Abstract: The invention is directed to an appliance (10) of personal use such as a toothbrush, an oral irrigator, a shaver, a kitchen machine, with a driving mechanism constructed as an electric motor (12) and with a control stage (14) for the energy supply (16) to the electric motor (12). During off-periods of the electric motor (12), the control stage (14) supplies the electric motor (12) with an energy which is adapted in particular in terms of duration and/or amplitude and which the electric motor (12), when off and in its capacity as an electroacoustic transducer, emits at least in part in the form of audible signals.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an electric toothbrush (1) in which a timing element (13) is provided whose purpose it is to indicate to a user the end of at least one cleaning period when the electric toothbrush (1) is activated. Still further, means (12) coupled to the timing element (13) are provided to enable the user to trigger the beginning (T4) of the cleaning period (PZD2). The effect thereby achieved is that the end (T2) of a cleaning period (PZD1) does not automatically start the beginning (T4) of the next cleaning period (PZD2), but that this particular beginning (T4) of the next cleaning period (PZD2) is freely selectable by the user.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an electric toothbrush which includes a timing circuit (7) serving to signal to a user the expiration of a first period (T1), that is, the expiration of the optimum brushing time, following activation of the electric toothbrush. Further, an On/Off switching device (4) is provided which is controllable by the timing circuit (7) and by means of which the electric toothbrush can be turned on and off. The timing circuit (7) controls the On/Off switching go0 device (4) such that following expiration of the first period (T1) the electric toothbrush is turned on and off repeatedly within a second period (T2). As a result, the user of the electric toothbrush "senses" directly the end of the first period (T1), that is, the end of the optimum brushing time, from the variation in the operating mode of the electric toothbrush.