Wisdom PowerPlus Rechargeable Toothbrush

Product Information

Used correctly, interdental brushes should clean plaque from the gumline between teeth but shouldn't cause any damage to the gums. However, it may take a few days to get the hang of it. You should use your interdental brush to clean between teeth in this way once a day, while still brushing in the normal way twice a day. See our teeth-brushing guide for more about how to brush your teeth properly.

If you want to save some money, you’re not restricted to the manufacturer’s own heads. A few smaller, third-party manufacturers make Sonicare- or Oral-B-compatible brush heads, which usually sell for much less than the real deal. Philips and Oral-B will tell you that you’re not getting the same quality or clean from these cheaper heads, but in our tests some have been perfectly effective. Does it deliver as good a clean as the more expensive Sonicare models? Maybe not. Even when you move beyond its Soft and Gum Care modes for the White and Polish options, you don’t quite get the power of a mid-range Philips brush, not to mention alternatives from Oclean or Ordo. However, your teeth feel clean after brushing and the Gum Care mode gives your gums a decent massage, while the Soft mode is ideal for first-time electric toothbrush users or those with sensitive gums.You might be wondering whether an interdental brush can replace string floss – especially if you find traditional floss quite difficult to use. Well, the good news is that various studies have shown that using interdental brushes is an effective alternative to flossing. Interproximal brushing can even be more effective at removing plaque than regular flossing, according to this research. I had never imagined that an electric toothbrush could be a stylish accessory, but this one has a smooth, ergonomic design that’s a minimalist’s dream. One brushed silver button switches it off and on, and toggles between three brushing modes: ‘Sensitive,’ ‘Clean,’ and ‘White.’ Other toothbrushes offer more speed settings, but I found this to be more than enough (and less confusing). It uses Sonic technology that moves bristles side-to-side at a rate of up to 48,000 reps per minute. One handy feature which we hadn’t seen in the iO4 is the brush head replacement reminder. An orange LED light at the bottom of the control panel will flash when the brush head needs to be changed. The top of the handle also has a pressure sensor, flashing green or red according to how hard you’re pressing. You don’t necessarily need to switch from a manual toothbrush to an electric toothbrush if your dentist says you’re doing a fine job with your current setup. But there is some research indicating that electric toothbrushes might be slightly better at clearing away plaque and reducing gingivitis (early gum disease). Prices are slightly higher than most plastic brushes, as is often the case with environmentally-friendly alternatives, but they are not prohibitively expensive.

The ICON interdental brushes from Stoddard come in a full range of eight sizes, including a white 0.35mm brush which is the smallest of all those we've featured here. If you find that other brands of brush are too large to fit between your teeth, this could be worth a try. Intrinsic stains within the teeth, by contrast, are down to age or genetics. Dentists can perform tooth-whitening procedures on intrinsic stains. Using an electric toothbrush will not remove intrinsic stains, but will reduce the likelihood of adding extrinsic stains.”

The best electric toothbrushes you can buy in 2023

Dr Richard Marques, a private dentist based on London’s Harley Street, says: “By now, so much research has gone into them that any electric toothbrush you can buy is better than a manual toothbrush. They either use rotation and oscillation or vibration, and you’re able to clean your teeth without scrubbing too hard.” Battery life Some electric toothbrushes have a battery that can hold a charge for over a month, while the worst we’ve tested will provide just over a week of brushing time. Recharging times vary massively, too. The fastest will go from empty to full charge in less than five hours, but the slowest will have you waiting over a day before they’re fully charged.

Rotating-oscillating – These electric toothbrushes have small, round heads and are one of the most popular brushes in the Oral B range. The head oscillates – rotates in one direction and then the other – around one tooth at a time to sweep away plaque.Stoddard interdental brushes are designed and manufactured in the UK. They use a high tensile strength wire to enhance durability, and the protective cap doubles up as an extension to the handle. I want to love it, but I’m not sure I do, as the head is quite wide which makes it hard to reach all the nooks and crannies - although it has been streamlined from the ISSA 2. It has a huge range of 16 different speed settings, although they’re not separated into dedicated ‘modes’ as such, and I actually found that 16 is too many. It has an interval timer, which prompts you to move to a different area of your mouth every 30 seconds for a thorough clean, but again no pressure sensor.