Digital CraveMouthing off: These toothbrushes are super high-tech
Just when you thought the bathroom was the last sanctuary away from technology, we’ve got Wi-Fi bathroom scales, waterproof music players for the shower and mirrors that double as video screens.
And then there’s the latest in toothbrushes. Yep, that stick with bristles you use to clean your teeth with is also going high-tech.
Before you scoff at the idea, keep in mind this new crop of toothbrushes were designed to help you brush better and longer than you do today.
After all, while dentists recommend brushing for at least two minutes, the average American only brushes for 46 seconds. Kids, in all likelihood, are even less.
The following is a look at a few of the more interesting offerings available.
Consider it the granddaddy of all powered toothbrushes: The just-launched Oral-B Black 7000 Electric Toothbrush With Smartguide ($154.99 for kit) features 40,000 pulsations and 8,800 oscillations per minute – which even tops race car speeds, say the folks at Oral-B. The benefit, of course, is a better tooth-by-tooth clean that can remove 100 percent more plaque than a manual brush.
Because not everyone likes to brush the same, the Black 7000 houses six different cleaning modes: Daily Clean, Deep Clean, Sensitive, Whitening, Massage and new Tongue Cleaner mode for fresh breath.
Included in the kit is the small SmartGuide, a greyscale wireless display you can prop up on your counter or against a mirror, and provides real-time feedback while you brush – including which of the four “quadrants” you should move onto (30 seconds each). A light on the toothbrush turns red if you press too hard on your teeth and you’ll see an “unhappy” face on the SmartGuide’s LCD screen, too.
Indicator bristles will remind you it’s time to replace your brush head, but three refill brush heads are included in the kit (along with a matching travel case, with room for a second toothbrush). The rechargeable battery is said to last two weeks on a single charge, so no need to bring the power cable on a vacation.
On February 24, Oral-B has also introduced its interactive electric toothbrush – the world's first of its kind with Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity – at the Mobile World Congress 2014 in Barcelona.
Parents of young kids would probably welcome a way for their little ones to brush longer – especially when they’re not there in the bathroom to supervise them.
This is where Tooth Tunes comes into play. These relatively inexpensive ($8.99 to $19.99, depending on the model) manual toothbrushes can play music, exactly for the recommended two minutes, to keep kids entertained while cleaning their teeth. Songs include contemporary pop hits (example: One Direction’s What Makes You Beautiful) as well as rock classics like Queen’s We Will Rock You and Kiss’s Rock and Roll All Nite.
In fact, Arm & Hammer’s Tooth Tunes plays music through your teeth -- which then travels through your jawbone to the inner ear -- so only those brushing can hear music while they brush. This isn’t unlike how Google Glass lets you hear audio through the frames on the side of your head.
To get going, simply press the button on the toothbrush and touch the Tooth Tunes to your teeth; sound waves begin to stream through the bristles as long as it’s press on the teeth or tongue.
Note: While the non-replaceable battery is included, the brush head is non-replaceable.
One of the most talked about gadgets from the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was the Kolibree Smart Toothbrush, the first product that analyzes a user’s brushing habits – such as what area of the mouth they’re focusing on (and neglecting) and how long the brushing session lasts – and all that info is then wirelessly sent to a nearby smartphone or tablet via the free Kolibree app.
Consider this another example of the “Internet of things” trend, where all our devices are now talking to one another.
Similar to Tooth Tunes, a product like this could help younger brushers, too, as the French-based creators held meetings with video game developers at CES to discuss fun and interactive ways to motivate kids to brush better (Plaque-Man, anyone?).
Expect the Kolibree Smart Toothbrush this summer for about $99.
Travel much? The VIOlight VIO200 Travel Toothbrush Sanitizer ($28.99) is a futuristic-looking travel case that uses UV germicidal light technology to kill 99.9 percent of the germs and bacteria that lives on your toothbrush.
After all, you never know what your toothbrush is picking up in your old toiletry bag or on a hotel bathroom countertop. In fact, it’s even worse than that: a 2011 study in Microscopy Research and Technique found nearly half of all never-before-used brushes were tainted with bacteria. Naturally, it gets worse when you use it as your mouth contains roughly 500 different types of bacteria.
Requiring two AA batteries (not included), the VIOlight Toothbrush Sanitizer holds up to two manual or (most) electric toothbrushes.
The company also has a VIOlight Toothbrush Sanitizer Counter Unit ($36.99), which holds up to four toothbrushes, including children's and electric toothbrush heads.
Blizzident Custom 3D-printed Toothbrush
While it may be a bit hard to believe you can clean your teeth in only six seconds, that’s the claim made by Blizzident, the makers of a 3D-printed toothbrush that’s tailor made to fit your mouth.
The first step is to have your dentist make a 3D scan of your mouth – or if they’re unable, at least an impression of your mouth which needs to be scanned -- and the info is then uploaded to Blizzident. A funky-looking, one-of-a-kind toothbrush is then made just for you and sent to your door.
Pop in your mouth like a furry biteplate and you’re asked to “bite and grind” for the gizmo’s bristles to clean your teeth and gums at a 45-degree angle (the "Modified Bass,” "Sub-Gingival Bass” and "Fones" techniques are recommended by dentists and prophylaxis assistants worldwide, says Blizzident).
The Blizzident has about 800 bristles, which is many more times than an ordinary toothbrush. It needs replacing after one year.
The cost is $299, plus a one-time 3D scan or impression plus digitizing ranges between $75 and $250.
