Patent ID: 8479341

Claim:
An electric toothbrush comprising: bristles; a driving unit for driving the bristles; an orientation detection sensor for detecting the orientation of the electric toothbrush; and an electrode-based contact detection unit for detecting contact with a body, wherein the contact detection unit includes a first detection unit for detecting contact with or proximity to a rear surface side of a brush portion in which the bristles are disposed; the electric toothbrush further comprises: a detection unit for detecting orientation information of the electric toothbrush based on an output from the orientation detection sensor; and an area estimation unit for estimating a brushing area based on at least the orientation information, and wherein the area estimation unit includes a determination unit for determining, in the case where the brushing area determined based on the orientation information is a dentition surface on a right buccal side or a left lingual side or a dentition surface on a left buccal side or a right lingual side, whether the brushing area corresponds to the buccal side or the lingual side based on an electric signal obtained from the first detection unit, and wherein the first detection unit includes an electrode disposed on the rear surface side of the brush portion, the electrode defining an electric passage with respect to the body when the electrode is brought into contact with or in a vicinity of the body.