If I'm going to be shoving electrical hardware into my mouth, I want top-of-the-line. So even though the Luddite in me recoils at technology as superfluous seeming as electric toothbrushes, my anxiety about a Fixident-and-forget-it future trumps that instinct. Plus, the Philips Sonicare Elite e9500 Custom Care Power Toothbrush's usefulness apparently goes well beyond the oral cavity. Turns out premature babies (not a problem for me, but still), heart attacks and strokes can all be caused by gingivitis; with two contoured brush heads, a programmable quadpacer and an ergonomic tapered handle, the e9500 keeps all those larger health issues at bay. You want me to be healthy, right? Suddenly that $139 price tag's looking like a steal. (Amazon.com) — Will Doig