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The Sonicare DiamondClean toothbrush is the best designed electric toothbrush I've ever used. It's not perfect, but it's the best that I've ever encountered by a long shot. Here's why...After using other popular electric toothbrushes I'd always been particularly disappointed with their propensity to become nasty from bacteria buildup when left in the charger. Furthermore, many are extremely difficult to clean once they get nasty. So the nastier your toothbrush becomes, the less inclined you'll be to put it in your mouth.Home charging / Keeping cleanThe Sonicare DiamondClean solves this problem by taking cues from the traditional way many store their conventional toothbrushes; in a glass. The charging dock comes with a glass that sits atop a charging unit. This allows for electricity to travel through the glass to the base of the toothbrush.The primary advantage to this design is that any moisture/bacteria buildup will only occur inside the glass which can be easily cleaned by hand or in a dishwasher.In contrast, most other electric toothbrush chargers feature a female/male charging connection that is highly susceptible to bacteria buildup in the small crevices. For example, the base of the common electric toothbrush has a socket with a charging probe, similar to the one below, connects with. This design makes it extremely difficult to clean due to the small crevice inside the base of the toothbrush where moisture tends to collect and allows bacteria to grow.Traveling / ChargingAlso, many electric toothbrushes do not have convenient methods for charging or storing when traveling. Usually, the charging dock is the only supplied method for charging. So if you're traveling, are you really going to want to pack the charging dock in your toiletries bag? Most charging docks are much larger than the one shown above.The Sonicare DiamonClean solves this problem by making the travel case which also acts as a travel charger.The case features a mini-USB port that connects to an AC adaptor via standard USB. It can charge via USB or with a standard outlet. I've never needed to charge it over USB but I'm happy it uses standard ports in the case I were to ever lose a proprietary cable.ErgonomicsMany products often prioritize ergonomics to their own detriment. Particularly with toothbrushes, any amount of small crevices or contours are just added opportunities for moisture to become trapped and start growing bacteria. The Sonicare DiamondClean is completely smooth on virtually every surface. This helps massively by directing moisture down the base of the toothbrush into the glass which can be easily cleaned. The surface is covered in a rubbery material that makes the toothbrush grip well in your hand even when wet.AestheticsProbably my biggest pet peeve with virtually all bathroom hygiene products is how they often are designed to look sophisticated. I'm sorry, but my bathroom is not the Millennium Falcon. Please, do not make my toothbrush or other appliance look like a lightsaber.Fortunately, the Sonicare DiamondClean delivers beautifully on this gripe. While I'm not personally a fan of products that have lots of modes, this toothbrush hides all the labels and indicators when it's not in use. For example, there are labels which illuminate on the handle to designate which mode the toothbrush is in while brushing. When the toothbrush is not in use, these labels become completely invisible leaving a clean white surface remaining. It's quite similar to what you experience with Apple products that have indicator lights that disappear when not illuminated.Philosophically, I believe all bathroom hygiene products should make a strong effort to disappear into your bathroom. They should compliment what qualities we all value in a bathroom. Primarily, cleanliness and good hygiene. However, more often these products are designed as if they were intended to be some sophisticated centerpiece to your bathroom. They all compete for this attention. Unfortunately, it often just results in just making your bathroom look like a weapons barracks from a science fiction movie.Pick one up here: Amazon.com: Philips Sonicare HX9332/05 DiamondClean Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush, White: Health & Personal Care

As Scott Frey said, UV sanitizers do work. They will reduce the bacterial count on your toothbrush.UV sterilization will cause mutations in the DNA of the microorganisms living on your toothbrush, and this will prevent them from reproducing, and they consequently die .That said, According to the ADA, there are no real health benefits of using a toothbrush sanitizer.There are several commercially available toothbrush sanitizers on the market. Although data do not demonstrate that they provide a specific health benefit, if a consumer chooses to use one of these devices, the Council recommends that they select a product cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products cleared by FDA are required to provide data to the Agency to substantiate cleared claims. Examples of claims that have been cleared by FDA for these products include;Product “X” is designed to sanitize manual toothbrushes (To “sanitize” normally means that bacteria are reduced by 99.9 percent. For example, if one million bacteria are present at the outset, 1000 bacteria remain after a 99.9 percent reduction. “Sterilized” on the other hand, indicates that all living organisms have been destroyed or inactivated. No commercially-available toothbrush cleaning products have been shown to sterilize toothbrushes);Product “Y” is intended for use in reducing bacterial contamination that naturally accrues on toothbrushes.Claims that go beyond sanitizing the toothbrush or reducing bacterial contamination should be viewed critically by the consumer.Consumers that choose to use these cleaning devices should inspect the brush regularly for wear and consider replacement more often if necessary.ADA Statement on Toothbrush Care: Cleaning, Storage and Replacementhttp://www.ada.org/1887.aspxHere is a recap of the general recommendations for toothbrush care:Do not share toothbrushesThoroughly rinse toothbrushes with tap water after brushing to remove any remaining toothpaste and debrisDo not routinely cover toothbrushes or store them in closed containerReplace toothbrushes at least every 3–4 monthsThis short article mentions that UV devices were the only way of killing all organisms on a toothbrush:http://jada.ada.org/cgi/reprint/129/8/1072-b.pdf?maxtoshow=&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&minscore=5000&resourcetype=HWCITBy Dr. R. Tom Glass, D.D.S., Ph.D., Professor of Forensic Sciences, Pathology and Dental Medicine at Oklahoma state university:When our studies looked at aerobic, facultative anaerobic, obligate anaerobic, yeast/fungal and viral microorganism contaminated toothbrushes, we found that the only way to have uniform killing of all microorganisms was to use an ultraviolet light toothbrush storage device. Chemical treatments (such as Dr. ZolnowskiCasey’s suggestion), dishwashing, boiling, autoclaving and even microwaving either did not kill large numbers and groups of microorganisms or rendered the toothbrushes unusable.UV sanitizers will not hurt. Although there aren’t enough studies to show significant health benefit, the fact that they will reduce the number of bacteria on your toothbrush, is always a good thing, especially if you can afford one. After all, our bathrooms are not exactly the cleanest part of our homes.

For the immunocompromised, it is highly recommended to take extra precautions to keep your toothbrushes clean.For people with healthy immune systems, disinfecting your toothbrush can be helpful as a mental comfort if you are very concerned about it, but there is not yet any research about the adverse effects of not disinfecting your toothbrush. If you choose to disinfect your toothbrush, it probably shouldn't be after every use, but more like every other week.Some possible options for disinfecting your toothbrush (to be attempted selectively as these may affect separate products differently) are with UV (ultraviolet) light, effervescent disinfecting tablets, and soaking it in antiseptic mouthwash or hydrogen peroxide for 1-2 minutes. However, these methods could possibly cause damage to the toothbrush by wearing down the bristles and reducing effective brushing. Follow manufacturer's instructions for your product.Ways to keep your toothbrush clean without disinfecting it:Wash your hands before and after brushing.Rinse the toothbrush thoroughly first with water hot water before and after brushing, and then cold water to firm up the bristles for storage and air-drying.Shake the bristles adequately to remove as much excess water as possible before storing.Store the brush upright so it can air-dry between uses with proper air circulation.If more than one brush is stored in the same holder or area, the brushes shouldn't touch each other. Do not share toothbrushes.Toothbrushes shouldn't be stored in a cabinet, drawer, or toothbrush protector because dark, moist environments are breeding grounds for bacteria.Check your toothbrush for signs of wear and tear, and replace it more frequently than every three to four months if needed. Children's toothbrushes often need to be replaced more frequently than adult brushes.Sources:Discovery Health "How to Disinfect a Toothbrush"Statement on Toothbrush Care: Cleaning, Storage and ReplacementHow to Keep a Clean ToothbrushPersonally, I recently received a Sonicare electric toothbrush that came with a UV sanitizing light on the charger. I've used it once or twice so far but haven't had it long enough to notice any big difference yet, except that it's pretty cool. (Note: Its manufacturer instructions clearly state not to run any of the toothbrush parts through the dishwasher.)