Arm & Hammer Spinbrush Pro

Clinical tests show that the Arm & Hammer Spinbrush Pro (marketed as the Crest Spinbrush Pro until a recent change in ownership), 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 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. That 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. $18) is priced to fit a constrained budget. If you're interested in something much more sophisticated, with a built-in timer, experts say that the Oral-B ProfessionalCare SmartSeries 4000 (*Est. $125) is worth the investment.

We found reliable reviews of the Arm & Hammer Spinbrush Pro in clinical journals where it's compared against other inexpensive electric and manual toothbrushes. User reviews at Drugstore.com and Amazon.com are sparse, but reflect common concerns with long-term use.