Most modern electric toothbrushes have internal lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, instead of powering the toothbrush with disposable batteries. These built-in batteries have cost, performance, and environmental advantages, with the only drawback being that they take some time to charge up fully when drained.
The time it takes to fully charge an electric toothbrush will depend greatly on the make and model. Some electric toothbrush models are charged and ready to use in 3 hours, while others feature-rich high-end brushes can take 24 hours to charge. An average mid-range Philips or Oral-B electric toothbrush will take around 12 – 24 hours to fully charge.
Here’s a table of Philips and Oral-B electric toothbrushes with their charge time and battery duration statistics.
| Toothbrush Model | Charge Time *from flat | Batter Duration *Daily Use |
| Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige | 16 hours | 2 weeks |
| Philips DiamondClean Smart | 24 hours | 14 days |
| Philips Sonicare Protectiveclean 5100 | 24 hours | 2 weeks |
| Philips Sonicare 3100 series | 24 hours | 14 days |
| Philips Sonicare For Kids | 24 hours | 2 weeks |
| Oral B iO Series 7, 8, 9 | 3 hours | 2 weeks |
| Oral-B Smart Series | 12 hours | 12 days |
| Oral B Pro Series | 22 hours | 7 days |
| Oral B Vitality Plus | 16 hours | 8 days |
how to tell when your electric toothbrush has fully charged
To inform you of the battery level or whether a charge is required, the majority of Oral-B handles contain a charging indication in the form of LEDs or screens, with the exception of Vitality models that don’t have any visible indicator.
A battery charge and low battery state indicator are visible on the handle of brushes in the Pro line. You will see a charge indication and a battery status symbol on a full-colour display mounted on the iO handle.
You might need to charge your Oral-B handle more regularly if you share it by changing the heads for other household members to use.
Your Oral-B rechargeable toothbrush could have charging indications and various battery symbols, depending on the series, to let you know when the brush is charging when it is fully charged, and the battery life of the handle.
Your Philips toothbrush will signal when it needs to be recharged using lights and noises. While some toothbrushes feature three indicator lights, some only have one. Some toothbrushes lack an indicator for the battery. Observe the general charging recommendations listed in the user handbook.
Batter Power
If your device’s technical specifications allow you to pick between batteries and rechargeable batteries, rechargeable batteries are the preferable option. You can reduce the inefficiency of battery power by charging it many times.
Rechargeable batteries can be recharged between 200 – 1,000 times before they reach the end of their service life, depending on the kind and management. This method can save a proportionally huge number of disposable batteries.
The usual characteristics of the currently popular battery kinds are described below, sorted by design/size.
Because of their high energy density, high performance, and low self-discharge, lithium-ion batteries (Li-Ion) are mostly utilised as battery packs in the household, culinary, and garden appliances such as mobile phones, computers, cameras, vacuum robots, power tools, toothbrushes, electric shavers, and so on. Individual designs are typical, as are high voltages ranging from 3.8 to 4.0 V depending on the version. Lithium-ion batteries are also available in a variety of common configurations, such as AA in 1.5 volt or 9-volt blocks.
Advantages of Rechargeable Electric Toothbrushes
The electric toothbrush is often recommended by dentists as it is thought to clean better than a manual toothbrush. Manual toothbrushes are often overlooked in favour of electric ones, but they can be just as effective if used correctly. It’s not only the toothbrush itself that matters but how you use it.
Ignore the dentist’s suggestion and try out a few different brands of toothbrushes to see which one works best for you in terms of cleaning and comfort.
When you use a rechargeable electric toothbrush, you will clean your teeth effectively without exerting any unnecessary pressure.
The brush head may be moved from tooth to tooth, and the handle can be angled in some spots to clean in between the teeth. Electric toothbrushes make it easier to determine how long you should spend cleaning your teeth because many of them come with a built-in timer.
Cleaning with the electric version is very mild on tooth enamel and gums, which is especially beneficial for people with sensitive teeth. Too much pressure when brushing with a manual toothbrush might damage the tooth enamel.
The outcome is a cavity around the tooth’s neck that, over time, might worsen and cause discomfort. The electric version is effective even for those with extra-sensitive gums, reducing the risk of developing periodontal disease.
Most electric toothbrush models feature a circular brush head. That way, you can clean all the way down to the tiny gaps between your teeth. The bristle head swings left and right and spins around as it brushes its teeth. Removal of plaque is done in a way that is both gentle and effective.
The only real disadvatage with an electric toothbrush is that it needs fairly frequent recharging to work, but the advantages far outweigh this minor inconvenience.
