Arm & Hammer Spinbrush Pro Clean

Clinical tests show that the Arm & Hammer Spinbrush Pro Clean is more effective than manual brushing. While the Spinbrush lacks many of the bells and whistles of more expensive electric toothbrushes, experts say that it may inspire you to brush longer than you would with an old-fashioned manual toothbrush. The Arm & Hammer Spinbrush Pro Clean powered toothbrush uses dual-action motion, which consists of spinning and side-to-side movements. Power comes from two AA batteries, but users say that they must be replaced often and that water tends to leak into the battery compartment after you replace them. The battery compartment can be tough to open as well.

Despite all this, reviewers say that it's a step above a manual toothbrush at an affordable price. If you prefer a rechargeable electric toothbrush at a low price, the Oral-B Vitality (*Est. $25) is priced to fit a tight budget. If you're interested in something more sophisticated, with a built-in timer, experts say that the Oral-B ProfessionalCare SmartSeries 4000 (*Est. $100) is worth the investment.

In February 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers that using the Spinbursh could lead to injury; specifically, chipped or broken teeth; cuts to the mouth and gums; swallowing and choking on broken pieces; and injury to the face and eyes. The reason: the brush head came off during use, exposing metal parts which injured the mouth and eyes of consumers. Even though, the head can be removed for cleaning or replacement, it should not come off on its own.