Conventionally, electric toothbrushes that operate with a vibration that is appropriate for removing plaque have been proposed. It is desirable for a user of an electric toothbrush that information relating to where plaque is attached, whether plaque is removed by brushing, and the like is provided.
In order to fulfill this desire, in Patent Literature 1 (JP 2001-145645A) and Patent Literature 2 (JP 2001-170084A), a video scope and a toothbrush are integrally provided, and an image of teeth captured during brushing is displayed.
Also, in Patent Literature 3 (JP 2001-218624A), an image of teeth that are being brushed is captured with a camera incorporated in the brush portion of a toothbrush, and the image thereof is displayed.
Also, Patent Literature 4 (JP 2008-119154A) proposes a function of collecting attached substances removed from the oral cavity with a cleaning tool, and facilitating the checking of whether attached substances have been removed.
Also, in Patent Literature 5 (JP 2008-532619A), it is possible to adjust the power or operations of a toothbrush in accordance with information received by a sensor. Furthermore, Patent Literature 5 describes a configuration in which light is emitted from a toothbrush in order to carry out optical whitening and the like using a photochemical effect.
With these Patent Literatures, it is not possible to check an area unbrushed by a toothbrush, that is, a tooth where plaque remains. In contrast, the homepage of Non-Patent Literature 1 “Einstein Stella plaque” ((RF Co., Ltd.) http://www.rfsystemlab.com/product/dental/ein_plaque/index.html) and the homepage of Non-Patent Literature 2 “Intraoral Camera “MIHARU”” (http://www.shinwa-musen.co.jp/camera3/miharu.html) propose a wireless intraoral camera. The intraoral camera emits light having a predetermined wavelength to which only plaque and resin react, receives the light reflected therefrom, and converts signals of the received light into video signals to be output as video images. The intraoral camera thus has a function of providing information on an unbrushed area of teeth in video image form.