Our dental hygiene is just as vital to our wellbeing as our exercise and skincare routines. Not only does a healthy smile make a huge difference to our confidence, it’s key to pretty much everything – eating, kissing our loved ones, conveying endless facial expressions, and, of course, giving commands to Alexa. So why do we only tend to focus on it when something goes wrong? We're talking toothache and bleeding gums.
The good news is, tech is changing the game, making it easier to achieve healthier, whiter teeth at home. Electric toothbrushes, water flossers and teeth whitening kits have taken centre stage in helping to fight plaque and keep us smiling.
But with so many products out there, it’s sometimes hard to know which ones are worth spending on. That's where the Good Housekeeping Institute comes in. We’ve spent years testing the market-leading products and we've collated all our top-rated picks below.
We've also spoken to Dr Thuha Jabber, cosmetic dentist at Almas Dental, to get her expert advice on how to care for your smile.
How important is dental hygiene for our overall health?
Not only does poor oral health affect our smile, but as Dr Jabbar explains, it's also been linked to various conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and more.
“Regular dental care not only maintains our oral health but also contributes to overall wellbeing," she explains. In other words, your smile is like a window into your general health.
Sugar, smoking and acidic food can all contribute to poor oral health. Luckily, however, there are some key dental hygiene products that can help keep your mouth happy and healthy. The time you eat – and brush – can also have an impact, but more on that later.
What are the benefits of an electric toothbrush?
For most, the first natural step to improving overall oral hygiene is making the switch from a good old manual to an electric toothbrush. Because we just can't compete with a tool that can rotate up to 42,000 (!) times per minute.
Here, Dr Jabbar outlines some of the benefits of going electric.
- Plaque Removal: “Electric toothbrushes can be more effective in plaque removal due to the rotating heads.”
- Pressure sensors: “Many also have built-in timers to ensure you’re brushing for the recommended duration (two minutes), as well as pressure sensors to ensure you aren’t brushing too hard.”
- Multiple brushing modes: ”Look for different brushing modes, such as those for sensitive teeth or whitening.”
As well as a good electric toothbrush, Dr Jabbar recommends using a fluoride toothpaste to strengthen the teeth and help prevent decay.
What’s the best brushing routine?
“We should brush before breakfast, as overnight, the number of bad bacteria in our mouth increases, and this bacteria feeds on the same things we feed on,” Dr Jabbar explains. “Therefore, if you have breakfast before you brush, they will also have breakfast with you.” Brekkie with bacilli, anyone? No thanks!
If you were to clean your teeth after breakfast, which can involve acidic fruit juices and sugary cereals, you risk brushing those acids into your teeth, which will wear down the enamel. By brushing before, the protective properties of your toothpaste should work to combat any damage.
“Your second brush should be the last thing you do in the day,” adds Dr Jabber. So, once you’ve popped your last Pringle, make sure you’re brushing for a good two minutes before getting into bed.
“Mouthwashes are good for using during the day to refresh the mouth,” she continues. “They should be used at different times to brushing, so not in the morning or at night.”
Should I be brushing in between meals?
In our book, there should be no set time for snacking (because, when isn’t it a good time for snacks?). However, Dr Jabber says we should aim to consume our meals and treats in the same sitting.
“If you are going to consume any sweets, sugars or acids, the best time to have them is immediately after your meal, as opposed to eating them throughout the day,” she advises. “When they’re consumed after a meal that is considered one sugar or acid intake on the teeth [as opposed to multiple intakes]
“You should then wait a minimum of 30 minutes before you brush your teeth again to allow the acids to neutralise in the mouth. One way to speed up the neutralisation of acids after eating is to chew sugar-free gum.”
How we test electric toothbrushes
We recruited 95 testers to trial each toothbrush at home, assessing its battery life, ease of use, design, performance, and noise levels.
We also invited our panel into the GHI lab and gave each person a disclosing tablet so we could analyse how much plaque they had on their teeth before and after testing their electric toothbrush.
The best electric toothbrushes
Best electric toothbrush
Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Toothbrush
Score: 93/100
Coming out on top is Spotlight’s versatile sonic toothbrush. It offers three different speeds, and its high frequency brush movements help you reach even the most inaccessible areas of the mouth. All testers were impressed with its design and performance, with the majority saying they would continue using it after the testing period. The included nine-month supply of brush heads also means you won’t be left short.
Score: 91/100
This smart brush from market-leaders Oral-B is equipped with motion sensors and uses AI to tailor the brushing experience to your style, making sure you don’t miss any spots and helping you achieve a better clean. All testers said their teeth felt much cleaner after use, and they didn’t experience any sensitivity or discomfort during or after brushing.
Score: 87/100
With up to 42,000 rotations per minute, this toothbrush works hard to remove any stubborn stains. The carbon covered bristles dissolve discoloured particles on your teeth gently, with most of our panel saying their teeth felt much cleaner after use. In fact, they were so satisfied with its performance, everyone said they'd continue to use it in future.
Why is flossing important?
Often overlooked in a brushing routine, flossing is crucial for cleaning the areas a toothbrush just can’t reach. “Forty per cent of the tooth surface is actually in between the teeth,” Dr Jabbar points out. Which makes us want to reach for the floss immediately.
So, flossing is pretty vital for removing any plaque and debris, but if you struggle with regular interdental cleaning, a water flosser could be the answer.
“Water flossers use a jet of water to clean between teeth and along the gum line,” Dr Jabbar explains. “They can be helpful for individuals with braces or anyone who has difficulty using traditional floss.”
How we test water flossers
Our panel blind tested a range of different water flossers over a two-week period. They gave feedback on how easy the flosser was to use, as well as commenting on its design and overall performance.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, our experts used the VISIA image analysis machine to assess how effective the water flossers were at removing plaque and food deposits on the buccal surfaces of the teeth.
The best water flossers
Score: 83/100
Our joint winning water flosser scored top marks for supplying what our panel described as a dental quality clean at home. Testers liked the three different settings to choose from, which include gentle, clean and pulse. The gravity ball at the base also makes it easy to achieve a 360 clean.
Score: 83/100
Tying for top spot is this Philips model, which also provided a deep clean, with a good level of pressure that didn’t cause any damage or irritation for testers. Our panel also praised the range of (six) settings, ease of set-up and ease of use (it can be angled to reach any tricky spots).
Best budget buy
Score: 77/100
The affordable price point of this H2ofloss means it’s a great option for those trying water flossing for the first time. It holds enough water to last the full minute (which is the recommended floss time), and has a range of different modes and attachments, including a handy tongue scraper tip.
What is the most effective way to whiten your teeth?
If you’re interested in professional teeth whitening, always speak to your dentist. They may first suggest a trip to the hygienist – a regular, thorough clean can make a big difference to the appearance of your teeth.
If you’re still interested in whitening, they can advise you on the best treatment. You can choose between professional whitening, where you're given a bleaching gel to put in custom made trays, which are worn for a specified time (usually a few weeks). Alternatively, you can opt for laser teeth whitening, which is done by the dentist and is usually more expensive. Note that these treatments should only ever be carried out by a registered dentist.
If you decide to opt for home teeth whitening, which is more affordable, be aware that these kits – a mix of strips, gels and pens – aren’t as strong as professional whitening. Your results will also depend on the shade of your teeth to begin with. However, these DIY kits can still be effective at freshening up your smile, or they can be used alongside professional treatments to top up results.
How we test teeth whitening kits
We asked 318 testers to try a range of teeth whitening products. We asked a selection of them to visit our lab where we took pictures of their teeth before and after treatment using our VISIA Complexion analyser. Using a whiteness scale, we were then able to determine any difference in shade before and after treatment.
Testers also used the whitening products at home and gave us detailed feedback. They told us how easy each one was to use, how long the treatment took, whether there were any sensitivity issues, and how effective they were overall.
The best teeth whitening kits
Best teeth whitening strips
Spotlight Oral Care Teeth Whitening Strips
Score: 75/100
These simple, easy-to-apply strips are great for popping on for an hour when you’re sat on the sofa to break down built-up stains. Though Spotlight recommends using them daily over a two-week period (alongside the whitening toothpaste provided), testers reported brighter, whiter teeth within 8-10 days. Designed by dentists, this is a safe, effective option for whitening teeth, with minimal sensitivity after use.
Best teeth whitening pen
Spotlight Oral Care Teeth Whitening Pen
Now 19% Off
Score: 74/100
Perfect for putting in your bag on those coffee-fuelled office days, this whitening pen is a convenient way of reducing staining. More than half our testers agreed that their teeth appeared whiter after using the product, with one noting a “notable difference” after 4-6 applications. The pen design means it’s “easy, convenient and quick to use”, making it a good on-the-go choice.
Best teeth whitening drops
Score: 70/100
The best things come in threes, supposedly, and with this home kit that takes the form of a tooth polish, tooth brightener and a whitening activator serum that can be applied with your own toothbrush. Testers were happy with this easy-to-use kit, which took only three minutes a day and didn’t leave gums sensitive or irritated.
Madeleine Evans
Lifestyle Writer
Madeleine is our Lifestyle Writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and round-ups on the latest beauty Beauty and products. From skincare to protein powders, Maddie is committed to providing honest and helpful reviews to help guide readers to the best product for them. Maddie has a BA in English Literature and Language, which stemmed from her lifelong interest in reading and writing. She started her post graduate life at Hearst UK within a marketing capacity, which quickly turned into a desire to fulfil a writing career.
When she is not writing about the latest expert reviewed products, you can find her rifling through vintage shops or car boots, reading a print magazine, or capturing portraits on her film camera.
Tested byMaria Kumar
Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager
Maria is our Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager, and since joining in mid-2022, she has managed the testing for mutiple categories including scalp scrubs, collagen supplements and retinol serums. In addition to her master's degree in chemical engineering and a diploma in cosmetic science, she recently received her MBA from the London College of Fashion, focusing on case studies within the beauty industry. Prior to joining the company, she worked within the global technical team at the Estee Lauder Companies for over six years, collaborating with the chemists and engineers to launch luxury beauty products at scale and to quality. She has also worked as a formulation scientist within the pharmaceutical industry and takes this evidence based approach into all her product testing.