Gearfuse Technology, Science, Culture & More
Brushing your teeth has never been the most exciting thing in the world. But it is essential, and something that we all have to make sure we do each day. Now that the world is going smarter with gadgets and apps, you are probably not surprised to discover that there is a whole world of technology that you can put to use to get cleaner teeth.
Here is a look at some of the best new tech that has come along in recent years so that you can decide whether it’s time to put your trusty toothbrush to one side and take your brushing to the next level.
Smart Toothbrushes
One of the biggest innovations of recent years has been the arrival of the smart toothbrush. Whereas once the height of sophistication was an electric toothbrush, now your brush is nothing unless it connects to your phone and updates you on your brushing habits.
There is no end to smart toothbrush models to choose from, like the selection of models featured here.
One of the most recent to come out is the Oral-B Genius, which was featured in Barcelona this year at the Mobile World Congress. It seems strange to see a toothbrush featured at the biggest cellphone trade show of the year, but now virtually anything is being connected to phones, including toothbrushes.
This toothbrush works out which areas of your teeth you are not cleaning properly, and it contains location tracking technology to help it do this.
More basic smart toothbrushes simply measure the amount of time you spend brushing, and they can encourage longer brushing by providing the user with news and weather on the phone app. Pressure sensors can also help you to find out if you are brushing too hard.
Smart Timers
The timer is not exactly a hi-tech invention, but these days more fancy timers have been developed to help with brushing your teeth. The idea is that most people don’t brush their teeth for the necessary two minutes, so they need a way to ensure they are brushing for long enough. But a boring timer is not exciting enough.
So now you can buy toothbrushes that come with built-in timers. Some models light up after two minutes, and some play music. And then there are apps that you can download to your phone that time your brushing as well as set reminders.
Irrigators and Air Cleaners
When flossing your teeth the traditional way just doesn’t seem to be enough, you can turn to oral irrigators. These are special devices that use bursts of water and air by firing them between your teeth to remove bacteria.
These are often considered a more convenient way to floss, and they can also help those who may encounter problems with flossing. It certainly makes it more fun. Check out the Philips Sonicare AirFloss for one of the best models.
UV Sanitizers
Worried about bacteria building up on your toothbrush over the weeks? Then what you need is a UV sanitizer. These devices use UV light to clean your toothbrush. They kill the bacteria in just a few minutes, and they are very easy to use.
Apps
There are of course numerous apps that you can use these days to make your brushing easier, such as those you’ll find here. They include the G.U.M Play, which is a device that you fit onto your toothbrush and which syncs with an app. It then turns the toothbrush into a controller for a fun game.
Kids’ Toothbrushes
Getting kids to brush their teeth can be a huge challenge for any parent, so fun toothbrushes can really help to make this easier. Tooth Tunes is one such idea. This Hasbro toothbrush plays a musical tune for two minutes so kids can keep on brushing until they are done.
But Nothing Beats a Trip to the Dentist
These are all great, and they can certainly help to make brushing your teeth more fun and maybe even more effective. But at the end of the day, they do not replace a regular trip to the dentist.
Your dentist will tell you if you are failing to brush properly, and they will also spot problems early. So head to an experienced dental center like the Gordon Center for General and Advanced Dentistry, and you can always ask your dentist which tech products they recommend while you’re there.
Get More from Your Brushing
These gadgets and apps are fun, but whether they are really necessary or not is up for debate. What is not up for debate is the need to brush your teeth with a good toothbrush for two minutes twice a day. Do that, and you won’t have to worry too much about hi-tech solutions—but they could certainly add some more fun to your regular brushing.
Morgan Crawford is a retired dentist who still enjoys keeping up with industry news and is fascinated by the advances in technology over recent years. He takes time each month to write on dental topics both print publications and online.
