The Sonicare FlexCare brush with UV Sanitizer not only provides a deep clean using super-fast moving bristles (31,000 brush strokes per minute, to be exact) that deliver a high-powered sonic scrub to break up debris wedged between teeth, but it includes a UV Sanitizer to keep your brushes squeaky clean and bacteria-free between uses. Let’s see your manual brush do that!

Philips Sonicare knows everything about your dirty little secrets. Their recent research with GfK Roper found that 54 percent of Americans will reuse their toothbrush after it falls on the floor—even after 57 percent identified the bathroom floor as the area in their house with the most bacteria. Half of Americans said they’d share their toothbrush with their partner, spouse, friend or family member. Nine percent of men even admitted to using their toothbrush after it fell in the toilet! Dirty boys! That UV Sanitizer sounds like a great idea right about now.

The FlexCare also includes various features to note:
—Three modes of scrubbing in strengths to suit your mouth’s needs: Clean, Sensitive and Massage.
—Two cleansing routines for in-between scrubs—so you can give your mouth a quick once-over before your hot date comes over for a different kind of quickie or anytime between your deeper, three-minute cleanings.
—Improved brush head design to attack more plaque.
—Ultraviolet Sanitizer zaps 99% of bacteria in just 10 minutes between uses. And an automatic shut-off timer will conserve your energy bills.

Philips Sonicare FlexCare, $179, Amazon.com

Probiotic bacteria, Lactobacillus anti-caries, in gum have been tested in hundreds of people and have been proven to reduce the concentration of naughty bacteria in your mouth that cause tooth decay. You’ll still have to brush and floss regularly, but it will help reduce your cavities.

Dr Andreas Reindl of BASF said: “The effectiveness has been demonstrated and the first oral hygiene products containing probiotic lactobacilli are scheduled to appear in 2007.”

Probiotic bacteria is also being tested to reduce body odor by using Lactobacillus anti-caries in deodorant. This might sound a bit gross, but we have friendly bacteria living all over our bodies.