“The Philips Sonicare for Kids Connected Sonic Electric Toothbrush is amazing,” says Dr. Jennifer Chiang, family and cosmetic dentist at Sunny Vale Dentist in Silicon Valley, California. 

Four dentists we spoke to for this article all recommended this electric toothbrush for kids. 

 “For kids, I like Philips Sonicare for Kids 3+ Bluetooth Connected Rechargeable Electric Power Toothbrush,” says Dr. Sandip Sachar, a New York City dentist with over 20 years of clinical experience. 

Thanks to its entertaining companion app and comfortable design, it just might be that the Philips Sonicare for kids is actually fun for kids to use, and it uses a clever app to encourage kids to brush properly. 

“It’s effective and gentle, and the built-in timer makes it easier for kids to develop good brushing habits,” says Dr. Vishala Patel, dentist at Edge Dental Designs. “I like that it syncs with an app: Many of our young patients love the interactive features and rewards, which helps parents turn brushing into a positive daily routine. It also has a smaller brush head and softer vibrations, making it ideal for young mouths. Overall, it’s a great introduction to electric brushing for kids.”

Why dentists recommend the Philips Sonicare for Kids 

• Designed with kids’ dexterity in mind. Sanchar and Bhatt both mention its great design, which takes little hands and mouths (and developing motor skills) into consideration. Sanchar says the brush head size and shape is “just right,”, and Bhatt agrees the brush is “kid friendly.”
  “The brush is soft for tiny mouths but is effective at attaining plaque,” Bhatt says. “Not only does it clean young teeth and gums thoroughly and gently, but it helps develop healthy habits, too.”
• The Philips Sonicare for Kids app helps develop good brushing habits. “I love that it comes with an app that is interactive and teaches kids how to brush,” Sanchar says. “It also gives a musical signal to move to the next part of the mouth,” making this a fun option for kids who need a little extra motivation. 
• It can even convince kids who hate brushing their teeth. “I especially liked this for kids that tend to battle against manual brushing,” says dentist Dr. Hiren Bhatt, dentist at Alton Dental Burlington, Ontario. “Parents often comment to me that this brush helps their kids brush for longer and be more consistent, which is the most important part.”

Oral-B’s electric toothbrush for kids is a little pricier than the Philips Sonicare, but it gives little mouths a great clean. 

“The Oral-B iO Kids Limited Rechargeable Electric Powered Toothbrush cleans better than a manual toothbrush,” says dentist Dr. Jonathan Neman of Neman Family Dentistry in Great Neck, New York. “It has multiple speeds so kids can see what is most comfortable, is rechargeable, and the head is small for children 6 and up as well as ‘gaggers.’" 

It comes with habit-building features to help kids get brushing down early on. “The pressure sensor it also has teaches kids not to brush too hard,” says Neman. “What I also like is that it has a two-minute timer.”