Abstract: An electric toothbrush for brushing teeth and gums having a generally cylindrical handle having a longitudinal axis and a generally hollow interior, a stem attached to the handle, a head connected to the stem and having a front portion with a plurality of tufts of bristles anchored to the head, and a motor housed in the hollow interior of the handle, wherein the stem is operatively moved by the motor such that the stem pivots with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical handle by a predefined angle ? within a plane generally normal to the plurality of tufts of bristles to impart a measured up and down sweeping motion to the head relative to the teeth and gums being brushed.