A personal care device, such as an oral care device, is provided with a controller and adjusting means for inputting a desired value and/or desired variation for an operating parameter. The adjusting means include at least one variable input element, such as a potentiometer or a contactless encoder connectable to the controller, wherein the controller includes a detector for detecting an output signal of the variable input element, a comparator for comparing the detected output signal of the variable input element with a stored maximum value and/or a stored minimum value for the output signal, and a command generator for generating a command signal for controlling the operating parameter of the personal care device on the basis of the detected output signal and/or the comparison thereof with the stored minimum and/or maximum values. The variable input element control provides for self-adaption of reference values used for transforming the variable input element output signal into command signals for the control of the oral care device. The variable input element output signal is monitored and, when such monitoring shows a predetermined deviation of the variable input element output signal from the reference values, the reference values are adapted.
