The types of electric toothbrush

There is a wide choice of electric toothbrushes on the market. ‘Electric toothbrush’is the term used to describe brushes that are powered by a rechargeable battery and are different to ‘power toothbrushes.’These are similar to a manual brushes but use an AA battery to vibrate the brush and boost cleaning power.

Electric toothbrushes can generally be categorised according to the kind of cleaning technology that they offer. This includes:


For example the Oral B Professional Care 1000.

Rotary brushes have circular brush heads which rotate in one direction.


For example the Oral B Vitality Dual Clean.

Counter rotational brushes have two sets of bristles which rotate in opposite directions.

Oscillating / pulsating rotary

For example the Braun Oral B 3D.

This acts in the same way as a rotary toothbrush but with an additional pulsating movement.

Sonic toothbrushes

For example the Phillips Sonicare range

Shaped like a conventional toothbrush, the sonic toothbrush head vibrates at high speed to remove plaque and debris from the teeth and gums.