Abstract: An electric toothbrush comprises two main casings, a battery/motor casing and a brush drive casing, both casings being made of plastics material and one casing telescopically fitting over the other. The casing contains a battery, a motor and a motor shaft which carries the first gear of a reduction gear set which also comprises gears which drive a motor gear output shaft carrying a male coupling. The brush drive casing carries a brush head further reduction gearing and a brush drive shaft which carries a female coupling. When the couplings are mated telescopically, the male and female couplings connect so as to complete the drive to the toothbrush head. Preferably the toothbrush head is arranged to be driven in alternate directions, i.e., so as to have a reciprocal motion.