Having braces means that you have to take extra care with your oral hygiene. In fact, teeth that aren’t entirely straight have a problem with plaque build up between the teeth. It can be tough to get a fresh, clean mouth with a manual toothbrush. The best electric toothbrushes have modes and brush heads that cater to braces.
All you have to worry about is finding an electric toothbrush with oscillations or sonic technology. Those features will blast away behind the brackets and wires. Fluids and bubbles will remove plaque and food particles simply and gently. It’s actually not a great idea to use a manual toothbrush to clean braces. You’ll use much more pressure than what you’ll get with the electric toothbrush.
Table of Contents
- Electric Toothbrush for Braces – Comparison Chart
- Why is an Electric Toothbrush a Great Option for Braces?
- Removes More Plaque
- Pressure Sensor
- Soft Bristles and Various Designs
- Gum Health is Improved
- Smartimer and Quadpacer
- Guides Brushing
- Easy and Safe
- Why is an Electric Toothbrush a Great Option for Braces?
- Top 9 Braces Electric Toothbrush Reviews
- Philips Sonicare Diamond Clean Rechargeable Toothbrush
- Philips Sonicare FlexCare Whitening Edition
- Waterpik Ortho Care Water Flosser and Sonic Toothbrush
- Oral-B Frozen Kids Electric Toothbrush
- Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100
- Xtech XHST-100 Ultra High Powered Toothbrush
- Philips Sonicare Essence Toothbrush
- Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite HX6731
- Dr Jim Ellis Electric Toothbrush
- How to Brush with Braces and the Philips Sonicare Toothbrush
- How to Brush with Braces and the Oral-B Electric Toothbrush
- Dentist's Point of View
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
Electric Toothbrush for Braces – Comparison Chart
| Products | Modes | Battery | Sonic or Oscillations | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philips Sonicare DiamondClean | 5 | 21 (d) | Sonic | Check price |
| Philips Sonicare FlexCare | 3 | 21 (d) | Sonic | Check price |
| Waterpik Ortho Care | 2 | NA | Sonic | Check price |
| Oral-B Frozen Kids | 1 | 5 (d) | Oscillations | Check price |
| Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean | 3 | 14 (d) | Sonic | Check price |
| Xtech XHST-100 Ultrasonic | 5 | 14 (d) | Ultrasonic | Check price |
| Philips Sonicare Essence | 1 | 14 (d) | Sonic | Check price |
| Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite | 3 | 21 (d) | Sonic | Check price |
| Dr jim ellis electric toothbrush | 3 | 14 (d) | Oscillations | Check price |
Why is an Electric Toothbrush a Great Option for Braces?
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Removes More Plaque
Electric toothbrushes have more oscillations and sonic vibrations than manual options. When you have braces, there’s plaque build up between teeth. There’s food left behind the brackets and wires, too. Electric toothbrushes will give you thousands and thousands of brush strokes per minute to remove plaque. There are also electric toothbrushes designed to work specifically with braces.
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Pressure Sensor
Manual toothbrushes don’t have a pressure sensor. Brushing too hard will cause issues with the braces’ brackets and wires. It can be painful, too. Brutal pressure on the gum line can cause damage. That damage will cause the gums to recede. It’ll also scrape the enamel, which can cause issues later. Especially around the braces.
Electric toothbrushes have alerts that will give a beep when you’re applying too much pressure. It’ll retrain your brushing habits and save your braces from being ruined.
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Soft Bristles and Various Designs
The bristles specially created for the electric toothbrush have been designed to work with braces. They’re soft bristles that are circular or have diamond heads. The type of bristles are dictated by the actions they’ll perform and the modes used. The soft bristles will naturally find a way between the teeth and the braces to ensure that they’re cleaned properly.
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Gum Health is Improved
As mentioned previously, sensors alleviate the pressure to the gums that most people apply when brushing. They come with heads that are designed to massage the gums gently, too. This stimulates blood flow and can stop receding gums. This is important for those with braces. It’s tempting to focus on the braces alone, but the gums need attention, too.
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Smartimer and Quadpacer
The Smartimer will keep track of how long you’ve been brushing. Dentists recommend that you spend two minutes brushing your teeth in the morning and at night. They’d like you to brush after every meal when you have braces. Any food left around the braces can cause serious problems. The Smartimer will alert you when two minutes has passed. The Quadpacer is used by some companies to alert users to move to a new quadrant during brushing.
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Guides Brushing
Electric toothbrushes can have Bluetooth compatibility that will track your oral hygiene. It’ll keep track of your progress and make suggestions for changes. That information can be valuable to your dentist when you have braces. He’ll be able to track the cleanliness of your mouth. The attention you’re paying to oral hygiene during this phase will dictate the success of the dental appliances.
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Easy and Safe
The electric toothbrush is easy and safe for people with braces. It will alert you to extra pressure during brushing to avoid damage to the brackets and wires. It’ll tell you when to replace the brush head. The bristles can become worn when used against metal. The brush will get between your teeth and around the braces. You’ll have a cleaner mouth and less cavities while wearing braces.
Top 9 Braces Electric Toothbrush Reviews
Just to emphasize……These brushes are way beyond ordinary and well reputed for their precision:
Philips Sonicare Diamond Clean Rechargeable Toothbrush
Key features
Sonic technology – Philips Sonicare is a leader in sonic technology. It’ll clean teeth using thousands of brush strokes per minute. In the two minutes of recommended brushing, the Diamond Clean delivers 62,000 brush strokes.
Charging glass and sleek design – The Diamond features a sleek, black design that fits with modern bathrooms. It has a beautiful glass for charging, too. This same glass can be used for rinsing as well.
Five cleaning modes – There’s the standard Clean mode, which gives two minutes of cleaning. There’s a Whitening mode for whiter teeth. A Sensitive mode is available for those who need less intense brushing. Gum Care and Deep Cleaning are the last two modes.
Smartimer – Dentists recommend that you spend two minutes brushing your teeth to get the best clean. That should happen at least twice per day. The Smartimer will alert you after the two minutes have passed, so you’ll never have to guess about the time.
Quadpacer – The Quadpacer ensures those two minutes are spread over the four quadrants of the mouth. Every 30 seconds, the brush will alert you to move on to the next area until all four are covered.
Get Sonicare DiamondClean at Amazon
My impression
Teenagers aren’t the only ones who might have braces. Adults who didn’t have the best dental care as children are fixing their smiles. For those adults, there’s a sleekly designed toothbrush that will fit in their bathroom.
The Diamond Clean has all the functions you’ll need for your braces to ensure you get the cleanest mouth possible. It’ll clean your mouth while the braces are in and can be used beyond, too. It’ll whiten and polish your teeth for a bright smile. The Diamond Clean has 5 cleaning modes, which includes all the cleaning you’ll need to care for your teeth on a daily basis. Your dentist will definitely see the difference.
What could be better?
Doesn’t include a UV storage case for extra cleaning.
Philips Sonicare FlexCare Whitening Edition
Key features
Long battery life – Once charged, the toothbrush will work for 3 weeks with daily cleanings. This makes it great for travel since you won’t have to bring the entire base. It also comes with a travel charger that works around the world.
Quadpacer – Short beeps will remind you when it’s time to move from one quadrant to the other. Your mouth is divided into four quadrants between the lower and upper teeth.
UV sanitizer – The base of the unit is a stand as well as a UV sanitizer. Brushes can collect bacteria even if you clean them properly after use. The UV sanitizer removes all of the germs that can collect on the brush.
Two routines – This toothbrush from Philips features personalized cleaning routines called GoCare and MaxCare. The GoCare routine offers a quick minute of cleaning to be used between regular tooth brushing. The MaxCare routine is a more thorough clean that lasts 3 minutes instead of 2.
Three modes – FlexCare Whitening has a whitening mode for removing stains associated with smoking, coffee drinking, or certain foods. There’s also a Clean Mode that gives your entire mouth a thorough cleaning. The Massage Mode stimulates the gums for a healthier mouth.
Get Sonicare FlexCare at Amazon
My impression
The FlexCare has so many features. It’s hard to keep track of all it has to offer. There are 2 handles, a UV sanitizer and charger base, travel charger, and 2 Diamond Clean brush heads.
The modes and routines of this toothbrush gives you a variety of cleaning for every situation you might run across in your oral hygiene. The whitening removes 7 times more plaque than regular brushing with a manual toothbrush.
All of these features are fantastic for those who have braces and other corrective work in their mouth. You don’t have to wait for braces to be removed to get whiter teeth. The sonic technology will clean behind the wires and brackets of your braces, too.
What could be better?
Battery replacement can be a little difficult after the 2-year warranty is over from the company.
Waterpik Ortho Care Water Flosser and Sonic Toothbrush
Key features
High-volume reservoir – The amount of water held in the reservoir dictates the time you’ll be able to floss. This one has over 90 seconds of capacity for a full flossing experience. You won’t have to refill and restart the flosser.
Flosser and toothbrush combo – There’s no need to purchase two different machines for your oral care needs. The flosser and toothbrush are part of the same unit. It saves space on the bathroom counter and uses only one outlet.
Sonic toothbrush – The rechargeable toothbrush has sonic capabilities. It boasts 25% more speed, which leads to cleaner teeth. There are two speeds available as well as a timer and pacer for complete brushing.
Included accessories – There are 7 brush heads included with this unit. The Waterpik Complete Care System also comes with a hard-sided travel case.
My impression
All of those features lead to braces that are impeccable. It can be tough for anyone to keep their braces clean. It’s especially tough for teenagers who don’t want to spend all their time brushing. This flosser and sonic toothbrush removes food, plaque, and bacteria from the gum line, too.
The timer and pacer will ensure that your child spends as much time as needed to get a deep clean around his or her braces. Braces are expensive, and this is an investment in their future smile. You want to give them all the tools needed to have a clean mouth.
What could be better?
The stand for the toothbrush is also the charger. It will need to be unplugged after the unit has charged sufficiently.
Oral-B Frozen Kids Electric Toothbrush
Key features
Waterproof handle – Adults know that the handle shouldn’t be submerged in water. Children drop items all the time. The waterproof handle will keep water from entering the unit.
Distinct brush head shape – Kid’s teeth are smaller than adults. They need a smaller brush head. This one will surround the entire tooth when they brush. This will help the brush get behind braces’ wires and brackets, too.
Magic timer app – The timer app makes brushing more fun. After downloading the app, scan the product and reveal the characters. Those characters will entice your child to brush longer and more often.
Tracks progress – There’s a calendar and progress tracker with the app. It’ll show the child’s progress and help them earn rewards. This makes it an entertaining game to brush instead of a chore.
My impression
When brushing becomes entertaining for children, they’ll brush for longer. They’ll also look forward to brushing. Parents won’t have to bribe or yell at the child to get into the bathroom and brush. This leads to better dental visits over time.
The child with braces has to take extra care to brush more thoroughly. The Oral-B kid’s brush ensures they’ll spend more time brushing since there’s trackers and rewards for good progress.
What could be better?
The toothbrush is a bit intense for a child who has never used an electric toothbrush before.
Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100
Key features
Pressure Sensor – You don’t have to press down to receive the greatest clean. Sonicare technology pushes and vibrates to give the best clean. The pressure sensor will alert you with a beep when you’re bearing down too hard.
Quadpacer and Smartimer – The timer and pacer is used to keep you brushing all 4 quadrants of your mouth for the dentist-recommended two minutes. Each area of the mouth should be getting 30 seconds of intense brushing action.
Brush replacement reminder – Over months of use, the brush’s bristles will wear down and need to be replaced. You don’t want to use a toothbrush head that has worn bristles. This toothbrush will alert you when it needs new brush heads.
Three cleaning modes – There are 3 cleaning modes for brushing. The Clean Mode is for heightened everyday cleaning. White Mode will brighten and polish your teeth. The Gum Care Mode gently massages your gums to stimulate good health.
Travel case and charger – When traveling, it’s important to store your toothbrush in a case that will keep it clean. The battery life is 2 weeks from a single charge, but that might not be enough when you’re traveling. The charger is portable, too.
My impression
This sleek beauty will give you incredible cleaning even if you have braces. It’ll get behind the brackets and wires to make sure there’s no bacteria or food particles buried there.
It has all the features expected in a Sonicare toothbrush, too. You’ll get safe, gentle brushing that’s deep and thorough. There are modes of cleaning and helpful timers to tell you when you’re brushing enough. It’s a toothbrush that travels well, too. You don’t have to be locked down with a manual toothbrush when you travel.
What could be better?
The handle is a bit slippery when it’s damp.
Xtech XHST-100 Ultra High Powered Toothbrush
Key features
Auto timer and pacer – The toothbrush will help you pace all four quadrants of your mouth. You’ll spend the two minutes of the timer dividing the brushing, so no areas are missed. It’ll beep when it’s time to move. After 2 minutes, it automatically shuts off the toothbrush.
Ultrasonic technology – This ultrasonic toothbrush boasts 40,000 vibrations per minute. It will remove 2x more plaque than a manual toothbrush. These vibrations will get behind your brace wires and brackets to give a more thorough clean.
Five operation modes – The Clean Mode is for daily care. The Sensitive Mode is for those who have more sensitive teeth and gums. The action is softer. The White Mode will brighten and polish the enamel. The Gumcare and Massage Modes are used to deliver healthier gums and teeth.
UV sanitizer – The built-in sanitizer can be used on up to 4 brush heads. It’ll clean and sanitize your brush heads in only 7 minutes of use.
My impression
The Xtech toothbrush has various modes of operation that will give you a thorough clean no matter what you need. It’ll get between the teeth with bubbling vibrations of water and toothpaste to remove plaque. It works on the surface as well as between the teeth for a deep clean.
The many features like the built-in sanitizer, auto timer and pacer make this a great toothbrush. It’ll easily keep your mouth fresh and clean with braces or without. You can use it beyond the time when you have the braces removed, too.
What could be better?
Vibrations are incredibly strong.
Philips Sonicare Essence Toothbrush
Key features
Reminder bristles – As the brush heads are being used, the bristles are being worn down. Over time, that means the bristles are not performing as well. The reminder bristles will show a lighter color over time, so you’ll know when to replace them.
Contoured bristles and grip handle – The rounded, contoured bristles make the brush very comfortable. The angled head allows you to get to the very back teeth, which can be difficult to reach. The handle has a soft grip, so your hand will never get cramped while brushing.
Sonic technology – The patented sonic technology from Philips means you’re guaranteed to get 31,000 brush strokes per minute. The motion of the brush pushes water and toothpaste between teeth and behind braces to get a deep clean.
Easy Start and Smartimer – It can be a huge change for some users when they go from a manual toothbrush to a sonic one. The Easy Start mode helps the user to ease into the intensity of the brushing. The timer will make brushing easier because you don’t have to wonder about the time spent. It alerts you when 2 minutes have passed.
Long battery life – After a full charge, the Essence will last for 2 weeks at full power. The company included a travel case and cap for the toothbrush for use when traveling, too.
My impression
The Essence Sonic toothbrush has great features that will clean your teeth even if you wear braces. Cleanliness is a huge concern for people who have braces put on for the first time in their lives. They don’t want food or bacteria to gather behind the brackets or wires. The sonic technology will push bubbles behind the metal to ensure clean teeth.
It has terrific features like the patented sonic technology, timer, and reminder bristles. This toothbrush has everything you need to take it on the road with you. There’s no reason you have to go without a clean mouth – whether you’re on vacation or a work trip.
What could be better?
The brushing action can be too powerful for some users.
Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite HX6731
My impression
Who doesn’t love a sparkling white grin? Regain the usual pallor of those choppers using Philips Sonicare HX6731/02 just in 2 weeks!
Through consistent usage of the White and Clean mode of Sonicare, you can lessen usual stains of red wine, tea or coffee from your teeth. You can gently but in-depth clean your sensitive teeth and gums using sensitive mode.
The original sonic technology can drive liquid deep into tight space and generates 31000 brush hits each minute thus provide you with cleaner and healthier mouth even if you are wearing braces or having any other orthodontic phases.
Combination of integrated quad pacer and smart-timer reassures focused brushing of individual quadrant of your mouth. This kit comes with a travel charger and a travel case, a hygienic travel cap, a strong white handhold, and a standard “ProResult” brush head.
Pros
- Whitens teeth up to 2 layers in two weeks.
- Unique sonic technology with dynamic fluid action.
- 3 Modes: Sensitive, Clean, and White.
- Quad-pacer.
- 2-minute smart-timer.
- Includes travel cap, travel charger, and travel case.
Cons
- Might need bit of an adjustment to the brush head shape.
Final verdict
The most often recommended power toothbrush brand by American dental professionals is Sonicare. The "ProResults" brush head comes with this kit works 2 times better than a high-end manual brush and a good fit for people with braces. For better result, you can replace with more efficient brush heads such as Diamond Clean which cleans 7 times better.
Dr Jim Ellis Electric Toothbrush
My impression
This electric toothbrush is developed by a renowned Dentist named Dr. Jim Ellis, who graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Dentistry in 2004. As accumulated by the Consumer’s Research Council of America, he is in the Guide to America’s Top Dentists list.
This brush has specially curved bristles and it oscillates 40000 times per minute. It can remove up to 5 times extra plaque compared to a manual toothbrush.
People with braces can have comfortable and active oral sterility with 3 variable speed Ultrasonic massaging and pulsating scheme.
30-second timer for each quadrant with 2-minute automatic timer ensures proper care to your entire mouth. It comes with 2 extra brush heads which gives you 1 and half year of cleaning action, and replacement is pretty cost effective.
Pros
- 3 Speed Variations: massage, oscillate, and pulsate.
- 40000 oscillations every minute.
- Specially curved bristles.
- 30-second quadrant timer and 2-minute automatic timer.
- Durable battery upholds charge up to two weeks.
- 2 extra heads for the brush.
- 2 years of guarantee.
Cons
- Might come off as aggressive for some users.
Final verdict
This Sonic Toothbrush amassed by Dr. Ellis is a great product for people with braces, especially for kids, and very much cost-effective. Amongst all the outstanding features, my favorite is their 2 years of guarantee which ensures 100% refund if the product doesn’t perform as assured.
How to Brush with Braces and the Philips Sonicare Toothbrush
Apply toothpaste to the attached brush head. Wet the brush head under running water. Place the head of the toothbrush in your mouth before pressing the button. Angle the toothbrush head at 45 degrees along the gum line and over the brackets and wires. The brush head is a straight line with various bristle lengths that can be angled around the braces.
Start at the back of the mouth. Slide the toothbrush head gently over the wires towards the front. The movement of the brush head will direct bubbles and fluids on the teeth. It'll go between the wires, behind the brackets, and between the teeth. Position the brush over the top of the brackets then below the brackets.
Move the toothbrush lightly along the surface while using a circular pattern. The Quadpacer will alert you when it's time to move to a new area. You will repeat the same pattern in all areas of the mouth.
How to Brush with Braces and the Oral-B Electric Toothbrush
Apply toothpaste to the round head of the Oral-B toothbrush. Run water from the bathroom faucet over the brush head. Place it in the back of your mouth before pressing the button.
The inner bristles will gently work on the brackets. The outer circle of bristles will work on the rest of the tooth. It'll rotate on its own. All you have to do is move the toothbrush gently across the tooth. Allow the brush to do all the work as you clean.
Dentist's Point of View
When the teeth aren't yet straight, it can be tough to clean between them. It's one of the biggest reasons to use an electric toothbrush. The fluid blasts it's way between teeth to brush and floss at the same time.
Braces can complicate the brushing routine, so there's more of a chance to end up with food and plaque build up in the mouth. That's why dentists recommend an electric toothbrush and water flosser for adults and children. It removes everything from the tooth. Bacteria, plaque, and food particles won't stick to the areas near the brackets or wires.
Frequently Asked Questions
<em>Will the electric toothbrush cause damage to the wires and brackets?</em> You should remove the elastics or removable parts before brushing. Other parts of the braces will actually benefit from an electric toothbrush. To clean around the wires and brackets, most people using a manual toothbrush will bear down with a huge amount of pressure. The electric toothbrush is gentle in comparison.
<em>Should I be flossing, too?</em> Anyone with braces should be flossing like anyone without braces. It’s important to get the food and plaque from between teeth. Electric toothbrushes get out much of the plaque and food, but not all of it.
<em>Is sonic technology safe for braces?</em> Sonic technology creates vibrations that will blast plaque, but it won’t knock the wires and braces out of your mouth. As long as you don’t bear down with extra pressure, the braces will be fine.
<em>Which is better for braces: Oral-B or Philips Sonicare?</em> Philips Sonicare edges out the competition with more brushes and better bristles. They have sonic technology that gets behind the wires and brackets with the right amount of fluids. The Oral-B brush oscillates around the edges of the braces and wires. They work, but not as well as Philips Sonicare.
Final Thoughts
The electric toothbrush is a step above the manual toothbrush for getting around the braces and cleaning them properly. Crooked teeth have spaces and overlaps where food and bacteria can build up in the mouth. The electric toothbrush blasts the plaque. It can also whiten teeth.
There's no reason you have to wait until you have the braces removed to have whiter teeth. Good oral hygiene is vital when you're wearing braces. The best electric toothbrush for braces will get behind the brackets and wires and keep your mouth fresh and clean.
Related Post:
- Best Electric Toothbrush for Receding Gums
- Finding the Best Electric Toothbrush for Kids
- Top 5 Best Electric Toothbrushes for Sensitive Teeth
