Best Battery-Operated Toothbrushes

Spinbrush toothbrushes pose safety concerns

On the low end of the price spectrum are nonrechargeable, battery-powered toothbrushes like the Arm & Hammer Spinbrush Pro Clean (*Est. $8.50). In clinical studies, the toothbrush is shown to be very effective at removing plaque, more so than a manual toothbrush. It features replaceable brush heads that spin and move side-to-side.

The Spinbrush line of toothbrushes, however, has  aroused major safety concerns. In August 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety warning stating that Spinbrush brush heads can pop off during use, creating the potential for serious injury, especially to children. The manufacturers, Church & Dwight, issued a Class II recall. According to WebMD.com, "This did not mean that consumers could return the products. Instead, the company issued safe-use instructions in television and print ads and on its web site." Church & Dwight warns users to brush gently, discard brush heads every three months and inspect the brush head before using it to ensure that there are no loose parts.

Because of the potential for injury, we chose to not include the Spinbrush as a Best Reviewed product. Other battery-powered toothbrushes aren't reviewed often. A low-end electric toothbrush such as the Oral-B Vitality (*Est. $30) is essentially the same as a battery-powered toothbrush, only with a rechargeable battery and stand. Although it doesn't win any head-to-head clinical trials against more expensive electric toothbrushes, owners say it's better than manual brushing, and it doesn't cost much.