What Is the Best Electric Toothbrush for Kids? We Asked a Pediatric Dentist

Dental hygiene with kids can be a challenge, but if you find the right routine—and the right tools—the job gets much easier to accomplish. Case in point: An electric toothbrush. The sky’s the limit when it comes to options for the younger set, but how do you go about choosing the best electric toothbrush for your child? We asked a pediatric dentist to weigh in.

Dr. Erin Isaac is a board-certified pediatric dentist and dental coach based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She’s also an assistant clinical professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine.

Amongst all the bells and whistles available, there are a variety of features to pay attention to when shopping for an electric toothbrush for kids.

Size

This is top of Dr. Isaac’s list when it comes to what to look for when selecting an electric toothbrush for your child. A smaller mouth requires a smaller toothbrush head, as well as a handle that’s small and nimble enough for them to hold and move around as they brush. Ideally, you want to find an electric toothbrush with a head that can reach to the back of their molars—and no further.

A Built-In Timer

More and more electric toothbrushes are starting to include this feature—for example, a timer that vibrates or beeps every 30 seconds to remind your child that it’s time to move on to the next section of their mouth. (Electric toothbrushes with timers also usually have an auto shut-off after two minutes of brushing.) This can make teeth brushing a lot more enticing or game-like for kids.

If you snag an electric toothbrush without a built-in timer, it can be helpful to set one on your own. (Some brushes come with hourglass timers included, but you can also purchase one separately or set a timer on your phone.)

Battery Life

This is a detail you’ll want to be on the lookout for when you shop: The type of batteries the electric toothbrush you choose requires. While many electric toothbrushes are rechargeable, others use disposable batteries. Both are fine to use, but it’s something to pay attention to since a rechargeable electric toothbrush will require space (and a plug) for a charging dock while an electric toothbrush that uses disposable batteries will need replacing on the regular.

Practicality

Again, per Dr. Isaac, the main thing you want to keep in mind when shopping for an electric toothbrush is your kid’s comfort. How’s their grip? Can they maneuver it in their mouth easily? Is it easy to turn on and off? If an electric toothbrush feels clunky or difficult to navigate in any way, it could become a teeth-brushing deterrent, which is the opposite of the goal.

According to Dr. Isaac, there is an ideal age when it comes to introducing kids to an electric toothbrush. “I typically recommend waiting until at least three years old,” Dr. Isaac says. “This is because some electric brushes can be a little rough or bumpy, which many kids don’t like, especially if the child is a toothbrush chewer or wants to brush on their own. Electric toothbrushes also often have a large head, which can make it more difficult for kids younger than three to get into the nooks and crannies of a small mouth.” We repeat, this is where the parents come in. “Parents should assist with brushing, whether a toothbrush is manual or electric, to some extent until age 7,” Dr. Isaac suggests.

Dr. Isaac is clear: An electric toothbrush can clean more effectively than a manual toothbrush. But there’s a caveat—you have to choose the right one and use it properly. “I usually only recommend an electric toothbrush if the child is OK with jiggles or vibrations and if parents can find one that has a small head,” Dr. Isaac explains. “The best brush is one they’ll actually use—and use right.”

Parents also need to help their kids ensure that the brush is contacting all the different surfaces of the tooth. “Many little kids expect an electric toothbrush to move around and do all of the work for them and leave it in one spot instead of maneuvering it around their mouth,” Dr. Isaac says. That proficiency develops with time, but in the interim, parental involvement is required.