How do electric toothbrushes not electricute you?

Question

It doesn't make sense to me.

Answer 1

it takes voltage and current to electrocute you AND you have to be in the path of the electricity and it has to pass through some part of your body that can kill you if it does....

the toothbrush probably has 2-4 volts of battery and no way for it to get you into its path to hurt you.

if you took the 2-4 volts and hooked them to some long needles and plunged them into your chest, it would probably electrocute you because the current would stop your heart [DON'T TRY THIS TO PROVE ME WRONG. I TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH STUPIDITY. DON'T PROVE DARWIN RIGHT.].....

if your body becomes the conductor for high enough voltage to overcome the normally high resistance of dry skin, like standing barefoot in a puddle of water and grabbing an electric wire, the current will still kill you, usually by stopping your heart.

so, with little voltage, and no path to get the current into your body because of the insulation in it, your toothbrush is very safe under virtually any conditions you could normally operate it.

why doesn't it make sense to you that it can't electrocute you? have you ever taken a science course that included anything about electricity?

Answer 2

You are insulated from the electricity by all of the plastic. The vibrating motor in the handle also uses a non conductor at an attacment point for the plastic brush.

Older toothbrushes used an AC cord plugged into the wall as a power source. Newer units have recharable batteries that are charged by AC when the handle is replaced into the holder. The batteries are also a lower voltage than the wall outlet.

These newer types use inductive coupling to transfer AC power from the wall into the handle where it is used to recharge the batteries. Inductive coupling is a fancy way of saying that a magnetic field from one coil of wire is used to create a voltage in another coil of wire using the magnetic field. (Transformer action)

Answer 3

Water proof. The flow of electricity will take the path of least resistance, which is throw the motor. So even if the water did get in the brush, You would some how have to become part of the circuit between the positive & negative. They are low voltage so they are pretty safe.

Answer 4

My guess is the fact from what I can tell they are all made from plastic which if memory serves me well doesn't conduct electricity very well.

Also the fact the they only have electricity flowing into it from there it is converted into mechanical energy (actually now that i think about it don't they actully run on some sort of battery).
Which is used to actually move the parts (which does not actually carry an electric current).


So basically the actual electrical energy is kept from making contact with water.

Answer 5

confident. an electric powered toothbrush is larger then a instruction manual on the grounds which you no longer in basic terms might desire to brush your teeth, yet alongside your gums too. some human beings in basic terms brush their teeth and not their gums. an electric powered toothbrush will help you attain the no longer trouble-free to attain places.

Answer 6

do you get electrocuted when you tread on a cable
do you get electrocuted when you turn on the tv
do you get electrocuted when you sit in a car that got it's headlights on
do you get electrocuted when you turn on a torch
do you get electrocuted when you turn on the light switch

why is the electric toothbrush so different (singled out)

I don't follow your reasoning

(buy a nine volt battery and place your tongue across the terminals....you will NOT be electrocuted)

Answer 7

First, the electrical components don't make contact with your teeth Next, an electric toothbrush has low voltage (approx. 3v) so if it did shock you, you wouldn't feel it.

Answer 8

Who says that ? I am puzzled.. i lost one teeth when using toothbrushes due to electrocutes.

Answer 9

hmmm im guessing its water proof :)

Answer 10

i want to know what you Are thinkin gall the time pater master