Sonicare FlexCare

Reviewers praise Sonicare FlexCare electric toothbrushes for their gentle cleaning motion and their compact brush heads. Unlike the Oral-B's triple-action brush, the Sonicare's head vibrates back and forth at a high rate of speed, which users say is gentler. The Sonicare FlexCare comes with one standard-size brush head. A compact size is also available for purchase separately, which some users say is perfect for people with smaller mouths. The manufacturer says that the Sonicare FlexCare vibrates less than previous models, but several reviewers say it is loud.

The Sonicare FlexCare has an easy-start function aimed at new users, which eases them into using a powered toothbrush by gently increasing its power over 14 uses. (This particular function can be deactivated.) Sonicare also offers this model as the FlexCare+, which adds a built-in sanitizer in the stand (*Est. $160) for users who are concerned about germs, but we didn't find any clinical testing to back up this concern. If you prefer a triple-action brush head, experts suggest the Oral-B ProfessionalCare SmartSeries 4000 (*Est. $100).

We found the most reliable review for the Sonicare FlexCare at ConsumerReports.org, where it is included in comparison testing of 10 electric toothbrushes. A clinical study in the Journal of Clinical Dentistry also shows the toothbrush to be highly effective at removing surface stains from teeth. Although their tests are not as scientific in nature, Good Housekeeping and The Wall Street Journal also compare several electric toothbrushes. User reviews at Amazon.com and Drugstore.com are excellent sources to evaluate real-world use and durability.