Reader supported. We may earn a commission on recommendations.

Medically Reviewed
Published: January 14, 2024

How to charge an electric toothbrush

Author: Jon Love (97 Comments)
Medical reviewer: Dr Gemma Wheeler, BDS
How to charge an electric toothbrush 1

An electric toothbrush needs a power source to be able to work.  That power source is a battery or batteries in some cases.

Electric toothbrushes come in two forms: those with removable batteries (designed to be removed) and those with fixed internal batteries (not designed to be removed under normal circumstances).

In this article I will explain how to charge an electric toothbrush, how it works and how to know when your brush is charged.

Does your brush have removable batteries?

The first thing to determine is if your brush has a fixed internal or removable battery.

Most electric toothbrushes have batteries fixed inside, which can be removed with tools, but are not designed to be done at home.

Cheaper or more basic brushes have removable batteries.  Quite often these are removed or replaced via the bottom of the brush handle.  It will normally be quite obvious or not whether you can remove the battery.

There will be a removable cap that gives access to the battery compartment.

Toothbrush with removable AAA battery

Most brushes that do not have removable batteries will have a recess on the bottom of it that looks similar to that in the image below.

How to charge an electric toothbrush 2

If there is no obvious way to access the battery then it is likely the brush has a built in battery.

If the brush came with batteries that is a sign that it has removable batteries. If the brush came with a charging stand then this is a sign that the brush has a fixed internal battery.

I will now guide you through the charging process and how to know if your brush is charged.

I have split this article into two parts.  The first part is for those what have brushes with built in batteries, whilst the second part is for those who have brushes with removable batteries.

How to charge a toothbrush with fixed (non removable) batteries

This article is designed to explain the charging process for the majority of electric toothbrushes.  There are always one of two that fall outside of what is the normal process.

This is a guide only and it is always advised where possible to consult your instruction manual or the direction provided by the manufacturer of the brush.

In most cases, an electric toothbrush is charged by sitting the brush handle onto a charging stand.

The charging stand will normally come provided with the brush.  It will be a round or square shaped plate in most cases with a prong (protuberance) that sits upright in the centre.

On the base of the electric toothbrush will be a recess into which that prong fits when the brush is sat on the stand.

Typically the brush will stand in an upright position when on the stand to receive charge.

How to charge an electric toothbrush 3

Most charging stands have a cable wired into them that leads to a plug that connects to the power outlet in the bathroom.  It is normally a 2 pin plug.  This is not a European mains adapter.

This 2 pin plug can be converted to a 3 pin plug thanks to adapters, if you do not have a 2 pin socket in your bathroom.

A bit confusing I know, but the article 2 Pin Plugs & Adapters for Toothbrushes Explained should clear up any confusion.

How to charge an electric toothbrush 4

Many question how this charging works, without physically connecting a cable to the brush.  It uses a technology called inductive charging. The short explanation is that the charger uses a coiled wire inside the charging stand and a coiled wire inside the brush handle. An electromagnetic field an electrical current is passed between the coils, in turn passing the charge from the stand to the battery inside the brush handle.

So when the charging stand is connected to mains power a current is transferred from the socket, through the stand into the toothbrush and over time this recharges the battery inside the brush.

How to charge an electric toothbrush 5

As mentioned there are a few exceptions, such as the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean.  It appears to charge in a glass.  It works using the same technology, just implemented slightly differently.  

The Sonicare DiamondClean and the Oral-B Genius 9000 both can be charged in a travel case rather than a stand.  The principle of how they charge is the same, it is just implemented slightly differently.

If you are wishing to find out how to charge your electric toothbrush when travelling abroad to different countries with different sockets and different voltages, read our guide 'Using An Electric Toothbrush Abroad'.

How to tell when the battery is charged

How you know whether your electric toothbrushes battery is fully charged or not will depend on the brand and model that you have.

Whilst between all of these there will be subtle differences in how you can tell whether they are charged or not, there are some general rules you can consider to help decide.

For the most accurate information for your toothbrush refer to the manufacturer's documentation.

Whether you have an Oral-B, Sonicare or Colgate toothbrush, one way to ensure your brush is fully charged is to leave it on charge for a long period of time.  The vast majority will charge fully within 8-16 hours, but some can take up to 24 hours.

How to charge an electric toothbrush 6

Irrespective of brand if you left it on charge for 24 hours, it would be fully charged by the end of it.

Some brushes will have a battery status icon on the front of the brush handle.  Normally if this is a solid green colour or no longer lit then the battery is fully charged.  If it is a flashing green, it is quite often charging.  Red or yellow colours usually depict less charge or almost no charge remaining.

Some brushes will have a battery icon on the front of the brush handle that may well be split into 3 or 4 bars.  If all 4 bars are lit, this is often a sign it is fully charged.

In most instances, manufacturers do suggest it is safe to leave your brush on the charging stand at all times.  If you take this approach it is unlikely you will ever be in a position where you are out of power.

As a guide (not an extensive list), Oral-B suggest the charging times for their models are as follows:

  • Vitality - 16 hours
  • Pro 500 - 16 hours
  • Pro 600 - 16 hours
  • Pro 1000 - 22 hours
  • Pro 2000 - 22 hours
  • Pro 2500 - 22 hours
  • Pro 2 2000 - 15 hours
  • Pro 2 2500 - 15 hours
  • Pro 3000 - 22 hours
  • Pro 3 3000 - 15 hours
  • Pro 4000 - 22 hours
  • SmartSeries 4000 - 22 hours
  • Smart 4 4000 - 15 hours
  • Pro 5000 - 22 hours
  • SmartSeries 5000 - 22 hours
  • Smart 5 5000 - 15 hours
  • SmartSeries 6000 - 22 hours
  • SmartSeries 6500 - 22 hours
  • SmartSeries 7000 - 22 hours
  • Smart 6 - 15 hours
  • Genius 8000 - 12 hours
  • Genius 8900 - 12 hours
  • Genius 9000 - 12 hours
  • Genius X - 12 hours
  • iO Series - 3 hours
Pro 1 Series electric toothbrush by Oral-B on a charging stand

Sonicare suggest as a general rule that the charging times for all their models are up to 24 hours.  Longer than Oral-B, this is typically because their batteries last longer, but they do also suggest it is fine to leave it on the charger.

Some models will give indicators via the charging lights and battery status icons as explained earlier.

A good tip to ensure long term reliability and performance from your brush is to discharge the brush completely every 6 months and then recharge it fully.  Such activity helps ensure a long battery life. It is also worth noting that if you need to use the brush and it has not finished charging this is fine.  Use the brush and replace it on the charging stand.

Brushes that have run out of power completely may need 30 minutes or so on the charger before they can be used for one clean or before any charging lights may appear.

Can I leave the toothbrush on the charging stand?

Many people ask whether they can leave their electric toothbrush on the charging stand as they fear that leaving it on the stand for prolonged periods of time can be damaging to the battery or potentially be a safety hazard.

You should always consult the manual of your electric toothbrush to check what the guidelines and operational instructions are from your toothbrush manufacturer as it can vary.

However, as a general rule it is normally perfectly fine to leave a toothbrush on the charging stand and always on charge.

The charging stand often serves 2 purposes.  The first, to give a place for the electric toothbrush to sit securely when not in use, and secondly a means to be recharged when the battery power is low.

The power cable of the charging stand does not have to always be connected to power.  It is perfectly safe to disconnect the power and leave the brush fitted to the charging stand.  Doing so will keep the toothbrush upright and reduce any potential risk and damage to the toothbrush.

How to charge an electric toothbrush 7

Leaving the power cable connected is generally fine also, but it is not necessarily required.

If you keep the power connected to the charging stand, the toothbrush will be continually topped up and ready to go.

Most electric toothbrushes have electronic circuits in them that stop the brush from over-charging.  This means, once the battery is full, the brush will automatically stop charging.  Only when the power is less than full will the brush begin accepting a charge again.

It is less common today, but in the past, leaving the brush on the stand, whilst connected to power would wear the battery out quicker, causing what was known as a 'memory effect'.

Newer toothbrushes are less prone to this, particularly those with Lithium-Ion batteries.

There is differing opinion about how to keep the battery in optimum condition.  The reality is, that for most it is not worth worrying about too much.  The majority of users will just leave their brush on the charging stand connected to mains power.

If you do want to really try and gain the absolute maximum from the battery, it is best to charge it fully and then discharge it almost entirely (not completely), down to say approximately 20% then recharge it.

Taking this approach ensures you get fuller charging cycles, rather than letting the battery discharge to 75% and then keep topping it up.

How to charge an electric toothbrush 8

How to charge a brush with removable batteries

When a brush has removable batteries, you are not charging the brush.  This is a term that applies only to those with batteries built into the brush handle.

There is no way to recharge the batteries whilst inside the brush.

In this instance you need to dispose of the batteries that came out of the brush and replace them with equivalent new batteries, typically they are AA or AAA batteries.

You can buy rechargeable AA or AAA batteries.  These rechargeable batteries can normally be used in a brush that accepts removable batteries.  These rechargeable batteries need to be charged in a special plug/piece of equipment that you would have received (in most cases) with the rechargeable batteries.

How to charge an electric toothbrush 9

If using removable rechargeable batteries, do not throw them away, simply put them in the charger when the power has run out and leave to charge until they are full (follow instructions from manufacturer of batteries).

Once charged, place back into the toothbrush.

How to tell when the batteries are charged

Quite often the charging module for the batteries will give an indication when they are charged or not via an LED or status symbol on the charging unit.

There are a vast number of different types of rechargeable battery units, so this may not apply in your particular instance, so where possible refer to the manufacturer's instruction manual.

More often than not a few hours on charge will replenish the battery.

Author: Jon Love
Medical reviewer: Dr Gemma Wheeler, BDS

Related Topics

Leave a comment

I accept the Privacy Policy

B
Blair
November 15, 2023

I have tried but my toothbrush is not charging please what can I do please I have followed all the information but it's not working again charging.

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
November 15, 2023

Hi Blair. What make & model do you have? Can you give some more information on what's happening. Any lights etc.

l
larry
August 25, 2023

I have a travel sonic toothbrush USB powered from life brand with a lithium-ion battery. Can I charged it in Europe with only the plug in transfert or do I also need the power reducer ?

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
August 26, 2023

Hi Larry. I am not familiar with this particular brush. With it being USB powered the answer is likley yes, you won't need a power reducer, but best to check with the brand or sned me a link to the product so I can try and assist further.

M
MsEeGee
January 7, 2023

Can the Oral-B Vitality Pro be successfully charged using an inductive charger plugged into the mains? Did not appear to charge with the charging stand that came with it. So purchased the above type stand which dies not seem to do any better. There are no light indicators to advise if charging is occurring or not. Please help!!

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
January 9, 2023

The Vitality does not have any charge lights to indicate whether it is charging or not, unfortunately. You just have to leave it on the charger for a good few hours to let it replenish and hope all is working as anticipated. What do you mean by an inductive charger plugged into the mains? Is this different from the charging stand that came provided? Do you mean a wireless charging stand like that you might use to recharge some mobile phones?

M
MseGee
January 11, 2023

When trying to source nit only information but resources that could help me in my dilenma. I came across "Electric Toothbrush Replacement Charger Base Compatible with Braun Oral B Type 3757 Charging Base, UK 3 Pin Plug Toothbrush Charger", which i purchased. Unfortunately, I can not explain what it actually means, but it's working (I think). "The charger is inductive, which is non-contact (no electrical prongs or connection), and charges a battery through an electrical field. The charger converts AC power to a DC field. The plastic stub on the charger is to orient the toothbrush; there are no prong contacts." Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
January 12, 2023

Ah, ok, yes, I think I know what you ae referring to and more than likely this will be fine. šŸ‘

A
Ann
July 23, 2022

I have just bought an Oral B Pro 3 toothbrush and it isn't charging. When it's on charge the green light flashes for a few seconds then goes off. There is a label underneath the brush, should that be removed or remain there.

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
July 25, 2022

Hi Ann. I am not familiar with the label you mention. Perhaps this can be pulled off. Normally the handle doesn't come with any stickers of plastic on it. It could well be the brush is fully charged already? Perhaps use it a couple of times and then place on the charger and see if the brush then charges.

KB
Karen Black
December 6, 2021

I have an colgate omcron electric toothbrush the red light wont turn of. Why! Plz help

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
December 7, 2021

Is the toothbrush working normally Karen? Is it fully charged? Flat?

KB
Karen Black
December 7, 2021

I've charged it over night the light has gone off but its still not working its not even a year old unfortunately ive not receipt

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
December 8, 2021

Hi Karen. I would get in contact with Colgate and discuss the situation and see what, if anything they can do. They might be able to help.

JA
Jim Allen
September 17, 2021

Good morning I have a Colgate 250R which worked well after the initial charge for 7 days. I recharged after this but since then the brush only works for seconds before cutting out and is not useable. Have I done something wrong? Grateful for your advice Jim Allen

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
September 19, 2021

Hi Jim. Doubt you have done anything wrong. Possible that it needs recharging? If you have recharged and still not working, do contact Colgate.

KE
Karen Ellam
June 8, 2021

Can you help please. We have brain chargers (and no space for other kinds). But I have been told to get a sonic toothbrush. Iā€™ve read that some sonic versions can be charged on a Braun charger. Do you know which ones ?

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
June 9, 2021

Brain chargers Karen? Do you mean 'Braun'? I can't advise which sonic toothbrushes charge on a Braun/Oral-B charger. I can't think of any off the top of my head. More often than not the fitting on the base of the handle/top of the chargers are different. There may well be some exceptions, but I think they are rare.

PH
Peter Harris
April 3, 2021

Do you or anyone construct a family bank toothbrush charger, if not why not

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
April 3, 2021

Hi Peter. By the sounds of it, you are looking for a product that can hold and charge multiple toothbrushes at the same time. We do not manufacture such a product as we have chosen not to manufacturer physical products at this time. We write about electric toothbrushes and oral care only. I have not seen any stands that actually charge multiple toothbrushes at the same time. I suspect this is for the most part due to demand. Rarely do multiple brushes need to be on charge at the same time. I have come across charging stands/solutions that allow you to securely hold 2 brush handles and multiple brush heads at any one time. However, these only allow a single brush to be charged at a time. Would this be the sort of product you are after?

P
Peter
April 3, 2021

I was looking for one for 4 toothbrushes with the two pin bathroom plug but one that holds two tooth brushes would have to do. Canyoulet me know who produces them

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
April 3, 2021

Peter. I am not sure what brand of toothbrushes you have, but web searches for 'toothbrush head stand' is a good place to start, adding in your toothbrush brand. Here are a few examples available for Oral-B: Hosoncovy Electric Toothbrush Stand Mount - on Amazon Nincha Electric Toothbrush Head Holder with Electric Toothbrush Stand - on Amazon FOROREH Toothbrush Stand for Electric toothbrushes - on amazon

G
Gabby
February 17, 2021

Hi, my Oral B E-brush is not listed here, it's Oral-B professional care 700 limited edition, so I don't know how long it takes to charge those It's been unopened for so long and only now did I choose to open it and use it. I tested it at the 1st 20 minutes of charge to see if it works, it did. But I did not turn it off again because it only worked for a few seconds, maybe due to low battery. I started charging it but it's been an hour already and it hasn't worked since. I predicted that the brush wasn't programmed to turn off automatically. Is this possible? Even if it's technically dead it won't accept charge? Right now I don't know if it's turned on or not, I only know the charge light is blinking and the brush is not turning on when I press power button. Any thoughts?

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
February 17, 2021

Hi Gabby. There are lots of different versions and names of ORal-B toothbrushes, so apologies if we have not included it. Oral-B brushes only turn themselves off automatically if the battery is flat. It generally takes at least 30 minutes to add some extra charge into the brush. Do you have a battery icon on the handle that is flashing green?

G
Gabby
February 17, 2021

Hi Jon, thanks for replying Yes, the battery unfortunately is still flashing green at the moment (12 hours since last post). I pressed the power button now, but nothing is happening

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
February 17, 2021

That is odd Gabby. Usually, after that period of time it should switch on, even if it is not fully charged. Leave it on charge for another 12 hours and see if the battery light stops flashing. It might be a faulty power button.

G
Gabby
February 18, 2021

Hello Jon It works! I didn't know this model had to fully charge for like 24 hrs to then actually start working. It was on the charge port but no light when I woke up. The manual promised 2 modes but it seems it's just a simple 1 tap for on and 1 tap for off. It's fine, I'm just glad it's still functioning after a long time of being brand new and unopened haha. Thanks for your advice and suggestions!

E
E.Maxwell
February 10, 2021

I have been looking for Oral b 6000N in blue with U.K. plug, but can only find one with eu plug. How do I make this work? Do you perhaps know of a supplier who might have this particular model? Thanks.

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
February 10, 2021

When you say UK plug do you mean a 2 pin plug for UK bathrooms or a 3 pin plug for sockets found in other rooms of a UK home?

E
E.Maxwell
February 10, 2021

Either would work. Thanks.

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
February 10, 2021

OK great. It is currently available for sale here on Amazon. It will come with a 2 pin UK bathroom plug. You can purchase a 2 pin to 3 pin UK adapter from Amazon or many other good retailers. I hope this helps.

E
Emilija
January 29, 2021

Hello, we have two Oral B Pro 2900 brushes, and after every use, we leave one or the other on the charging stand. Should we not charge them this often and just use until 20% of the battery is left? Thank you

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
January 29, 2021

It is not really an issue to take the approach that you are. That is what the vast majority of users appear to do. However as I understand it, if you do want to really try and gain the absolute maximum from the battery, it is best to charge it fully and then discharge it almost entirely (not completely), down to say approximately 20% then recharge it. I have no conclusive data to say this approach is definitely better, but intimations are that you may extend the life of the battery and the brush a little.

PG
Pauline Galloway
January 25, 2021

If you have no access to power and you want an independent charger that houses a few large say C's or D batteries does this exist? Regards

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
January 26, 2021

Pauline. This is not something I have ever looked out for. Are you thinking that the large C or D batteries act like a battery bank for a rechargeable electric toothbrush?

PG
Pauline Galloway
January 26, 2021

Yes, Iā€™d like it to be in a boxed unit in unit under sink. I really do not want to have to charge brush elsewhere in the house. We canā€™t get power to bathroom 250 year old house!! Any ideas welcome. Kind regards Pauline

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
January 26, 2021

Pauline. A possible option (subject to which brush you own) would be to use a USB power bank like you might for a smartphone. You charge the powerbank up outside the bathroom and move it to the cupboard under the sink. Many toothbrushes now come with or there are options for USB charging. So you then connect the charging stand to the power bank and it achieves the same result.

AL
Angela Lussier
September 20, 2020

I bought an oral B Pro 1000 toothbrush which I have had charging for 3 days and the green light is still flashing and the brush is not working yet!! Help Angela

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
September 21, 2020

Hi Angela. It sounds like something is wrong with the brush and you may need to return it for replacement.

V
Val
September 19, 2020

Can you get an electric toothbrush that can charge lying down?

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
September 21, 2020

Val. Yes, although the options are limited. These options tend to be those that have a power cable physically attach to them, for example, the Fairywill FW-507. Alternatively, there are models that charge inside a case, where the brush is laid flat. A couple of examples are the Oral-B iO, Soincare DiamondClean Smart and ExpertClean.

N
Nadine
August 27, 2020

Do I plug my electric toothbrush into 115 or 230 outlet please?

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
August 27, 2020

230v

RB
Robert Bartol
August 10, 2020

Is the coil in the base and the coil in the brush tuned to the same resonant Frequency Bob Bartol

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
August 10, 2020

Hi Bob. I am afraid I cannot answer this question for you, this is beyond my knowledge.

C
Connie
July 29, 2020

Hi, I realized that after leaving my toothbrush in the charging port overnight, they both feel a bit warm the next day. Is everything okay or is it just a regular scenario for whenever you leave things charging for a while? I don't know if it has happened before, but I never noticed it until I used it this morning when holding my toothbrush.

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
July 30, 2020

Connie. It is fairly normal for things to get a bit warm if left on the stand for a long time. It should not get too hot to touch, but potentially warm to the touch. Based on what you are saying it sounds ok. Just be wary in the future and if you think there is a risk or a problem disconnect from the power and consult the manufacturer.

SG
Steven. Grossman
June 30, 2020

I fully discharged my oral B. Electric tooth brush and now it doesnā€™t work when I press the button. Can you help me out.? Thank you Steven grossman

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
June 30, 2020

Hi Steven. Sorry to hear that your brush does not appear to be working. Do you know what model you have? Are you getting any lights to activate on the brush? If your brush has a battery icon does it flash when on the charging stand?

Rs
Rita smith
June 24, 2020

My Brush is fully charged but will not switch on.

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
June 24, 2020

Sorry to hear this Rita. Which brush do you have? Are you getting any lights on the handles or error messages etc? Probably best to contact the manufacturer, but I can try and help.

Rs
Rita smith
June 24, 2020

It's Oral B, cost me Ā£80. Lights come on when I press the switch but no messages.

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
June 24, 2020

Thanks Rita. Ok, so it seems like the power is getting through the electrical circuits, but the power button is not activating the brush. A faulty power button/connection. You are going to need to book it in for repair with Oral-B. If you head to https://www.service.braun.com/ you can book it in here. I hope this helps.

RY
Roland Yee
May 2, 2020

Hi, On a Oral-B Vitality toothbrush, is it okay to charge the toothbrush with the brush head removed?

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
May 3, 2020

Yes it is. The toothbrush head does not need to be attached when charging.

J
Joanne
February 21, 2021

Hi Jon. Read your article and comments + replies and found them very informative. Thanks! On this question by another reader earlier, was wondering if your reply would be the same regardless of the model (Iā€™m using a Pro 500).

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
February 22, 2021

Hi Joanne. Yes, it would be. I see or know of no reason why it would be an issue to charge without a brush head. I charge my handles most of the time without the head attached and not run into any issues.

M
Marianne
May 10, 2019

Hi, my oral B vitality makes a buzzing sound when plugged in to charge; it is the plug and socket itself where the noise is emanating from - is this normal? Is it safe? Should I be worried? Many thanks

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
May 13, 2019

Marianne. I have found sometimes sockets/plugs can create a bit of static noise, but it is quite rare and I wouldn't say it was normal as such. Are you able to connect in other products to the same socket and do you get the same sounds? Maybe try your charger in another 2 pin socket (friends or family members home) and see what happens.

pr
peter read
March 27, 2019

I have a replaceable battery toothbrush ,my wife a rechargeable.I worry that one day mine will be put on charge by mistake .if so what's the worst scenario

CW
Chris Ward - Co-founder
March 28, 2019

Hi Peter, It's unlikely that a battery toothbrush will fit on the same charging stand, but if it does then no charge will be passed as it doesn't have the technology built in to do this.

Ed
Edwin de Rooij
March 4, 2019

Hello Jon, i have got an OralB toothbrush and very happy with it. I want to buy an extra charger for an extra brush. Now that i have seen the Sonicare glass, i thought of that as an option. Can you tell me if an OralB brush will charge as well in a Sonicare glass?

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
March 5, 2019

Hi Edwin, I don't think it will. I have not done extensive testing, but if I recall 18-24 months ago I did a quick test to see what happened. I believe the Oral-B model did charge in the Sonicare glass, but it was very fussy, it was slower and really was not an advised route to go. You see, the DiamondClean range that comes supplied with the charging glass have flat bases to the brush handle. These flat bases provide the surface area for the charge to pass through and into the handle. With Oral-B brush handles and many other Sonicare handles, the base is flat but also has a recess into which the charging stand fits. Because the setup is different the efficiency with which the charge is transferred is considerably less and much more unreliable due to the configuration. I hope that helps.

Ed
Edwin de Rooij
March 10, 2019

thats a shame. then i just have to go for a normal charger.

KB
Kevin Bell
January 29, 2019

Is it ok to charge my Philips Sonicare on a Samsung wireless charger base? I can see the brush charge light comes on and it beeps once as it does on the correct base so I am sure it is charging but am worried about the charge rate received by the toothbrush. What do you think?

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
January 29, 2019

Kevin. Technically, the Sonicare accepts Qi charging, which is what the Samsung charging pad is offering. I have tested this myself previously and found mixed results. Whilst it appears to work I found that little charge got through or it was unreliable in comparison to the standard charging stand. That said, the charging pads are always improving, so different pads may mean different results. Try it and see what happens, you should soon discover how well it works or not.

JJ
Jessica Jennings-Mares
January 21, 2019

My husband asks me to remove his oral b electric toothbrush from the charging stand when I turn the electricity supply off. He says leaving the toothbrush on the charging stand, even when there is no power supply to the charging stand, will drain the battery. I canā€™t see how this can happen. Please can you help us to resolve this dispute?!

D
DMELECTRICAL
September 22, 2019

What he refers to is closest to 'wireless reverse charging' and it is not accidentally possible (look up the latest apple phones). Induction charging will not drain the battery while it is on the charger and unplugged. I am an electrician, I am qualified to answer this, he is incorrect, I take no sides other than the side of science. I hope this clears it up, if he needs further explanation he should look this up, it's not simple, but with some effort it's possible to understand induction charging. All the best. D

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
January 21, 2019

Hi Jessica. I would not want to be responsible for siding one way or another in a husband and wife argument. šŸ¤ I am not trained in electronics or physics to be able to properly answer your question, but as I understand it, any device with a built in battery and electrical circuit will run down over time. This time period is a very long time though. For example you might put an old mobile phone in a drawer. It had power in the battery when you placed it there but 2 years later it is dead and requires recharging. I believe this is because there is still a very small charge going round the circuits inside. I am not sure if my answer is technically right or not. It sides a little with your husband, but I would suggest your husband is a bit overly concerned if he genuinely is worried about this issue.

C
Carol
January 18, 2019

I have a razor plug in bathroom with 2 sockets one 115 voltage one 230 which one do I use to charge oral care toothbrush

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
January 18, 2019

The 230v is the one to use

JG
Jon Guppy
December 28, 2018

My daughter has manged to break the prong on the charging stand of her Nevadent NSLP 3.7 A1 electric toothbrush. We bought it from Lidl a few months ago. My question is can the toothbrush still be charged if she just sits the toothbrush on the stand without the prong or do we need to replace the stand?

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
December 29, 2018

Hi Jon, It is possible, subject to the damage, the brush may still charge. If the plastic housing has cracked but still sort of in tact, then it may work. If the prong on the charging stand is completely broken and internals of the charger exposed then there is a strong likelihood that he damage may well be too great and it will not charge. I can only suggest trying it. However, be extremely cautious, if the internals are exposed as wet toothbrushes and electric chargers are not a good mix, when any plastic housing that protects the electrics are broken.šŸ˜

R
Robert
December 5, 2018

HI. I have just bought an Oral B Pro 3 3000. On first use, I charged the brush fully and am using it. My question is, to get the best battery life, should I let it completely run out of batter power before I charge it again or should I top it up after a few days? I asked Oral B this question and got advice that contradicts what is on their website. Thanks!

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
December 6, 2018

Robert, Thanks for the question. There can be conflicting information because some brushes use different battery technology. It is always best to refer to the user manual to ensure you are following manufacturer guidelines, but generally there is little about getting the 'maximum life' out of the brush. In most cases it is fine to leave the brush on the charging stand, constantly being topped up, because the circuits inside stop overcharging. I believe (I am no engineer to understand battery technology) that it can be beneficial to discharge the battery almost, if not entirely every 6 months or so and then recharge it. I typically fully charge my battery and then charge it again when low, this way the brush goes through a proper 'cycle' rather then the constant top up of power and never going below 80% power, if you see what I mean. Some may disagree with this approach. In all reality, the battery life tends to be pretty good and I have yet to see evidence that a proper routine to maximise life of the battery really pays off.

PW
Paige Warner
October 25, 2018

I first bought one of the vialtey brushes and it worked for the first time after it loss charged it didnā€™t work and then worked for once brush and stopped working again. I then bought oral b pro 3000 Iā€™ve just popped it onto the charging station and the green light is not flashing? Is this normal? I have adapters For both of the chargers

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
October 26, 2018

Paige. The green light may not flash straight away if the battery is completely flat. Usually after about 30 minutes on charge it should begin flashing. Leave it on charge overnight and it should be close, if not fully charged.

H
Helen
October 24, 2018

Thank you for this article! Been looking everywhere for these answers. Can I just ask, when my brush (Oral B Professional Care something or other) is charged, can I put it back on the charging dock to store it? I add that by that I mean when my plug shaver adapter is turned OFF? I was concerned that the charging dock may drain the battery. I know I sound daft but are they the same as smartphone charging pads? I know when charging my vapes/ecigs that I've to take them off the charging dock completely when charged, even if it's turned off at the plug. Thank you in advance for your help :-)

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
October 24, 2018

Absolutely fine to leave it on the charging stand Helen.

H
Helen
October 24, 2018

Thank you Jon

DG
Dee Gibbs
October 22, 2018

I have left my Oral B tooth brush charging on its stand in the bathroom at my holiday home. I will not be there for another 5 days. Will it be safe? Will it automatically cut out when charged? Thanks.

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
October 22, 2018

Hi Dee, Yes, it will be perfectly safe. It should cut out. It should not overcharge.

N
Nara
December 21, 2018

Hi dear I have the same question I left for a vacation and I will be away for 10 days and forgot to unplug my Sonicare , is that totally safe or there is a risk of fire ?

CW
Chris Ward - Co-founder
December 22, 2018

Hi Nara, Is the toothbrush on the charging stand, or is it just the charger that has been left plugged in? We couldn't say for certain that it will definitely be safe. Personally if I leave mine plugged into the shaver socket over night, the socket gets very hot. I wouldn't want to leave it on there for 10 days straight.

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
December 22, 2018

Adding to what Chris has said... Most brushes have electronic circuits that cut off the charge to the brush when they are fully charged. This means, the brush, if left on the charging stand, should not continually draw power. If there is no brush on it, although the charging stand will be receiving power, it should be fine.

A
Ariel
August 15, 2018

Hi, I purchased Oral-B PRO 3 3000, which has LI-ION battery that should last ~2 weeks. In this case, do you recommend leaving the brush on the charging stand at all times, or should I charge it every several days? I'm interested in increasing the battery lifespan as much as possible, it's not important to me that it will be fully charged at all times, just not to be completely out of juice. Specifically for lithium batteries, I know their lifespan is measured by charging cycles, meaning full charge and discharge, and it's best to leave it charged around 60%, and not let it get to 0% or 100%. Anyway, with all this information, how do you recommend to charge it in order to increase the battery lifespan as much as possible? Thanks in advanced.

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
August 15, 2018

Ariel, In order to get the absolute best life out of the brush over the years, it is probably better not to have it sat on the charging stand at all times. The brushes & charging stands do have technology built in that means the brush will stop charging when the battery is full, so not too much harm can come to it. What you will probably find is you are likely to get the best life out of the battery, if you fully charge it, use it for 10 or so days and then top it back up, that way the battery is not constantly being 'topped up' but actually recharged, with almost full cycles being run on the battery. I am no battery technology expert, so there may well be different opinions, but by letting it discharge a fair amount will certainly help I do believe.

N
Neel
July 19, 2018

Can I charge an oral b toothbrush on a sonicate charger? Is the induced voltage the same?

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
July 19, 2018

Technically, it could work, but in practice you cannot normally do it. The fittings on the base of the brush are different and present an obstacle and therefore they do not fit correctly to charge the brush

BA
Bill Alexander
July 9, 2018

I have an Oral B Pro Trizone 6000 and it is only holding charge for 3 or 4 days. Can I replace the battery.

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
July 9, 2018

Hi Bill. Yes you probably can. The video here might help. Please be aware Oral-B nor us here at Electric Teeth advise it or can provide advice as to the steps you should take.

B
Bill
April 24, 2018

I have misplaced my charging stand for my oral b Braun toothbrush. Can I buy one? Where?? Thank you

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
April 24, 2018

You sure can Bill.

M
Michael
January 11, 2018

Great article John but my new Oral B Toothbrush does not seem to have a charging icon. Or it is not working but there is no visible sign of one on the front. Is this just the model I have bought or maybe there is an icon buried but not working? Cheers. Michael

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
January 11, 2018

Hi Michael. There are a couple of models that do not have a charging icon, I suspect it might be a Vitlality model. Does it look like the brush shown in the photos in this review?

EP
Elena Pirsa
December 8, 2017

I both two of toothbrushes oral b pro 2500 and I use all the instructions and they not charging, what can be wrong?

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
December 8, 2017

Elena. Have these brushes been charged successfully before? Are you connecting them to a socket in your bathroom? Perhaps you could provide a little more information for me to be able to assist you.

logo
Never neglect your teeth again. Sign up to our newsletter today for honest advice and transparent reviews