Electric Toothbrushes for Braces and Sensitive Gums, Chosen by Features

If a dentist or orthodontist has told you not to press hard and to go gentle, as is common with braces or implants, two features a maker can list match that advice, a pressure sensor and a softer mode, and 18 brushes here have both. 14 of them use a multi-signal sensor (a light plus vibration, or a light that also shows "too soft"). Orthodontic heads and interdental tips are sold separately by several makers; check that one exists for the handle before you buy, and treat anything your orthodontist says as overriding this list.

How this list is ordered: Included when the maker lists both a pressure sensor and a mode named sensitive, gentle, soft or gum care; ordered by three-year cost. This is a list of features. Your dentist or orthodontist knows your mouth; this page does not. 18 of the catalog’s brushes qualify.

  1. Philips Sonicare 5000 electric toothbrush

    1Philips Sonicare

    ~$60

    Philips Sonicare 5000

    New to Philips' US catalog in 2026, the 5000 adds a Gum Health mode and ships with a whitening head alongside the plaque head.

    Sensor · gentle modes
    Pressure sensor (signal not described) · Gum Health
    Type
    Sonic
    Pressure sensor
  2. Oral-B iO Series 3 electric toothbrush

    2Oral-B

    ~$60

    Oral-B iO Series 3

    At the snapshot price this was the cheapest iO handle on oralb.com, a few dollars under the iO2.

    Sensor · gentle modes
    Multi-signal pressure sensor · Sensitive
    Type
    Oscillating-rotating
    Pressure sensor · ADA Seal listing
  3. Oral-B iO Series 2 electric toothbrush

    3Oral-B

    ~$65

    Oral-B iO Series 2

    Oral-B pitches the iO2 as the one-button way into its iO range: the handle starts on its super-sensitive setting, and the only control is a single button.

    Sensor · gentle modes
    Multi-signal pressure sensor · Super Sensitive, Gentle
    Type
    Oscillating-rotating
    Pressure sensor · ADA Seal listing
  4. Philips Sonicare Series 5700 electric toothbrush

    4Philips Sonicare

    ~$80

    Philips Sonicare Series 5700

    The Series 5700 is the entry point to Philips' 62,000-movement motor, the same figure the company quotes for its $380 Prestige.

    Sensor · gentle modes
    Pressure sensor (vibration or sound) · Gum Health
    Type
    Sonic
    Pressure sensor
  5. quip Ultra Lite electric toothbrush

    5quip

    ~$65

    quip Ultra Lite

    quip's stronger sonic brush drops the gentle-only approach: three modes up to Deep Clean, an LED pressure sensor, and a silicone-wrapped handle.

    Sensor · gentle modes
    Multi-signal pressure sensor · Gentle
    Type
    Sonic
    Pressure sensor
  6. quip Rev Smart electric toothbrush

    6quip

    ~$70

    quip Rev Smart

    A Rev with Bluetooth: every session is logged in the quip app automatically, with points for good habits.

    Sensor · gentle modes
    Multi-signal pressure sensor · Extra Gentle, Gentle
    Type
    Oscillating-rotating
    Pressure sensor
  7. Oral-B iO Series 4 electric toothbrush

    7Oral-B

    ~$100

    Oral-B iO Series 4

    This is where the iO line picks up the Oral-B app and a hard travel case.

    Sensor · gentle modes
    Multi-signal pressure sensor · Sensitive, Super Sensitive
    Type
    Oscillating-rotating
    Pressure sensor · ADA Seal listing
  8. Philips Sonicare Series 6500 electric toothbrush

    8Philips Sonicare

    ~$130

    Philips Sonicare Series 6500

    Philips adds the app, a travel case and a purple pressure light to the 62,000-movement motor on the 6500.

    Sensor · gentle modes
    Multi-signal pressure sensor · Sensitive
    Type
    Sonic
    Pressure sensor
  9. Oral-B iO Series 5 electric toothbrush

    9Oral-B

    ~$120

    Oral-B iO Series 5

    Five modes, a hard case and real-time app tracking of where you brush make up the iO5's pitch.

    Sensor · gentle modes
    Multi-signal pressure sensor · Sensitive, Super Sensitive
    Type
    Oscillating-rotating
    Pressure sensor · ADA Seal listing
  10. Philips Sonicare Series 7100 electric toothbrush

    10Philips Sonicare

    ~$160

    Philips Sonicare Series 7100

    Philips' 2026 7100 is the cheapest Sonicare with a charging travel case, and it has four modes, the 5700's Gum Health plus the 6500's White and Sensitive, with three intensities.

    Sensor · gentle modes
    Multi-signal pressure sensor · Gum Health, Sensitive
    Type
    Sonic
    Pressure sensor
  11. Oral-B iO Series 6 electric toothbrush

    11Oral-B

    ~$160

    Oral-B iO Series 6

    A handle display is the reason to step up to the iO6: Oral-B uses it to select modes, count down the brushing time, flag a worn head and show battery level.

    Sensor · gentle modes
    Pressure sensor (signal not described) · Sensitive, Gum Care
    Type
    Oscillating-rotating
    Pressure sensor · ADA Seal listing
  12. Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 electric toothbrush

    12Philips Sonicare

    ~$200

    Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000

    The DiamondClean 9000 is Philips' premium-finish handle with a charging stand rather than the USB lead of the numbered Series models.

    Sensor · gentle modes
    Pressure sensor (vibration or sound) · Gum Health
    Type
    Sonic
    Pressure sensor
  13. Oral-B iO Series 7 electric toothbrush

    13Oral-B

    ~$220

    Oral-B iO Series 7

    Oral-B's black-and-white screen arrives here, along with A.I.

    Sensor · gentle modes
    Multi-signal pressure sensor · Gum Care, Sensitive
    Type
    Oscillating-rotating
    Pressure sensor · ADA Seal listing
  14. Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9300 electric toothbrush

    14Philips Sonicare

    ~$230

    Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9300

    Philips' inductive charging glass returns on the DiamondClean Smart 9300, along with real-time app coaching on pressure, motion and coverage.

    Sensor · gentle modes
    Multi-signal pressure sensor · Gum Health
    Type
    Sonic
    Pressure sensor
  15. Oral-B iO Series 8 electric toothbrush

    15Oral-B

    ~$250

    Oral-B iO Series 8

    For $30 over the iO7, the iO8 swaps in a color screen, restores Super Sensitive for six modes in all, and ships three heads instead of two.

    Sensor · gentle modes
    Multi-signal pressure sensor · Gum Care, Sensitive, Super Sensitive
    Type
    Oscillating-rotating
    Pressure sensor · ADA Seal listing
  16. Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9700 electric toothbrush

    16Philips Sonicare

    ~$340

    Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9700

    Six brush heads come with the 9700 (an A3, three C3s and two G3s), eighteen months of replacements at the three-month interval, plus a TongueCare+ tongue cleaner.

    Sensor · gentle modes
    Multi-signal pressure sensor · Gum Health
    Type
    Sonic
    Pressure sensor
  17. Oral-B iO Series 9 electric toothbrush

    17Oral-B

    ~$330

    Oral-B iO Series 9

    Oral-B's top handle in stock on its US store in September 2026 (the iO10 page was listed but not purchasable).

    Sensor · gentle modes
    Multi-signal pressure sensor · Gum Care, Sensitive, Super Sensitive
    Type
    Oscillating-rotating
    Pressure sensor · ADA Seal listing
  18. Philips Sonicare Prestige 9900 electric toothbrush

    18Philips Sonicare

    ~$380

    Philips Sonicare Prestige 9900

    Philips' flagship.

    Sensor · gentle modes
    Multi-signal pressure sensor · Gum Health, Sensitive
    Type
    Sonic
    Pressure sensor