A new smart toothbrush developed by Oral-B could help improve oral hygiene by indicating regions in the mouth that are not being cleaned effectively. The American Dental Association recommends brushing at least twice a day and flossing daily to prevent plaque and tartar buildup. Excessive plaque and tartar build up caused by irregular brushing can lead to mouth disease, causing painful tooth discomfort that requires dental visits and antibiotics like amoxicillin to treat infections.
The simple task of brushing teeth daily can help prevent other serious conditions.
Research indicates that infections of the mouth can trigger chronic inflammation that is linked to cardiovascular disease, which can block blood vessels and cause serious strokes.
The Oral-B Genius is a mobile app-connected smart toothbrush that helps users keep track of the time spent brushing, and can detect the amount of pressure placed on each mouth region. Along with these features, the Oral-B Genius also provides a visual map of the user’s mouth using Positioning Detection Technology.
Oral-B Genius Brush Technology
Oral-B Genius Product
The American Dental Association recommends brushing for at least 2 minutes to help remove food particles and other acids that can damage teeth. However, dental patients often report brushing for shorter periods of time, which can leave particles behind.
To help improve brushing time, researchers of the Oral-B Genius developed Positioning Detection Technology that uses a built-in motion and acceleration sensors that can identify specific regions of the mouth.
Using a sophisticated video recognition algorithm, the Oral-B Genius is able to use a smartphone’s camera and brush data to display a map of the user’s mouth on the mobile app’s interface. This map allows the user to see the zones of the mouth that are clean and other regions that need to be revisited to remove excess buildup. The Oral-B Genius uses a suction-cup that mounts onto a mirror, and requires the user to stand in front of the mobile device to map out the mouth regions.
The Oral-B Genius also features six brushing modes that allow the user to choose desired cleaning settings like daily clean, deep clean, massage mode, whitening mode, tongue clean, and sensitive. The Genius is expected to be released in the US around the fall of 2016, and it estimated to cost around $250.
