The American Dental Association advises brushing the teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes each time, or a total of four minutes of brushing per day.
But how do you know how long you’ve been brushing for? Do you count? Do you sing a song in your head? Do you use a watch or a timer? The truth is, many people don’t time how long they are brushing their teeth, so they may not be brushing it for the desired amount of time per day.
In fact, statistics show that the average American brushes their teeth for 45 to 70 seconds per day, which is less than half of the recommended brushing time. That leaves plaque and bacteria still intact with your teeth. Cutting the brushing time short can have an overall negative impact on your oral health.
The good news is that there are techy toothbrushes with a built-in timer to help us brush for the appropriate amount of time.
What’s a Battery-Operated Toothbrush?
A battery-operated toothbrush requires batteries because its head can rotate at a far higher speed at a press of a button than manual toothbrushes. This allows a quicker and more thorough removal of plaque at the teeth. When using a battery operated toothbrush, you still need to perform the manual brushing action. Still, as you do, the rotation or pulsation of the toothbrush helps greatly with removing the plaque in areas visited for a short period of time. This means better cleaning compared with a manual brush alone.
Battery-operated toothbrushes are either equipped with rechargeable batteries or replaceable batteries (usually AA sized). Technically speaking, almost all electric toothbrushes are battery operated. The rechargeable toothbrushes contain an internal battery that stores power.
However, the battery makes the toothbrush heavier and bulkier than a manual toothbrush. And because it comes with extra features, it’s pricier too.
This kind of toothbrushes offers one or two cleaning methods, a rotating head, and a sonic technology. Some have a timer feature, but it’s not as common as with electric toothbrushes.
Toothbrushes with a two-minute timer count up to two minutes from the moment the brush is powered on. Usually, the brush will then alert you when the two minutes are complete. The alert comes in the form of change in sound, a pause, or an automatic power-off the brush at the end of the day.
Best Battery-Operated Toothbrushes with Timer
Oral-B Genius Pro 8000
If you’re looking for something pretty impressive, the Oral-B Genius Pro 8000 is for you. This is a smart toothbrush with six different cleaning modes: whitening, pro-clean, daily clean, sensitive, gum care, and tongue cleaning to ensure a personalized clean depending on your needs. It comes with a round brush head for tooth-by-tooth clean. It’s highly recommended for those who have sensitive gums and teeth.
It has an in-handle two-minute timer that pulses every 30 seconds to let you know when to switch to other areas of the mouth. For power, this toothbrush is equipped with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that will keep the toothbrush charged for two weeks. It comes with a travel case so you can take it wherever you go.
Besides the multiple cleaning modes and timer, other smart features of this toothbrush include pressure sensor lights that can alert you when you are brushing too hard and Bluetooth functionality that provides real-time feedback on brushing habits via an app.
Pros:
- Six different cleaning modes
- Round brush head covers each tooth
- Comes with a travel case
- Recommended for sensitive gums and teeth
- Two-minute timer with pulses every 30 second
- Lithium-ion battery stays charged for two weeks
- Bluetooth functionality
- Pressure sensor lights
Cons:
- Loud operation
- Expensive
- The app doesn’t work properly
Colgate 360 Advanced Whitening Electric Toothbrush
Colgate 360 Advanced Whitening Electric Toothbrush is equipped with excellent cleaning capabilities, causing up to 20,000 strokes per minute to ensure deep clean. This toothbrush is designed to provide 5X plaque reduction along the gum line versus ordinary manual toothbrushes. Its spiral bristles and polishing cups help whiten teeth by removing surface stains. Plus, it comes with a tongue and cheek cleaner.
This toothbrush comes with an ultra-slim, lightweight handle designed for easy control. Unlike other battery-operated toothbrushes, it offers a quiet brushing experience. The removable heads are easily replaceable. There’s a two-minute timer that helps you make sure you’re brushing your teeth for the recommended time.
This toothbrush runs on 2 AAA batteries, which are included in your purchase. You have to replace them yourself as needed.
Pros:
- Tongue and cheek cleaner
- 20,000 strokes per minute for great cleaning power
- Spiral brushes help whiten teeth
- Ultra-slim, lightweight handle
- Built-in two-minute timer
- Comes with 2 AAA batteries
Cons:
- Brush can be too hard for some people
Philips Sonicare HX3631/06 Powerup Battery Toothbrush
Philips Sonicare HX3631/06 Powerup Battery Toothbrush is highly recommended by dentists. It’s an excellent battery-operated toothbrush that can deliver 15,000 brush movements in one minute. It’s suitable for people with dental work in their teeth, like braces, fillings, veneers, caps, or crowns caps. It’s an affordable option for those who want a battery-operated toothbrush but don’t want to invest more for an electric toothbrush.
This toothbrush has a two-minute timer that allows the toothbrush to automatically power off when the two minutes are finished. The blue bristles fade away to remind you when you already need to replace the brush head.
It includes two AA batteries – this toothbrush works best with Polaroid AA batteries.
Pros:
- Built-in two-minute timer
- Replacement reminder
- 15,000 brush movements in one minute
- Best for people with braces
Cons:
- May vibrate too much for some users
Oral-B 7500 Power Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush
Oral-B 7500 Power Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush offers 3D cleaning action that rotates, oscillates, and pulsates to break up and remove plaque. With regular use of this electric toothbrush with timer and fluoride toothpaste, you will be able to enjoy healthier gums and stronger teeth.
It features a 3D cleaning action that oscillates, rotates, and pulsates to break up and remove plaque. It comes with five modes: daily clean, sensitive, gum care, pro-clean, and whitening. The in-handle timer is set to two minutes and pulses every 30 seconds to let you know when to switch areas of the mouth.
It comes with three brush heads: CrossAction for deep cleansing between the teeth, FlossAction for a floss-like clean, and 3D White for stain removal on the surface of the teeth. It’s also equipped with a LED light that lets you know when you’re applying too much pressure.
Pros:
- Comes with replacement brush heads and travel case
- Two-minute timer with pulses every 30 second
- A full battery lasts for two weeks
- Effectively removes plaque and stains
Cons:
- Material is prone to rust
- Some customers say the vibrations are too low
Triple Bristle GO Sonic Toothbrush
If you’re looking for something advanced but doesn’t cost as much as electric toothbrushes, the Triple Bristle GO Sonic Toothbrush is for you. This toothbrush features triple bristles for extra cleaning those hard-to-reach spots. It also has three brush modes: high, sensitive, and massage, making it an excellent choice for users with sensitive teeth or gums, or who want to personalize their cleaning experience.
It’s scientifically designed to create 31,000 sonic stroke vibrations per minute to give the teeth the best possible clean in a fraction of time as compared to using ordinary sonic toothbrushes.
This toothbrush comes with two brush heads, a separate tongue cleaner, and 2 AA batteries ready for use. The slim, easy-grip handle allows for a quick yet effective brushing. The triple bristle can speed up the brushing process, making brushing more comfortable. It has an automatic two-minute timer to remove guesswork if you must be finished brushing or not.
Pros:
- Soft, triple bristles
- Three brush modes
- Two-minute timer
- Creates 31,000 sonic stroke vibrations
- Comes with two brush heads, tongue cleaner, and 2 AA batteries
- Easy-grip handle
Cons:
- Hard to access battery panel
- Vibration may not be enough for some users
Oral-B Pro 1000 Power Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush
One of the best toothbrushes in the market, Oral-B Pro 1000 Power Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush can remove up to 100% more plaque than manual brushes. It comes with a two-minute timer that pulses every 30 seconds to alert the need to switch areas of the mouth. Its bristles are strategically placed at a 16-degree angle to allow each bristle to reach deep between the teeth. You will see the difference after just a week of using it.
Its 3D White brush head works great in removing the surface stains without endangering your teeth. It’s equipped with a pressure sensor that lets you know when you’re applying too much pressure on your teeth while brushing. And you don’t have to worry about constantly charging since a full charge can last up to 10 days.
This toothbrush is compatible with these Oral-B replacement toothbrush heads: CrossAction, Precision Clean, Sensitive Clean, 3D White, FlossAction, Deep Sweep, TriZone, ProWhite, PowerTip, Dual Clean, and Ortho.
Pros:
- Two-minute timer with pulses every 30 second
- Smart, angled bristles
- Pressure sensor
- Compatible with a range of brush heads
- Waterproof brush
Cons:
- Loud operation
- Must be air-dried