Abstract: A toothbrush adapted to serve as an instructional aid to encourage toothbrushing and to reinforce recommended toothbrushing technique. The toothbrush includes a body having an electrical subassembly incorporating a visual indicator such as a light or a light emitting diode, and a switching unit within the electrical subassembly for selectively activating the visual indicator only when the toothbrush is being used according to recommended toothbrushing technique. An alternate embodiment of the toothbrush includes a separate toothbrush head insert and a separate handle for receiving the toothbrush head insert which can therefore be removed and replaced. A further alternate embodiment of the invention includes an aural indicator selectively activated by the electrical subassembly during recommended toothbrushing technique.