Plain toothbrushes where users manually scrub their teeth have long been replaced by vibrating electric versions with whirling whitening heads, but the technology has essentially remained the same: toothbrushes, manual or electric, continue to rub the abrasive cleaning agents in toothpaste against teeth to remove plaque.

However, a new high-tech "no-brush" toothbrush has gone a step further, and uses ultrasound alone to clean the teeth.

While some ultrasound technology has been built into electric toothbrush designs in the past, the latest Emmi-dent toothbrush is the first toothbrush that requires no movement and uses only ultrasound technology to clean the teeth.

The manufacturers of this new 100 percent ultrasound toothbrush says that while a sonic toothbrush like Philips Sonicare makes 31,000 sound waves a minute, the new $128.46 (£79.95) Emmi-dent brush makes as incredible 86 million sound waves per minute to clean the teeth.

The makers have also created a special kind of toothpaste to use with the toothbrush that was launched in the UK last week.

They explain that the technology behind the toothbrush causes millions of tiny bubbles that are small enough to get between the teeth and into the gums, to burst in hard to reach areas to kill bacteria and remove tartar and food debris.

Manufacturers said that the powerful ultrasound technology also disinfects any bacteria left on the brush head.

Because people cannot feel ultrasound, the manufacturers have added a vibration component to the toothbrush to reassure users that the brush is working.

After users coat their teeth with the special toothpaste, they are to hold the brush motionless over each tooth for five to 15 seconds.

It takes about six minutes total for all the teeth in the mouth to be properly cleaned. Afterwards, users just rinse the old-fashion way and they'll be ready to go.

Dental experts say that additional tests need to be carried out to confirm the manufacturer's claim, adding that the most important oral health factors include brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and avoiding foods and drinks that are excessively sweet or acidic because they can destroy and wear down the protective enamel surfaces of the teeth.