Abstract: An electric toothbrush is disclosed. The toothbrush includes a housing; a brush; an electric motor for driving the brush; a power supply for providing the electric power required for operation of the toothbrush; a switch mechanism for turning the drive on and off; and an electronic circuit for adjusting the effective voltage (UMot) applied to the electric motor. In operation, a voltage supplied by the power supply declines with the discharge status of the power supply from a high-voltage range to a low-voltage range. During operation of the toothbrush in the high-voltage range (H), the effective voltage (UMot) applied to the electric motor is lowered to a level at which the electric motor has reached a rotational speed corresponding essentially to the rotational speed of the electric motor in the medium-voltage range.