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Oral care products often clash with environmental concerns. Even if you choose bamboo toothbrushes over plastic ones, the non-recyclable brush heads still contribute to pollution. Electric toothbrushes may appear to be a greener option as they are not disposable and generate less plastic waste. However, they can actually be more harmful to the environment than traditional manual toothbrushes.
To give you an idea, electric toothbrushes can contribute as much as 11 times more to climate change compared to manual ones, according to a study from 2020 in the British Dental Journal. This raises the question: Can an electric toothbrush ever be truly eco-friendly? The company SURI believes it can, and we’re inclined to agree.
SURI, which stands for ‘Sustainable Rituals,’ has introduced a groundbreaking, fully recyclable electric toothbrush featuring an aluminum handle and brush heads made from corn starch and castor oil. Furthermore, SURI provides a free recycling service for its brush heads in the U.S. and U.K., aiming to reduce pollution. In this sense, the SURI Sustainable Electric Toothbrush is unique compared to the best electric toothbrushes we’ve evaluated.
Alongside its eco-friendly features, the SURI toothbrush stands out for its aesthetics. It offers 33,000 sonic vibrations per minute for cleaning, and comes with both a self-cleaning UV-C light travel case and a wall mount. Priced at $92 (or $116 with the travel case), it also proves to be more affordable than many models from Oral-B or Philips.
Review of SURI Sustainable Electric Toothbrush
Design of the SURI Sustainable Electric Toothbrush
- Chic design offered in five colors
- Includes a self-cleaning UV light travel case (optional)
- Constructed from recyclable materials
Specifications
Type: Sonic
Dimensions (inches): 8.5 x 1 x 0.75 (H x W x D)
Dimensions (centimeters): 21.6 x 2.5 x 1.9 (H x W x D)
Handle Weight: 2.95 oz (83.6 g)
Finish: Aluminum
Colors: Green, black, white, gray, orange
Battery life: 40 days
Brushing modes: Everyday Clean, Polish
Waterproof rating: IPX7
Travel case: Optional
Smart features: None
The SURI toothbrush makes a strong initial impression. It has an appealing design, and its modern colors and minimalist aesthetic give it an unexpectedly premium look for a product under $100. Additionally, it is compact, measuring only 8.5 inches (21.6 cm) in height and 1 inch (2.5 cm) in width, making it one of the most portable electric toothbrushes available. At just 2.95 oz (83.6 g), it feels comparable to a manual toothbrush.
This design offers some advantages. It makes holding the toothbrush easy, allowing for better maneuverability during brushing. Plus, it’s perfect for travel, fitting easily into your carry-on, particularly when placed in the self-cleaning travel case.
Although the travel case is optional, we recommend investing in it. It’s robust, compact, and not bulky like many other toothbrush cases we’ve encountered. Importantly, it charges your toothbrush and keeps it hygienic thanks to its USB-C charging port and UV-C (ultraviolet) light sanitizer.
UV-C light is commonly used to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria in various home appliances, from carpets to advanced air purifiers. While it might not match the effectiveness of microwaving and other methods, a 2011 study in the Journal of the International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry indicates that it can considerably lower germs on your toothbrush.
A potential drawback of the SURI’s design is its slight fragility. For instance, it might easily fall off a bathroom shelf. However, it does come with a magnetic mirror mount that alleviates this issue.
Features of the SURI Sustainable Electric Toothbrush
- Two brushing modes: Everyday Clean and Polish
- No pressure sensor
- No smart features
The SURI electric toothbrush doesn’t boast many advanced features. It has two modes (Everyday Clean and Polish) and a two-minute timer with a quad pacer. This means it vibrates gently every 30 seconds to prompt you to switch to the next area of your mouth. That’s about it—there are no apps, pressure sensors, or additional tools to improve your brushing habits. Also, unlike many brushes in this price range, the SURI only comes with one brush head, so if you plan to share it right away, you’ll need to buy extra heads separately.
Considering its mid-range price, you might expect more features from the SURI electric toothbrush. Many cheaper options, like the Laifen Wave, offer a wider range of intensity settings, brush head types, and other extras without breaking the bank. This limited functionality is the biggest downside of the SURI toothbrush.
Performance of the SURI Sustainable Electric Toothbrush
- Lasts nearly two months on a single charge
- Leaves your teeth clean and refreshed
- May be too harsh for those with sensitive teeth
SURI claims a battery life of 40 days, and our tests confirm this. In fact, our unit lasted an impressive eight weeks on one charge. We were also pleased with how quickly it charged—around four to five hours to reach a full battery, which is faster than many models we’ve tried in this price bracket. Overall, we have no complaints.
Additionally, we were happy with its cleaning performance. The SURI toothbrush made our teeth feel clean and polished, even in the less intense Everyday Clean setting. We didn’t feel the need to brush multiple times for good results. Although the brush head showed signs of wear after two months, this is standard for other toothbrushes we’ve evaluated. We appreciated that the SURI toothbrush operates relatively quietly—our decibel meter recorded no higher than 50 dB.
The toothbrush also holds up well to water, meeting an IPX7 rating. It easily survived being submerged for the duration of a two-minute brushing cycle, so you can safely use it in the shower.
However, the SURI electric toothbrush may not fit everyone’s needs due to its unique plant-based bristles. The brush head felt a bit stiff and uncomfortable on our teeth. While we found this acceptable (in fact, we enjoyed the thorough clean), it might be too intense for individuals with sensitive teeth or gum issues.
That being said, we couldn’t find any studies comparing the effectiveness of plant-based bristles to synthetic ones, so our conclusion is based solely on personal experience with the toothbrush.
User Reviews of the SURI Sustainable Electric Toothbrush
The SURI electric toothbrush has a four-star rating on Amazon. Positive feedback often highlights its cleaning effectiveness, compact size, and long battery life, with many users appreciating its eco-friendly design. One reviewer stated, “This toothbrush has a lovely design, is well-made, and works exceptionally well. I think it’s worth the investment and would recommend it without hesitation.”
Conversely, negative reviews generally focus on the toothbrush’s limited features, with some users feeling unsatisfied with its cleaning capability. One buyer noted: “The shape isn’t user-friendly; the barrel style doesn’t fit comfortably in the hand when maneuvering it around the mouth. Even on the low setting, the rotation feels too aggressive.”
Another user mentioned, “The power button got stuck, and the indicator light for the two intensity settings stopped working. At one point, it even vibrated on its own, which I initially overlooked. […] I am really disappointed; it’s barely been over a month, and the toothbrush is already non-functional.”
Should You Purchase the SURI Sustainable Electric Toothbrush?
✅ Buy it if: You’re looking for a compact, travel-friendly electric toothbrush that’s environmentally conscious. The SURI toothbrush excels in being small, effective, and fully recyclable—it might inspire more eco-friendly designs in the future.
❌ Don’t buy it if: You have sensitive teeth or complex dental needs. This electric toothbrush lacks smart features and customizable intensity settings, and some may find the plant-based bristles too rough on their teeth.
If This Product Doesn’t Suit You
An excellent alternative to the SURI Sustainable Electric Toothbrush is the Laifen Wave. While it isn’t as eco-friendly, it uses non-plastic materials and is priced similarly (the aluminum version is $79.99, and the stainless steel version is $99.99). Additionally, it provides more customizable intensity settings and includes three different brush heads.
If you want something more budget-friendly, consider the Bitvae R2. This oscillating toothbrush is only $34.99 and often discounted while offering great value—boasting seven extra brush heads, five cleaning modes, and a pressure sensor.
For those seeking smart features, the Oclean X Pro Digital Sonic is comparable in quality and price ($119 or $99 without the case and extras). It features a built-in touchscreen and an app to help monitor your brushing performance.
SURI Sustainable Electric Toothbrush: Our Testing Process
Over two months, we evaluated the SURI electric toothbrush based on its design, cleaning ability, battery life, functionality, and overall value. We also measured its noise level using a Sound Meter app and tested its IPX7 water resistance rating by submerging the toothbrush in water for a full two-minute brushing cycle.
