Electric Toothbrush Heads: When to Swap, Generics, Cost

Replace an electric toothbrush head every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles look matted or frayed — the same rule the American Dental Association gives for any toothbrush. That means three or four heads a year for each person using the handle — and at BURST's own prices, two years of heads for its Curve cost more than the $34.99 Curve handle did.

This guide covers when to swap, what a year of heads costs using prices the makers published on 22 September 2026, and what you are trading away if you buy generic heads. As everywhere on Bristle Bench, we have not tested heads by hand; we compare what is published.

How often to change the head

Every three to four months is the standard. The ADA's wording is that toothbrushes "should be replaced approximately every three to four months or more often if the bristles become matted or frayed", and a brush head wears the same way a manual brush does.

The "or more often" part matters more than the calendar. If you press hard, the bristles splay sooner, and splayed bristles do not reach the gumline or between teeth as well. Look at the head once a month: if the tufts lean outward or the tip has flattened, change it, whatever the date. Heads that fray within a few weeks can be a sign you are pressing too hard, which a pressure sensor, or a lighter grip, can help with.

Reminder lights and apps

Some handles remind you when a head is due, using a light, a timer count or an app. These are conveniences, not requirements. A note on the calendar, or changing heads with the seasons, does the same job for free.

If your brush does have a reminder, remember that it counts time, not wear. A head that has splayed early still needs changing even if the light has not come on.

What a year of heads costs, from published pack prices

A year of heads costs roughly $22 to $32 for the three head types whose prices we could read on their makers' stores, depending on the brand and whether you change heads every three or four months. We could not read current head prices for Oral-B or Philips on their own stores on the day we checked, so they are not in the table rather than estimated.

Handles usually arrive with at least one head. Oral-B's Pro 1000 twin pack, for example, comes with two CrossAction heads, one for each handle, so the first few months are covered before the running cost begins. The arithmetic is simple and worth doing for any brush before you buy it: divide the pack price by the number of heads, then multiply by three or four for a year. Do it again for each person in the house who will use the same handle type. A handle that looks cheap can become a dearer choice if its heads cost more or are hard to find where you shop.

Genuine heads or generic ones?

Generic heads, made by other companies to fit a big brand's handle, are usually cheaper. Whether they are as good is something we cannot tell you, because we have not tested them and no independent standard that we could find compares generic heads with the originals.

What you can weigh are the known trade-offs. A generic head is not made or checked by the company that made your handle, so fit, bristle softness and how the head is attached are down to the generic maker. Your brush's warranty terms say what happens if a part from another maker is involved; read them before you switch. And bristle softness is not always stated on a generic pack, yet the ADA recommends soft bristles because they "minimize the risk of gingival abrasion".

How to judge a generic head if you try one

If you try generic heads, check three things. First, the pack should state that the bristles are soft. Second, the head should click firmly onto the handle and not wobble or rattle when the brush is running. Third, compare the shape to the original: a head that is noticeably larger or stiffer may not reach the same places.

In the US, the ADA runs a Seal of Acceptance, which a product earns "by providing scientific evidence that demonstrates safety and efficacy". If a head or brush carries the Seal, that tells you the ADA's Council on Scientific Affairs has reviewed it. Its absence does not, by itself, tell you a product is poor.

Heads don't cross brands

Each brush maker designs heads for its own handles, and even one maker's ranges may not mix: Oral-B says its Pro 1000 does not fit its iO brush heads. When you choose a brush, you are choosing a family of heads for as long as you own it.

That is one reason we list the head question alongside price in our comparison of eight electric toothbrushes. A cheap handle with a well-stocked, reasonably priced head range is a better long-term buy than a slightly cheaper handle whose heads are hard to find.

Keeping a head clean between changes

Rinse the head after brushing and let it air-dry standing up; the ADA advises storing toothbrushes upright and letting them air-dry.

Do not share heads or handles. The ADA says toothbrushes should not be shared because it could mean an exchange of bodily fluids and microorganisms. If several people use the same handle, give each person their own head and a way to tell them apart — a coloured ring or a different head type works.

When the head isn't the problem

If your gums bleed, feel sore or look swollen however often you change the head, see a dentist. The NHS lists bleeding gums and swollen, sore gums as signs of gum disease, and a new head does not treat it. The same goes for teeth that have become sensitive. For more on why the way you hold the brush matters as much as the head, read how to use an electric toothbrush properly.