For Karla Noboa, a research specialist in the fundraising department at CR, brushing her teeth can be difficult. She has a condition where her muscles weaken as she uses them, so by the end of the day, she may have to use a wheelchair to get around her home. Her grip strength is also greatly affected.

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She has used a U-shaped toothbrush that cleans all of her teeth at the same time in just 30 seconds for some time now.

The Autobrush Sonic Pro doesn’t have to be gripped like a conventional toothbrush, so Karla can just use her palm to hold it in place.

She says it has significantly improved her ability to brush her teeth on days when her mobility is especially difficult to manage. “It gives me peace of mind that even if I’m feeling really weak, I can still brush my teeth with the Autobrush,” she says.

With Karla’s glowing review of the Sonic Pro in mind, we wondered whether we should all replace our conventional toothbrushes with a U-shaped one. Cutting even 90 seconds from my morning routine sounds like a pretty sweet deal. We recruited a few testers (including a 5-year-old) to try the Autobrush and the Autobrush for Kids at home and give us their feedback.

Shop for the Autobrush Sonic Pro at Autobrush.

The Autobrush Sonic Pro arrives in two parts—a charging base and a U-shaped mouthpiece. The latter has four rows of nylon and silicone bristles. When you insert the mouthpiece, all of your teeth are brushed at the same time. The brush uses sonic vibrations, but to really ensure that it’s brushing all of your teeth, the company recommends moving the brush in a figure eight pattern. 

Four buttons on the device control the cleaning mode, timer, LED light (red, blue, or both), and the toothbrush’s power. The three cleaning modes are for care (everyday cleaning), deep-clean, and massage (soothing vibration to stimulate gums). You apply three dollops of paste to the top and bottom of the mouthpiece, even when using the company’s foaming toothpaste. According to the instructions, you only need to brush with the Autobrush for 30 seconds, but you also have the option to run the brush for 60 or 90 seconds. The music-playing Sonic Pro Kids has only two timed options for 30 or 60 seconds, and if you press the timer button once more, you can turn off the music.

Before you order the Autobrush, you have to measure your mouth using a piece of floss to select the right brush head size. The options are women (small), men (regular), XL, preteens (9-12), ages 3-5, and ages 6-8. If you buy a size that doesn’t work, Autobrush will send you a new one for free. It recommends replacing the brush head every two months. The toothbrush is rechargeable, and its battery can last up to two weeks.

The research on U-shaped toothbrushes is murky. A study published in 2020 in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that they didn’t remove plaque from teeth as well as conventional electric toothbrushes. In fact, the study’s authors found that “its efficacy was similar to no brushing.” The U-shaped toothbrush used in this study wasn’t from Autobrush. 

In three studies funded by Autobrush and conducted between 2022 and 2023, researchers found that the Autobrush Sonic Pro did remove plaque in users. Two of the studies also found that it helped reduce gingivitis.

The acceptance of the Autobrush Sonic Pro by the American Dental Association is a positive sign. When we reached out to the ADA, we received a statement that read, in part: “To earn the ADA Seal of Acceptance, a product must submit clinical and laboratory study data to the ADA demonstrating its safety and efficacy, which is then reviewed by the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs to ensure all claims made about the product are backed by rigorous scientific evidence; if the product meets the criteria, it receives the ADA Seal, signifying that it has been independently verified to be safe and effective for its intended use. All powered toothbrushes that apply to earn the Seal must show efficacy in removing plaque and helping to prevent and reduce gingivitis in order to earn the ADA Seal of Acceptance.” 

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