There is a single button to power on the toothbrush and indicate battery life, while a button towards the base of the handset allows users to toggle between the two brushing intensity modes of low (for younger children) and high (for older children).

Philips also produces a Sonicare for Kids brush aimed at younger children, along with the Philips One electric toothbrush, which delivers basic Sonicare tech inside a slimmer, cheaper brush. It’s basic, with just one setting, but you do get a timer, with the brush pulsing every 30 seconds and switching itself off after two minutes. We also like the unusual pink, blue and yellow colour options available. The One doesn’t have the brushing power of a larger Sonicare brush, but it’s ahead of other battery-powered electric toothbrushes, and does a great job of leaving your teeth feeling clean and looking shiny. The relatively gentle movement is also brilliant for massaging along the gumline. In many ways, this would be your ideal first Sonicare brush; the chunky handle is comfortable to hold while brushing, and there’s an easy-start feature that sees the brush start off with a lower number of vibrations during the first week of use, steadily ramping up to its full 31,000 brush movements per minute.

The best Sonicare toothbrushes you can buy in 2023

If your budget allows, we’d opt for the ExpectClean 7300, which can often be found at a similar price to the ProtectiveClean in the sales. Nevertheless, this model still offers great value if you’re not fussed about the latest in toothbrush features and tech.

There’s also an ‘easy start’ feature, available with all Philips Sonicare brushes, to allow new users to get used to the feel of a sonic electric toothbrush. It works by building up the intensity of the brushing over the first 15 sessions, so this may be useful for parents to know about if introducing an electric toothbrush to their child for the first time. You still have the usual subtle vibration alert to encourage you to brush each quarter of your mouth for 30 seconds, with a more noticeable alert when it’s time to stop. You don’t get the same cleaning power as with the mid-range Sonicare brushes, but there’s still more than enough here to keep your teeth feeling clean and smooth. Key specs – Cleaning modes: 3; Battery type: Li-ion; Accessories included: 2 x brush heads, travel case, charger; Battery life (tested): 1hr 19mins; Warranty: 2yrs Going to the dentist because of a cavity is not something kids or parents want to experience. When children used a Philips Sonicare for Kids toothbrush, 98% of parents surveyed said it’s easier to get them to brush longer and better*, and 96% brushed for 2 minutes or more**, as recommended by dentists. It’s likely that older children will soon tire of Sparkly, and not all parents will want to introduce yet another device to their child’s routine, especially in the bathroom. However, younger kids will enjoy the experience of brushing along with the character, while older children who have formed poor brushing habits have the chance to see where they’re going wrong.

If pearly whites is what you’re after then the best Philips Sonicare electric toothbrushes promise minimum effort for maximum results

At around 38 decibels, around the same volume as a quiet library, the Philips Sonicare For Kids is pretty quiet during operation, so it’s unlikely to startle smaller children who are used to a manual toothbrush. READ NEXT: The best water flossers to buy The best Sonicare toothbrushes you can buy in 2023 1. Philips One Electric Toothbrush: The best electric travel toothbrush

Plus, while you don’t get all the extra brushes or charging glass of the flagship model, it does still come with a handy USB charging case, which makes this a fantastic toothbrush both for home and for travel. The handset itself may be too large for very young children to grip well. However, a textured, soft, rubber cover at the rear of the handset, and a finger guard at the top, allows for better grip.Earlier 3000-series models used an NiMH battery, but the newest Sonicare 3100 has switched to lithium-ion, delivering around 76 minutes of brushing; this translates to around 19 days between recharges, which is a little longer than the specified 14. More expensive Sonicare brushes feature more stamina, but this is a great budget option to keep your teeth and gums in shape.