Mouth music.

Here's a toothbrush that does more than just brighten your smile. Tooth Tunes, made by Hasbro, plays a two-minute-long song to jazz up your brushing routine.

Press "play," and a tiny computer chip in the toothbrush generates sound waves. But your morning melodies won't be loud enough to awaken your sleeping siblings. That's because the toothbrush doesn't send the sound waves through the air. Instead, the vibrating energy waves wiggle the toothbrush's bristles. As you brush, the vibrations transmit through your teeth, into your jawbone, and up to your inner ear, which picks up the song.

Artists like Hilary Duff may soon have their songs broadcast through the brush, says Dave Capper, co-inventor of Tooth Tunes: "It's a way that people of all ages can get a 'taste' of their music."

BRUSH UP

Why does Tooth Tunes play two-minute songs? Dentists recommend that you brush twice a day for two minutes each time. But according to a survey by the American Dental Association, not everyone follows that advice (see graph, right). About what percentage of people brush less than two times a day?

FREQUENCY
WITH WHICH
PEOPLE BRUSH
THEIR TEETH *

Never                1.2%

Several times        1.6%
a week

Once a day          18.9%

After every meal    24.8%

Twice a day         53.2%

Once a week          0.4%
or less