A rotatable shaft (16) having a deformable rubber sleeve (17) is located in a hollow section (23) of a toothbrush handle (10). A thumb-operated gear ring (19) is secured to the rubber sleeve (17) and the assembly is disposed in a chamber of the handle (23) so that the ring (18) is accessible through an opening (20) in the outer shell of the handle. The inner chamber surface has teeth (24) which engage the teeth on the ring (18) and maintain it in place when the ring (18) is pressed to displace the rubber sleeve (17) and attached ring (18) against the chamber teeth (24) which prevents the shaft (16) from being rotated when a desired angular position of the handle and brush is achieved.
