An electric toothbrush (10) and method of operating an electric toothbrush. The electric toothbrush includes a handle portion (14) having a shaft (38) configured to receive a brushing load from a bristled end (18) of a brush head (12). A sensor assembly (30) is configured to determine a deflection proportional to the brushing load with respect to a first direction (24) associated with the brushing load. The sensor assembly includes an air gap (32) and is configured to determine the deflection based on changes in the air gap. A mounting bracket (50) is connected between opposite sides of the air gap, the mounting bracket having a first bending stiffness with respect to the first direction, and a second bending stiffness with respect to a second direction (28) generally opposite to the first direction. The first bending stiffness is greater than the second bending stiffness.