brusheez brush head also tended to pop off easily. The set includes a bulky brush stand and an attached sand timer, but the brush itself lacks a built-in timer.

• Brush Buddies My First Soniclean: This 5-inch battery-powered brush is the smallest we tested, marketed for ages 6 months to 3 years. While the brush head vibrates, the bristles didn't appear to move or vibrate significantly, leading us to doubt its cleaning power compared to other tested brushes. The brush head attaches with a quarter turn and detached easily during use.

• BURSTkids Sonic Toothbrush: We decided not to test this brush due to poor buyer reviews citing issues such as unstable brush heads and charging problems.

• Foreo Issa Mikro and Issa Mini 2: We didn't test these silicone brushes due to their high cost and negative owner reviews at the time of our research. Another ClixNest staff member who previously used the Mikro with their toddler advised against it for children who still bite or chew on their brushes, as they can easily bite through the silicone skin on the brush head, and the brush head isn't replaceable. The Mini 2 does offer replacement heads, but they are quite expensive at around $22 each. While the company claims the silicone bristles and brush head are gentle on gums, our expert sources indicated that standard nylon-bristle electric toothbrushes shouldn't damage gums, so we didn't see a significant advantage to using a silicone brush.

• Autobrush Sonic Pro Kids: This is a mouthguard-shaped toothbrush that claims to brush a child's entire mouth in 30 seconds or less. To use it, the child inserts the entire brush into their mouth, closes their jaw, and presses a button to activate vibrations over all their teeth while a musical tune plays for 30 seconds, requiring no active brushing. However, we found the bristles unable to reach our testers' gums and back molars, and it failed to fully clean the teeth it did reach, with food specks still visible after two uses. This unusual brush is also difficult to clean thoroughly, and Autobrush recommends using its own special foam toothpaste. Replacement brush heads are among the most expensive we encountered, at about $40 each.

• Willo: This is another mouthguard-style automatic toothbrush attached to a heavy, cumbersome base. It was equally ineffective at cleaning teeth as the Autobrush model. The silicone mouthguard had a strange aftertaste even after multiple washes, and the uncomfortable machine-made sucking motions didn't adequately remove plaque or food specks. It's also difficult to clean and requires a lot of counter space. The version we tested was initially marketed as a $250 family-friendly toothbrush for up to five people. The price has since dropped to around $150, and the company has rebranded to focus on children, though the model still comes with five mouthguards for family use. Replacement brush heads cost roughly $10 each. The original Willo is no longer available, with the company planning to release an updated version at the beginning of 2025.

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Our Expert Sources

We extend our sincere gratitude to the following pediatric dental professionals for their valuable insights and expertise during the creation of this guide:

• A board-certified pediatric dentist based in Minnesota.
• A board-certified pediatric dentist practicing in Saint Louis, MO.
• A board-certified pediatric dentist located in Atlanta, GA.

Their professional opinions and guidance were instrumental in shaping our testing criteria and final recommendations.

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Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Choosing the right electric toothbrush for your child can be a significant step in fostering good oral hygiene habits. After extensive testing and expert consultation, we confidently recommend the Philips Sonicare for Kids Design a Pet Edition as the best overall electric toothbrush for kids due to its effective cleaning, child-friendly design, engaging app, and long battery life.

For parents seeking a rotating brush or a more budget-friendly option, the Oral-B Kids Electric Toothbrush remains a strong contender, offering a powerful clean and an easy-to-grip handle.

Ultimately, the best toothbrush for your child is one that they will use consistently and correctly. Consider your child's preferences, any sensitivities they might have, and your budget when making your final decision.

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Key Takeaways for Parents

• Electric toothbrushes can be a helpful tool for establishing good oral hygiene habits in children.
• Look for toothbrushes with a two-minute timer and a smaller brush head designed for kids.
• Our top pick is the Philips Sonicare for Kids Design a Pet Edition, offering a great balance of features and effectiveness.
• The Oral-B Kids Electric Toothbrush is a solid runner-up, especially for kids who prefer a rotating brush.
• Consider other options like the Philips Sonicare for Kids Sonic Electric Toothbrush for older children or the Spinbrush Smart Clean as a budget-friendly alternative.
• Adult supervision and guidance on brushing techniques remain crucial, regardless of the type of toothbrush used.
• Replace brush heads regularly (at least every three months) for optimal cleaning.

By considering these factors and our recommendations, you can confidently select an electric toothbrush that will help your child achieve a brighter, healthier smile.