The Best Fruit for Your Gut Health, According to a Gastroenterologist
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RDMost adults don't consume enough fiber, but incorporating fiber-rich foods like raspberries can be an easy and delicious solution.
Raspberries are not only packed with fiber, but are also packed with vitamin C and antioxidants.
Low in FODMAPs, raspberries are gentle on sensitive stomachs, making them a perfect option for those with IBS or digestive issues.Although we're supposed to shoot for 25 to 38 grams of fiber per day, more than 90% of women and 97% of men are not meeting this recommendation. And while it might seem more pressing to keep an eye on how much protein you're eating—or whatever appears to be the "hot" macronutrient of the moment—making an effort to eat enough fiber is never going out of style. This is because evidence suggests eating enough fiber can benefit several areas of our health—including gut health, digestion, bone strength, weight, risk for several chronic diseases and even longevity.
We're not talking about suffering through glasses of water mixed with a chalky fiber supplement, though. You can score your daily dose from a wide variety of high-fiber foods.
One of the most potent sources of fiber is a sweet, versatile, tasty fruit that's an EatingWell editor favorite. It turns out that the same fruit is also a gut-health doctor-recommended option and might be the all-around best fruit for gut health, according to a February 8, 2023, Instagram reel from Will Bulsiewicz, M.D.
So what is the best fruit for gut health? Raspberries.
"I'm a huge fan of raspberries … First off, they're friggin' delicious," Bulsiewicz shares in the caption. "I mean, seriously. They are like candy, how are they so healthy? But they are!" In the reel, Bulsiewicz continues, "They're super high in fiber. A cup of raspberries has about 7 g of fiber—that's like half of what the average American is getting per day."
Bulsiewicz goes on to share more about the many health benefits of raspberries, including them being rich in nutrients like "vitamin C and polyphenol antioxidants … that are incredibly good for us," he adds. "Believe it or not, even though there's sugar in berries, berries have been shown to reduce our likelihood of developing [type 2] diabetes. And if you have [type 2] diabetes, they can help you to ultimately reverse it."
Lastly, Bulsiewicz loves that raspberries are high in fiber and low in FODMAPs—fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols. While many of these specific types of carbs are beneficial for people with healthy guts, they have been shown to exacerbate symptoms among those who have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
"In other words, if you have digestive issues and are rebuilding your gut, you should be enjoying raspberries," concludes Bulsiewicz. Thankfully, there are many ways you can do just that. The doctor adores raspberry toasts, raspberry salads, raspberry spritzers and raspberry smoothies.
Eating raspberries has several benefits, including adding to your fiber quota, promoting healthy digestion (even if you struggle with IBS), consuming more vitamins, minerals and polyphenols, and more. But keep in mind that raspberries shouldn't be your only source of fiber. One of the top five things you should do every day to improve your gut and overall health, says Bulsiewicz, is to eat a wide variety of plants, whole grains, healthy fats and protein.
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Best electric toothbrushes for kids 2025
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. With Prime Day just around the corner, now is the perfect time to consider one of the best electric toothbrushes for kids. With their various colors, designs and features, these toothbrushes can help encourage your child to develop good brushing habits. From interactive options like the Philips Sonicare for Kids to the unusually shaped AutoBrush Sonic Pro, a child-friendly electric toothbrush can transform a potential tantrum into a fun part of the evening routine. Live Science spoke to Karen Coates, a dental nurse and oral health educator, who agreed that kid-friendly toothbrushes can be vital to their oral care: 'Children's toothbrushes have lots of color and characters which can appeal to children and help get them more into looking after their teeth," she explained. Quality is important when it comes to electric toothbrushes for kids. As a parent, you want to be assured you're purchasing something that will take care of your child's oral hygiene. That's where we come in. Our expert reviewers, and their children, have tested a variety of electric toothbrushes designed for toddlers and pre-schoolers. The little ones have provided their feedback while our reviewers comment on their ability to encourage regular brushing. If you would like to know more about how we test, you can read more below about our testing protocol. If you are wondering if your child is ready for an electric toothbrush, or whether electric is even the best option, scroll down to our FAQs section below. Looking to upgrade your own device? We have also picked the best electric toothbrushes for adults. Best overall With its excellent battery life, interchangeable brush heads, colorful child-friendly design and fun-filled app that guides children in improving their brushing technique, the Oral-B Kids electric toothbrush takes our top spot. Read more below View Deal Best for monitoring progress The app that accompanies the Philips Sonicare for kids is packed with personalized brushing tips as well as animated rewards, all encouraging children to brush properly. It also allows you as parent to monitor their progress. Read more below View Deal Best looking With its striking design and colourful silicone coating the Foreo Issa Kids certainly looks great on a bathroom shelf. However, it does come with a hefty price tag, and doesn't have any connected apps to monitor progress or encourage brushing. Read more below View Deal Best for reluctant brushers It takes only 30 seconds to brush teeth, has three light modes for added sanitation and it's certainly innovative and a quirky child-friendly shape. But the drawback is that the AutoBrush Sonic Pro may not reach some of the back teeth. Read more below View Deal Best for interactive play The BriteBrush comes with fun games that can be a real game-changer when it comes to transforming your child's dental hygiene. It's also affordably priced. However, its brush heads do fray quickly, and it can be quite loud. Read more below View Deal Best for traveling Battery-powered for no fuss while away, this Colgate Kids toothbrush offers simple features and encourages independent brushing which can continue even when away from home. Read more below View Deal Image 1 of 3 Image 2 of 3 Image 3 of 3 Best overall: This is the best electric toothbrush for most kids Battery/Rechargeable: Rechargeable | Battery life: Up to 5 days | Timer?: Yes | Modes: 2 | Warranty: 2-year limited warranty | Cost of replacement heads: $15.90 for 4 Comes with a Disney-themed app Customizable design Round brush head for small mouths Handset may be too large for young children Only comes with one brush head Buy it if ✅ You want to instill good brushing habits: The app is packed with fun challenges to encourage brushing. ✅ You are looking for a toothbrush for a younger child: It includes a sensitive mode that is easy on sensitive gums. ✅ You want excellent value: This affordable toothbrush boasts great performance, and it looks good, too. Don't buy it if ❌ You need multiple spare brush heads included: Only one head is supplied. ❌ You want a feature-packed app: The app is a valuable addition, but it is fairly basic. The bottom line 🔎 Oral-B Kids: This Disney-themed toothbrush won our seal of approval, combining great brushing performance, a customizable design and an affordable price. The only caveat? No spare brush heads. ★★★★½ The Oral-B Kids electric toothbrush is suitable for kids as young as three years old, and uses an oscillating-rotating movement to clean your children's teeth. For our full Oral-B Kids Electric Toothbrush review, we tested the Frozen-themed toothbrush, but other available themes that will appeal to young children are the Star Wars, Disney Princesses and Pixar Kids options, though note that prices may vary. The first thing we noticed on unboxing the Oral-B toothbrush is that the initial package comes with just the one toothbrush, so you will need to purchase refills fairly quickly - or straight away if you are buying for more than one child. However, that really is the only drawback. The rechargeable toothbrush has an excellent battery life, lasting for around eight days between charges. That makes it holiday and sleepover friendly too. Some of the models, including the Frozen II model we tested, come with a free Disney Magic Timer app. To use this you simply download the app, scan the toothbrush and brush. Children can brush alongside some of their favourite Disney or Pixar characters, and collect stickers for good brushing technique. The app issues a reminder every 30 seconds to prompt kids to switch the position of the brush in their mouth, while a 2 minute timer tells them when it is time to stop. Younger children may prefer to choose the Sensitive mode, while the Daily Clean mode may suit older children better. We did find some negative reviews mentioning problems scanning the toothbrush in order to match kids favorite characters in the app, while some parents did report a build-up of mold and dirt on the toothbrush where the head connects with the handle. However, it's worth pointing out that these negative reviews are few and far between. Read our full Oral-B Kids Electric Toothbrush review Attributes Notes Design Small, round brush head with extra-soft bristles. Performance It is fairly noisy (65 dB), but provides a thorough clean. Functionality Easy to customize and use for toddlers. Back to the top ⤴ Image 1 of 3 Image 2 of 3 Image 3 of 3 Best for monitoring brushing progress: This toothbrush will allow you to track your child's brushing history Battery/Rechargeable: Rechargeable | Battery life: Up to 2 weeks | Timer?: Yes | Modes: 2 | Warranty: 2-year limited warranty | Cost of replacement heads: $19.95 for 2 Interactive fun app Customizable design Includes both standard and compact brush head Novelty might wear off Handset may be too large for young children Replacement brush heads are expensive Buy it if ✅ You want a customizable design: The toothbrush comes with 10 colorful stickers which can be wrapped around the handset. ✅ You want to monitor your child's brushing progress: Both the brush and the app store brushing history. ✅ You are looking for great brushing performance: It delivers a thorough clean that is easy on the gums. Don't buy it if ❌ You are on a budget: The brush and particularly spare brush heads are on the expensive side. ❌ You have a very young child: The handset may be too big for little hands. The bottom line 🔎 Philips Sonicare for Kids: This toothbrush is a great all-rounder: sturdy, reliable and packed with features that encourage good brushing habits. While not the cheapest, it offers good value for money. ★★★★★ In our full review of the Philips Sonicare for Kids we gave the brush a rare five star rating. We were impressed by its smart features, the customisable design and the interactive app which can make brushing sessions much more fun for young children. The Philips Sonicare is suitable for children aged three and older. The app is simple to use and once downloaded to a phone or tablet it connects to the Bluetooth-enabled handset, offering personalized brushing tips as well as animated rewards. These can really help kids to make sure they brush in those tricky hard-to-reach and often neglected spots. The app also keeps information on your child's brushing history, so you can double check they are staying on track even if you aren't able to supervise in person. The brush itself will store 20 brushing sessions before it runs out of space, so you don't need to synch to the app constantly if your phone isn't to hand. A handy two minute timer encourages kids to brush for the recommended time, while timers every 30 seconds prompt them to move the brush around the four quadrants of the mouth, resulting in a thorough clean. The Philips Sonicare for Kids has an appeaing, colorful and customizable design, coming with 10 stickers that wrap around the handset. That means your child can instantly update their toothbrush to the design of their choice. The toothbrush also features 2 power modes - a low mode for younger children and a more powerful mode for older kids. You can also buy smaller toothbrush heads for younger children if the toothbrush head provided is too big for your little one. Read our full Philips Sonicare For Kids review Attributes Notes Design Two brush heads: Standard for older children, Compact for toddlers. Performance It is relatively quiet (38 dB) and provides a thorough clean. Functionality Toddlers may struggle with gripping the toothbrush. Back to the top ⤴ Image 1 of 3 Image 2 of 3 Image 3 of 3 Best looking: This toothbrush is a stylish addition to the bathroom shelf Battery/Rechargeable: Rechargeable | Battery life: 1 hour charge gives 265 uses | Timer?: Yes | Modes: 1 | Warranty: 2-year limited warranty | Cost of replacement heads: From $16 for 1 Sleek and stylish design 265-day battery life Quad pacing reminder Silicone brush may feel strange to some children Kids need to manually brush Replacement heads can be hard to find Buy it if ✅ You want a stylish design: The toothbrush is soft to touch and features striking looks ✅ You are looking for soft bristles: Its shallow silicone bristles are easy on the gums. ✅ You want a long battery life: It offers up to a whopping 265 uses on a single charge. Don't buy it if ❌ You are on a budget: It is one of the most expensive toothbrushes on the market. ❌ You want a dedicated app: There's no useful content to help encourage or improve brushing technique. The bottom line 🔎 Foreo Issa Kids: This beautifully designed toothbrush boasts long battery life and an ergonomic handset. It is, however, quite expensive, and there is no app to encourage or reward good brushing technique. ★★★★ Foreo is a brand known for its beautifully designed sonic toothbrushes, and the Foreo Issa Kids model is no exception. Its design is truly distinctive and will stand out on any bathroom shelf. It also comes in four different colors. As with all Foreo brushes, this model is made from silicone. That's silicone not just for the toothbrush handle but the toothbrush heads too, which makes them all very easy to keep clean and hygienic. The shallow silicone bristles of the brush heads are particularly kind to growing gums. Foreo actually claim that their brushes remove 30% more plaque, giving your child's oral hygiene a 140% boost. During our full review of the Foreo ISSA Kids, we found that children certainly like the texture and soft silky feel of the ergonomically designed handset. Each different color of the brush comes with its own animal character, so you can choose from rose nose hippo, true blue pony, merry berry shark, or mellow yellow gator. The handset also features a light-up smiling 'Glee' or sad 'Glum' face. The former appears if the child brushes for the recommended two minutes, while Glum appears if they switch off the toothbrush early, or if they haven't used it for more than 12 hours. The Foreo Issa Kids also features a 30-second quadrant pacer, alerting your child to switch position in their mouth and make sure they cover all their teeth. The rechargable battery is particularly impressive, offering up to 265 brushing sessions from just a single hour of charge. The brush also comes with a USB charger so is very easy and flexible when it comes to charging on the go. There's no doubt you get what you pay for with the Foreo Issa Kids, but it is still one of the most expensive kids' toothbrushes on the market. Replacement toothbrush heads are near-impossible to track down in grocery stores or pharmacies, so you'll almost certainly have to find and buy them online. Read our full Foreo ISSA Kids review Attributes Notes Design Soft, flexible silicone bristles on an angled head. Performance It is quiet (35 dB) and suitable for kids with sensitive teeth. Functionality Toddler-friendly size. Back to the top ⤴ Image 1 of 5 Image 2 of 5 Image 3 of 5 Image 4 of 5 Image 5 of 5 Best for reluctant brushers: This unusual and fun-shaped brush is a game changer for fussy kids Battery/Rechargeable: Rechargeable | Timer?: 30 - 60s | Modes: 3 | Light therapy: yes Cleans in just 30 seconds Offers three cleaning modes Three light therapy modes, including whitening Struggles to reach back teeth Fairly noisy Tricky shape to get used to Buy it if ✅ Your child really struggles with regular brushing: Its unique design allows for an ultra-quick clean. ✅ You want a brush that actively improves gum health: It features a gum massaging mode and LED light therapy. Don't buy it if ❌ You are on a budget: It costs nearly $100. ❌ You are looking for a truly thorough clean: It may not be able to reach back teeth. What the users say 🔎 Autobrush Sonic Pro for Kids: With its innovative design, 30s brushing cycle and three light therapy modes, this fun-shaped toothbrush is a game-changer for truly reluctant brushers. However, its unusual shape may be tricky to get used to. ★★★★ The Autobrush Sonic Pro for Kids is a truly unusual and innovative design. Instead of the standard design of a single interchangeable brush head on a handset, it has U-shaped bristles. These are designed to reach and clean all the teeth simultaneously — hence only taking 30s to complete a full brushing cycle. If your child really struggles with brushing and hates having a brush in their mouth for the full recommended two minutes, this is a real game changer. As well as being truly time-efficient, the Sonic Pro also looks great too. The colorful designs and catchy music tunes will certainly brighten up your child's dental routine. However, during our full AutoBrush Sonic Pro for Kids review we did find that its unusual shape may be tricky to get used to. The AutoBrush Sonic Pro for Kids features three cleaning modes: Care mode for those with sensitive gums and teeth, a Deep Clean mode, and a Massage mode for gentle gum stimulation. It features BASS technology which uses up to 30,000 high-frequency vibrations per minute to remove plaque and leave the teeth squeaky clean, while its three LED light modes help to remove bacteria and boost gum health. However, we found that due to its unique design, the AutoBrush Sonic Pro for kids may struggle to reach some of the back teeth. It can also be relatively noisy. Read our full AutoBrush Sonic Pro for Kids review Attributes Notes Design Soft U-shaped bristles encased in waterproof rubber. Performance Time-efficient, but it does not provide a thorough clean.. Functionality Suitable for children aged up to 12. Back to the top ⤴ Image 1 of 2 Image 2 of 2 Best for interactive play and smart sensor technology: This toothbrush will keep your child entertained for a thorough clean Battery/Rechargeable: Battery (2 AAA batteries, included) | Timer?: Yes | Modes: 1 | Warranty: 1-year warranty | Cost of replacement heads: $9.99 for 3 Fun and interactive games Parent check light Very loud Weak technology Replacement brush heads expensive Buy it if ✅ You are on a budget: It is affordably priced, and unusually, so are the replacement brush heads. ✅ You want to instill good brushing habits: It is packed with fun features that encourage your child to brush regularly. Don't buy it if ❌ You want sensitive sensors: The brush struggles to detect pressure. ❌ You are looking for a durable brush: Its bristles fray quickly. The bottom line 🔎 BriteBrush: This colorful toothbrush is a real joy to use, but its durability and brushing performance fall short of expectations. ★★★ The BriteBrush comes with the options of three distinctive designs: Baby Shark, Sesame Elmo and Game Brush and is suitable for children as young as three. Whichever design you chose, it will come loaded with interactive, enjoyable games and music to really help encourage your child to brush thoroughly and effectively. During our full BriteBrush GameBrush review, we found that the brush did a good job of encouraging children to brush up and down. However, the sensors didn't always manage to detect when the child was doing that already. This led to the game being interrupted by reminders to do something the child was already doing, which led to some understandable frustration. The 'side recognition technology' didn't appear to work at all. The games continued on, regardless of whether the children changed the side of their mouth they were cleaning or not. This means that parents may need to continue supervising their children to make sure they do cover the whole mouth. Our verdict? It is affordably priced, and packed with fun features, so most kids will find the BriteBrush fun to use at first. However, the lack of all features working properly can lead to a frustrating experience for kids and parents alike. Read our full BriteBrush GameBrush review Attributes Notes Design Two brush heads included in the pack. Performance Loud (70 dB) and under-performing. Functionality The brush head may be too big for toddlers. Image 1 of 4 Image 2 of 4 Image 3 of 4 Image 4 of 4 Best for traveling: Battery-powered with simple features, this brush is ideal for holidays with the kids. Battery/Rechargeable: Battery (1 AA battery, included) | Timer?: No | Modes: 1 | Warranty: Not specified | Cost of replacement heads: Not available Fun designs Soft bristles AA-battery powered Lack of timer No advanced features No replacement brush heads Buy it if ✅ You are on a budget: This toothbrush doesn't cost much more than a standard toothbrush and can help remove plaque more effectively. ✅ You want to encourage independent brushing: The child-pleasing designs can help encourage your young one to brush regularly, while the flat head and ergonomic handle aid independent brushing. Don't buy it if ❌ You want a timer: This brush doesn't come with a timer and so suits younger children better. ❌ You want replacement brush heads: Once this brush is exhausted, sadly, it will have to go into landfill as replacement heads are not available. The bottom line 🔎 Colgate Kids battery-powered toothbrush: This brush makes brushing fun with its colorful designs while the ergonomic handle and soft bristles encourage independent brushing ★★★½ We think the Colgate Kids battery-powered toothbrush is the ideal toothbrush for kids while traveling due to its simplicity and battery-powered functionality. There is no fuss with this toothbrush — it does what it says on the tin. During our full Colgate Kids battery-powered toothbrush review, our little tester enjoyed the soft bristles while our reviewer noted it was lightweight and very quiet. Perfect qualities for a toothbrush to take traveling. Not only that, but being battery-powered means you won't have to worry about remembering to charge the brush while away — one less holiday stress. This toothbrush comes in various designs including Batman, Barbie and Trolls, making it attractive to your little ones. This brush is simple with no advanced features or timers so would best suit those looking to move from manual to electric brushing. The ergonomic handle and flat brush head also encourage independent brushing. And, with it being so compact and light, building these good habits can continue while traveling. Plus, this toothbrush is completely waterproof making it safe for use in the shower or bath, if this is where your child prefers to brush their teeth. Our verdict? You can't beat the Colgate Kids battery-powered toothbrush's simplicity, making it a great option for holidays and the like. The colorful designs appeal to your little ones while the battery-powered element takes the pressure off having to remember to charge it every day while away. Read our full Colgate Kids battery-powered toothbrush review Attributes Notes Design One brush head included in the pack. Performance Quiet (32 dB) and simple features. Functionality Soft bristles but the brush head is larger than some. Back to the top ⤴ Model Rating ✅Pros ❌Cons Type Battery life Oral-B Kids ★★★★½ Small brush head, app, price. Big handset, noisy. Rotating 5 days Philips Sonicare for Kids ★★★★★ Customization, performance, app. Big brush head, price. Sonic 2 weeks Foreo ISSA Kids ★★★★ Soft bristles, stylish design, battery life. Relatively expensive, no apps. Sonic 265 uses Autobrush Sonic Pro for Kids ★★★★ Time efficiency, LED light therapy, features. Relatively expensive, quite noisy. Sonic 7 days BriteBrush Game Brush ★★★ Fun features, affordable, battery-powered. Frays quickly, noisy, weak pressure sensor. Sonic 60 days Colgate Kids battery-powered toothbrush ★★★½ Fun designs, soft bristles, fuss-free battery-powered. No advanced features or timer, no replacement brush heads. Rotating Limited While both electric and manual toothbrushes can be effective tools in keeping children's teeth clean and healthy, studies suggest that electric can have an advantage. A meta-analysis published in 2023 in the Dentistry Journal found that children who use an electric toothbrush may be able to remove more plaque than those brushing purely by hand with a manual toothbrush. Yes, children's brushes are different from the best electric toothbrushes for adults, not just in design but in features too. Children's toothbrushes usually feature smaller handles for smaller hands, as well as softer bristles for young gums. The apps they come with can also really help with motivation and technique. When it comes to effectiveness of brushing, they offer the same benefits as adult brushes, according to a 2023 meta-analysis published in the Dentistry Journal. 'Most children can begin using their own electric toothbrush from age three. However, they should be supervised by an adult until they are seven years old,' Karen Coates, a registered dental nurse, told Live Science. That's because while young children may be enthusiastic brushers, they still need help in developing their technique, she explained. Meanwhile children under the age of three should have their teeth brushed by their caregiver. "They should be using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste and whatever toothbrush best fits their specific needs," Dr. Roopali Kulkarni, an assistant professor of oral medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, told Live Science. When it comes to purchasing an electric toothbrush for your child, it's important to find the best age-appropriate model. There are plenty of options on the market, with some brushes designed for the youngest children and others designed with older children in mind. It's a good idea to try and find a model that has a Seal of Acceptance from the American Dental Association (ADA). "The ADA Seal was established to help the public identify oral health products that have been independently reviewed by the ADA to ensure that they are safe and effective," Kulkarni explained. Another thing to consider is how you will power the brush. Battery-powered brushes tend to be cheaper when it comes to the intial purchase, but the cost of replacement batteries can soon add up. There is also the risk that as battery levels start to dwindle, your child's toothbrush may start to slow down and clean less effectively. Electric rechargeable models may therefore end up being a cheaper investment in the long run. However, if you're not sure, you can always start with a cheaper battery-operated model and see how your child gets on with it, before investing in a more expensive rechargeable device. Make sure the brush head is small enough to be used comfortably by your child. "Children may have difficulties with manual dexterity, so you should be looking at electric toothbrushes which have long thin necks that can easily reach the back of their mouth," Coates said. It's also important that the size of the handset fits your children's hands comfortably, as you want them to be able to use the brush for two minutes on each use. Your next step may be to look for features that you think would help your child develop and maintain good brushing habits. These may include a two-minute timer and quadrant pacing. "This is a timer which helps you to spend equal time over all the parts of your mouth. Every thirty seconds it would send out a noise telling you to move to the next section or quarter of your mouth," Coates said. An appealing design can really help. "Children may find that brushing with a powered toothbrush is fun; particularly with all of their colors, sparkles and cartoon characters," Kulkarni said. However, there is always the danger that your child may outgrow their current favorite TV character before they outgrow their brush, so you could find yourself needing a new brush sooner than you had hoped just to keep up their interest and enthusiasm for brushing. The most important thing to remember is that even if they love their new brush, they still need adult supervision. Watching your child brush their teeth, helping them out to encourage thorough cleaning and improving their brushing technique, and praising them when they do a good job is what makes the biggest difference to their oral hygiene. Back to the top ⤴ Our reviewers. We test the electric toothbrushes for kids on the people they are actually designed for — children. Supervised by a parent or guardian, our child testers will run the toothbrush on its various settings and modes to give their ultimate verdict. They have tested nearly a dozen different models over the years, so you can trust them when they say if something does the job well or falls behind expectations. However, we know that children are occasionally not the most objective or experienced reviewers, so we naturally also rely on our adult testers to provide a detailed assessment of every toothbrush they, or their children, test. Each gadget is tested for at least a week before we rank it across the following categories: Design. We thoroughly assess how well the toothbrush is made, looking at its size, appearance, durability, and ease of use. We give our verdict on its controls, brush head, handle and its general appeal to children. We also take note of any design tweaks that can help the children develop good brushing habits. We also note whether the brush comes with any accessories or spare brush heads. Features. We test every single feature of the toothbrush, including many brushing modes and intensity levels it offers. We check and test any connected apps it comes with and assess any smart features. We also check if the toothbrush helps guide your children on their brushing technique and whether it allows you to track their brushing progress. We also assess how customizable it is. Performance. We measure how loud the toothbrush is with a decibel counter app (such as the Sound Meter app). We then compare these results to similar appliances. We run and use the toothbrush on all its settings and modes, noting any differences in intensity and durations between settings. We also thoroughly test the charging process, including how long it takes to reach a full charge, and how long the toothbrush lasts before the battery depletes. Value for money. Finally, we give our verdict on the most important issue: is it worth the money? After testing, all feedback is collated to award electric toothbrushes a final star rating, with a maximum score of five. February 4, 2025: We added more specs to the 'Comparison' table and corrected a handful of broken links.
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Four new measles cases reported in Kentucky, including three in Woodford County
Four new cases of measles have been reported in Kentucky this week, including three in one household in Woodford County. The fourth case is in Todd County and is not related to the other three cases, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services said Friday. That person was exposed to someone with measles while traveling internationally. The state said none of the four people had been vaccinated for measles. 'Health officials are working to identify others who may have been exposed to those infected while they were contagious,' the news release stated. Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, urged parents to have their children vaccinated against measles, which he said is 'a serious disease.' 'These cases occur amid the largest measles outbreak in the United States since it was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000,' the news release stated. 'The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported more than 1,200 cases this year, including several large outbreaks in other states.' Two other measles cases have been reported in Kentucky this year, including one case in an adult in Franklin County in February and another in March involving a child who is not a resident of Kentucky but was diagnosed while traveling through the state. Measles is a respiratory virus that is spread through the air. Symptoms, which can include fever, cough, runny nose and red or watery eyes, usually start eight to 12 days after exposure, and the rash most people associate with the illness usually shows up three to five days after the other symptoms begin. The highly contagious illness can cause serious complications, particularly for young children. The cabinet says immunization rates among Kentucky kindergarten students have dropped recently. For the 2024-25 school year, 86.9% of the state's kindergarten students were fully vaccinated for measles, below the national average of 93%.
