5 Best Electric Toothbrushes for Sensitive Teeth

Electric toothbrushes are all the craze when you want super-clean teeth. It seems like the toothbrush aisle is growing more every day, so it’s easy to get decision fatigue. The thing you need to know is that multiple studies show the increased effectiveness of using electric toothbrushes on a daily basis! While there are plenty of options and choices to pick from this can make deciding on what’s best for you and your teeth a bit more challenging, especially for people who have sensitive teeth and gums. If you’re one of them, here are my top 5 picks for the best electric toothbrushes for sensitive teeth. Yes, there really is such a thing. If you’ve given up on the idea of using a powered toothbrush because of tooth sensitivity, there are some really great options out there to consider.

Why are Electric Toothbrushes Better for Sensitive Gums?

It’s common knowledge that electric toothbrushes can improve a person’s oral hygiene routine at home, but how are they actually better for people with sensitive gums? When you brush your teeth with a manual toothbrush, you’re relying on your own motion to properly maneuver that toothbrush and the bristles around the teeth and gums. Considering have bad brushing habits with a manual toothbrush like brushing too hard, this can easily cause issues with gum sensitivity, especially if you’re already dealing with gingivitis or gum recession. Both electric and manual toothbrushes are effective at removing oral plaque but electric toothbrushes are just easier.

Newer, high-quality smart electric toothbrushes typically come with a pressure sensor… what the heck is that you ask? It’s exactly as it sounds: if you’re putting lots of pressure when you’re brushing, the toothbrush can sense it and alert you. Brushing too hard can hurt your gums and teeth. In the perfect world, you only want to apply just enough pressure that your gums slightly blanch, nothing more. Who would have guessed a smart electric toothbrush could help you break a “scrub brushing” habit?

Best Electric Toothbrushes For Sensitive Teeth

1. Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9300

Philips Sonicare is one of the top recommended toothbrushes by dental professionals around the country, and for good reason. Philips makes fantastic line of dental products, including exceptional whitening products as well as my personal favorite, their electric toothbrushes. The DiamondClean 9300 is their top model with practically every option you could want when it comes to a great toothbrush.

Key Features

The DiamondClean 9300 is able to remove 10 times the amount of plaque when you compare it to manual brushes, and it makes as much as four times more surface contact on your tooth surfaces, thanks to the perfectly engineered bristles. The 9300 includes a pressure feedback alert system via a purple ring light and vibration to warn you if you’re applying too much pressure whenever you’re brushing. The Philips DiamondClean also touts that it gives you seven times healthier gums than manual toothbrushing does. 

There are three cleaning modes on the 9300, including high, medium and low. There is also a scrubbing sensor to help reduce scrubbing, which is known to contribute to gum damage and enamel wear. Plus, all of your brushing can be tracked via a syncable app from your smart phone. This feature lets you know if you need to work on your brushing technique and will provide recommendations as needed. It’s like having your hygienist right there next to you! You can find replacement brush heads at almost every big brand store which is a plus.

Final Thought

The Philips DiamondClean 9300 is a great electric toothbrush for sensitive teeth with multiple settings and guidance on how to improve your brushing skills. This makes it easily adaptable for anyone who has sensitive teeth or gums. The 9300 model also comes with an optional gum care toothbrush head to pair with the brush. This brush is softer and adapts gently to all of your tooth surfaces. The current price for the Philips DiamondClean 9300 is listed at $199.96. Considering the bells and whistles you get with it, I think the price is fairly reasonable!

2. Burst Pro Sonic Toothbrush

The Burst brand has really made a name for itself, with a huge following in the dental community. Burst is one of the first subscription only toothbrushes and today, a lot of popular brands are their path. The new Pro Sonic Toothbrush design is simliar to the old brush but with way more features. The Pro Sonic Toothbrush can remove 10 times more plaque than a manual brush and  also claims to reduce bleeding gums three times better than a manual brush! 

Key Features

The Burst Pro Sonic Toothbrush works wonders for sensitive teeth with its gentle yet effective charcoal based soft bristles. These bristles come tapered at different lengths to conform to the shape of your teeth without damaging the gumlines. It uses over 33,000 sonic vibrations to gently remove plaque bacteria. The new pressure sensor is great for you gum health. Burst also has a subscription program that ships a new brush head to your door every 3 months!

Final Thought

The Burst Pro Sonic Toothbrush is backed by clinical research supporting its effectiveness! This electric toothbrush is the only one on this list that incorporates charcoal bristles that are very soft to the touch. In fact, a lot of popular brands are starting to model the Burst toothbrush because of how successful it’s been.

Another fun fact about this brush is that it can remain fully charged and usable for up to 9 months, which is unheard of. It's a great perk for anyone who likes to travel with their electric toothbrush. You can purchase the Burst electric tooth brush for sensitive teeth on their website for $69.99. When you subscribe, you get a $7 replacement toothbrush head shipped to you every 12 weeks AND they even throw in a free gift of whitening strips when you sign up! If you are not happy with your Burst electric toothbrush you can cancel your subscription at any time without hidden fees. If you’re looking for a charcoal bristled toothbrush and have a hard time remembering when to change out your toothbrush head, Burst should be your top pick.

3. Oral-B iO Series 5 

Oral-B is another well-known and highly respected brand of oral health products. The brushes themselves are known for having more of a “dentist-shaped” round brush head, similar to what you see when you have your teeth cleaned. Oral-B also prides itself in delivering 100% cleaner teeth in one week compared to using a manual toothbrush. The added bonus of integrated AI technology helps to guide your brushing techniques as you go.

Key Features

This electric toothbrush is a bit unique with its design and style. The Oral-B series 5 has a rounded toothbrush head with a micro vibration technology that perfectly conforms to each tooth as you move it throughout your mouth. Their added iO magnetic technology is unique to Oral-B electric toothbrushes. With added smart pressure sensor technology, this brush will alert you by displaying an array of colors between red, green and white, indicating the respective pressure levels to ensure you’re brushing effectively without causing damage to your gums or teeth. Light pressure is good, heavy pressure is not!

Final Thought

With plenty of technology built in the Oral-B series 5, this electric brush is a great option for people who have sensitive teeth or gums and who are looking for guidance during their brushing routine. With an added built-in timer and smartphone app, you can make sure you’re brushing for the full dentist recommended two minutes every time you use it. This Oral-B series 5 comes in two colors, white and black, and is available for $119 on their website. If you're looking for a set up, you can checkout the oral b genius.

4. cariPRO™ Electric Toothbrush

Newer to the electric toothbrush world is the cariPRO. cariPRO might be a new brand to you, but it isn’t to dental professionals. The cariPRO proudly offers an advanced toothbrush with advanced built in technology but is only about half the cost of your typical electric toothbrush. It’s a good electric toothbrush if you’re looking for a “good deal” on oral hygiene gadgets! Coming in at just $119, you get an electric toothbrush, toothbrush head, charging port and carrying case. Here the real kicker, cariPRO is so confident you’ll be happy with their electric toothbrush for sensitive teeth that they offer a 60 day trail AND a 2 year warranty. How can you lose? You can’t!

Key Features

With 40,000 sonic vibrations, plaque doesn’t stand a chance against the power of the cariPRO electric toothbrush. Its five brushing modes include whitening, clean, massage, gum care, and sensitive, so there really is an option for everyone in your family. With silicon bristles, it provides a gentle and effective clean every time you use it. Plus, you get the pressure sensors and brushing guides with it. 

Final Thought

With a warranty like no other and a very budget friendly price point, it’s hard to look past the cariPRO. This powerful brush is a great choice for anyone that wants to improve their oral hygiene but needs to stay within a modest budget or price range. 

5. Oral-B io Series 9

Oral B actually has TWO electric toothbrushes for sensitive teeth. I know, total showoffs! But this one is ramping things up a notch with price tag coming in at $299.99, making it the most expensive option on the list. But don’t let the price scare you away; there’s reason for it. The Oral-B IO series 9 is just about one of the fanciest and top-of-the-line electric toothbrushes for sensitive teeth that’s on the market. 

Key Features

Promising a more advanced clean and 100% cleaner teeth and healthier gums compared to a manual toothbrush, the series 9 isn’t what you’d call a cut-rate toothbrush. Especially since it’s backed by hundreds of top-rated reviews. While the technology includes everything from the Oral-B series 5, it also comes with 3D interactive tooth mapping technology, to make sure you get every surface of every tooth as clean as you should. With gentle bristles but powerful technology, the Series 9 is great electric toothbrushes for sensitive teeth that quite literally does almost everything.

Final Thought

Yes, it has a heftier price tag, but this is a toothbrush meant for people who are truly willing to invest in the electric toothbrush of their dreams! A powerful weapon against plaque but gentle enough for sensitive teeth users, the Oral-B series 9 is next level oral hygiene care at home. Another fun fact you can share all your progress through the Oral-B app with your dental provider so they can literally see the brushing techniques you’ve applied. This allows your dental provider to really tailor oral hygiene tips that much more. It’s a win for you and your dental provider and a total loss for dental plaque.

What Should You Consider While Buying a Toothbrush?

While we may have reviewed some of the top electric toothbrushes on the market for sensitive teeth, there are specific things to consider when you’re going to purchase an electric toothbrush. Especially if you have extra (or fewer) choices and need help narrowing them down. Be sure to remember the following when you’re shopping for your toothbrush investment: 

1. Sensitive teeth mode 

Be sure the electric tooth brush you choose has a specific setting for sensitive teeth. This means there was thought put into how fast and aggressive the toothbrush was designed to clean your teeth.

2. Sensitive brush head types

Different bristles can really make a difference. Always look for SOFT or EXTRA SOFT bristles and quality materials. Cheap brushes tend to be harsher on teeth and gums. Read reviews of fellow sensitive teeth users to see how the bristles feel for sensitive teeth. Unfortunately, this can be one of the tougher features to judge until you actually try it out yourself.

3. Battery life

If you are big into traveling or don’t have a plug right by your sink, you might want to check out the average battery life after charging. While some  can go almost a week without charging and have no problems, some toothbrushes require charging daily to ensure the effectiveness of the brush and its technology. 

4. Price

Price is going to be whatever makes you feel most comfortable spending for an electric toothbrush. I like to say you get what you pay for, especially with electric toothbrushes. If you’re a first time user it’s typically recommended to not go crazy. You want to be sure this is something that works for you and your oral hygiene routine. Also, keep in mind it can take a while to get used to the vibration power of an electric toothbrush, so be patient as you adjust to your new device. 

5. Features

Last but not least, be sure to look for the features that are important to you.  Do you have sensitive teeth because you scrub too hard? Or do have gum disease? What about whitening and removing surface stain? These are all important features to look for when shopping for the perfect toothbrush.

Get Sensitive Toothpaste Too

While brushing and flossing is always recommended to keep your oral health in tip top shape, changing up your toothpaste can be a game changer especially when it comes to tooth sensitivity. Whether your teeth or gums are sensitive, look for anti-sensitivity ingredients like fluoride or nano-hydroxyapatite in your toothpaste. Both have been shown to reduce sensitivity with consistent use. Also, be sure to not rinse all the toothpaste away after you brush as it will compromise the effectiveness of your toothpaste. When in doubt, read the toothpaste labels and talk to your dentist and dental hygienist to decide which products are best for your oral health needs. 

Best Electric Toothbrush for Sensitive Teeth

Now that you’ve got a list of the best electric toothbrushes for sensitive teeth, you’ve already got a head start on investing in a healthier smile. Just remember to keep in mind that you need to use gentle bristles, soft pressure, and consider things like battery power and add-ons (like digitally mapped brushing) to narrow down your choices. Using an electric toothbrush will be a game changer when it comes to your oral hygiene, especially if you have sensitive teeth or gums. As a dental hygienist myself, I recommend just about everyone to try an electric toothbrush because of the huge difference that they make. Especially for people with gum issues. If you are still feeling overwhelmed with the toothbrush choices out there, talk to your dentist or dental hygienist to decide what features are best and most important for you as an individual. The better your brush is, the less you’ll have to deal with sensitive teeth and chronic issues like gum disease. But don’t just go out there and buy any brand; electric toothbrushes are not created equal.