I upgraded my oral care routine with this electric toothbrush, and I’m never going back

Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Toothbrush – a sonic electric toothbrush with a USP of being “created by dentists” – has been garnering quite the hype of late. The dentists behind the boom? Sisters Lisa and Vanessa Creavan, who started the spotlightoralcare.com brand from their home country of Ireland in 2016 in response to local cosmetic teeth whitening restrictions.

They launched with a range of teeth whitening kits – including teeth whitening pens and whitening toothpaste to teeth whitening strips – which claimed to be harm-free and super effective, but they’ve since gone on to release some pricier products that promise to elevate your ~daily~ oral care routine. A sonic electric toothbrush included. Now, the hashtag #spotlightoralcare has over 29.9 million views and counting, and the toothbrush-in-question has been known to sell out in limited-edition colour-ways in a matter of days.

It boasts three speed settings – including teeth whitening and sensitive options – as well as up to 70 days (!) of battery life. Of course, other sonic toothbrushes on the market (~cough cough~ Phillips Sonicare) can cost upwards of £200, which will probably leave you wondering whether a sub-£100 alternative (when reduced in the sale) can compete. So, in the name of sparkly whites and fresh breath, we put the Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Toothbrush to a six-month-long test (and spoiler: it’s really, really good).

What is a sonic toothbrush? | Can I use a sonic toothbrush everyday? | Packaging and design | Cleaning and whitening | Battery life | The final verdict.

Meet the reviewer:

Sophie Cockett, GLAMOUR’s Commerce Editor.

How we tested:

“At the time of testing, I was a newbie to the Spotlight Oral Care brand, having not tried any of their other teeth whitening products. As such, I went in with no expectations – and a pre-existing adoration for my trusty Oral-B toothbrush. I was pretty certain I could not be swayed. I tested the Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Toothbrush over a period of six months, allowing me to travel with it, make my way through the replacement heads and test the teeth whitening and 70-day battery life claims. The below review is totally honest.”

Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Toothbrush review, at a glance:

• GLAMOUR star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
• Reasons to buy: Affordable, available in a range of colours, comes with a protective travel case, impressive battery life, well maintains oral hygiene, is effective at whitening teeth over a long period of time.
• Reasons to avoid: No app connectivity, has to be charged in a normal three-pin socket rather than a shaver socket.
• Price: £110 full-priced, currently reduced to £71.50. You can buy it at Amazon, too.
• Timer: Automated two minute self-timer.
• Speed settings: Three.
• Colours available: Five.
• Battery life: 70 days.
• Accessories included: Charger, travel case and nine months’ worth of replacement brush heads.

Rose Gold Sonic Toothbrush

What is a sonic toothbrush?

There are two types of electric toothbrush: oscillating toothbrushes and sonic toothbrushes. Oscillating electric toothbrushes have round, oscillating heads which rotate at high speeds, liked the famed Oral-B iO models, while sonic toothbrushes look a bit more like a manual toothbrush. Case in point: the Spotlight Oral Care Sonic. They don’t rotate, rather, vibrate. This means they’re ideal for sensitive teeth, serve up a deep cleaning in a shorter amount of time, and are effective at stain removal.

Can I use a sonic toothbrush everyday?

Yes. In fact, it’s recommended. Spotlight Oral Care recommend that you use your toothbrush for two minutes, twice a day: once in the morning and once in the evening.

Product deep dive: design and packaging

We know the drill: design and packaging are important deciding factors in any new electric toothbrush purchase. You want your new friend to look pretty on your bathroom cabinet, right? No judgement.