Abstract: A toothbrush for setting and communicating brushing time and for providing instructional and encouragement messages during brushing includes a handle with a hollow interior, a controller capable, upon activation, of generating such messages, a power source electrically connected to the controller, a speaker for emitting such messages and a switch for activating the controller and enabling the speaker to emit the messages. A timer is provided to terminate operation of the speaker after a predetermined amount of time. A digital or a conventional clock is disposed on the surface of the handle and cooperates with the timer for visual communication of the elapsed brushing time.