Here are the best electric toothbrushes for kids, and choose according to your needs for good oral hygiene from an early age.
The electric toothbrush for kids primarily teaches them to brush their teeth correctly, combining technology, fun, and utility. The electric toothbrush is more inviting than a manual toothbrush. Children are then attracted to technological products and tend to imitate adults. So if they see you with an electric toothbrush, they will want it.
Children can use the electric toothbrush from the age of 3, and it is at this first age group many products are destined. Then there is a second age group from 6 years up and one from 11 – 12.
Compared to adult models, toothbrushes for children work delicately and have smaller dimensions in the head and the handle. In addition, they have bright and captivating colors, depict their favorite characters, and offer links to smartphone apps with games or fun ideas to teach them daily dental hygiene.
There are many variations, from the classics like Mickey and Spiderman to the more recent ones like Toy Story and Frozen. So, based on the age and operating mode, let’s understand which electric toothbrush is for children to buy.
Table of Contents
How to choose an electric toothbrush for kids
To choose which electric toothbrush for kids to buy, these are the most important operating characteristics to be evaluated to make the right choice.
Heads
By now, almost all electric toothbrush models are equipped with interchangeable heads. This allows great savings over time. In addition, the brush head for children is much smaller to be more comfortable during use and reach every part of the dental arch and gums.
According to the models, the head can have a 2D oscillation, rotating, or 3D oscillating, pulsating, and rotating. The latter offers greater cleaning intensity but is not suitable for younger children. Another feature of the head is the number of movements per minute.
Sonic toothbrushes produce more than 30,000 movements per minute on the brush head. This causes the toothbrush to be more effective in a shorter period. The other electric toothbrushes that cannot be defined as ” sonic “produce fewer movements ranging from 16,000 to 5,000 per minute, for more delicate toothbrushes.
When discussing electric toothbrushes for children, we must remember that gentle brushing is necessary. Therefore, choosing the best electric toothbrush for children to rely on the maximum cleaning intensity.
Bristles
The bristles of children’s toothbrushes are always soft or extra-soft. Therefore, cleaning must be effective but gentle, not irritating the gums and damaging the enamel. Furthermore, we must consider that children’s teeth continue to grow in the mouth in both dairy and definitive teeth, and too strong pressures are counterproductive.
This is why it is important to teach children to place an electric toothbrush on their teeth without exerting any pressure.
As with other toothbrushes, we will notice that the bristles have different colors and sometimes different heights to adapt to the teeth and gums’ surface. Some will be more delicate for massaging, and others a more robust cleaning.
If the bristles are pressed on the teeth, we do not facilitate cleaning because they cannot maintain the position designed to irritate the gums or affect the enamel. Some toothbrush models offer heads with bristles that discolor as time passes, a useful trick to signal that the time has come to replace the head.
This signal is also beneficial for understanding if the child uses the toothbrush correctly. For example, suppose the manufacturer indicates three months as the average time for changing the head, but the bristles’ color has already faded in 1 month. In that case, it is possible that the cleaning technique was too aggressive.
Cleaning mode
Toothbrushes for children always have a gentle cleaning method compared to adults. Unfortunately, most models do not allow you to select different speeds. Some electric toothbrush models for children ages ten and up may offer two cleaning modes, one gentle and one deeper.
At this age, the formation of tartar that requires targeted action may be more evident. Also, we consider children who bring the appliance to their teeth, for whom it is more difficult to reach the interstices and space between the teeth and gums. In these cases, a more intense cleaning method could be useful, always following the dentist’s advice.
Timer
The timer has a fundamental function in the oral hygiene of children. In the opinion of dentists, they should use the electric toothbrush for children for two consecutive minutes. The timer helps the child brush their teeth for as long as necessary.
To fool the wait, many musical timers entertain the child during brushing. If the greatest difficulty lies in keeping the children for the necessary time, it is necessary to avoid the children insisting on brushing for too long, risking attacking the enamel or irritating the gums. Or they may waste time playing in the bathroom instead of brushing their teeth.
In this regard, we can choose electric toothbrushes with bright displays and acoustic timers that warn when the time has expired. Another essential function is the 30-second interval timer. The 2 minutes of brushing must be divided for 30 seconds on each mouth quadrant.
The dental arch is ideally divided into four parts, 2 for the upper arch and 2 for the lower arch. The timer indicates to the child that the time has come to change areas. Of course, we must teach children all these rules right away. This is why toothbrush manufacturers come to meet us with special apps.
App and Connectivity
The best electric toothbrushes for children are equipped with a Bluetooth connection. The aim is to connect them to apps on smartphones and tablets. These apps are packed with programs that teach kids to brush their teeth properly. They show the right movements, the different areas of the mouth to clean, the pressure and angle of the toothbrush, and many other rules to follow, including the time to dedicate to brushing.
Also, the apps take into account the progress of real educational programs. Finally, the advantage of entertaining the child with songs and illustrations is to make the 2 minutes pass quickly and effortlessly. Disney characters are the masters in this software, but we can find several equally appealing original apps.
Electric toothbrushes with Bluetooth connections are generally more expensive. If, on the other hand, you want to buy a simple battery-powered model, you can always look for songs and programs on youtube to help children brush their teeth and use your tablet or smartphone even without connecting it to the toothbrush.
Handle
In addition to the cleaning functions, everything in a baby toothbrush should be intended for ease of use. First, the handle plays a fundamental role in size and weight. Compared to adults, electric toothbrushes for children are smaller and lighter.
For younger children, the handle’s weight should not exceed 100 grams. The best toothbrushes have ergonomic, non-slip, and waterproof handles. All electric toothbrushes have a certain degree of waterproofing, but it is not uncommon for children to put the whole toothbrush underwater, including the handle.
Of course, it is also important to teach him to clean only the head underwater, but waterproofing is a parameter to consider.
Style and Design
As mentioned, electric toothbrushes for children are made with bright colors and sometimes even led lights capable of attracting their attention. According to the cartoon characters, the electric spacers of the best brands, such as Oral-B, offer different possibilities for a customized toothbrush.
Using interchangeable stickers, you can create an ad-hoc toothbrush for your child. This is not only to satisfy a whim but a real trick to convince even the most reluctant children to brush their teeth. If your child is among them, choose a toothbrush with his favorite cartons and present the electric toothbrush as a real gift.
Supply
The electric toothbrush is powered by batteries or by a lithium battery. Both have their advantages. AA or AAA batteries are inexpensive and readily available, but you must always have a few at home to avoid being left without.
Of course, you can choose rechargeable and reusable batteries to amortize the expense and make an ecological choice. In general, the battery-operated electric toothbrush is cheaper than the lithium battery one; it is lighter and easier to handle, especially when traveling, because it does not have a charging base.
It has fewer functions and is generally less powerful than those with a lithium battery. The rechargeable electric toothbrushes can have a charging base that also serves as a support base, or they can also have a USB output connected directly to the power supply.
In this case, we can consider the autonomy of the battery. In the mid-range models, the battery offers an autonomy of 5-8 days, while the top-of-the-range models can offer over ten days of autonomy. The manufacturer’s indication of autonomy almost always refers to a toothbrush used twice daily for 2 minutes.
At what age can children use the electric toothbrush?
3 years is the right age to start using the electric toothbrush. In this age group, follow the child in every step to ensure he learns to brush his teeth correctly.
You will need a special brush with a tiny head that works delicately with extra-soft bristles to caress the gums gently. The child should never be left alone while brushing his teeth at this age.
From age 6, we have another type of toothbrush with heads that work at a slightly higher intensity and slightly larger handles. We can already find heads with 3D oscillation and sonic technology, but verifying that the brushing mode is always selectable guarantees soft brushing is better. Finally, we have toothbrushes suitable for children from 10-11 years.
At this stage, the children are completely autonomous. However, if cartoons and music apps are unnecessary, 2-minute timers and 30-second intervals are still needed, indispensable in adult electric toothbrushes.
The sales models are many, and the age groups’ subdivisions can differ depending on the manufacturer. It is not said that with the passage from one age to another, we must change the toothbrush model. Sometimes it is enough to change a compatible head of the same brand.
The best electric toothbrushes for kids to buy
Below is the list of the best electric toothbrushes for kids to buy this year with their respective characteristics, ranging between $10 and $50.
- Kids sonic toothbrush handles use food-safe ABS and TPE. At the same time, the bristles of...
- Seago's second electric toothbrush is designed for children! Our children's electric...
- The LED light is gentle and non-glare, so you can use it to identify children's dental...
- Includes one (1) Colgate Kids Battery Toothbrush with included AA battery, Pokemon Battery...
- This Colgate Kids Battery Powered Toothbrush is made for children ages 3 and up
- A flat-laying handle makes it easy to apply toothpaste to this kids vibrating toothbrush...
- 5 High-performance Modes &Suitable for people - Electric toothbrush for adults & kids...
- IPX7 Waterproof and 2-Mins Timer Develop Healthy Tooth Brushing Habits: Built-in 2 minutes...
- 8 Replaccement Heads for over 24 Months Using The recommended use cycle of the brush head...
- Includes 2 Amazon Basics Kids Power Toothbrushes for children ages 4+, 2 AAA batteries...
- 70% better plaque removal than a manual toothbrush
- Oscillating brush head
- Rotating Power Head reaches, surrounds, and thoroughly cleans multiple surfaces
- Raised center-row bristles help clean chewing surfaces
- Extra-soft bristles clean as gently as a soft manual brush
- 98% of parents say it’s easier to get kids to brush longer and better.
- 91% of dental professional parents prefer Sonicare for Kids for their own children.
- Interactive free app educates and gets kids excited about brushing. Exciting rewards for...
- Includes 1 rechargeable handle, 1 charger & 2 brush heads
- Removes more plaque than a regular manual toothbrush for healthy smiles
- Pressure sensor lights up when too much pressure is applied to teach kids healthy brushing...
- Your Kid's New Favorite Toothbrush: Make brushing fun with this cute and colorful,...
- Effective at Removing Plaque: Soft, high-quality bristles provide gentle vibration that...
- Certified Kids Safe: Our Brusheez kids electric toothbrush is a Parent Tested, Parent...
- Rotating Power Head reaches, surrounds, and thoroughly cleans multiple surfaces
- Raised center-row bristles help clean chewing surfaces
- Extra-soft bristles clean as gently as a soft manual brush
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