An electric toothbrush helps you brush better and more consistently compared to its manual counterparts. However, some models tend to produce disturbing noises.
So, how to Make an Electric Toothbrush Quiet?
The sound usually comes from the oscillation of brushes, along with the design of the handle and head. The best ways to make an electric toothbrush quieter include identifying the source of the noise, wrapping something around it as well as keeping it in good condition by charging and changing the brush heads. Yet if you want a long-term fix, upgrading to a better model is the ultimate solution.
In this article, we're looking at the reasons as to why electric toothbrushes make noise and how you can minimize or eliminate it.
We're also going to help you choose the best and quietest electric toothbrushes so that you can improve your oral health in peace.
Why Is your Electric Toothbrush So Loud?
Surprisingly, much of the noise of an electric toothbrush comes from the head's movement or rotation. Although the mechanism plays a role in the head's back-and-forth motions to clean the teeth.
When you look into the mechanisms of an electric toothbrush, you'll find that the casing houses a motor, a gear, a circuit, a cam, and a rechargeable battery.
The gears, motor, and the cam make the detachable head vibrate and spin, which is also known as the oscillation.
Standard electric toothbrushes oscillate at around 26 times per second.
Hence, your electric toothbrush may have a quiet internal mechanism, but if the head is not fit properly or the incorrect model for the toothbrush, the device will be louder than usual.
5 Simple to Make an Electric Toothbrush Quiet
Like you, we have struggled for a long time with a loud electric toothbrush.
But with some research and tests, we've come up with simple solutions to make your electric toothbrush quieter.
1: Identify the Source of the Noise
As mentioned earlier, the toothbrush's head is the likely culprit. Having said that, begin by inspecting your toothbrush, and make sure that the head is in good condition.
It's possible that you weren't able to fit the head to the body firmly. Likewise, check if you're using the right head.
Some toothbrushes only work best when the heads are from the same brand. You may find cheap alternatives, although they are likely to produce more noise than usual.
2: Wrap hand towel, washcloth Around Your Noisy Electric Toothbrush
The simplest, quickest, and cheapest way to make your noisy electric toothbrush quieter is wrap a hand towel, washcloth, or shirt around it. You can use pretty much anything. Although as a cardinal rule to soundproofing, the denser the material, the more sound you can muffle.
While this is more of a short-term solution, it can make a difference by muffling vibrations quite well.
Wrap it around the connection point between the body and the head.
Note that this is the highest point you can put a cloth, especially since it's one of the major sources of the noise.
In this way, you can still get a firm grasp and control when using the toothbrush.
However, don't use fabric as a permanent casing to avoid issues with trying to fit rechargeable electric toothbrushes into holders.
Besides, fabrics can be a breeding ground for bacteria and germs. Similarly, make sure that the cloth is clean as it will be going near your mouth.
3: Keep It in Good Condition
Treat your electric toothbrush like any other electrical device. This involves taking good care of it to ensure it operates as it's supposed to be.
Change the head at least every three months not only for hygiene reasons but also to replace the parts inside the head that start to wear down.
The components inside will increase the amount of noise the device makes as they get old.
Similar to an ordinary toothbrush, you'll have to rinse and wipe down an electric toothbrush's head between each use.
Otherwise, you'll end up with dried toothbrush-spit residue in the crevices.
4: Charge It Properly
If you want a rechargeable toothbrush, you need to ensure that the device always has enough charge.
An electric toothbrush with low charge often makes more noise than a fully charged one. However, be careful not to leave it on charge constantly.
Almost all electric toothbrushes use the same lithium-ion technology that loses the ability to hold a charge if connected to a power source all the time.
For electric toothbrushes with disposable batteries, know that the batteries' constant rattling can be a source of the noise.
If not secured enough, the removable batteries can rattle. Thus, make sure to change batteries whenever necessary and screw the cap tightly after replacement.
5: Get an Upgrade
If you've done the quick fixes to make your electric toothbrush quieter mentioned above and you're still hearing some noise, your toothbrush is likely old or broken.
At this point, the most practical solution is to get a quiet and better model.
Rather than changing batteries every now and then or using all your fabrics, getting an upgrade is the ultimate long-term solution. Which brings us to our next point…
What Are the Best and Quietest Electric Toothbrushes?
According to the American Dental Association, both manual and electric toothbrushes can help remove plaque.
However, people can benefit more from the gentle oscillation coming from electronic versions.
While it's enjoyable to have an electric toothbrush that operates silently, you also have to weigh if it doesn't have a negative impact on the tooth cleaning performance.
Hence, we're giving you the best selection of electric toothbrushes that balances quietness, effectiveness, and price.
Top 5 Quietest Electric Toothbrushes in 2021
Below are the best quietest model available for make brushing easier, resulting in better plaque removal. Choose your brush as per your concern.
Before we go in depth review, here Are The Sneak peek of the 5 Best Quietest Electric Toothbrushes.
- 1. Quitest Electric Toothbrush: Oral-B 7000 SmartSeries
- 2. Best Cheap: Fairywill Sonic Electric Toothbrush
- 3. Price-to-Performance: Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100 Electric Toothbrush
- 4. with Pressure Sensor: PURES Sonic Electric Toothbrush
- 5. Best Cleaning Modes: PURES Sonic Electric Toothbrush
1. Quitest Electric Toothbrush: Oral-B 7000 SmartSeries
The Oral-B 7000 SmartSeries uses silicone CrossAction brushes with perfectly angled bristles for a precise clean. With its oscillation, materials, and cleaning modes, cleaning becomes more rewarding and quieter. It even has an app that motivates you with helpful oral care tips.
Product Highlights
- Visible pressure sensor alerts you if you're brushing too hard.
- Round brush head surrounds each tooth to clean thoroughly along the gum line.
- Features six cleaning modes that also impact vibrations and noise.
- Brags an app that tracks your brushing patterns.
- Oscillating speed and waterproof body dampen vibrations.
As you may know, Oral-B is one of the leading names in the tooth brushing sector, and for good reasons.
First, its electric toothbrushes have excellent brushing ability. Secondly, most of its products are really quiet.
Take the Oral-B 7000 SmartSeries, which uses silicone in its body to act as superior grip and noise dampener.
Even if the head oscillates up to 400 times a second, this high-tech brush remains quiet because of the sealing gaps.
This soundproofing feature also makes the toothbrush watertight, and consequently, prevents interior parts from vibrating against each other.
The clinically proven superior 3D cleaning rotates, oscillates, and pulsates to break and remove up to 100% more plaque than other electric toothbrushes.
In addition, there are six cleaning modes: Daily Clean, Gum Care, Sensitive, Whitening, Deep Clean, and Tongue Cleaner.
While vibrations and sounds may differ for each mode, the way you operate the brush can also either amplify or reduce the noise.
Furthermore, there are two CrossAction brush heads, which is Oral-B's most advanced brush head with precision angled bristles.
There's also a Sensitive Clean brush head that helps fight sensitivity, while the FlossAction brush head for sweeping away plaque.
If you have other oral health needs, like orthodontics, this model is compatible with every bush head the brand makes.
What sets this product apart is that it uses Bluetooth and a small, wall-mounted smartphone app to provide real-time brushing feedback and reminders.
This means that it tells if you are brushing too hard or how long you've been brushing your teeth.
The app can even store six months' worth of charts and graphs. In this way, you can track your brushing habits and set goals to whiten your teeth.
This quiet electric toothbrush follows the dentist-recommended two minutes of brushing.
With its oral care feature, the Oral-B 7000 SmartSeries, you can work on all quadrants of the mouth.
Finally, the rechargeable battery lasts for ages, and a full charge may take up to 24 hours.
Oral-B assures that the product is free from defect, but should encounter any problems with the craftsmanship, the package includes a two-year limited warranty.
2. Best Cheap: Fairywill Sonic Electric Toothbrush
The Fairywill Sonic Electric Toothbrush is a dream come true for people who are looking for a cheap and compact electric toothbrush. This rechargeable model has a timer that helps you adjust brushing patterns. With five cleaning modes, this high-powered toothbrush makes 40,000 strokes a minute while still keeping quiet.
Product Highlights
- Each charge lasts for at least 30 days.
- Sonic technology keeps noise levels to a minimum.
- High brushing quality despite the entry-level price.
- Brush shape and size are suitable for hard-to-reach areas.
- Automatically pauses after every 30 seconds and shuts off after two minutes.
If you're looking for a more budget-friendly alternative but has features that are on par with Oral-B, then the Fairywill Sonic Electric Toothbrush is the perfect choice for you.
The brand has been producing excellent sonic toothbrushes at a much more entry-level price while still considering the quality and low noise levels.
The brush head vibrates at around 40,000 strokes a minute, all while keeping sound levels at a minimum.
However, the connection between the head and the body isn't the tightest, which may become a source of vibrations over time.
On the bright side, the brushing quality is pretty good. In addition, the brush heads have the proper size for reaching certain parts of your mouth.
The package even comes with 10 brush heads, which should be enough for over two years of brushing.
Since there are five cleaning modes, the vibration levels also differ. With its oscillating and pulsing mode, this quiet electric toothbrush cleans significantly more plaque than its manual counterparts.
What's even more amazing are the user-friendly controls on the handle that are all within your thumb's reach.
If you're also having problems brushing hard-to-reach-areas, you can rely on the M-shaped brush heads to clean your teeth.
This is also ideal for cleaning the gum line because the bristles feature oval-shaped bristles to avoid gum damage.
More than that, the Fairywill Sonic Electric Toothbrush automatically pauses after 30 seconds to remind you to switch up brushing areas.
Likewise, it shuts off after two minutes, so you'll definitely know when it's time to stop.
If you're looking for an energy-saving option, you'll love that this quiet electric toothbrush only takes four hours to fully recharge and remain operational for 30 days.
It makes use of a regular micro-USB connector, so this model is also good for travelling.
3. Price-to-Performance: Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100 Electric Toothbrush
ProtectiveClean 4100 is a good choice for a toothbrush if you have problems with plaque on your teeth as well as noise issues. Its sonic-packed features guarantee quality bristle yet gentle movements that limit sound levels. If you have sensitive teeth and gums, this model is a life-changing quiet electric toothbrush.
Product Highlights
- Long-lasting 14-day battery life.
- Features a QuadPacer and SmartTimer to notify you of the right amount of time cleaning each part of the mouth.
- Has earned the ADA seal.
- Uses a Brush Sync replacement reminder to inform you when it's time to replace the brush head.
- Sonic technology removes up to seven times more plaque using gentle and effective brushing strokes.
The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100 is one of the least expensive brushes in Sonicare’s line and makes less noise than its counterparts from Oral-B.
This version may have a smaller range of brush shapes and textures, but it works excellently in terms of functionality and quietness.
Sonic technology sweeps away plaque to provide you with an amazing yet gentle tooth cleaning.
And the superb part—you won't hear loud, irritating noises despite the brush making 62,000 brush movements per minute.
If you have problems with crowns, sensitive areas, and fillings, the sonic technology is suitable for use with braces, veneers, and fillings.
It even prevents cavity buildup to improve gum health using a power tip to target plaque in hard-to-reach-areas.
This is possible thanks to the brush's capacity to pulse water between teeth, along with the brush strokes that break up and sweep away plaque.
Additionally, the pressure sensor protects teeth and gums from excess brushing pressure.
Moreover, it uses a two-minute timer with quadrant pacing. There's also a microchip-enabled technology that detects and synchronizes the smart brush head with the handle.
This technology monitors how long you've been using the brush head.
When it's time to change the head, it will also turn on a light on the handle to let you know.
When it comes to maintenance, this model's plastic handle has fewer spaces, and consequently, fewer spaces to collect gunk.
This means that all it takes is for you to wipe the handle clean. Know that when you accumulate dirt over time, it can impact the brush's performance and quietness.
A full charge can last for up to two weeks, so this is another choice if you want to travel without packing another type of charger. As a bonus, the package comes with a two-year warranty.
4. with Pressure Sensor: PURES Sonic Electric Toothbrush
While the PURES Sonic Electric Toothbrush veers on a more expensive side, it boasts durability and excellent cleaning technology. Its 3D cleaning action and brushes are perfect for sensitive gums and teeth. With the help of sonic technology, oscillation remains effective yet quiet.
Product Highlights
- Head actually cuts out noise.
- Has five cleaning modes with varying pressures and sound levels.
- Oscillates fast enough to clean your teeth properly and not make too much noise.
- Uses timers and pressure sensors to make sure you brush your teeth and gums properly.
- Features a pain relief toothbrush head with micropulse bristles for a superior and interdental clean.
The PURES Sonic Electric Toothbrush utilizes an oscillating, sonic brush power with different cleaning modes to ensure quality teeth cleaning without the disturbing whirring sounds.
Designed for sensitive teeth, it rotates for around 40,000 times a minute.
You'll notice that it's fairly quiet due to its traditionally shaped head that goes backward and forward, rather than side-to-side.
The dentist-inspired round head and MicroPulse bristles for a superior interdental clean.
The specialized bristles aim to reach deep between teeth to remove more plaque.
There are five cleaning modes: daily care, whiten, deep clean, sensitive, and gum care.
Depending on your mouth health, you can adjust the mode appropriately, and consequently, the noise levels.
Aside from that, 3D cleaning action oscillates, rotates, and pulsates to break up plaque and remove more plaque along the gumline.
Like most electric toothbrushes, this model makes use of an intelligent timer technology that enables you to monitor brushing progress.
In the same way, it customizes your brushing experience to help improve your brushing habits.
Furthermore, a pressure sensor reinforces the time to let you know if you are brushing too hard or not too hard.
Even if you put pressure on your brushing, the PURES Sonic Electric Toothbrush doesn't abrade against your teeth.
The package says that six hours of full charge may last up to 100 days of use.
Although, based on our experience, the toothbrush tends to work harder when pushed to work for up to 100 days.
Therefore, even if it's possible for the charge to last that long, we strongly suggest charging this quiet electric toothbrush when you start to hear a grinding noise, since it's usually a sign that the internal mechanisms are straining.
5.Best Cleaning Modes: PURES Sonic Electric Toothbrush
The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100 Electric Toothbrush is advisable for users with sensitive teeth and gums who need to change brushing habits. With several brushing modes, timer, and pressure sensor, this quiet electric toothbrush guarantees ultimate cleaning experience while saving you from gadget noise.
Product Highlights
- Fewer brush strokes cut down noise while still capable of dealing with oral hygiene.
- Charges quickly and can last up to two weeks on a single charge.
- Features different brushing modes to help you focus on all quads of your mouth.
- Uses a timer and pressure sensor to help guide your cleaning habits.
- Sonic vibrations drastically reduce the amount of noise the toothbrush makes.
Another masterpiece from Philips is the Sonicare Protective 5100 Electric Toothbrush.
Giving you around 31,000 brush strokes a second, it drastically reduces noise levels compared to other electric toothbrushes without sacrificing teeth cleaning abilities.
The sonic technology comes with three brushing intensities, along with three brushing modes.
The extra intensity feature is beneficial, especially when paired with the BrushSync pairing.
This detects the type of brush you’ve fitted and adjusts the bursting pressure accordingly.
Another significant benefit of using this quiet electric toothbrush is that it has a built-in pressure sensor, which lets you know if you're brushing too hard. As a result, it helps protect your gums and teeth.
If you are a heavy-handed user, the pressure sensor trains you to correct how you brush.
When you overpower the brush, it also helps you cut down the noise by minimizing pressure.
Aside from guiding your cleaning strokes, the toothbrush uses a two-minute Smartimer to ensure you're following the dental professional recommended brushing time.
Whether you have issues with braces, veneers, cavity, fillings, and crowns, this quiet electric toothbrush will find a way to solve it quietly.
With the BrushSync technology, the brush head communicates with the body to automatically select the optimal mode and intensity.
Each mode sweeps away plaque to provide you with an amazingly effective, yet gentle clean.
The same technology informs you when it's time to change brush heads.
In effect, the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100 Toothbrush gives you peace of mind that the head is always performing at its best.
The package also offers a premium travel case that stores the toothbrush hygienically.
Even with a single full charge, you can bring this model to a two-week trip without the need to recharge.
The only downside is that it doesn't have the same attention to detail around the seals, unlike the ProtectiveClean 4100.
Although it's not waterproof, it still has splash-resistant features.
Quiet Electric Toothbrush FAQ
What's the Difference Between Sonic and Electric Toothbrushes?
In general, sonic toothbrushes are electric toothbrushes, but they are more innovative in terms of tooth-cleaning technology.
Typical electric toothbrushes tend to be cheaper, and subsequently, oscillate at a much lower speed.
On the other hand, sonic toothbrushes oscillate at much faster rates. In fact, they oscillate 260 times a second, which equates to around 31,000 brush strokes per minute.
Moreover, sonic toothbrushes are much quieter than regular electric toothbrushes because they vibrate 10 times higher in frequencies.
However, such features make sonic toothbrushes more expensive, but it's worth the switch if you have few bucks to spare.
Wrapping Up
While it's reasonable to hear noise from electric toothbrushes, there are still ways for you to locate the source of the sound and fix it.
If short-term fixes are not working, that's the sign for you to enjoy an upgrade.
Not only will a new model be much quieter, but it's also going to be better for your oral hygiene.
Jessica is a Acoustical Engineer, currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. After graduating from her degree in Master of Engineering degree in Acoustics from Solent University in 2014, Jessica worked for a few companies before She will be blogging about her past and current experiences in the studio and sharing her journey as she pursues her career goals. She enjoy the balance of work inside and out of the office, solving practical problems on a daily basis as every project is different and requires a different solution, the variety of work (sound insulation testing, background noise survey, mechanical plant commissioning, external plant assessment, plant room breakout assessments) and the mix of independent and team work.
